Can Astronauts See Stars In Space?

Why couldn't the Apollo astronauts see stars in space?

Contrary to popular belief, the Apollo astronauts did have the opportunity to see stars during their missions. Although stars did not appear in the photographs taken on the lunar surface, this was because the camera settings were adjusted for the bright sunlight and reflective lunar surface, as well as the astronauts' white suits and spacecraft. The astronauts did report seeing brighter stars while standing in the shadow of the Lunar Module and while orbiting the far side of the Moon. Al Worden, a member of the Apollo 15 mission, even described the sky as "awash with stars" during his time on the far side of the Moon, where the view was not in daylight.



Just as star enthusiasts on Earth require dark skies to observe celestial bodies, the same is true in space.

Why are there no stars in photos of the moon landing?

However, what about those photographs of objects in space, like the one depicting the moon landing above? The absence of stars in the image may lead one to believe that there are no stars visible in space. It's quite typical to come across images of planets and other objects set against a starless black backdrop. Doesn't this suggest that the sky in space lacks stars? No, it doesn't, because it's no surprise that an image focused on a bright object, such as a planet or moon, won't have a long enough exposure to capture stars accurately. Many images captured from space do, in fact, show stars, as well as other faint phenomena like the green airglow of our atmosphere.



What this misconception really illustrates is how easily we can hold onto misconceptions without examining them critically. All of us can become trapped in the trap of misconceptions if we don't think critically about the information presented to us. That's why science emphasizes the importance of published and verifiable evidence.