What color is the sky from space for an astronaut?

In summary, the sky would appear differently to an astronaut in space compared to someone on the ground. Due to Rayleigh scattering, the sky would have a pale, desaturated color with a slight blue cast and a reddish ring around parts of the outside. This is because the Earth itself acts as a backdrop, making it difficult to see the sky. Additionally, the Earth's brightness can obscure the color of the sky. Google provides pictures of the Earth from orbit, but the contrast and positioning of the sun affects the appearance of the sky.
  • #1
Shivansh Mathur
39
2
suppose there is an astronaut sitting in a space station orbiting Earth, what colour would the sky appear to him?
Same as us? Why or why not?
Thanks!
 
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  • #2
Did you try finding a photo taken from "space" (there are many online) and looking for yourself?

Also: it would help to be more precise in your terms. What is "sky"? It's usually defined as the apparent dome you see when you are on or close to the ground, so what would "sky" mean when you are not close to the ground?
i.e. aircraft are often said to be "in the sky" ... so is the sky downwards and to the sides as well as up?
Spacecraft are above the sky - so is the sky down towards the Earth? If the spacecraft were exactly half way between Earth and Mars ... where is the sky?
 
  • #3
Yes I've looked for myself
Rayleigh scattering..is that all to it? Even when one sees it from 'space'.
 
  • #4
1. Google will provide you with pictures.
2. How is it that you can even see the sky at all -- and why would that reason be different in space?
 
  • #5
The 'colour' of the sky irom Earth is very pale (desaturated). Looking down through it to the more saturated colours on the ground and all you might expect is that it would give everything a very slighy blue cast. There would be a reddish ring around parts of the outside (corresponding to a sunset sky), I suspect but, again very diluted by the reflected Earth light or direct sunlight.
 
  • #6
sophiecentaur said:
The 'colour' of the sky irom Earth is very pale (desaturated). Looking down through it to the more saturated colours on the ground and all you might expect is that it would give everything a very slighy blue cast. There would be a reddish ring around parts of the outside (corresponding to a sunset sky), I suspect but, again very diluted by the reflected Earth light or direct sunlight.
And since air is only blue when Rayleigh scattering makes it so, you'll only see this blue cast when you're correctly lined up with the sun.
 
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  • #7
You can Google for pictures of Earth from orbit. The main difference/issue is that when you look up, the sky is against the blank/black canvas of space, but when you look down, the Earth itself is the backdrop. So you need to look at pictures focusing on the horizon, where the Earth doesn't provide most of the color.

And there is also a contrast issue when looking down: the Earth is brighter than the shy, making it hard to see the sky.
 
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1. Why does the color of the sky change from blue to black as you move away from Earth?

The color of the sky is determined by the Earth's atmosphere, which scatters sunlight in all directions. The blue color we see is due to the scattering of shorter-wavelength blue light more than longer-wavelength red light. As we move further away from Earth, there is less atmosphere to scatter the light, resulting in a darker color.

2. How does the color of the sky vary on other planets?

The color of the sky on other planets is determined by their atmospheric composition and the type of star they orbit. For example, on Mars, the sky appears reddish due to the presence of iron oxide particles in the atmosphere. On Venus, the thick atmosphere causes a yellowish-white sky. On Saturn's moon Titan, the atmosphere is so thick that the sky appears orange.

3. What causes the sky to turn different colors during sunrise and sunset?

During sunrise and sunset, the sun's rays have to travel through a thicker layer of the Earth's atmosphere, which scatters more of the shorter-wavelength blue light. This leaves the longer-wavelength red, orange, and yellow light to reach our eyes, giving the sky a colorful appearance.

4. Can the color of the sky from space be affected by pollution?

Yes, pollution can affect the color of the sky from space. Pollutants in the atmosphere, such as smog and dust, can scatter light differently and create a hazy or grayish appearance. This can also lead to more vibrant and colorful sunsets due to the scattering of light by pollution particles.

5. How does the color of the sky change at different altitudes?

The color of the sky can vary at different altitudes due to changes in atmospheric density and composition. As we move higher in the atmosphere, the air becomes thinner and the blue light is scattered less, resulting in a darker appearance. At very high altitudes, the sky may appear black due to the absence of an atmosphere to scatter light.

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