StarTalk Radio Things You Thought You Knew – Is Everything Light?
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May 12, 2026 They unpack albedo and why Earth, the Moon, and clothing reflect light differently. They explore light pollution, its ecological effects, and practical dark-sky fixes. They trace the full electromagnetic spectrum from radio to gamma rays and explain invisible bands like infrared and UV. They also cover satellite and radio interference with modern astronomy.
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Earth Absorbs Most Solar Energy
- Earth's average albedo is about 0.3 so roughly 70% of incoming solar energy is absorbed by the planet.
- That absorbed energy warms the surface and interacts with greenhouse gases to determine climate effects.
Earthshine Makes The Dark Moon Visible
- Full Earth seen from the Moon appears ~16× larger and about 3× more reflective than the Moon, making it nearly 50× brighter than a full Moon seen from Earth.
- This brightness causes Earthshine, which illuminates the Moon's dark side and makes the crescent's outline visible.
Hayden Visit Made Me Believe Stars Were Real
- Neil recalls discovering the night sky at age nine in the Hayden Planetarium and initially thinking the starfield was fake.
- He uses that urban childhood frame to explain how light and air pollution hide stars from city dwellers.