The universe is full of mysteries that continue to fascinate and inspire us. From the massive stars to the tiny particles, the universe is full of wonders that we have yet to explore and understand fully. Space exploration has allowed us to gain new insights into the universe and provided us with fun and interesting space facts. In this post, we'll share 10 fun space facts you didn't know to expand your knowledge and curiosity about the universe.
1. The largest known star is over 2,150 times larger than the sun.
Stephenson 2-18, also known as Stephenson 2 DFK1, is currently the largest known star in the Milky Way galaxy. It is a red hypergiant star, and its radius is estimated to be over 2,150 times that of the sun, making it larger than any other star currently known. The immense size of Stephenson 2-18, as well as other giant stars, is due to the intense pressure and temperature at their cores, which causes them to expand and create a large envelope of hot gas. This star is highly luminous, emitting vast amounts of energy into space.
Stephenson 2-18 is located in the constellation Scutum and is estimated to be around 18,000 light-years from Earth. As a result, the light we observe from the star today left it around 18,000 years ago. As the field of astronomy continues to develop, it's important to note that our understanding of celestial objects, including stars, can change as new discoveries are made.
2. There is a planet made almost entirely of diamond.
55 Cancri e is a rocky exoplanet (planet that orbits a star outside our solar system) roughly twice the size of Earth that orbits very close to its star in a solar system 40 light-years away from us. What makes it so unique is that it's estimated to be made up of at least a third pure diamond due to its high carbon-to-oxygen ratio, causing carbon to bond and form a crystalline structure similar to diamond. Despite its stunning composition, the planet's surface temperature is estimated to be around 2,150 degrees Celsius, making it too hot and inhospitable for any form of life.
Image Credit: Haven Giguere - Yale
3. The highest mountain in the solar system is on Mars.
Olympus Mons, located on Mars, is the tallest mountain in the solar system with a height of over 21 km (13 miles) high, which is about two and a half times the height of Mount Everest. Olympus Mons is a shield volcano that formed over billions of years as lava flowed out of the volcano and created a wide, gentle slope. The mountain is so large that it creates a noticeable bulge on the surface of Mars, and its size has led scientists to speculate that Mars may still be volcanically active.
4. Jupiter has a storm that's larger than the size of Earth.
The Great Red Spot is a giant storm on Jupiter that has been raging for at least 350 years, and is over twice the size of Earth. The storm is created by the interaction of different atmospheric pressures and wind patterns on the planet, which cause it to swirl in a circular pattern. The Great Red Spot is actually a giant high-pressure system, and its rotation is clockwise, which is the opposite of most storms on Earth.
Jupiter's Great Red Spot
5. The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova.
Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut, was the first woman to go into space on June 16, 1963, aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft. Her mission lasted for just under three days and she orbited the Earth 48 times. Tereshkova was a pioneer in space exploration, and her mission helped to pave the way for other women to enter the field of science and engineering.
6. Black holes can warp time and space around them.
Black holes are incredibly dense objects that exert a strong gravitational pull. They warp time and space around them, causing light and matter to be pulled into them. The gravitational pull of black holes is so strong that not even light can escape from them, which is why they appear as black spots in space. Black holes can be formed from the remnants of massive stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel and collapsed under their own gravity. They can also form from the collision of two neutron stars or from the merging of two black holes.
Simulation of a supermassive black hole
Image Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; background, ESA/Gaia/DPAC
7. Venus rotates in the opposite direction to most planets.
While most planets in our solar system rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, Venus rotates clockwise, which is also known as a retrograde rotation. The reason for this unusual rotation is still not fully understood, but it's thought to be due to a collision with another object early in the planet's history. Venus is also known for its thick atmosphere, which is composed mostly of carbon dioxide and has a surface pressure that is 90 times greater than that of Earth.
8. The Largest Telescope in Space
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest telescope ever built for observations in space, was launched on December 25, 2021. The James Webb Space Telescope will be located approximately 1.5 million kilometers (nearly one million miles) from Earth at the second Lagrange point, which is a gravitationally stable point in space. This location will provide an ideal vantage point for observing the universe with minimal interference from Earth's atmosphere and the Sun's heat and light. To learn more about the JWST follow through this LINK to our other blog post.
9. The Milky Way galaxy is over 13 billion years old.
Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is estimated to be about 13.2 billion years old, making it one of the oldest galaxies in the universe. The age of the Milky Way is determined by studying the oldest known stars in the galaxy and using computer simulations to estimate its formation and evolution over time. The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, which means it has a central bar-shaped structure surrounded by spiral arms of stars and gas.
Our Milkey Way Galaxy: How Big is Space?
10. Scientists have found thousands of exoplanets, some of which may be able to support life.
Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside of our solar system. Scientists have discovered thousands of exoplanets using telescopes and other instruments, some of which may have conditions that are suitable for life as we know it. The search for exoplanets is an exciting area of research that is helping us to better understand the prevalence of life in the universe. Some of the most promising exoplanets for potential habitability include Kepler-62f, Kepler-452b, and Proxima Centauri b.
We hope we’ve demonstrated the vastness and complexity of the universe, and the exciting discoveries that continue to be made in the field of astronomy. By sharing these facts, we hope to inspire your own curiosity and interest in space and science, and to showcase the fascinating world of space exploration and research.
If you're as fascinated by space as we are, check out our collection of space-inspired apparel and accessories. From galaxy prints to space-themed designs, our products allow you to showcase your love for space and science in style.
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