The Universe is Expanding
Ever since the Big Bang, which happened around 13.8 billion years ago, the universe has been expanding. Dark energy is the name given to the unexplained power that is causing this expansion to accelerate. A galaxy's speed of motion away from us increases with its distance from us, expanding the fabric of space.
There Are More Stars in the Universe Than Grains of Sand on Earth
An estimated 100 billion galaxies, each with billions of stars, make up the observable universe. The total number of stars is approximately 1 x 10^24, which is significantly more than the entire number of sand grains on all of Earth's beaches and deserts put together.
Black Holes Are Not Empty Voids
Contrary to their name, black holes are not empty; they are regions of space where gravity is so severe that not even light can escape. They originate from singularities with infinite density and zero volume at their centers, which are produced when enormous stars collapse due to their own gravity.
Neutron Stars Are Incredibly Dense
The remains of enormous stars that have burst into supernovae are known as neutron stars. A teaspoon of neutron star material weighs roughly a billion tons on Earth, demonstrating their density. These stars spin quickly and release pulsar-like radiation beams.
99.86% of the solar system's mass is contained in the sun.
Almost all of the mass in the solar system is accounted for by our medium-sized star, the Sun. It is made mostly of hydrogen and helium and has a mass around 333,000 times that of Earth. It gets its energy from nuclear fusion.
A Day on Venus is Longer Than a Year on Venus
Venus rotates quite slowly; a full rotation takes the planet 243 Earth days. A day on Venus is longer than a year on the planet, though, as it takes 225 Earth days to complete its cycle around the Sun.
There Could Be Life on Europa
Jupiter's moon Europa is one of the most potential locations in our solar system to look for extraterrestrial life. Beneath its frozen cover is a large ocean of liquid water that may support life because of tidal heating caused by Jupiter's gravitational pull.
The Largest Volcano in the Solar System is on Mars
The largest volcano in the solar system is Olympus Mons on Mars, which is roughly three times the height of Mount Everest at 13.6 miles (22 kilometers) above the surface. Its base is about the same area as Arizona.
Space is Completely Silent
There is no air or other medium in the vacuum of space to convey sound waves. It follows that the space is soundless. When an astronaut is outside of a spaceship, they use radios to communicate with mission control and each other.
There Are Planets Made of Diamond
It is thought that carbon makes up the majority of the composition of some exoplanets, such 55 Cancri e. These planets could be real cosmic jewels, with interiors rich in diamonds due to their tremendous pressures and temperatures.