space tan n.

a tan caused by being in space, exposed to the light of suns unfiltered by planetary atmospheres

  • 1936 N. Schachner Reverse Universe in Astounding Stories June 10/2 page image Nat Schachner

    Talbot flushed under his space tan.

  • 1945 H. Walton Schedule in Astounding Science-Fiction June 65/1 Harry Walton bibliography

    Under his space tan the blood seemed to recede from Matthews' face.

  • 1947 β€˜H. Hastings’ Big Night in Thrilling Wonder Stories June 40/2

    The skin of his wrinkled face was nearly black with space-tan.

  • 1956 Amazing Stories Aug. 64/2

    It was a younger version of himself at the door, with narrower shoulders, a paler face (Paul was proud of his heavy space-tan).

  • 1963 L. J. Stecher When You Giffle in Worlds of Tomorrow Dec. 105/2

    In spite of the space tan, I could see him blush.

  • 1970 β€˜A. Norton’ Dread Companion (1984) 140 Andre Norton

    The skin of his hands and face was very dark, the space tan of a starfarer, but on the less exposed parts of his body it was ivory-white.

Research requirements

antedating 1936
Earliest cite

Nat Schachner, "Reverse Universe"
Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1984 cite from a reprint of Andre Norton's 1970 "Dread Companion".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1947 cite from Hudson Hastings' "The Big Night".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1956 cite from Calvin Knox's "Look Homeward, Spaceman".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1963 cite from L.J. Stecher's "When You Giffle".
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from an undated reprint of Harry Walton's "Schedule"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1945 first appearance.
Mike Christie submitted a 1942 cite from Will Stewart's "Collision Orbit".
Jesse Sheidlower submitted a 1936 cite from Nat Schachner's "Reverse Universe".

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.