+55 votes
in Astronomy by
edited by

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
+22 votes
by

The phenomenon of not being able to see sun rays in space and the darkness of space can be explained by a combination of factors:

  1. Lack of Atmospheric Scattering: On Earth, sunlight gets scattered by the atmosphere, resulting in the scattering of light in all directions. This scattering is responsible for the phenomenon we observe as sun rays or crepuscular rays, where beams of sunlight appear to radiate from the Sun. However, in space, there is no significant atmosphere to scatter sunlight in the same way. As a result, sun rays are not visible in the absence of scattering particles like dust or other debris.

  2. Lack of Interstellar Medium: The darkness of space is also influenced by the absence of significant interstellar medium—matter (such as gas, dust, and other particles) found between stars. In interstellar space, the density of particles is extremely low, leading to minimal scattering or absorption of light. Therefore, the background space appears dark, as the vast majority of light from distant stars and galaxies can travel through space without being scattered or absorbed.

It's important to note that while space may appear dark to our eyes, it is not devoid of light. There are numerous stars and galaxies in the universe that emit light. However, due to the vast distances between objects and the limitations of human vision, space may appear predominantly black or dark.

Additionally, when viewing images of space taken by telescopes or spacecraft, long exposure times are often used to capture the faint light from distant objects. This can enhance the visibility of objects and reveal features that are not easily seen with the naked eye.

Overall, the absence of atmospheric scattering and the low density of interstellar medium contribute to the lack of visible sun rays in space and the darkness of the background space.

Welcome to Physicsgurus Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.
...