Question

How would a nuclear explosion look in space?

Answer 1

Hint: In order to answer how a nuclear explosion looks in space, we need to first understand the characteristics of a nuclear explosion on Earth or inside its atmosphere. When a nuclear warhead is exploded near the surface of the Earth, massive shockwaves are felt around the sight of explosion. This is followed by a massive mushroom cloud which is made up of all the gases that have been released during the explosion and very powerful Electromagnetic Pulses also known as EMPs. These mushroom clouds rise up in the sky because of the hot gases present in them just like a hot air balloon.

Complete answer:
Now that we have seen the characteristics of a nuclear explosion on Earth. We can find out how a nuclear explosion looks in space by comparing it with the explosion on Earth.
Since space is a vast area of nothingness, that is vacuum, there will be no effect of gravity on explosion. So, the explosion will be spherical in nature and no mushroom shaped clouds will be formed. Also, a blast or a shockwave requires a medium to traverse and space being empty will not have a blast effect.
As per visibility, the light radiation emitted from the explosion will be visible and very bright. The brightness will be so intense in the first few seconds that looking at it directly with naked eyes may result in permanent damage to our eyes.

Note:
If a nuclear warhead is detonated in space above our Earth at a considerable distance, the radiation emitted from the explosion will interact with the Oxygen and Nitrogen gas present in our atmosphere and result in the formation of spectacular Auroras near the sight of detonation.