Stars are indeed visible in outer space, but the visibility of stars depends on various factors, including the surrounding environment and the presence of other light sources.
When we observe stars from Earth's surface, we are looking through the Earth's atmosphere. The atmosphere scatters and absorbs a portion of the incoming light, which can reduce the overall brightness and clarity of stars. However, even with atmospheric interference, stars are still visible due to their inherent brightness and the fact that they are relatively close to us in astronomical terms.
In outer space, away from the Earth's atmosphere, stars are not hindered by atmospheric scattering or absorption. However, there are other factors that can affect the visibility of stars in space:
Sunlight: The Sun is an incredibly bright object, and its light can overpower the relatively faint light emitted by other stars. When we are in the vicinity of the Sun, such as in low Earth orbit, the intense sunlight can make it difficult to observe stars directly. Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) often experience this.
Light pollution: In inhabited areas on Earth, artificial lights from cities and human activities create light pollution, which can obscure the visibility of stars. In outer space, away from human settlements, there is no light pollution to interfere with star visibility.
Instrument limitations: The sensitivity and design of instruments used for space observation can affect the detection and visibility of stars. Some space telescopes are specifically designed to capture faint starlight and are capable of observing celestial objects that are not visible to the naked eye.
In summary, stars are visible in outer space, but factors like the presence of sunlight, instrument limitations, and the absence of light pollution can affect their visibility. Nevertheless, in regions of space away from intense light sources, stars can be observed with greater clarity and brightness compared to the view from Earth's surface.