
04/11/2024
This vivid image of India circulates every Diwali, often claimed to be a satellite photo of the country on Diwali night. In truth, this image was created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2003 to illustrate population growth in India. (Image 2nd)
People began sharing it as a representation of Diwali lights from space because it shows a large area of India brightly lit up, coinciding with the festival.
NASA and other space experts have stated that the amount of light generated by Diwali celebrations is too small to be distinctly visible from space. (Image 3rd)