The discussion centers on the atmospheric conditions during the Hadean Era and their impact on stargazing. Key factors include volcanic outgassing, primarily water vapor, and significant impacts that could vaporize oceans and crust, leading to a complete loss of atmospheric transparency. While there is ongoing debate regarding the exact composition of the Hadean atmosphere, evidence from sedimentary zircons suggests that there were periods of low surface temperatures allowing for cloudless skies. However, major impacts would have drastically reduced visibility, rendering the stars invisible.
PREREQUISITESGeologists, planetary scientists, and anyone interested in the atmospheric evolution of early Earth and its implications for visibility and stargazing during the Hadean Era.
Ophiolite said:Some impacts are thought to have been large enough to vapourise the ocean and a portion of the crust. That would have reduced atmosphere transparency to zero.