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sun-core

How hot is the core of the Sun?

The core of the Sun is actually relatively small compared to the rest of it, as there’s a lot of swirling gases that surround the core that still make up part of the Sun. We’ve actually been within a few million miles of the Sun without our spacecraft being burnt up into smithereens. The Parker … Read more

venus1

How many miles away is Venus from Earth?

As the closest planet to us, people often wonder just how close Venus is. The truth is that in reality and in comparison to what we know on Earth, it’s still a very long way away. But in space terms, it’s actually pretty close; Venus is the brightest planet in our sky for a reason, … Read more

venus-blue

What color is Venus the planet?

Throughout the years, every planet has been depicted as a different color to what it truly is. Jupiter is often seen as red, and Saturn is often shown as being purple in comics and magazines. Another planet you’ve probably seen in a range of different colors in Venus, which I’ve seen represented by the colors … Read more

mars-earth

How many miles away is Mars from Earth?

NASA says they’re going to make their way to Mars within the next decade (after re-visiting the moon again first), and Elon Musk has set his eyes on making the trip even sooner than that. One of the main reasons why Mars looks like a likely next target for most astronomers is that it’s within … Read more

Why doesn’t Mars have an atmosphere?

The atmosphere of a planet can vary a lot, and it can make a massive difference to the weather on the planet. Take Venus for example; it’s the hottest planet in the solar system solely because it has a very thick atmosphere that retains all of the that it receives from the Sun. Mercury, in … Read more

mars-surface

What is the surface temperature of Mars?

Mars is often touted as the only possible alternative planet for humans to live on, and for the most part, this is definitely true. The potential sources of water and similar geographical landscapes suggest that Mars is actually pretty similar to Earth in a lot of ways. However, one of the biggest obstacles and differences … Read more

How big is Mars compared to Earth?

As one of the closest planets to us, Mars is often compared to Earth in many different ways, and it’s the only planet where humans could realistically even have a chance of living. Go in one direction and we’d roast away being too close to the Sun and getting caught up in the blazing atmosphere … Read more

jupiter-2

How big is Jupiter compared to Earth?

When it comes to the biggest planets, there’s none out there that can match Jupiter for scale. And although the further you go out from the Sun the colder the planets are on the outside, their inner core is extremely hot. This is definitely true for Jupiter, which we know it’s primarily made up of … Read more

How many moons does Saturn have?

The amount of moons that the Jovian planets have can be difficult to keep count of. Obviously, our planet only has one moon, and the closest planet to us Mars only has two. But when you go past Mars, the amount of moons each planet has changes drastically. Jupiter and Saturn are often said to … Read more

retrograde-orbit

What is Retrograde Orbit & Rotation? | Explained

If you’re looking to learn more about the way satellites orbit in our solar system, then you’ll need to learn about retrograde orbit and retrograde rotation. It is one of the most intriguing parts of our universe, and astronomers still don’t have a conclusive answer as to why objects rotate in this fashion. But what … Read more

neptune-planet

How big is Neptune compared to Earth?

We all know that Earth isn’t the biggest planet in the solar system, but in comparison to those pretty close to it, it’s the largest of the terrestrial planets. But when you venture out past the Asteroid belt, which runs between Mars and Jupiter, the planets get much, much bigger. The furthest planet from the … Read more

Will Mercury crash into the Sun one day?

A common question amongst astronomers is the long term fate amongst some of our planets. Of course, our greatest concern is for our planet Earth, as there are those that say our planet will meet it’s demise in the distant future. However, between us and the Sun are two other planets, Venus and the planet … Read more

neptune-travel

How many miles away is Neptune from Earth?

Neptune is often considered to be an unknown entity. Whilst we have made massive strides towards understanding the planet in the past few decades, as of 2021 there’s still only been one space probe that’s directly explored the planet – and that was more than 20 years ago (Voyager 2). One of the main reasons … Read more

merc

Why is Mercury difficult for us to see?

Mercury is the first planet from the Sun, and one of the closest planets to us on Earth. This is especially true if you compare it to the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, which are much further out from the Sun. However, even though Mercury is relatively close to us, it can still be very … Read more

mercury

How hot is the surface of Mercury?

The planet Mercury is so close to the Sun that you’d assume it’s the hottest planet in our entire solar system. The truth is that actually it isn’t though it’s still pretty hot in comparison to the other planets that orbit around the Sun. We already know that Mercury is the fastest planet in our … Read more

astronomy-gifts

10 Awesome Astronomy Gifts for Kids

If you’re looking for some good astronomy gifts for kids, then there are a ton of different options out there to choose from. And when your kid is super interested in outer space and celestial objects, a space-related present can make for a great gift. However, there are some many different choices out there that … Read more

best-places-stars

The 26 Best Places to See Stars in the World

There are many different places all around our planet that make for the perfect place to do some serious stargazing. A few different factors make some locations far better places to see stars than others, including low light pollution and unobstructed views. However, it can be difficult to know exactly where to go, as even … Read more

tidally-locked

What does tidally locked mean? | Explained

If you’re curious about what it means to be tidally locked, then you’re in the right place. Being tidally locked is an inevitability for many moons in our solar system, although some have managed to escape it. Let’s learn what it means to be tidally locked. What does Tidally Locked mean? Tidally locked means that … Read more

ursa-major

Ursa Major Constellation (The Great Bear)

Probably the best known constellation in the sky, Ursa Major has been written about for thousands of years. You’ve likely heard of this constellation referred to as the Great Bear, and if not, you’ve undoubtedly heard of the Big Dipper, which is made up of seven of the starts of Ursa Major. It is often … Read more