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Discussion » Questions » Science and Technology » Why do astronauts not see stars when in space?
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Why do astronauts not see stars when in space?

Scientists tell us stars should be brighter outside of Earth's atmosphere. Why is the blackness of space the only thing astronauts going back to the Apollo Moon program the only thing ever described? The space above the Moon in famous footage of moon landings has not a single star.

Posted - June 2, 2018
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  • 13277
    It takes a pretty big person to admit when he or she is proven wrong. Your silence speaks volumes. Guess that means you're a small person.
      June 4, 2018 10:28 AM MDT
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  • 1713
    Because stars are actually just holograms and the moon landing was fake or something like that.
      June 3, 2018 6:16 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    How do you know they don't? They actually see more in space than we are able to see through the atmosphere. Why do you think space telescopes are so useful? Think about it.
      June 3, 2018 7:31 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    Let's look at some photos taken in space, shall we?  The first two of these were taken from the International Space Station.

    But there is something in the way photos are taken and with what equipment, although the above shots are exceptions. Our atmosphere is transparent to visible light, which is why we can see stars with our eyes in the first place. Therefore, removing the atmosphere from the equation does not significantly brighten the stars, let alone cause more stars to show up (at least in visible light). Short exposures taken of the night sky (with daylight camera settings) will not show stars. Similarly, in space you need daylight camera settings to properly expose the shuttle, ISS, earth, etc when it's in daylight. Those short exposures will not record enough light to show dim stars. Even when the orbiter is on the night side of earth, most video cameras lack the sensitivity to record stars; most are stuck at 30fps at least, meaning short maximum exposures for each frame.
      June 3, 2018 1:18 PM MDT
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