Fear of stars and space (astrophobia)

Astrophobia is a fear of stars, the night sky and outer space. Looking up on a clear night can bring a sense of dread at how vast and empty space seems. Some people avoid stargazing, space documentaries or planetarium visits.

About this phobia

The name comes from the Greek astron, meaning star, and the fear is also called siderophobia, from the Latin sidus. It is rarely documented clinically. It is often confused with astraphobia, the much better known fear of thunder and lightning.

What it feels like

• Feeling small or unsettled under a clear night sky
• Avoiding articles about black holes or deep space
• Keeping curtains closed after dark

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is astrophobia the same as fear of thunder?

No. The two words look alike, but astraphobia is a fear of thunder and lightning, while astrophobia is about stars and space. Mix ups between them are common online.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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