Using Satellite Imagery To See Into The Night

GOES 10 Visible Image

1500 UTC 9/1/98

(Click On Image To See Full Size)

What are you seeing?

What do the shades of white represent?

Why does the western half of the image appear black?
GOES 10 Infrared Image

1500 UTC 9/1/98

(Click On Image To See Full Size)

What are you seeing?

What do the shades of white represent?

Why is there a resolvable image in the western half of this image and not on the one above?