What Does the Sun Look Like from the ISS?

Looking at the sun from the International Space Station (ISS) is not much different from what we see on Earth. Despite its remarkable height of three hundred miles above the Earth's surface, the sun maintains its white appearance, much like it does for us on the ground.

The Sun’s Appearance from the ISS

From the ISS, the sun appears as a brilliant white light, just as it does from the Earth. The reason for this is that the ISS’s orbit is very similar to the Earth’s. In fact, the difference in orbit is negligible, meaning the position of the sun as viewed from the ISS remains constant, with only the Earth blocking its view at certain times.

During sunrise and sunset, as seen from the ISS, there is a momentary addition of yellow, orange, and red hues. This is due to the effect of Earth's atmosphere as the light passes through it. On the horizon, where the Sun's light has to travel a longer distance through the atmosphere, this light is scattered, leading to the familiar warm and golden colors seen at the beginning and end of a day.

Reid Wiseman's Sunset Picture

An image captured by NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman during a sunset over the South Pacific Ocean on the ISS provides a vivid illustration of this phenomenon. The picture, shared on October 29, 2014, on social media, shows a clear and vibrant view of the sun as it sets against the Earth's limb. You can view the image here.

Comparing Sunlight on Earth and in Space

It is worth noting that the sun’s appearance on the ISS is not entirely unaffected by the finite distance between the two celestial bodies. While the sun is nearly ninety-three million miles away, the relative proximity of the ISS (only three hundred miles up) means that the light from the sun is less scattered. This results in a more direct and unfiltered white light rather than the yellow hue we perceive from Earth.

The sun is also classified as a yellow-type star because of its highest brightness in the yellow-green region of the spectrum. However, it is the combination of Earth's atmosphere and the position of the observer that gives us the familiar yellow sunset and sunrise colors.

Explore Further

To truly appreciate the beauty and science of the ISS, I recommend watching this explanatory YouTube video: How It Works: The International Space Station 1080p 60fps. The video provides a comprehensive overview of the ISS's operation and its contributions to space exploration and Earth observation. It is sure to spark your fascination with space science and the ISS.

For further images and data, you can explore more on the NASA website.

Thank you for taking the time to read about the sun's appearance from the ISS. If you have any further questions or would like to learn more, please don't hesitate to reach out!