Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

triffid_hunter t1_ity3aty wrote

Reply to comment by ConfidentLo in How Bright is Space from Low Earth Orbit? by ConfidentLo

Without any atmospheric scattering, it's pitch black unless you're looking directly at a light source (gravitational lensing aside)

Still enough sunlight to make thermal management very important though - consider that the surface of the Moon hits 120°C during its day, and -130°C during its night ;)

14

ConfidentLo OP t1_ity3po8 wrote

Didn’t know the moon got that hot. Jesus.

4

triffid_hunter t1_ity49pj wrote

That's why all the moon landing photos have such long shadows and why the suits and craft were all painted white - they tried to land near the terminator to simplify thermal management ;)

7