9 Things You Didn’t Know About Space

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!

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.

A Day on Venus Lasts Longer Than a Year

Venus is the second planet from the sun and is said to be Earth’s twin. This planet is similar in size and mass to Earth. However, that’s where the similarities end. One big difference between Venus and Earth is the length of their days. A day on Venus lasts 243 Earth days. This is because Venus rotates very slowly on its axis. In fact, it takes Venus longer to rotate once than it does to orbit the sun once. This means that a day on Venus actually lasts longer than a year!

There Are Lakes of Liquid Methane on Saturn’s Moon Titan

Saturn’s moon Titan is one of the most interesting places in the solar system. This moon is unique because it has lakes of liquid methane. These lakes can be found near the poles and some believe them to be raindrops that have evaporated and condensed. However, the temperatures on Titan are so cold that the methane doesn’t evaporate as it does on Earth. Instead, it condenses into a liquid form.

There May Be Life on Europa

Europa is one of Jupiter’s moons and has a layer of ice covering it. Under this ice is a liquid ocean. Some scientists believe it to be one of the most habitable places in the solar system. The conditions on Europa are similar to those found deep under the ocean on Earth. There may be hydrothermal vents on Europa that could support life. However, it would be almost immeasurably difficult to confirm this. The ice on Europa is likely several miles thick.

There Are Active Volcanoes on Mars

Mars is home to the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons. This volcano is about 16 miles high and 550 miles wide. It’s so large that it would cover the entire state of Arizona! But Olympus Mons isn’t the only volcano on Mars. In total, there are over 500 volcanoes on the red planet. You can even see some of these volcanoes erupting using telescopes from Earth.

The Universe Is Expanding

The universe is expanding. This may seem like a strange thing to say, but it’s true. The galaxies in the universe are moving away from each other. This means that the universe is getting bigger. Scientists believe that the universe is expanding because of something called dark energy. Dark energy is a type of energy that pushes the galaxies apart. It makes up about 68% of the universe.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the exciting things about space. There is still so much to learn about the universe. Astronomers are constantly discovering new and amazing things about space with new technology. Who knows what else they will discover in the future? So if you’re interested in learning more about space, be sure to keep up with the latest discoveries. You never know what you might learn!