Crazy Astronomy Facts
#14 The Moon's Origin
Astronomers believe that the Earth acquired its moon when a smaller planet, called Theia, crashed into the Earth's surface.
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15:
Dark Matter and Energy
Only about 5 percent of the universe consists of matter than humans can see. 25 percent is dark matter. A whopping 70 percent is dark energy.
14:
The Moon's Origin
Astronomers believe that the Earth acquired its moon when a smaller planet, called Theia, crashed into the Earth's surface.
13:
The Sun's Heat
If you extract a portion of the sun the size of needle's head, you still couldn't stand within 90 miles of it.
12:
Frozen Helium?
Every known substance in the universe can be frozen... except helium. Temperatures simply do not fall low enough for it to freeze into a solid.
11:
Venus's Seasons
Venus does not tilt as it makes its way around the sun. That means the planet does not have any season.
10:
Crash Collision
In a couple billion years, the Andromeda galaxy will collide with our Milky Way galaxy.
9:
Jupiter's Moons
With 63, Jupiter has more moons that any other planet in the solar system. Its large size helps it attract and maintain satellite objects.
8:
Titan
Titan, one of Saturn's moons, has more natural gas and oil than all of the reserves on Earth combined.
7:
Jupiter's Red Spot
Jupiter's giant red spot is a storm large enough to consume more than one dozen Earths. The storm has been raging for more than 300 years.
6:
Moon's Distance from the Earth
Every year, the moon moves about 3 cm away from the Earth. One day, it will leave its orbit.
5:
Color and Heat
A star's color depends on its heat. Blue stars are the hottest. Gold-colored stars are the coolest. The sun is actually a fairly cool star.
4:
How Long is a Day?
Five billion years from now, a day on Earth will last 48 hours. The long days won't last forever though. The Sun will explode around the same time.
3:
Pluto's and Neptune's Orbits
Pluto and Neptune have orbits that cross. During some years, Neptune is father from the Sun than Pluto.
2:
Instant Weight Loss
Thanks to centrifugal force, you weigh three percent less when standing on the equator than the poles.
1:
The dark side of Mercury is freezing.
Mercury is the closet planet to the sun, allowing its surface to reach 698 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the planet doesn't have much of an atmosphere, though, heat doesn't get trapped and distributed. The dark side's temperature dips all the way down to negative 238.
