Why can’t you see the stars from an airplane?

If we are not afraid of airplanes, using this mode of transport can be very relaxing. Looking out the window and seeing how the world that usually surrounds us is getting smaller and smaller, it helps us to get distracted and take a moment away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In addition, views from airplane window they can be wonderful. Though there would be even more if we could at night see the stars. Because we can’t, right?

This is a question many people ask. Sometimes, looking out of an airplane in the middle of the night, we expected to see what starry sky what we observe when we are down. but there is only darkness.

Does this mean that it is impossible to see the stars from an airplane? Well, the truth is, not really. Yes we can. In fact, in the past there were astronavigational aircraft which were designed so that their crew members could see the stars and use them for navigation. The problem is that conventional passenger planes don’t base their comfort on the very fact that we can see the sky, so we run into a number of obstacles in trying to do so.

Light pollution, the stars’ worst enemy

We might think that climbing takes us away from light pollution from cities. However, as long as we continue to fly over them, it is possible that the light emanating from their street lamps and buildings will prevent us from observing the stars.

This is due to a phenomenon known as sky glowwhat happens when light scatters for two reasons. good in the presence oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere or through aerosols. The latter are especially numerous in cities, as they arise as a result of road traffic and industrial activity. For this reason, the most illuminated are also those places that create more dispersion of light and more reflection, which prevents us from seeing the stars.

Scattering is so intense that it can even make stargazing from an airplane. But when we get far enough from the cities, it is no longer apology. At this point, other factors come into play.

The moon can be an obstacle too

On the night of meteor showers or any other astronomical phenomenon, we usually talk about the phase the moon is in. And we must not forget that the brightness of the full moon can make it very difficult to observe the dimmest objects.

This happens on Earth, and also when we fly in an airplane. And now imagine that we are far from the city and on a moonless night. Why do we continue without see the stars?

Aircraft lighting also affects

At night, the lights in the cabin are dimmed. However, there are still some sparkles created by screens, lit signal lights or lamps illuminating the seats of some passengers. No matter how dim the lighting is, it reflection in the windows, whose thickness also greatly complicates observation. In addition, they are too small to be able to observe an adequate portion of the dark sky.

If you add to all this your aircraft exterior lightsthe chances of seeing stars are further reduced.

Fortunately, there are solutions.

The main solution would be to have transparent domes this would allow observation of an adequate part of the sky. If it were dark enough inside, it would be much easier to see the stars.

During the Second World War Royal Air Force of Great Britain he used these structures, known as astrodomes, to enable his pilots to navigate by looking up into the sky. Although they were used in other areas. Nothing like this has yet been installed on passenger flights. However, Airbus has already announced its intention to install transparent lights on some of its aircraft by 2050.

Now, if we don’t want to wait that long, we have another option. For example, we could use blanket or jacket close the head and body so that we remain in complete darkness, and only our eyes rest on the window of the aircraft. Thus, once the eyes get used to it, we will be able to see some stars. This is not the most convenient option, and we won’t see the sky strewn with bright dots, but with luck, we can see that the stars are actually visible from the plane.