space tan n.

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

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

    Talbot flushed under his space tan.

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

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

  • 1947 ‘H. Hastings’ Big Night in Thrilling Wonder Stories June 40/2 page image Henry Kuttner bibliography

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

  • 1956 ‘C. Knox’ Look Homeward, Spaceman in Amazing Stories Aug. 64/2 page image Robert Silverberg bibliography

    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 Joseph Wesley bibliography

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

  • 1970 A. Norton Dread Companion (1984) 140 Andre Norton bibliography

    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.

  • 1985 A. McCaffrey Killashandra 40 page image Anne McCaffrey bibliography

    He had a pleasant voice, his ship-suit was well cut to a tall lean frame, his features were regular but without a distinguishing imperfection; his medium length dark hair complimented a space tan.

  • 2015 G. N. Bossert Twelve & Tag in Asimov’s Science Fiction Mar. 59/1 page image Gregory Norman Bossert bibliography

    I was ten centimeters taller, wider, she was thinner, wouldn’t have seemed possible, her dark skin gone that dull space-tan.

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" (i.e. Robert Silverberg)'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 2022-06-21 10:55:17
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.