{
  "id": 18894158,
  "title": "Dubai night lights transform from orange glow to colourful LEDs in NASA space photos",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/dubai-night-lights-transform-from-orange-glow-to-colourful-leds-in",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-11-08T07:49:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/dubai/dubai-night-lights-transform-from-orange-glow-to-colourful-leds-in-nasa-space-photos-1.500740141"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai's evolution from 2003 to 2025 is evident in a series of night-time photographs captured by NASA astronaut Don Pettit. Sharing these images on X, Pettit showcased the transformation of the city's lighting and urban landscape over the 22-year span. Initially, Dubai was illuminated by sodium and mercury vapour lamps, but by 2025, the city had transitioned to multi-coloured LED lights, reflecting its rapid growth and development. The Palm Islands, which were in their early stages of construction in 2003, have now emerged as a prominent landmark visible from space. Pettit highlighted the significance of observing such changes from orbit, stating, \"From orbit we observe changes like this worldwide!\" Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have the unique ability to photograph cities, countries, and continents, capturing landscape and infrastructure changes that are often difficult to discern from the ground. These photographs provide a detailed view of Dubai's development over more than two decades, illustrating the evolution of its illuminated landscape.",
  "summary": "Dubai’s transformation over more than two decades is visible in a series of night-time photographs captured from space by NASA astronaut Don Pettit. In a post on X, Pettit shared images of Dubai taken in 2003, 2012 and 2025, highlighting changes in the city’s lighting and urban landscape. Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here. Over the 22-year period,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "MYSA: Mysterious lights over Malaysia were NASA space debris, meteor shower",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/mysa-mysterious-lights-over-malaysia-were-nasa-space-debris-meteor",
        "published": "2026-11-05T09:25:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Hidden nocturnal biodiversity: The mysterious glow of fungi in Zoo Negara Malaysia’s tropical forests — Norida Hanim Awing and Linda Salim",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/hidden-nocturnal-biodiversity-the-mysterious-glow-of-fungi-in-zoo",
        "published": "2026-11-06T03:24:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}