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View From Space: Chicago In 2016 And 2012

CHICAGO (CBS) -- NASA has released the latest images of our planet at night, providing the clearest views yet from space after dark.

Among the images: A comparison of Chicago from 2012.

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Chicago At Night 2012. (Credit: NASA)

And Chicago from 2016.

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Chicago from space, 2016. (Credit: NASA)

Can you spot the difference? (Click on the images to enlarge them.)

Did you notice the thin white line in the 2016 image, between Rockford and the northwest suburbs closer to the city?

That's what the expanded Jane Addams Tollway (Interstate 90) looks like from space. Since 2012, The Illinois Tollway has widened the road, in some places to eight lanes and in other locations to six lanes, over 60 miles.

Broadening the perspective, here is a composite of the world at night:

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The world at night. (Credit: NASA)

And a sweeping image of the United States.

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The United States at night. (Credit: NASA)
Lights of Human Activity Shine in NASA's Image of Earth at Night by NASA Goddard on YouTube
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