20 Space Myths You Probably Believe (But Shouldn’t)

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By Shannon Quinn - June 16, 2025

Space has always fascinated us, but misconceptions about the cosmos are everywhere. From blockbuster movies to viral memes, pop culture often blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Even some outdated science textbooks add fuel to the fire, leaving many of us with a patchwork of myths instead of facts.

If we want to truly marvel at the universe’s wonders, we need to look past these persistent myths.In this article, we’ll unravel the truth behind 20 common space myths—and reveal just how amazing the real universe is!

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1. Space is Completely Silent

20 Space Myths You Probably Believe (But Shouldn’t) — NASA’s cutting-edge spacecraft emits shimmering sound waves, visualized as rippling patterns against the vastness of space. | Image source: Photo by SpaceX on Pexels

It’s a common belief that space is utterly silent. While it’s true that sound waves can’t travel through the vacuum—since there’s no air—space isn’t totally devoid of sound. Vibrations pass through plasma and gas clouds, creating eerie “space sounds” that can be detected by special spacecraft instruments.
NASA has even recorded these cosmic vibrations, proving that the universe isn’t as silent as we once thought!

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2. The Sun is Yellow

Many believe the Sun is yellow, but in reality, it emits white light when viewed from space. The yellowish hue we see from Earth is caused by our atmosphere scattering shorter blue wavelengths. If you could see the Sun without atmospheric interference, it would appear brilliant white. NASA confirms the Sun’s true color is white, not yellow!

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3. There is No Gravity in Space

The idea that there’s no gravity in space is a myth. Gravity exists everywhere—even far from planets. Astronauts experience microgravity because they’re in a constant state of free-fall while orbiting Earth, not because gravity disappears. This sensation of weightlessness is due to their motion, not the absence of gravitational forces. Learn more about gravity from ESA.

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4. The Great Wall of China is Visible from Space

Many people claim the Great Wall of China is visible from space, but this isn’t true. Even from low Earth orbit, human-made structures are incredibly difficult to spot without visual aids. Astronauts have confirmed that the Great Wall blends in with its surroundings and is nearly impossible to see, especially compared to brightly lit cities at night. NASA debunks this myth with real astronaut observations.

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5. Black Holes Suck Everything Nearby

Contrary to popular belief, black holes aren’t cosmic vacuum cleaners that devour everything in their path. Only objects that come very close to a black hole—within its event horizon—are affected by its intense gravity. If the Sun were suddenly replaced by a black hole of equal mass, Earth would continue orbiting as usual. NASA explains black holes in detail.

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6. Space is Cold Enough to Instantly Freeze

Despite what movies show, space won’t instantly freeze you. Because space is a vacuum, it doesn’t conduct heat efficiently—objects lose warmth slowly through radiation, not immediate contact. Instant freezing is a myth that looks dramatic on screen, but real science tells a different story. Learn more from Scientific American.

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7. The Moon’s Dark Side Never Sees Sunlight

The phrase “dark side of the Moon” is misleading. Every part of the Moon receives sunlight during its month-long orbit. The so-called dark side is actually just the far side, which remains hidden from Earth—but it’s not shrouded in perpetual darkness. NASA explains lunar phases and how sunlight reaches all sides.

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8. Humans Explode in Space Without a Suit

The idea that humans explode in space without a suit is pure science fiction. In reality, you’d lose consciousness within seconds due to lack of oxygen, but your body wouldn’t explode. Some bodily fluids may start to boil because of the low pressure, yet your skin is strong enough to keep you intact. Live Science provides more details on this chilling myth.

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9. The Hubble Telescope Photographs in Color

Many believe the Hubble Space Telescope snaps color photos of the cosmos, but that’s not true. Hubble actually captures images in black and white. Scientists add color by combining images taken through different filters, with each color often representing specific elements or features. Explore Hubble’s image process to see how these iconic images come to life.

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10. Venus is Earth’s Closest Planet

It’s often said that Venus is Earth’s closest neighbor, but that isn’t the full story. While Venus does come closest at certain points in its orbit, Mercury is, on average, the nearest planet to all others—including Earth—because of its smaller, faster orbit around the Sun. Physics Today debunks this orbital misconception.

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11. Meteors Are Hot When They Hit the Ground

You might picture meteors blazing hot as they crash to Earth, but that’s a misconception. While meteors heat up during their fiery entry, they often cool rapidly on their way down and can even land cold to the touch. The American Meteor Society explains why many meteorites aren’t hot when found on the ground.

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12. The Sun Is Burning Like Fire

It’s easy to imagine the Sun as a giant ball of fire, but its energy doesn’t come from burning. Instead, the Sun shines thanks to nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms fuse to create helium and release tremendous energy. This process is fundamentally different from ordinary combustion. NASA explains the Sun’s true power source.

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13. Mars Is Red All Over

While Mars is known as the “Red Planet”, it isn’t entirely red. The reddish appearance comes from iron oxide dust, but Mars also has dark volcanic basalt, white polar ice caps, and a landscape full of varied hues and features. NASA’s Mars facts reveal the planet’s true colors.

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14. Planets Orbit the Sun in Perfect Circles

It’s a common myth that planets orbit the Sun in perfect circles. In reality, planetary orbits are slightly elliptical, meaning they’re stretched ovals rather than true circles. This was first demonstrated by Johannes Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. NASA explains planetary orbits and how they shape our solar system.

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15. The International Space Station is Far from Earth

Many imagine the International Space Station (ISS) as distant, but it actually orbits much closer than you might think. The ISS circles Earth at an altitude of about 250 miles—roughly the distance from New York to Washington, D.C. This proximity allows for relatively quick travel to and from the station. Read more ISS facts from NASA.

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16. Astronauts Float Because There’s No Gravity

The sight of astronauts floating in space leads many to think there’s no gravity up there. In truth, astronauts experience microgravity because they are in continuous free-fall as they orbit Earth. This creates the sensation of weightlessness, not the absence of gravity itself. ESA explains microgravity and its effects on astronauts.

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17. Space Travel Makes You Age Slower

It’s true that special relativity predicts time moves more slowly for those traveling at high speeds, but this effect is almost undetectable at the speeds astronauts currently travel. During Scott Kelly’s famous Year in Space, the age difference compared to his twin brother was just a tiny fraction of a second. NASA’s Twins Study highlights how minimal this effect really is.

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18. There’s Only One North Star

Many believe Polaris will always be the North Star, but that’s not the case. Earth’s axis slowly wobbles, a motion called precession, causing different stars to take turns as our North Star over thousands of years. EarthSky explains this celestial shift.

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19. The Asteroid Belt is Densely Crowded

Hollywood often shows the asteroid belt as a chaotic, crowded jumble, but reality is much different. The asteroid belt is vast, and most asteroids are separated by millions of kilometers. Spacecraft routinely pass through this region without any trouble. NASA details the true nature of the asteroid belt and its sparse population.

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20. Space is Black Everywhere

Though space appears pitch black to our eyes, it’s actually awash in faint light from distant stars, galaxies, and glowing nebulae. Sensitive instruments can detect this cosmic glow, revealing a universe far more vibrant than we perceive. NASA’s research continues to uncover the hidden brilliance of the cosmos.

By challenging these common myths, we get closer to the wonders of reality—and the universe becomes even more astonishing. Stay curious, question what you think you know, and keep exploring!

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