Space News & Blog Articles

Here’s a breakdown of the main types of orbits, categorized by altitude, shape, and purpose. Each orbit serves a specific function in satellite and space mission design:

How Gravity Works: A Simple Explanation

Here are the key characteristics of the Moon, Earth’s only natural satellite:

General Space Facts

1. Outer Space Begins at the Kármán Line
   This imaginary boundary is 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level — officially marking the start of outer space.

Here’s a look at some of the major space programs around the world that are shaping humanity’s exploration beyond Earth:

Stars are categorized by their temperature, color, mass, and life stage. Here are the main types of stars:

Estimating the number of stars in the known (observable) universe is incredibly complex, but here's the best approximation based on current astronomical knowledge:

Key Features of Orion

1. Orion’s Belt

What Are Constellations?

Constellations are patterns formed by groups of stars that resemble figures, animals, or objects. While the stars in a constellation may be light-years apart, from Earth they appear close together and form recognizable shapes. Across history, people used constellations for storytelling, navigation, and marking seasons. The International Astronomical Union officially recognizes 88 constellations.

Planet Profile: Venus

1. Basic Facts

Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is often called Earth’s twin due to its similar size, mass, and composition. However, beyond these similarities, Venus is an incredibly hostile world with scorching temperatures, crushing atmospheric pressure, and toxic clouds. It has a diameter of 12,104 km (7,521 miles), making it slightly smaller than Earth. Unlike Earth, Venus has a thick, dense atmosphere composed mostly of carbon dioxide, trapping heat and creating the hottest planetary surface in the Solar System. Venus has no moons or rings, and its surface is dominated by vast volcanic plains, mountains, and deep craters. Despite its extreme conditions, Venus has fascinated astronomers for centuries and remains an important target for future exploration.

The size of the known universe is vast, and estimates can vary depending on what is considered the "observable universe." Here are key details:

Planet Profile: Jupiter

Basic Facts:

• Type: Gas Giant
• Diameter: 86,881 miles (139,822 km)
• Mass: 318 times Earth's mass
• Orbit Period: 11.86 Earth years
• Day Length: 9 hours 56 minutes (the shortest day of any planet in the Solar System)
• Distance from the Sun: Approximately 484 million miles (778 million km)

Composition:

• Atmosphere: Primarily composed of hydrogen (about 90%) and helium (about 10%), with traces of methane, ammonia, and other gases. Jupiter has a thick atmosphere and a very strong magnetic field.
• Core: Jupiter's core is thought to be rocky and made up of metals and silicates, surrounded by a deep layer of liquid hydrogen and helium.

Key Features:

1. Great Red Spot:

lanet Profile: Saturn

Overview

• Type: Gas giant
• Position: 6th planet from the Sun
• Distance from Sun: ~1.4 billion km (~886 million miles)
• Diameter: ~120,536 km (74,900 miles)
• Moons: 145 confirmed (as of 2025), including Titan and Enceladus
• Rings: Most extensive and visually striking ring system in the Solar System

Atmosphere and Composition

• Primary Gases: Hydrogen (~96%), Helium (~3%), with traces of methane, ammonia, and other gases.
• Cloud Layers: Ammonia crystals, ammonium hydrosulfide, and water ice/clouds at deeper levels.
• Winds: Up to 1,800 km/h (1,100 mph) near the equator, some of the fastest in the Solar System.

Rings

• Composition: Ice, rock, and dust particles, ranging in size from microscopic grains to objects several meters across.
• Structure: Divided into several rings (A, B, C, etc.) with gaps like the Cassini Division.
• Origin: Likely remnants of shattered moons, comets, or asteroids.

Magnetosphere

• Magnetic Field: Strong, but less intense than Jupiter’s.
• Auroras: Stunning displays occur near Saturn's poles due to interactions with solar wind.

Moons

• Titan: Saturn’s largest moon, with a thick atmosphere and liquid hydrocarbon lakes.
• Enceladus: Known for its icy surface, water plumes, and potential subsurface ocean, making it a prime candidate for extraterrestrial life.
• Other notable moons: Mimas, Rhea, Dione, Tethys, and Iapetus.

Orbital and Rotational Characteristics

• Orbit Period: ~29.5 Earth years
• Rotation Period: ~10 hours and 42 minutes (a day on Saturn)
• Axial Tilt: 26.7°, giving it seasons similar to Earth’s but much longer due to its long orbit.

Exploration

• Pioneer 11: First spacecraft to fly by Saturn (1979).
• Voyager 1 & 2: Provided detailed images and data in the early 1980s.
• Cassini-Huygens Mission: Orbited Saturn from 2004–2017, studying its system extensively and landing a probe on Titan.

Fun Facts

• Density: Saturn is the least dense planet, less dense than water—it would float in a large enough body of water.
• Storms: Features massive storms, including a persistent hexagonal-shaped storm at its north pole.
• Visibility: Easily visible from Earth with the naked eye, often appearing golden in color.

Saturn continues to be a source of wonder and scientific discovery, especially with its iconic rings and the potential for life on moons like Titan and Enceladus.

The Van Allen Belts are two layers of charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, that surround Earth and are held in place by Earth's magnetic field. They were discovered in 1958 by American physicist James Van Allen and his team using instruments on the first US satellite, Explorer 1.

Deep space is characterized by profound darkness, which results from the absence of ambient light sources like stars, planets, and the Sun. Here are some key aspects of the darkness in deep space:

Grey aliens, often referred to simply as "Greys," are a popular theme in UFO and extraterrestrial lore. They are described as humanoid beings with distinctive features, and they have become a common element in various accounts of alien encounters and abduction stories. Here are some key characteristics and information associated with grey aliens:

Chris Hadfield is a retired Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station (ISS). He gained widespread fame for his social media presence and educational outreach during his time aboard the ISS. Here are some key details about Chris Hadfield: