Space Exploration Color Psychology & Meaning
Space exploration is dark progression — these blues graduating from near-black to bright electric blue represent the experience of moving from Earth's atmosphere into the cosmos.
#000A14
#003366
#0066CC
#4DA6FF
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Space Exploration Color Palette
#000A14 · #003366 · #0066CC · #4DA6FF
AAA
WCAG Grade
7.8:1
Contrast Ratio
2,600
Saves
7,000
AI Copies
Use #000A14 as the background. Use #003366 as the primary accent. Use #0066CC as secondary. Use #4DA6FF as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Space Exploration — dark, vast, hopeful.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Space Exploration color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 0.3% | 0, 10, 20 | 100%, 50%, 0%, 92% | 210°, 100%, 4% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 3.3% | 0, 51, 102 | 100%, 50%, 0%, 60% | 210°, 100%, 20% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 13.9% | 0, 102, 204 | 100%, 50%, 0%, 20% | 210°, 100%, 40% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 36.1% | 77, 166, 255 | 70%, 35%, 0%, 0% | 210°, 100%, 65% |
Space Exploration Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Space Exploration palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#000A14 saturated cyan-blue
#003366 saturated cyan-blue
#0066CC saturated cyan-blue
#4DA6FF saturated cyan-blue
Space Exploration Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #4DA6FF on #000A14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.80:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #000A14 on #4DA6FF |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.80:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #4DA6FF on #003366 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.93:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #003366 on #4DA6FF |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.93:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #0066CC on #000A14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.58:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #000A14 on #0066CC |
Aa Sample Text
| 3.58:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #0066CC on #003366 |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.27:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #003366 on #0066CC |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.27:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #4DA6FF on #0066CC |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.18:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #0066CC on #4DA6FF |
Aa Sample Text
| 2.18:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #003366 on #000A14 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.58:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #000A14 on #003366 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.58:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Analogous Scheme
The Space Exploration palette is built using a analogous relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A analogous palette is often preferred by professional designers because it creates a calm, serene atmosphere by using neighboring colors.
History & Design Context
Space exploration visual aesthetics draw from NASA photography, Hubble Space Telescope imagery, and the SpaceX-era revival of launch culture as spectacle and aspiration.
Best Design Use Cases
Near-black for backgrounds. Deep blue for surfaces. Mid blue for interactive elements. Bright blue for accent and highlight elements.
Industries This Palette Suits
Space companies, aerospace, science communication, exploration brands, STEM education.
Colors That Pair Well With Space Exploration
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
orange
directly opposite #003366 on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #003366 — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Space Exploration Without Breaking Accessibility
- Avoid #003366 for small UI elements on #000A14 — at 1.6:1 it misses the 3:1 WCAG threshold; darken it with a shade from the ramp below.
- Set body text in #4DA6FF — 7.8:1 against #000A14 passes WCAG AA (AAA) for long-form reading.
- Let #0066CC carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #003366.
How to Implement the Space Exploration Color Scheme
To use this Space Exploration color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #000A14 for the main background and #003366 for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #4DA6FF and #000A14 is 7.80:1 (AAA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Space Exploration Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Space Exploration color palette?
The Space Exploration palette contains #000A14, #003366, #0066CC, #4DA6FF. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Space Exploration color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #4DA6FF on #000A14 reaches 7.8:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Space Exploration palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #B35900, #050561, #E9EDF2 extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Space Exploration palette create?
Space Exploration reads as dark, vast, hopeful. Saturated cyan-blue drives the personality, grounded by saturated cyan-blue — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Space Exploration color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Space Exploration palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Space Exploration palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Space Exploration's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.