Try to imagine blasting off in a rocket and floating among the stars. Space is a huge endless vacuum that is bigger than Earth. The universe is full of mysteries so let’s dive into space facts for kids!
What Is Space?
Space is defined as a vacuum that is dark and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. You probably know that Earth has air, you can hear sounds and there is gravity on the planet, but in space there is no air, you cannot hear any sounds. Think of space as a giant, endless playground with:
- Planets
- Stars
- Galaxies
- Asteroids
The Solar System
The solar system is vast and according to NASA it consists of:
- The Sun and the objects that orbit around it. The Sun is a star found in the Milky Way galaxy. It is 109 times wider than Earth and provides light and heat to all planets. Without this giant ball of fire, life would not exist on Earth.
- Eight planets:
- Mercury: This is the smallest planet, and is extremely super hot and cold at the same time.
- Venus: This is the hottest planet with thick clouds.
- Earth: This is our home, and the only known planet with life.
- Mars: This is the “Red Planet” with giant volcanoes.
- Jupiter: This is the largest planet, and has a Great Red Spot storm.
- Saturn: This planet is famous for its rings.
- Uranus: This planet spins on its side.
- Neptune: Strongest winds in the solar system.
- Five officially named dwarf planets like Pluto
- Hundreds of moons
- Thousands of asteroids and comets.
Fun Facts About Stars For Kids
Think about stars like cosmic fireballs of light, so here are a few fun facts about stars for kids:
- Stars are giant balls of gas.
- The closest star is the Sun.
- Stars can be blue, red, or white depending on temperature.
- In black holes, gravity is so strong that not even light escapes.
Galaxies
Let’s now explore galaxies! Think of galaxies as star cities in space as they contain billions of stars. Our home galaxy is the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy is our neighbor.
The Moon
Think about the beautiful moon as an Earth Space companion, it controls the tides of oceans and rivers and reflects moonlight during some of its phases. The moon has 4 phases:
- New Moon
- Crescent
- Half
- Full
Isn’t the Moon such a cool object that orbits the planet Earth? Here are a few cool Moon facts:
- The Moon controls tides on Earth.
- Astronauts left footprints that may last millions of years.
- There are craters, mountains, and seas of lava rock.
The First Space Travel
The first steps in space were taken in 1969 by a NASA spaceflight called the Apollo 11. Commander Neil Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin were the first humans to step on the surface of the moon. As Neil Armstrong said:
“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”
Life as an Astronaut
Try to imagine yourself as an astronaut floating in a spaceship far away from civilization, you would be eating food in zero gravity and it would cause it to float as well! If you were an astronaut you would have to study and train a lot before you are sent off to a space mission; You would be trained on how to survive, eat and fix the machine you are sent off into space. In space you would have to sleep in sleeping bags that are strapped down and you would have to get used to your things floating around, doesn’t it sound so fun?
Modern Space Exploration
Here is a list of a few modern space exploration projects and advancements:
- The International Space Station (ISS) was launched on November, 20 1998. The ISS was launched to study the space environment and is a collaborative effort of 5 space agencies:
- NASA (United States)
- Roscosmos (Russia)
- ESA (Europe)
- JAXA (Japan)
- CSA (Canada)
- Mars Rovers and Mars missions are a good example of modern space exploration. The Mars Rover was an electrically controlled motor vehicle that travelled on the surface of Mars. There have been 6 successful Mars rovers in history and we are able to study the potential of Planet Mars being able to support a biosphere, which is a huge step in the existence of humans.
- Space telescopes like Hubble and James Webb have helped us understand and study our space environment in an extensive manner. The Hubble was launched in 1990 and its discoveries have confirmed the existence of black holes in galaxy cores, while the James Webb telescope is considered to be the largest, and the most technically advanced telescope ever built.
Fun Space Facts For Kids
- Did you know Saturn could float in water if a big enough bathtub existed?
- There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on planet Earth.
- Did you know some scientists think that some planets like Neptune and Uranus rain diamonds?
- According to astronauts, space smells like burnt cake or hot metal!
- Did you know one million Earths can fit inside the Sun?
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the biggest planet in our solar system?
Jupiter is referred to as the biggest planet in our solar system.
Is Venus the hottest planet?
Yes, Venus is referred to as the hottest planet.
Which galaxy do we live in?
We live in the galaxy called the Milky Way!
Conclusion
Space is very amazing because it is full of wonderful mysteries. Next time you look up at the night sky, think about everything you read and try to recollect the facts you learned today.