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)
-
Watch live! Blue Origin New Shepard launches to simulate moon gravity and more
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesNew Shepard is a rocket manufactured by Blue Origin for space tourism, however the newest mission will be simulating the Moon's gravity and flying 30 payloads to test lunar related technology. You can watch the action live here or at Space.com!
-
09:11
Blastoff! SpaceX launches 23 Starlink satellites, nails landing - 2025's 11th Falcon 9 mission
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Jan. 24, 2025 at 9:07 a.m. EST (1407 GMT; 6:07 a.m. local time). Full Story: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-launches-23-starli
-
02:49
Gravitational lensing inspires 'Twin Quasars' at the Whitney museum - Ashley Zelinskie explains
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesArtist Ashley Zelinskie takes you behind the scenes on how she created the three dimensional "Twin Quasars" artwork currently at on exhibit at the Whitney Museum's Virtual Landscape. Video created by Gabi Galvin (https://www.instagram.com/gabigalvin/)Full
-
09:07
Texas Tornadoes Wednesday & Thursday? BIG ICE STORM USA next weekend? DEEPSEEK ripple effects!
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesYou are fantastic!Stay cool.God bless everyone,Thttps://www.paypal.me/THORnewshttps://venmo.com/TEric-Lewisonhttps://www.patreon.com/thornews
-
01:02
ISS robotic arms transports astronaut Suni Williams during spacewalk
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesNASA astronaut Suni Williams is transported by the International Space Station's Canadarm2 during a spacewalk with Butch Wilmore on Jan. 30. 2025. Williams set spacewalk record: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/international-space-station/nasa-astr
-
01:05
See IM-2 'Athena' lander’s stunning views of the moon in time-lapses
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesThe Intuitive Machines IM-2 'Athena' lander has captured amazing views of the moon from lunar orbit. Credit: Space.com | footage: Intuitive Machines | edited by [Steve Spaleta](https://x.com/stevespaleta)Music: Brief Interlude by John Utah / courtesy of h
-
01:00
Cosmic Valentine's Day ❤️ #webbtelescope @LoganSpaleta #music #hubble #space #shorts
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesFor Valentine's Day see some of Space.com's favorite views from the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope set to new music from @LoganSpaleta https://found.ee/loganspaletajustakissCredit:Interacting galaxies Arp 273 | Hubble Space Telescop
-
01:03
See it! SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket debris burns up over Europe
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesThe American Meteor Society received several reports of SpaceX rocket debris burning over Europe on Feb. 19, 2025. The debris was traced to the re-entry of the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that launched on Feb. 1. Credit: Space.com | footage courtesy:
-
01:09
Firefly's Blue Ghost lander captures amazing moon views after orbit maneuver
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesThe FIrefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lander captured stunning views of the moon after its second lunar orbit maneuver. Credit: Firefly Aerospace | edited by Space.com's [Steve Spaleta](https://x.com/stevespaleta)
-
00:30
Pan: Messier 77
Added 44 Views / 0 LikesToday’s rather aquatic-themed NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope Picture of the Week features the spiral galaxy Messier 77, also known as the Squid Galaxy, which sits 45 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus (The Whale).More information and dow
-
00:30
Pan: NGC 2566
Added 43 Views / 0 LikesFeatured in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope Picture of the Week is the spiral galaxy NGC 2566, which sits 76 million light-years away in the constellation Puppis. A prominent bar of stars stretches across the centre of this galaxy, and spiral arms em
-
01:28
Exoplanet WASP-127b has extreme supersonic winds
Added 43 Views / 0 LikesThe CRIRES+ instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) has been used to measure the supersonic jet winds on gas giant exoplanet WASP-127b. Credit: ESO
-
02:55
SpaceX drops Starship flight 7 launch highlights in anticipation for next flight
Added 43 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX launched Starship for 7th time on Jan. 16, 2025 from Starbase in south Texas. Full Story: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-catches-super-heavy-booster-on-starship-flight-7-test-but-loses-upper-stage-video-photosSpa
-
08:09
NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 enters space station after docking
Added 43 Views / 0 LikesSpaceX's Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain, commander; and Nichole Ayers, pilot; along with mission specialists JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov docked to the In
-
08:25
Blue Origin post-flight: Lauren Sánchez, Amanda Nguyễn and Kerianne Flynn reactions
Added 43 Views / 0 LikesLauren Sánchez , Amanda Nguyễn and Kerianne Flynn deliver post-Blue Origin flight reactions on April 14, 2025. Full Story: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/private-spaceflight/katy-perry-and-gayle-king-launch-to-space-with-4-others-on-historic-all-
-
01:09
Asteroid 2024 YR4 safely flies by Earth in 2032 - ESA and NASA orbit animations
Added 42 Views / 0 LikesAsteroid 2024 YR4 is estimated to be about 196 feet (60 meters) wide and will have a close approach to Earth in 2032. Full Story: https://www.space.com/asteroid-2024yr4-odds-increase-no-concern)"The odds of the asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting Earth in 2032 ha
-
04:00
Planets, lunar eclipse and the moon in March 2025 skywatching
Added 42 Views / 0 LikesFind out where Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury will be this month. A total lunar eclipse will be visible in parts of the Americas on March 14. Also, learn about the new moon and more. Night sky: What you can see this month - https://www.space.com/16149-n
-
02:08
Wow! Cosmic Valentine's Day views from James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble in 4K
Added 42 Views / 0 LikesFor Valentine's Day see some of Space.com's favorite views from the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope set to new music from @LoganSpaleta https://found.ee/loganspaletajustakissCredit:Interacting galaxies Arp 273 | Hubble Space Telescop
-
01:02
Firefly’s Blue Ghost captures amazing moon view during lunar orbit maneuver
Added 42 Views / 0 LikesFirefly Aeropspace's Blue Ghost lander flew about 74 miles (120 km) above the surface of the moon during a lunar orbit maneuver on Feb. 18, 2025. Credit: Firefly AerspaceEdited by Space.com
-
05:44
Buckle up for Wild, Weird & Stormy March 2025!
Added 42 Views / 0 LikesIt's about to get funky.God bless everyone,Thttps://www.paypal.me/THORnewshttps://venmo.com/TEric-Lewisonhttps://www.patreon.com/thornews