distribution of space debris

via the fabulous/ist io9, this animation from the European Space Agency of the distribution of space debris in orbit around the Earfs between 1957 and 2000.

At closing speeds reaching 50 thousand km per hour, even the smallest bits of space debris can cause serious harm to spacecraft; larger ones cause catastrophe. Near-Earth missions, like the International Space Station, now carry ever-more sophisticated shielding. Not only is space debris a hot topic, it is also a fascinating — and growing — field of space science.

The animation shows the little dots of light representing satellite grabbage increasing and swarming around the Earth like flies. It's creepy.

Just 'cause you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there.