Considering magical society’s teachings in astronomy, it’s entirely possible that the wizarding world also has an interest in visiting space. Of course, whether or not they have, is an entirely different question.
Aside from a brief explanation that witches and wizards are able to fly a broom into low orbit around the Earth, there was only ever one mention of witches or wizards travelling to space in Harry Potter.
This instance was referenced in an edition of The Quibbler, the wizarding tabloid run by Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna’s father. As Harry flipped through this particular issue, he briefly read about “an interview with a wizard who claimed to have flown to the moon on a Cleansweep Six and brought back a bag of moon frogs to prove it”.
Although quite the story, it seems rather unlikely to be true. Read on to find out why.
Reasons a Wizard Would be Unable to Fly to the Moon on a Broom
1. It was reported in The Quibbler
The mere fact that this claim was reported by The Quibbler, also known as The Wizarding World’s Alternative Voice, makes it rather unlikely that the interview had any truth to it. For better or for worse, The Quibbler’s reputation had very little credibility—it was known to run stories built around conspiracy theories and imaginary creatures.
2. The numbers don’t check out
Then there’s the idea that a wizard could’ve flown all the way to the moon on a Cleansweep Six. This is, quite frankly, rather unbelievable.
Forget about the fact that a Cleansweep Six wasn’t the best of broomsticks available on the market, it wasn’t even the latest version of that make and model!
Not that any of that would have made a difference.
The moon is 384,400 kilometres from Earth. According to Quality Quidditch Supplies, the Firebolt broomstick—which is a much faster broomstick than the Cleansweep—is capable of reaching a speed of approximately 240 kilometres per hour. So, assuming the Cleansweep can reach maybe 225 kilometres per hour, it would take over 1,700 hours to reach the moon by broomstick.
That’s more than 71 days.
A rather impossible length of journey to make only by broomstick—in space.
3. The wizard didn’t have access to oxygen
Then there’s the question of air.
The wizard wouldn’t have been able to wear a Muggle astronaut suit, since the current space suit, the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, only allows for astronauts to spacewalk outside of a space shuttle for up to 7 hours.
Perhaps he used magic then?
Well, the only magical spell we know of that can help a witch or wizard breathe in an atmosphere without oxygen is the Bubble-Head Charm. While we do not have any solid evidence to suggest how long this charm can last, we know from The Goblet of Fire, that it can work for at least an hour.
But an hour is a far cry from 71 days. You’d be better off in the Muggle space suit.
Will Wizardkind Ever Go to Space?
While it doesn’t seem likely that witches or wizards have been to space yet, it does seem possible for them to make it there in the future. Especially, if the wizarding world was willing to combine magic with Muggle inventions!
