30+ Space Facts: Everything You Need to Know! (Free Printables)

The Universe is constantly expanding. This means that the distance between galaxies is increasing over time.

The discovery of this expansion was made by Edwin Hubble in 1929, who noticed that distant galaxies were moving away from us.

This groundbreaking observation led to the development of the Big Bang theory, which explains the universe’s origin. Today, scientists continue to study this expansion to understand the future fate of the cosmos.

This discovery revolutionized our understanding of the Universe and led to the development of the Big Bang theory. Let’s check some facts:

Fascinating Space Facts:

The Milky Way contains over 100 billion stars

The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. It is estimated to be about 100,000 light-years across and contains over 100 billion stars. Our Solar System is located about 25,000 light-years away from the center of the Milky Way.

The Sun is 4.6 billion years old

The Sun is a star, just like the billions of other stars in the Milky Way. It is classified as a G-type main-sequence star and is about 4.6 billion years old.

The Sun is the largest object in the Solar System and accounts for about 99.86% of its total mass.

The Moon is Moving Away from Earth:

As the Moon orbits around Earth, it slowly moves away from our planet. This is due to the tidal forces between the two bodies, which are causing the Moon’s orbit to expand gradually.

While the rate of this expansion is only about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) per year, it has significant implications for the future of our planet, as the Moon plays a crucial role in stabilizing Earth’s axial tilt.

There is No Sound in Space

Sound waves cannot travel through the vacuum of space, so there is no sound in space.

This means that astronauts on the International Space Station or in a spacecraft cannot hear anything outside of their spacecraft. However, they can still communicate with each other using radios and other devices.

The Planet Venus Is the Hottest in The Solar System

Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar System, even though it is not the closest planet to the Sun.

This is because Venus has a thick atmosphere that traps heat, causing its surface temperature to reach over 800 degrees Fahrenheit (430 degrees Celsius). This makes Venus hotter than even Mercury, which is the closest planet to the Sun.

Olympus Mons Is the Largest Volcano in The Solar System

Olympus Mons is the largest volcano in the Solar System, and it is located on Mars. It is about 13.6 miles (22 kilometers) high and 370 miles (600 kilometers) in diameter. This makes it almost three times Mount Everest’s height, the tallest mountain on Earth.

The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a Giant Storm:

The Great Red Spot is a giant storm on Jupiter that has been raging for at least 350 years. It is about three times the size of Earth and is so large that it can be seen from Earth with a telescope. Scientists are still trying to understand why this storm has been able to persist for so long.

Scientists Have Discovered Thousands of Exoplanets

Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside of our Solar System. Scientists have discovered thousands of exoplanets, and it is estimated that there could be billions of exoplanets in the Milky Way alone. These exoplanets come in various sizes and compositions; some may even be habitable.

The Kuiper Belt is a Region of the Solar System Beyond Neptune

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the Solar System that lies beyond Neptune. It is home to many icy objects, including dwarf planets such as Pluto and Eris. Scientists believe that the Kuiper Belt is the source of many comets that enter the inner Solar System.

A Day on Venus is Longer than a Year on Venus

Venus rotates slowly on its axis, taking about 243 Earth days to complete one rotation. However, it only takes about 225 Earth days for Venus to orbit the Sun. This means that a day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus!

Saturn’s Rings are Not Solid

Saturn’s rings comprise billions of individual particles, ranging in size from tiny dust grains to larger boulders.

The planet’s gravity holds these particles in place and orbit around Saturn. Despite their stunning appearance, Saturn’s rings are actually very thin, only about 30 feet (10 meters) thick.

The Sun’s Magnetic Field Flips Every 11 Years

The Sun’s magnetic field undergoes a complete reversal approximately every 11 years, a process known as the solar cycle.

During a solar cycle, the Sun’s magnetic north and south poles swap places. This cycle affects the number and intensity of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can significantly impact Earth’s environment and technology.

The IAU Reclassified Pluto as A “dwarf Planet”

After the discovery of Pluto in 1930, astronomers believed it was the ninth and farthest planet from the Sun.

However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a “dwarf planet.” Since then, several other dwarf planets have been discovered beyond Pluto, including Eris, Haumea, and Makemake.

The Great Attractor is Pulling Our Galaxy Towards It

The Great Attractor is a mysterious gravitational anomaly located in the direction of the constellation Centaurus.

It is pulling our galaxy, the Milky Way, and many other galaxies toward it at a rate of about 370 miles (600 kilometers) per second. Despite its enormous gravitational pull, the Great Attractor’s nature is still poorly understood.

Estimating Advanced Civilizations in Our Galaxy with The Drake Equation

The Drake Equation is a mathematical formula that attempts to estimate the number of technologically advanced civilizations in the Milky Way that could potentially communicate with us.

It considers factors such as the number of stars in the Milky Way, the fraction of stars that have planets, and the probability of life arising on those planets. While the Drake Equation is purely theoretical, it has inspired many astronomers to search for signs of extraterrestrial life.

The First Object Sent into Space was a German V-2 Rocket:

On October 3, 1942, Germany successfully launched a V-2 rocket, becoming the first country to send an object into space.

The V-2 was a ballistic missile used by Germany during World War II, but its launch marked a significant milestone in the history of space exploration.

The Universe is Mostly Made Up of Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Dark matter and energy are mysterious substances that make up most of the Universe. Dark matter is a type of matter that does not interact with light, making it invisible to telescopes.

Dark energy is a force causing the Universe’s expansion to accelerate. Despite their importance in the structure and evolution of the Universe, we still know very little about dark matter and energy.

The First Object to Land on the Moon was a Soviet Spacecraft:

On September 14, 1959, the Soviet spacecraft Luna 2 became the first object to reach the surface of the Moon. It crash-landed on the lunar surface, but its mission was a major milestone in the history of space exploration.

The United States would later send astronauts to the Moon in 1969, marking the first time humans had set foot on another celestial body.

The Oldest Known Object in the Universe is a Star

The star HD 140283, also known as the Methuselah star, is believed to be the oldest known object in the Universe.

Its age has been estimated to be around 14.5 billion years, which means it formed just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. This star is located in our Milky Way galaxy, about 190 light-years from Earth.

The Largest Canyon in Our Solar System is Not on Earth:

While the Grand Canyon on Earth is impressive, it pales compared to Valles Marineris, the largest canyon in our solar system.

Located on Mars, Valles Marineris stretches over 2,500 miles (4,000 kilometers) long and up to 7 miles (11 kilometers) deep.

The Coldest Known Place in the Universe is Earth:

While space is known for being cold, the coldest known place in the Universe is actually located right here on Earth.

Scientists have recorded temperatures as low as -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-89.2 degrees Celsius) in Antarctica at the Vostok Station. These frigid temperatures are due to the location’s high elevation, dry air, and lack of sunlight.

The Fastest Object Ever Launched by Humans is the Parker Solar Probe:

The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, holds the record for the fastest object ever launched by humans.

As it orbits the Sun, the spacecraft reaches speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour (700,000 kilometers per hour), making it the first spacecraft to “touch” the Sun and study its atmosphere up close.

There is a Giant Cloud of Alcohol in Space:

In 2015, astronomers discovered a giant cloud of alcohol in space containing enough Alcohol to make over 400 trillion pints of beer.

The cloud, located in the direction of the Aquila constellation, is thought to have formed from the evaporation of icy dust grains in interstellar space.

The Sun Will Eventually Consume the Earth:

In about 5 billion years, the Sun will begin running out of fuel and enter the Red Giant phase of its life cycle.

During this phase, it will expand to over 100 times its current size and will likely consume Mercury, Venus, and possibly Earth. While this event is still far in the future, it highlights the impermanence of all things in the Universe.

The International Space Station is the Largest Human-Made Object in Space:

The International Space Station (ISS) is a collaborative project between several countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, and Canada.

It is the largest human-made object in space, with a length of 357 feet (109 meters) and a weight of over 925,000 pounds (420,000 kilograms).