Will I be able to see a monochromatic ray of light in space?

In summary, if you had a red laser pointer, you would be able to see the red beam coming from it, but you would not be able to see the beam if it hit a solid object. If light doesn't need a medium to travel, then a monochromatic beam should be able to be seen, but this is still being researched.
  • #1
Fiona Rozario
55
1
If I had a red laser light, will i be able to see this red beam in space?
 
Science news on Phys.org
  • #2
Fiona Rozario said:
If I had a red laser light, will i be able to see this red beam in space?
I'm not sure you would be able to see the beam coming from the laser light, but you should be able to see it when it hits a solid object.
 
  • #3
But if light doesn't need a medium to travel, I should be able to see the monochromatic beam, right?
 
  • #4
Light doesn't need a medium to travel, but since space is empty, what is there to allow the beams light to reach your eyes unless it hits something? This is my logic; on Earth the beam hits the particles in the atmosphere, but since space is empty, it should only be visible once it hits something.
 
  • #5
Do you mean to say that light (poly or monochromatic) needs to be scattered by something so that it may be seen?
 
  • #6
Fiona Rozario said:
Do you mean to say that light (poly or monochromatic) needs to be scattered by something so that it may be seen?
No, I'm saying the reason we see light is because the reflected parts reach our eyes, you would still see the laser, but not the beam like you would on Earth because their is nothing to direct the light to your eyes until it hits something. It may be possible that a camera that uses different methods of capturing images than our eyes do can see the beam, but the naked eye can't see it because the light doesn't reach us. Now the only thing I know that could allow the beam to be seen(however slightly) without an object scattering the light is gravity, but I'm still learning if that's true.
 
  • #7
CrackerMcGinger said:
It may be possible that a camera that uses different methods of capturing images than our eyes do can see the beam, but the naked eye can't see it because the light doesn't reach us.
If the light doesn't reach your eyes, it won't reach the camera.

CrackerMcGinger said:
Now the only thing I know that could allow the beam to be seen(however slightly) without an object scattering the light is gravity, but I'm still learning if that's true.
It all depends, as does the question in the OP, in the relative orientation of the person and the direction of propagation of the light. Light travels in a straight line unless there is some object to make it change trajectory, through reflection, scattering, bending because of refractive index (e.g., optical fiber), or something similar. If the light is not aimed at your eyes, you won't see it unless part of it gets deviated towards you.
 
  • #8
Fiona Rozario said:
Do you mean to say that light (poly or monochromatic) needs to be scattered by something so that it may be seen?
It needs to reach your eyes to be seen.
 
  • Like
Likes CWatters
  • #9
This is not something specific to space.
If you have a red laser pointer you can easily "see" that you son'd see the beam from the side unless there is fog, smoke dust or such in the air.
Pure air scatters very little in this range.
 
  • #10
Thank you, everyone...
 

1. Can the human eye see a monochromatic ray of light in space?

Yes, the human eye can see a monochromatic ray of light in space. Monochromatic light refers to light that is composed of a single wavelength, which is what makes it appear as a single color to the human eye. In space, there is no atmosphere to scatter the light, which means that monochromatic light can travel much further and still be visible to the human eye.

2. What color would a monochromatic ray of light appear in space?

The color of a monochromatic ray of light in space would depend on its wavelength. Different wavelengths of light correspond to different colors, with shorter wavelengths appearing as blue or violet and longer wavelengths appearing as red or orange. So, the color of a monochromatic ray of light in space would depend on the specific wavelength of the light.

3. Are there any natural sources of monochromatic light in space?

Yes, there are several natural sources of monochromatic light in space. For example, stars emit monochromatic light at specific wavelengths depending on their temperature. The gases in nebulae also emit monochromatic light at specific wavelengths, which is what gives them their distinct colors. Additionally, some planets and moons also reflect monochromatic light from the sun.

4. How is monochromatic light different from other types of light?

Monochromatic light is different from other types of light because it is composed of a single wavelength, which means it appears as a single color to the human eye. Other types of light, such as white light, are composed of a combination of different wavelengths, which is what gives them their ability to create a range of colors.

5. Can technology be used to create monochromatic light in space?

Yes, technology can be used to create monochromatic light in space. For example, lasers can emit monochromatic light at a specific wavelength, which can be used for various purposes in space exploration and research. However, it is important to note that any artificial source of monochromatic light in space would still need to be visible to the human eye to be seen.

Similar threads

  • Optics
2
Replies
64
Views
816
Replies
16
Views
923
  • Optics
Replies
14
Views
1K
Replies
15
Views
2K
Replies
54
Views
5K
Replies
18
Views
4K
Replies
3
Views
772
Replies
5
Views
1K
Back
Top