Light-based technologies and satellite imagery

2015, International Year of Light

Light-based technologies and satellite imagery

LED City

Solar Valley

Airbus Defence and Space is providing satellite image illustrations for the "International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015)" proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. With a constellation of seven optical and radar satellites, Airbus Defence and Space offers its customers the greatest array of products and services for Earth information and observation. The technologies on board these satellites are based on light and electromagnetic wave properties and embody the technological outcome of centuries of scientific studies on optics, radiation, colour and waves. The Pléiades, SPOT 6 & 7, satellites reveal some symbolic sites where light-based technologies have been used both in the past and in our world today.

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Light-based technologies and satellite imagery 2015, International Year of Light

Archaeoastronomy

Fresnel Lens

Astronomical observatory

Solar power station

Sundial dam

Very Large Telescope

Sun and Moon Pyramids

Foundation of Optics

Neon City

Discovery of Laser

World Solar Challenge Astrological observatory

Salt marshes

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UNITED KINGDOM Arranged in concentric circles aligned with the stars, the Stonehenge megaliths were erected between 2800 and 1100 BC. They give an indication of humanity's ancient knowledge about the sun and the stars. Full resolution image

Stonehenge, archaeoastronomy of the sun

Lake Tuz salt marshes

Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon

Venice astronomical observatory

Astrological observatory

The Île Vierge Fresnel lens

Discovery of Laser

Las Vegas, the neon city


Solar Valley

Sundial dam

Solar power station

Taipeh, the LED City

Darwin, World Solar Challenge

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TURKEY Under the combined action of the sun and the wind, the salt marshes of Lake Tuz supply 63% of Turkey's salt. Salt producers use light to crystallize out the salt present in seawater and saline lakes. Full resolution image

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MEXICO The Pyramid of the Sun, standing 71 metres high, and the Pyramid of the Moon measuring 43 metres are aligned in a North-South axis to measure time, organise plantations and accomplish certain rituals. This was one of the largest cities of its time. Around the year 500, this religious grouping was home to 200,000 inhabitants, but has been uninhabited since the 7th century. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



Solar Valley

Sundial dam

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EGYPT Founder of modern Optics and promoter of the experimental scientific method, the Persian mathematician Alhazen taught during the 11th century at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the world's second oldest university. His Book of Optics influenced the use of perspective in art and the invention of the telescope and the microscope. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



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ITALY On 21 August 1609, at the top of the Campanile in St Mark's Square, Galileo demonstrated his astronomical telescope: in this optical instrument, Murano, located at 2.5 kilometres, appeared to be just 300 metres away. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



Solar Valley

Sundial dam

Solar power station




INDIA Built for creating astrological charts, this observatory, also known as Jantar Mantar, has been a worldwide authority since 1726. It has 17 instruments for observing the stars and studying the signs of the Zodiac. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



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FRANCE At 82.5 metres high, the Île Vierge stone-built lighthouse is the tallest in the world. It is equipped with a Fresnel lens that increases its range to 52 kilometres between the English Channel and the Atlantic. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



Solar Valley

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USA The laser first appeared as a MASER (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) produced in 1954 by C. Townes, H. Zeiger and J. Gordon at Columbia University in New York. Today, the LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is used in numerous industrial or everyday applications. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



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USA A prime tourist destination in the United States of America, Las Vegas is celebrated for its casinos, entertainment and illuminated signs. Since 1996, the Neon Museum has been conserving, restoring and exhibiting an impressive collection of signs in a 2.6 hectare site. Full resolution image

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CHILE An area of 800 square kilometres was donated to the European Southern Observatory around Cerro Paranal to keep the sky clear over this mountain in the Atacama desert. The Very Large Telescope (4 main and 4 auxiliary telescopes) studies the light spectra of the stars. Full resolution image

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Solar Valley

Sundial dam

Solar power station






Discovery of Laser



CHINA The Solar Valley site in the suburbs of Dezhou is completely devoted to solar energy. A new trend in industrial architecture is emerging, based on clean mass electricity generation technologies for domestic use. Full resolution image

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FRANCE Covering an area of approximately 13,000 square metres, the largest sundial in the world is drawn in the vault of Castillon Dam. The time is indicated by the shadow cast by the overhanging cornice that crowns the dam. The sundial was unveiled in 2009 for the International Year of Astronomy. Full resolution image

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SPAIN Andasol is the most powerful solar concentrator power plant in the world. Constructed in three phases between 2008 and 2011 under the Andalusian sun, it generates a capacity of 150 MW a year. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



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TAIWAN With more than 20% of global production, Taiwan is the prime world producer of light emitting diodes or LEDs. The replacement of 326,000 street lights in Taipei with low-energy consumption LEDs has supported this development. Full resolution image

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AUSTRALIA Every year since 1987, experimental vehicles powered by solar energy have been racing 3,021 kilometres from the north to the south of Australia. They start from the Hidden Valley Motor Sports Complex near Darwin. Full resolution image

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Discovery of Laser



Solar Valley

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Geo-Report - Light-based technologies and satellite imagery 2015, International Year of Light © Airbus Defence and Space 2015

Satellite images: - Pléiades © CNES 2013 – 2014 – Distribution Airbus DS - SPOT 6 © Airbus DS 2013 - 2014 Other images : - © Fotolia : Olga Fesko, Le monde en photos, DreanA, Michael Filippo, Chris Boswell, Jürgen Fälchle, Jörg Hackermann, demerzel21, Erica Guilane-Nachez - © Istock : Matka Wariatka, LL28, FernandoAH, Goran Q, MakaronProduktion, Wanderluster. Design: Jean-Yves Bonzon Image processing: Denys Letourmy Graphic layout: Laurent Demay Publication coordinator: Pascal Michel

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Light-based technologies and satellite imagery