If you do this, be sure to include a legend that explains what the colors mean.
Also, if you can switch the {yellow-orange, orange-yellow} color scheme to something more easily differentiable, that would be a nice touch too.
Agreed, a more differentiable color scheme would be nicer. In the next couple days I will reach out to a couple designers seeing if they can emulate the "Earth at Night" poster that I mentioned in my note.