Why Are There No Stars In Space?

Summary

This video explains why stars are not visible in space photos, debunking the myth that it's part of a conspiracy. It explores the science behind camera exposure settings and how astronauts' eyes adjust to bright environments, making it difficult to see stars. Through examples like the Challenger spacewalk and the upcoming Artemis missions, the video illustrates how factors such as light exposure and pupil dilation affect visibility. The video also touches on the fascinating experience of space photography and offers insights from astronauts about what they see in space, including the inky blackness of the sky.

Takeaways

• 😀 The reason stars are not visible in space images is due to camera exposure settings, which prioritize bright objects like astronauts or spacecraft over dim stars in the background.
• 🌑 The sky in space, as reported by astronauts, appears deep black with a textured, inky look, making stars difficult to see with the naked eye.
• 🚀 The famous image of astronaut Bruce McCandless during the first untethered spacewalk in 1984 does not show stars because of exposure settings, not a conspiracy.
• 🔬 The documentary *Secrets of Quantum Physics* is recommended for those interested in exploring complex scientific concepts like quantum entanglement.
• 📷 Camera shutter speed plays a key role in image exposure, where long exposures capture bright objects well but obscure faint objects like stars.
• 👨‍🚀 Astronauts can't see stars with their naked eyes in space because their eyes adjust to the brightness of nearby objects like the Moon’s surface or spacecraft.
• 🌕 On the lunar surface, astronauts could only see stars from the shadow of the lunar lander after their eyes adjusted to the darkness.
• 🌌 The inky blackness of space is a result of a lack of atmosphere, which contributes to the difficulty in seeing stars unless in a completely dark area.
• 🛰️ Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) and on the Moon typically can't see stars without special optics because of the overwhelming brightness of nearby objects.
• 🌙 Astronauts landing at the lunar South Pole in the future will experience similarly dark skies, but prolonged exposure to darkness will reveal stars unobstructed by light pollution.
• 📞 The presenter plans to conduct a live call with astronaut Don Pettit aboard the ISS, where viewers can submit questions to ask astronauts about life in space.

Q & A

Why can't we see stars in space in most photos and videos?

The reason we don't see stars in space images and videos is due to the exposure settings of the camera. In these images, the focus is on much brighter objects, like astronauts, spacecraft, or Earth, which are illuminated by sunlight. The stars, being much dimmer, cannot be captured with the same exposure setting without overexposing the foreground objects.

How does camera exposure work in space, and why does it affect star visibility?

Camera exposure controls how much light reaches the camera's sensor. In space, the foreground objects (like astronauts or spacecraft) are brightly lit by sunlight, so the camera exposure is adjusted for them. Since stars are much dimmer, they don't show up in the photo unless the exposure is changed, which would overexpose the brighter objects.

What did astronauts report seeing in space instead of stars?

Astronauts have reported seeing a deep, textured blackness when in space. The sky appears to be an unfathomable black, with a quality that feels like it could be touched. This is due to the lack of atmosphere and light pollution, making the stars invisible to the naked eye.

Why can't astronauts see stars with their eyes when they are on the Moon or aboard the ISS?

Astronauts' eyes adjust to bright surroundings, like the surface of the Moon or the spacecraft, causing their pupils to shrink. This reduces the amount of light entering the eye, making stars, which are much dimmer, invisible. Only in darker areas, such as the shadow of the lunar lander, do astronauts have a chance to see stars after their eyes adjust.

What causes astronauts' eyes to adjust to the environment in space?

Astronauts' eyes function similarly to a camera, with the pupils acting as the aperture. In bright environments, like the Moon's surface or the ISS, the pupils contract to block excessive light. In darker areas, like the shadow of the lunar lander, the pupils dilate to allow more light in, which is why stars can sometimes be seen in those conditions.

Can stars be visible on future lunar missions, such as Artemis' journey to the lunar South Pole?

While the lunar South Pole is much darker, astronauts on future missions may still struggle to see stars due to the glare of sunlight reflecting off the lunar surface. However, in the craters at the South Pole, where there is no direct sunlight, stars will likely be visible after astronauts' eyes have adjusted to the darkness.

What is quantum entanglement, and why is it mentioned in this video?

Quantum entanglement is a phenomenon in quantum physics where particles become interconnected, such that the state of one particle can instantly influence the state of another, no matter the distance between them. It’s mentioned in the video as a fascinating, mind-bending concept related to the mysteries of space and physics, which the narrator explores in a documentary.

What does the video suggest about the star visibility myth in space?

The video suggests that the idea of a star visibility conspiracy in space is simply a misunderstanding of basic science. The lack of stars in space images is due to camera exposure settings and the physiological response of astronauts' eyes to bright light, not because there is a hidden agenda.

How can we see stars in space if cameras don’t capture them in regular images?

To see stars in space, the camera exposure settings need to be adjusted to capture the dim light of the stars, instead of the bright objects in the foreground. This requires long exposure photography or using special equipment designed to capture faint light sources like stars.

Why do astronauts not recall seeing stars while photographing the Moon during the Apollo missions?

Astronauts on the Apollo missions didn't see stars while on the Moon because their eyes were adjusted to the bright surface of the Moon. The sunlight reflected off the lunar surface made their pupils contract, blocking out the dimmer light from the stars, preventing them from being visible to the naked eye.