7 interesting, weird facts about the space, solar system
There is so much about our solar system and the galaxy that we still do not know! Indeed, Space is vast.
With billions of galaxies and stars, and planets in our own solar system yet to be fully explored or understood, scientists’ knowledge of space is always evolving.
As time goes by, technological advancements have seen us learn more facts about space in the past century than in all time before that.
There are, however, some really cool things we know about space right now and so much more that need answers to.
Hence, we’ve compiled a list of what we think are seven interesting, weird facts about space.
Fun Facts About Space and Solar System
1. It is millions of years old
The Solar System is 4.568 million years old and is 28 thousand light years from the center of the Milky Way.
The Greeks were the first to start documenting information about the System, stating that the Earth was the center of the universe.
Nicolás Copernicus, around 1,500 after Christ, was the one who raised the current model.
Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton worked on that idea to shape the image of the system that we know today.
2. Jupiter, the planet that rotates the most
Despite having a mass 318 times greater than Earth, it is the fastest planet in the Solar System.
In total, it takes 1,433 Earth days to go around the Sun, but a single day on Jupiter takes only 10 hours.
3. Dark matter surrounds Earth
The planet is surrounded by a halo of dark matter, something that is common in many of these formations. It is that this type of matter is very abundant throughout the Universe.
Its function is to prevent galaxies and different systems from moving more than they should and from falling adrift.
4. Flying is possible on a moon of Saturn
Titan, the largest of Saturn’s 62 moons, is one of the most peculiar places in our Solar System.
Among its most important curiosities, it is worth mentioning its thick atmosphere, unique in the entire System.
A layer that stands out for its low gravity and low atmospheric pressure. Two fundamental aspects to “fly” with a little boost from your feet.
5. Uranus and Neptune have space diamonds.
If you were on those planets, you could see vast oceans of diamonds. These planets are very unstable, but they have one of the most precious minerals.
It is in its liquid state and it comes from a peculiar rain produced by the extensive concentrations of carbon created by the misalignment of the poles.
6. You Can’t Directly See a Black Hole
A black hole is a spot in the universe where there is a large gravity pull. A black hole is called a black hole because of it’s color, especially since light can’t escape.
What we can see, though, is the effects of a black hole. Analyzing the surrounding area of a black hole, we can see its effects upon its environment. For example, a star that’s close enough to a black hole can be seen being ripped apart.
7. Traces of life on Mars
The inhabitants of Mars are nevertheless very real given the many elements found on the Red Planet.
Indeed, each time the Martian atmosphere has been analyzed, scientists have found very large quantities of methane , a hydrocarbon that decomposes naturally and quickly in contact with the sun’s ultraviolet rays normally.
In other words, if such a presence of methane is detected, it necessarily implies that something is continuously producing it.
“Methane is rapidly destroyed in the Martian atmosphere in various ways, so our discovery of substantial plumes of methane in the Martian atmosphere. the northern hemisphere of Mars in 2003 indicates that certain ongoing processes are releasing gas, ”explains NASA Goddard Space Doctor Michael Mumma.
However, scientists still do not know if it is biological or just geological in nature, but according to a large majority of scientists, the most likely theory would be that this methane is of biological origin, but underground (living microorganisms below the surface of Mars).
All this without counting the water lake of no less than 20 km observed by NASA on the Planet Mars on July 25, 2018.
Although this in no way confirms or invalidates a hypothetical presence of life, water nevertheless remains a key element in astrobiology, a path to be followed for future research as stated by the English Doctor Matt Balme of the Open University: “Perhaps this could even be the trigger for an ambitious new mission from Mars to drill into this buried pocket of water – as has been done for the subglacial Antarctic lakes on Earth.”
