1) Earth’s atmosphere is relatively thin, similar to an apple’s skin compared to the size of the Earth itself. 2) The Sun makes up 99% of the mass of the entire solar system. 3) Black holes can warp time and space around them, distorting the fabric of the universe. 4) The moon is slowly moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year. 5) The largest known star, UY Scuti, is over 1,500 times the size of the Sun. 6) Vulcan, a hypothetical planet, was once thought to exist between Mercury and the Sun but was proven false. 7) Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a massive storm that has been raging for over 300 years. 8) The International Space Station moves at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour around the Earth. 9) Venus, not the closest planet to the Sun, has a temperature of a scorching 864 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the hottest planet in the solar system. 10) The universe could be infinitely large with an endless number of galaxies and stars to discover.
10 Mind-Blowing Space Facts That Will Leave You in Awe
1. Earth’s Atmosphere is Only a Thin Layer
Did you know that the Earth’s atmosphere is only a thin layer surrounding our planet? In fact, the thickness of the atmosphere when compared to the size of the Earth is like the thickness of an apple’s skin compared to the apple itself.
2. The Sun Makes up 99% of the Mass in the Solar System
The Sun is massive! It makes up 99% of the mass in our entire solar system. That means that everything else, including all the other planets, moons, asteroids, and comets put together only make up 1% of the mass.
3. Black Holes Can Warp Time and Space
Black holes are incredibly fascinating objects in space, and they have some pretty mind-bending effects on time and space. They are so powerful that they can warp both time and space around them, distorting the fabric of the universe.
4. The Moon is Growing Away from Earth
The Moon is slowly moving away from the Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year. While this might not seem like much, in a few billion years, the Moon will have moved so far away that its effect on tides and the Earth’s rotation will be significantly reduced.
5. The Largest Known Star is Over 1,500 Times the Size of the Sun
The largest known star, UY Scuti, is an absolute giant. It is over 1,500 times the size of the Sun and could fit over 5 billion suns inside it.
6. There is a Hypothetical Planet Called Vulcan
Did you know that there is a hypothetical planet called Vulcan? It was once thought to exist between Mercury and the Sun due to some discrepancies in Mercury’s orbit. However, this was later proven false, and the planet never existed.
7. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a Massive Storm
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a massive storm that has been raging for over 300 years. It is so large that it could fit about three Earths inside it.
8. The International Space Station Travels at 17,500 Miles Per Hour
The International Space Station (ISS) moves at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour around the Earth. That means that the ISS orbits the Earth every 90 minutes and travels over 220 miles above the surface.
9. The Hottest Planet in the Solar System is Not the Closest to the Sun
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun, but it is not the hottest in the solar system. That title goes to Venus, which has a thick atmosphere that traps heat and causes the temperature to soar to a scorching 864 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. The Universe Could Be Infinitely Big
The universe is massive, and we have only just begun to uncover its secrets. One mind-blowing fact is that the universe could be infinitely big, meaning that there could be an endless number of galaxies and stars out there waiting to be discovered.