Those crystal clear satellite views are largely the result of "technology at work." In order to penetrate the "fog" the sensors generally use multiple frequencies, both ir and uv, that are relatively "immune" to the absorbtion by the major pollutants, and then they're "translated" back to a "normal color" set. There are very few places on earth where the air is really that clear.
Ain't technology wunnaful?
It's still possible to get a fairly clear view of the night sky in a few places where there aren't too many lights, if the weather is good. It used to be fairly common on almost any overnight fishing trip. Unfortunately, the F&G guys have "yuppified" most of the public fishing areas in my area with all-night lighting so the little puppies won't fall off the boat ramp; and it's getting very difficult to find a public fishing place in my area where the stars are really visible. Awesome when you do.