Space doubt

Click for larger view.

From an email currently making the rounds:

"The photograph was taken from the Columbia during its last mission... the picture is of Europe and Africa when the sun is setting... the bright dots are the cities lights... the sun still shines on Gibraltar... the Mediterranean Sea is already in darkness.

The description is real enough, but unfortunately, the photo is not. This stunning image started circulating the Internet after the fatal break-up
of the Columbia in 2003. From snopes.com:

"... before then, this picture had been circulating as a photograph "taken via satellite, on a cloudless day.

Although this image does accurately depict the landforms described and the positioning of lighted cities to the right of the day-night terminator line, it doesn't represent an actual Earth view one might see from space. This photograph is a digital composite... "

Read the complete exposé: KAPOWIE!

When will they build a Space Hilton so I can see this view from my hotel room?

[Inspired by Karen of Venice.]