Can you see stars from a plane at night?
Avoid imitations
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The only star you can never see from a plane at night is the sun.
[Pedant]There are somewhere between 200 billion and 400 billion stars in our galaxy. We can only see about 5000 of them, depending on viewing conditions.[/pedant]
Following on from the above, the number of stars we can see is about 0.0000000125% of the number of stars in the galaxy. This number is near enough to 0% to make no difference. Therefore the answer to the OP is no, we can't see any stars from an aeroplane at night, and we can't see any from the ground either
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Following on from the above, the number of stars we can see is about 0.0000000125% of the number of stars in the galaxy. This number is near enough to 0% to make no difference. Therefore the answer to the OP is no, we can't see any stars from an aeroplane at night, and we can't see any from the ground either
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I suspect the original poster's question was meant to be, can you see stars in the daytime from an aircraft at 30,000 feet. This would be in line with the theory that from a sufficiently deep hole in the ground, you could see stars in the daytime because all randomly directed ambient light from the sun would be filtered out.
The straight answer is that you cannot see stars in the daytime at 30,000 feet from an aircraft, nor from the bottom of a mineshaft. At 100,000 feet the brighter stars directly overhead start to become visible in daylight.
The straight answer is that you cannot see stars in the daytime at 30,000 feet from an aircraft, nor from the bottom of a mineshaft. At 100,000 feet the brighter stars directly overhead start to become visible in daylight.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I suspect the original poster's question was meant to be, can you see stars in the daytime from an aircraft at 30,000 feet. This would be in line with the theory that from a sufficiently deep hole in the ground, you could see stars in the daytime because all randomly directed ambient light from the sun would be filtered out.
The straight answer is that you cannot see stars in the daytime at 30,000 feet from an aircraft, nor from the bottom of a mineshaft. At 100,000 feet the brighter stars directly overhead start to become visible in daylight.
The straight answer is that you cannot see stars in the daytime at 30,000 feet from an aircraft, nor from the bottom of a mineshaft. At 100,000 feet the brighter stars directly overhead start to become visible in daylight.
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seeing stars
The V Force conversion was long and detailed
One small exercise was to sit the newcomer on the astro stool with oxygen mask on, cabin alt about 8,000'. Sees stars through periscopic sextant. While watching remove oxygen mask, stars go. Oxygen mask on stars come back. So at night always wear your oxygen mask, see traffic. useful excercise
One small exercise was to sit the newcomer on the astro stool with oxygen mask on, cabin alt about 8,000'. Sees stars through periscopic sextant. While watching remove oxygen mask, stars go. Oxygen mask on stars come back. So at night always wear your oxygen mask, see traffic. useful excercise
PPRuNe Handmaiden
I was going to post about the cabin altitude but Tinribs lbeat me to it. 
Denti oh yes! our pax would have coronaries. (No flight deck door)
Denti oh yes! our pax would have coronaries. (No flight deck door)
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I'd just looked again at the original question..
"Can you see the stars from a plane at night"?
Try playing up with me while we're airborne and you might very well find out.
"Can you see the stars from a plane at night"?
Try playing up with me while we're airborne and you might very well find out.
