Outer Space & Universe
Outer Space & Universe
Space, also known as outer space, is the near-vacuum between celestial bodies. It is where everything (all of the planets, stars, galaxies and other objects) is found.
On Earth, space begins at the Kármán line (100 km above sea level). This is where Earth's atmosphere is said to stop and outer space begins. This is not a firm boundary but is a convention used by scientists and diplomats.
Items in space are free to move back and forth; up and down; and left and right. These three dimensions are what make 3D space. Items also move forward through time, which is sometimes called the fourth dimension.
The majority of space contains very little matter and so most of it is a vacuum. Scientists do not know how big space is but we do know that space is extremely big, and is always expanding.
According to the big bang theory, all matter and energy in the Universe was compressed into a very small space. Then it exploded and started expanding. Space is still growing in size today; this means the distance from one galaxy to distant galaxies is getting longer.
Gravity is the force that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth and the planets in orbit around the Sun. Gravity can stretch and bend space similar to how a heavy ball placed on a stretched sheet of rubber will cause the rubber to stretch. The scientist who discovered that space can bend is named Albert Einstein. How gravity bends space is part of his theory of general relativity.
Astronauts, Cosmonauts, Taikonauts and Spationauts
An astronaut is any person who is trained by NASA to travel and perform tasks in space. Although the space traveler may not necessarily be a United States citizen, each astronaut does go through a rigorous training regiment by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Other space travelers go by other names then astronaut depending on their country of origin.
In the United States, astronaut is derived from the Greek words ástron (star) and nautis (sailor). While, in Russia, a space traveler goes by the name космонавт (English: cosmonaut), which is derived from the Greek words kosmos (universe) and nautis (sailor). Westerners call a space traveler from China a taikonaut, based on the 1998 writings of Chiew Lee Yik and Chen Lan where the term tàikōng (great emptiness), Chinese for “space”. In China, the term yuháng yuán (universe navigator) is used for space traveler.
Only the United States of America (United States), Russia (earlier, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), and the People’s Republic of China (China) have sent manned spacecraft into space. Other countries have assisted these countries by sending their own space travelers on space missions. For instance, a French space traveler is called a spationaut (from the French word spationaute), which is derived from the Latin spatium (space) and Greek nautis (sailor). (plural in Greek nautes = sailors)
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James Webb Space Telescope will study alien worlds using transit spectroscopy
Added 138 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope will be able to characterize the atmosphere's of exoplanets using a technique known as transit spectroscopy.Credit: NASA
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James Webb Space Telescope zooms into dazzling Uranus and its moons for the holidays - 4K
Added 57 Views / 0 LikesThe NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope captured an amazing view of the planet Uranus, its rings and moons. Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) snapped the imagery. Credit: Space.com | imagery courtesy: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb) |
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James Webb Space Telescope's 'warped' El Gordo galaxy cluster view explained
Added 55 Views / 0 LikesJames Webb Space Telescope has delivered stunning views of the "gravitationally distorted realms" of the El Gordo galaxy cluster, according to Space.com. Full Story: https://www.space.com/james-webb-telescope-einstein-general-relativity-galaxy-warpsCredit
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James Webb Space Telescope's adventure from Kourou to space in these ESA highlights
Added 111 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope launched on Dec. 25, 2021. See highlights from its arrival in Kourou through its deployment in space. Read more about the historic launch: https://www.space.com/nasa-james-webb-space-telescope-launch-successCredit: ESA / Ari
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James Webb Space Telescope's amazing Cartwheel Galaxy view in 4K zoom-in!
Added 127 Views / 0 LikesTravel 500 million light-years away into the James Webb Space Telescope's amazing view of the Cartwheel Galaxy. The image is a composite captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). Full Story: https://www.space.com
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James Webb Space Telescope's amazing view of the Southern Ring Nebula - Zoom-in!
Added 150 Views / 0 LikesTravel about 2,500 light-year away in the constellation Vela to see James Webb Space Telescope stunning view of NGC 3132, the Southern Ring Nebula. Credit: Space.com | footage courtesy: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, and the Webb ERO Production Team | mash mix by
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James Webb Space Telescope's Assembled Golden Mirror Is Sight To Behold | Video
Added 699 Views / 0 LikesJames Webb Space Telescope's Assembled Golden Mirror Is Sight To Behold | Video
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James Webb Space Telescope's first color images & planet data - See it all!
Added 144 Views / 0 LikesA 'new era in astronomy' has begun with the fully functional James Webb Space Telescope delivering amazing observations of our Universe. See new views of the Carina Nebula, Stephan's Quintet, Southern Ring Nebula, SMACS 0723 and exoplanet WASP-96 b atmosp
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James Webb Space Telescope's first deep field image is mind-boggling
Added 143 Views / 0 LikesThe first deep field image captured by the James Webb Space Telescope is of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723. -- Pres. Biden unveils James Webb Space Telescope's ultradeep view of the universe: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-first-photo-bidenCr
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James Webb Space Telescope's first targets - See the list!
Added 121 Views / 0 LikesNASA will release full color James Webb Space Telescope images of the Carina Nebula, exoplanet WASP-96 b, Southern Ring Nebula, Stephan’s Quintet and SMACS 0723 on July 11 and 12. See a preview of the 5 targets from previous observations and an artist imp
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James Webb Space Telescope's flight control room - Peek through the glass
Added 99 Views / 0 LikesMissions Operations Manager (MOM) Carl Starr explains a bit about the James Webb Space Telescope flight control room at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland.Credit: Space.com / Rebecca Sohn
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James Webb Space Telescope's infrared views will be a 'powerful time machine'
Added 161 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope will peer back to the early universe in unprecedented detail. Credit: ESA
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James Webb Space Telescope's L2 'parking spot' in space - What's the benefits?
Added 148 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope has arrived at its new home, Lagrange Point 2 (L2), about 1 million miles away from Earth. Learn why L2 is the best place for the telescope to study the Universe. What's Next for JWST?: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space
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James Webb Space Telescope's L2 arrival explained
Added 189 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is expected to complete its final arrival maneuver at the Earth-sun Lagrange point 2 (L2) on January 23, 2022. L2 provides a very cold gravitationally stable orbit that is perfect for JWST. -- Why NASA's James Webb Sp
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James Webb Space Telescope's L2 arrival explained
Added 160 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is expected to complete its final arrival maneuver at the Earth-sun Lagrange point 2 (L2) on January 24, 2022. L2 provides a very cold gravitationally stable orbit that is perfect for JWST. Why NASA's James Webb Space
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James Webb Space Telescope's optics explained by NASA
Added 152 Views / 0 LikesLearn how the James Webb Space Telescope will see the universe with this overview of its optic system.Credit: NASA's Goddard Spaceflight CenterMichael Starobin (KBRwyle): Lead ProducerMichael McClare (KBRwyle): ProducerMichael McClare (KBRwyle): Videograp
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James Webb Space Telescope's Pillars of Creation image explained
Added 118 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope's stunning view of the Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula is described by the Webb team. The iconic Eagle Nebula feature is 6,500 light-years from Earth. Full Story: https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-pill
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James Webb Space Telescope's science instruments explained
Added 135 Views / 0 LikesLearn about the James Webb Space Telescope's "Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), and the Fine Guidance Sensor/Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph," in this overview video from NA
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James Webb Space Telescope's secondary mirror is fully deployed!
Added 169 Views / 0 LikesWatch as James Webb Space Telescope mission control commands the secondary mirror assembly to full deployment.Credit: NASA
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James Webb Space Telescope's view of a barred spiral galaxy is mind-boggling in 4K
Added 87 Views / 0 LikesThe James Webb Space Telescope's Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) captured stunning views of barred spiral galaxy NGC 5068. Webb's "ability to peer through the gas and dust enshrouding newborn stars," is a boon for star for