Here’s what China’s epic smog looks like from space

Beijing, China, is having insane smog right now, so heavy that flights and concerts are being canceled. Officially, visibility is around 160 feet, although people are reporting being able to see only a few yards in front of their faces, and small-particle pollution is 40 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization. And here is what it looks like from space, as photographed by NASA satellites:

By contrast, here’s what it looked like on a clearer day in early September:

Aliens are for sure looking at us and shaking their heads, or whatever, real sadly right now.

(H/t Charlie Loyd)