Hey Lykkers! Are you ready to dive into the mysteries of space? The universe is filled with wonders that are beyond our imagination. While we might think we know a lot about the cosmos, the truth is that we're only scratching the surface.
In this article, we'll explore 10 incredible space facts that will make you question everything you thought you knew about our universe. Ready to be amazed? Let's get started!
1. Mercury Has a Tail!
You might already know that comets have tails, but did you know that Mercury has one too? Unlike comets, Mercury's tail is formed by solar winds that eject sodium atoms off its surface. This tail is incredibly hard to spot, and you'll need a telescope with special filters to catch a glimpse of it. The best time to see it is around Mercury's perihelion (the closest point to the Sun), which happens twice a year. The Sky Tonight app can help you figure out the best time to try observing it!
2. A Man Is Buried on the Moon
Here's a fascinating fact: Eugene Shoemaker, the famous geologist who co-discovered the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet, became the first and only person ever to be buried on the Moon. Although Shoemaker trained astronauts like Neil Armstrong, he never made it to the Moon himself due to health reasons. However, in 1997, NASA honored his legacy by taking a portion of his ashes to the Moon with the Lunar Prospector spacecraft. Isn't that incredible?
3. There's a Diamond Planet!
Believe it or not, there's a planet 40 light-years away called 55 Cancrie that scientists believe may be covered in diamonds. While this might sound like a dream, the conditions on the planet are extreme: its surface is hotter than 2,400°C (4,352°F) and its atmosphere contains poisonous hydrogen cyanide. But if the diamond theory is true, this planet could be worth a mind-boggling $26.9 sextillion!
4. Saturn's Hexagonal Storm
Saturn isn't just known for its iconic rings; it also has a strange six-sided storm at its north pole. Discovered by NASA's Voyager spacecraft in 1981, this storm measures about 300 km high and spans 29,000 km wide. The sides of this storm are so perfectly geometric that they resemble a giant hexagon. What's even cooler is that the color of the storm changes with the seasons, from golden in the summer to blue in the winter.
5. A Massive Cloud of Water in Space
Water in space? Yes, it exists! While Earth isn't the only place with water, the largest "reservoir" of water in space is found around a quasar 12 billion light-years away. This water cloud is so massive that it contains 140 trillion times the amount of water found on Earth's oceans. It's hard to wrap our heads around that much water, but it's out there!
6. LEGO Figures on Jupiter's Orbit
In an effort to spark interest in science, LEGO sent three figurines to join NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter. The LEGO crew includes Galileo Galilei, Jupiter , and his wife Juno. These figures were specially made out of aluminum to withstand the harsh conditions of space travel. As of now, they are still orbiting the Earth, with the Juno mission scheduled to continue until 2025!
7. Neptune Has Only Completed One Orbit Since It Was Discovered
Neptune is a fascinating planet. Discovered in 1846, it has only completed one full orbit around the Sun since then, because a year on Neptune lasts nearly 165 Earth years. That means it won't complete another orbit until around 2031! Isn't that a crazy fact to think about?
8. A Wedding Ring Lost in Space, Then Found
In 1972, during the Apollo 16 mission, astronaut Ken Mattingly lost his wedding ring. It was believed to have floated away into space, but eventually, astronaut Charles Duke spotted it and caught it just in time! What are the odds of losing something in space and then finding it again? It's a good reminder that even in the vastness of space, small things can still be found.
9. Spacecraft Have Visited Every Planet in Our Solar System
For over 60 years, we've been sending spacecraft to explore the solar system, and they've visited every planet (including dwarf planets) in our system. Spacecraft have landed on Mars and Venus, orbited Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, and Ceres, and even passed by Uranus and Neptune. The New Horizons mission even made history by flying past Pluto. It's truly incredible how far we've come in space exploration!
10. Earth Has More Trees Than Stars in the Milky Way
You've probably heard that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on Earth. But here's a surprising fact: there are more trees on Earth than stars in the Milky Way! Our space is home to about 100 billion to 400 billion stars, while Earth has over 3 trillion trees. We might not be able to see all the trees, but they're there, and they outnumber the stars in our space!
Wrapping Up
Space is full of incredible discoveries that continuously spark our imagination. These facts only scratch the surface of the mysteries out there, and there's still so much more to learn. If you're itching to explore the night sky on your own, don't forget to check out the Sky Tonight app, your ultimate companion for real-time stargazing and space exploration!
With detailed star maps, live data, and easy-to-use tools, you'll have everything you need to track planets and stars right from your phone. Start your stargazing adventure today, Lykkers!
