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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00:46
'Einstein Lens' Bends Blazar Burst For A One-Two Punch | Video
Added 766 Views / 0 LikesNASA Fermi observatory makes the first gamma-ray measurements of a gravitational lens with an observation of Blazar B0218+357 behind a massive spiral galaxy. The gravity of the galaxy bends and amplifies the light of the blazer.
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13:55
'Elephants of Mars!' Joe Satriani talks new record & 'Crystal Planet' comic | Exclusive interview
Added 146 Views / 0 LikesGuitar god Joe Satriani discusses his "Crystal Planet" comics and new record "The Elephants of Mars" with Space.com's Steve Spaleta. Full Story: https://www.space.com/joe-satriani-crystal-planet-elephants-of-mars-videoCredit: Space.com | music/videos/imag
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'Exotic Ice Formations' On Pluto Discovered Using New Horizons' Imagery
Added 550 Views / 0 Likes'Exotic Ice Formations' On Pluto Discovered Using New Horizons' Imagery
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00:37
'Exozodiacal Light' Brightens Alien Planet's Skies | Artist Impression Video
Added 597 Views / 0 Likes'Exozodiacal Light' Brightens Alien Planet's Skies | Artist Impression Video
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02:35
'Express Delivery' Cargo Ship Docks To Space Station | Video
Added 710 Views / 0 LikesThe ISS Progress 55 resupply craft launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 9th, 2014 and docked nearly 6 hours later. There are 3 tons of food, fuel and gear onboard. See the launch: http://goo.gl/DlSAEH
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01:09
'Farfarout' is now farthest object observed in our solar system
Added 171 Views / 0 LikesIn Jan. 2018, a distant object, designated 2018 AG37 and nicknamed "FarFarout, was discovered using the Subaru Telescope in Hawai‘i. It now holds the record for farthest object observed in our solar system at 132 astronomical units (AU) away from the Sun.
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01:35
'Farout’ Discovered! Farthest Observed Object In Our Solar System
Added 386 Views / 0 LikesOn Dec. 17, 2018, the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center announced that 2018 VG18, nicknamed ‘Farout’, has been discovered. It now holds the record form farthest object observed in our solar system at 120 astronomical units (AU) away f
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'Fastest orbiting asteroid' in our solar system - 5-year time-lapse animated
Added 149 Views / 0 LikesAsteroid 2021 PH27 orbits the sun in 113 days. It has the shortest orbital period of any known asteroid in the Solar System," according to NSF's Noir Labs. Full Story: https://www.space.com/solar-system-fastest-orbiting-asteroid-2021-ph27Credit: NASA/JPL-
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02:30
'Fat Pipe' For Astronauts Coming Via New TDRS Sat | Video
Added 650 Views / 0 LikesThe third generation advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-L) will deliver a boost in transmitting power and a higher frequency band for video and data. It is set to launch on January 23rd, 2014.TDRS-L and Atlas V Readied for Liftoff
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00:59
'Flashes' on Earth spotted from million miles away
Added 276 Views / 0 LikesNOAA's DSCOVR satellite, which is about a million miles away from Earth, has captured imagery of sunlight reflecting off Earth's high altitude ice crystals on several occasions. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explains. Credit: NASA
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02:40
'Flying Saucer' Inflatable Mars Aerobrake -- How to Test It | Video
Added 791 Views / 0 LikesNASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) system will lofted to 120,000 feet, via large scientific balloon. An attached rocket will propel the test article into a test trajectory.
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02:45
'Galactic Spiderweb' harboring hungry black holes
Added 139 Views / 0 LikesThe Spiderweb Galaxy, known as J1140-2629, is at the core of a protocluster of galaxies. Several black holes caught in its 'web' "are feasting and growing, according to data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory."Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart
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01:06
'God Save The Queen' From Space -- UK Astronaut's Message | Video
Added 679 Views / 0 Likes'God Save The Queen' From Space -- UK Astronaut's Message | Video
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01:03
'Godzilla' Saharan dust plume's aerosols tracked from space
Added 281 Views / 0 LikesAerosol data has been collected by the Copernicus Sentinel satellite on the unusually large Saharan dust plume that has traversed the Atlantic Ocean, nicknamed "Godzilla." Credit: Space.com / Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2020), processed by
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02:50
'Gravity' Evocative of Astronaut's Real Space Experience | Video
Added 669 Views / 0 LikesSPOILER ALERT - Fmr. NASA astronaut Tom Jones talks about how similar some of the aspects of the movie are to the real thing. Recorded at Popular Mechanic's screening of the movie on October 3rd, 2013. (Many key elements of the movie are discussed) -- Mor
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03:34
'Gravity's' Astronaut Advisors: Fears and Family Ties In Space | Video
Added 667 Views / 0 LikesWhich do astronauts dread more: Death in orbit? Or breaking something unique and expensive? ISS astronaut Cady Coleman and "Hubble Repairman" Mike Massimino open up to SPACE.com's @DavidSkyBrody of personal worries and human relations in space.
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01:51
'Grazing' Saturn's Rings - Cassini Spacecraft Will Get Closer Than Ever | Video
Added 666 Views / 0 Likes'Grazing' Saturn's Rings - Cassini Spacecraft Will Get Closer Than Ever | Video
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03:48
'Great day for Earth!' NASA Chief talks Webb post launch
Added 151 Views / 0 LikesNASA administrator Bill Nelson talks about the potential of the James Webb Space Telescope shortly its deployment in space on Christmas Day 2021. Full Story: https://www.space.com/nasa-james-webb-space-telescope-launch-successCredit NASA
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'Great Eruption' Nebula Visualization is 3D Printable | Video
Added 783 Views / 0 Likes'Great Eruption' Nebula Visualization is 3D Printable | Video
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00:57
'Green Bubble' Planetary Nebula Seen In Greatest Detail Yet | Video
Added 721 Views / 0 LikesEurope's Very Large Telescope captured imagery of planetary nebula IC 1295. It can be found in the constellation of Scutum (3300 light years away).