To many people, space is an infinite black void. To others, it’s an endless universe of unanswered questions. However you feel about space, the truth is a lot is going on out there. There is so much to learn about the vastness of space that it’s impossible to know everything. Even the most educated people in the field continue to learn new things every day. With all that knowledge being shared, there are some exciting things about space that many people don’t know. If you want to find out a bit more about space, keep reading!
Contents
Uranus Spins Sideways
One thing you may not know is that Uranus spins on its side. This planet is unique in our solar system because it’s the only one that doesn’t rotate around an axis that is perpendicular to its orbital plane. Instead, it revolves around an axis parallel to its orbital plane. This means that one of its poles points toward the sun for part of its year while the other pole points away. This planet’s unusual rotation is thought to result from a collision with a large object early in its history. This collision was so powerful that it knocked Uranus over onto its side. Scientists believe that this collision also created Uranus’ moons.
Neptune Isn’t the Coldest Planet
You may think that since Pluto is no longer considered a planet, Neptune would take its place as the coldest planet in the solar system. However, this isn’t the case. Even though Neptune is farther from the sun than Pluto, it has a higher average temperature. This is because Neptune has an internal heat source. Scientists believe this heat to be the result of the planet’s formation. When Neptune formed, the gravitational energy released as material fell into its center, which heated the planet. This heat has been slowly leaking out ever since and keeps Neptune’s interior warm.
There Is a Planet Made of Diamonds
In 2014, astronomers discovered a planet made primarily of diamonds. This planet, called 55 Cancri e, is about twice the size of Earth and has a mass eight times that of Earth. It’s so close to its star that it only takes 18 hours to orbit. From what scientists can tell the surface of this planet is covered in graphite and diamond. The extreme conditions on this planet cause the carbon to crystallize into diamonds.
There Are Planets Without Stars
In 2008, astronomers discovered a type of planet known as a “rogue planet.” These planets don’t orbit any star and wander through space alone. Rogue planets seem to be very common in the universe. In fact, there may be more rogue planets than there are stars. Most of these planets are very large and very cold. The largest known rogue planet is about 12 times the size of Jupiter.