Astronomy
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Where do the stars go in the day?. (2022). In Q-files Encyclopedia, Space, Astronomy. Retrieved from
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"Where do the stars go in the day?." Space, Astronomy, Q-files Encyclopedia, 10 Feb. 2022.
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Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
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Where do the stars go in the day?
The stars are still there in the sky during the day. You just cannot see them because the sky is so bright. In fact, there is one star you can see during the day—although you should NEVER look at it directly: the Sun, our local star. During the day, the Sun's rays overpower the faint light we see from all the other stars. At night, when the Sun is shining on the other side of the Earth, it becomes possible to see the stars that were there in the sky all along. If you watch the sunset on a clear night, as the Sun's rays become dimmer and dimmer, the brightest stars start to become visible, beginning with those farthest away from the setting Sun.
During the day, when our part of the Earth is facing the Sun, the blue light that radiates from the Sun (although sunlight looks white, it is really made up of several different colours—the colours of the rainbow) scatters through the atmosphere, which is what causes the sky to look blue. This light is so bright that the faint light from very much more distant stars is blocked. If the Earth had no atmosphere, the stars would be visible in daylight, just as they are from the Moon’s surface even while the Sun is shining.
Those who live in cities sometimes find it difficult to see many stars at night. This is because the city lights affect your eyes and prevent you from being able to see all but the brightest stars in the sky. Excessive artificial light is called light pollution. Air pollution, also higher in urban areas, adds to the “invisible curtain”, restricting your view of the night sky. Viewing the sky in the countryside and far from cities, it is amazing how many stars become visible.
Consultant: Mike Goldsmith
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