People will say that it's because the earth is so bright.
I'm not sure how that really addresses the issue, though. Since there should be no atmosphere for the light from earth to interfere with the light of distant stars, if the camera can pick up a distant star without earth being lit, then it still should be able to pick it up when the earth is lit. The light won't interact in space... It's a vacuum.
So, I could see them needing 2 different cameras, one to focus on the earth, and one to focus on the stars, but there should be no reason they don't do that! Just have two cameras. On one camera focus on as much of good ol' earth as you can. With the other, focus on the stars and block the light from the earth. Show the feeds separate and together.
view the rest of the comments →
Fateswebb ago
I see this video, not sure which you're looking at, but my question would be more, why can I not see a single star in the sky? http://www.ustream.tv/channel/live-iss-stream
SaveTheChildren ago
I agree.
People will say that it's because the earth is so bright.
I'm not sure how that really addresses the issue, though. Since there should be no atmosphere for the light from earth to interfere with the light of distant stars, if the camera can pick up a distant star without earth being lit, then it still should be able to pick it up when the earth is lit. The light won't interact in space... It's a vacuum.
BoraxTheFungarian ago
Nothing to reflect off of, no visible light. Would appear as an infintismally small prick in your eye... Atoeast this is the explanation in my head.
SaveTheChildren ago
So, I could see them needing 2 different cameras, one to focus on the earth, and one to focus on the stars, but there should be no reason they don't do that! Just have two cameras. On one camera focus on as much of good ol' earth as you can. With the other, focus on the stars and block the light from the earth. Show the feeds separate and together.
This makes too much sense, though, for NASA.