[ELI5] Is the sun as blinding to look at in space as it is on Earth?

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If not, then how?

In: Other

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

At the same distance as from the earth? Yes, looked at directly it would be as blinding if not even slightly worse since the atmosphere and clouds are not there to block it. Further out in space, it is even more dangerous since there is no protection by the earth’s ozone layer and earth’s magnetic field.

The one big difference is that there is nothing to reflect light back to our eyes in space. In places on earth like a field of snow (for example) a lot of the glare is caused by the sun reflecting off snow. So there may be places on earth where it will be brighter.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Yes and probably more so because there is no atmosphere to filter some of the light. This is why astronauts have golden visors on their helmets.