Rings Around the Earth

Global Precipitation Measurement satellites                                            NASA

That there are innumerable active satellites orbiting above us at all times of the day and night no longer comes as much of a surprise or even a source of wonder ~ until one learns things like the actual number being more than 1,200 (of which about 30 are American spy satellites operated by the Air Force and/or the National Reconnaissance Office, BTW), that more than half of the total were launched since 2008, and that launching a satellite costs about $4,653/kg (interactive graphic): http://qz.com/296941/interactive-graphic-every-active-satellite-orbiting-earth/
   Feb. 10, 2012: Jamesburg Earth Station, a satellite relay base from the 1960s that was built to survive a nuclear attack, is for sale in California after a Silicon Valley mogul gives up on plans to turn it into a weekend home; is a $3 million tech-lover’s paradise on 161 acres equipped with a 97-foot satellite dish. For a wonderfully detailed timeline of satellite and related information in the news, including links to the original articles, check out http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/satellites/index.html