earthlights2_dmsp_big.jpg (JPEG Image, 2400x1200 pixels) - Scaled (42%)

earthlights2_dmsp_big.jpg (JPEG Image, 2400x1200 pixels) - Scaled (42%)

Recentely I've been asked by tourists from Russia wether it's true that Brussels(Belgium) is the birightest city(country) as seen from the space.

I'm certainly not elegible to give any authorative answer to the question as i'm not an astranaut and not planning to become one in my lifespan 'coz I get unwell even in a car :), but of course living in Belgium I know how the highways are lit at night and of course the street and etc.

I gave no clear answer to their question. I said "Well, it's certainly probable" or something of that kind.

I was not at ease because they expected a more clear answer but at the back of my mind i probably had the picture of the planet at night I had seen at some point before.

So I just googled the "earth at night" and found a picture that could have been provided to them to throw away their doubts.

No, Brussels and Belgium are not the most brightest places on earth seen from the space. The truth is that what is known as the "developed countries" produce enormous amount of light at night.
I'm not quilified enough to judge what region of earth is the proud winner of the-brightest-on-the- earth-at-night competition. However, I'm afraid one of the candidates for the prize could be Brussels.

I'll not be an astranaut :-| but, you know, i can live with it and it doesn't make me upset very much. What upsets me is that i cannot see the sky at night :-S