[PART 2] 15 cool facts about the galaxy you may not know

No matter how many facts we know about the universe, it still remains a mystery to us. But the more you know about it, the more enchanting it becomes. Buckle up and let Galileo Glass take you on a journey full of cool facts about our galaxy.

#1

The Sun by NASA

Our Sun is 300,000 times larger than the Earth. The Sun is nearly a perfect sphere. Its equatorial diameter and its polar diameter differ by only 6.2 miles (10 km). You could line up 109 piles of Earth across the face of the sun. But in the universe, it’s still a medium-sized star.

#2

A picture for you to visualize how big VY Canis Majoris is

The largest star in the known universe is VY Canis Majoris. It is 1,400 times larger than our Sun! If you stuck it in our solar system, it would extend all the way past Jupiter.

#3

Red Giants are really old stars that form when stars, 10 times the mass of our Sun, runs out of hydrogen in its core. As it collapses, the hydrogen in the outer shells begin the process of fusion, and the entire star begins fusing hydrogen all at once. They will burn through all their fuel in just a few million years!

#4

The original universe consisted solely of hydrogen and helium. Every other element on the periodic table and every single thing you see around you today was formed in the heart of exploding stars.

#5

When a star goes supernova (explode), it releases huge amounts of energy and neutrons - which produces heavier elements. The carbon in your body and the gold in the jewelry you wear were all made from exploding stars.

#6

Sucking down gas from the Big Bang. How cool is that?

Only hydrogen and helium were formed by the Big Bang. Next time you suck down helium from a party balloon, you are sucking down a gas that probably formed just 3 minutes after the Big Bang.

#7

Red Giant Betelgeuse - 1,000 times larger than our Sun - is a cosmic neighbor and expected to go supernova in the next 1,000 years.

#8

Some scientists theorize that life is only possible in the outer edges of a galaxy - where large stars are rare and therefore supernovas don’t routinely sterilize world of lives.

#9

We are in between the two arms of the Milky Way, and in a relatively rural part of the galaxy.

#10

A meteorite discovered in Antarctica was found to originate from Mars. After careful examination, scientists believe it shows fossilized evidence of microscopic organisms. This gave serious credibility to the Panspermia theory - we might all actually be Martians!

#11

Everlasting footprints on the Moon

Because there is no atmosphere on the moon, the footprints and tire prints left on the Moon by American astronauts will never disappear. Unless an asteroid wipes them out.

#12

Not only does Jupiter have the most moons in our solar system (with 79 moons), but it also the planet with the most moons of any known planet in our galaxy.

#13

Many scientists think that without Jupiter, life on Earth would be impossible. Because the giant of our solar system exerts such strong gravity that it pulls in many comets and asteroids that might have impacted Earth. Jupiter is our personal bodyguard!

#14

Earth is the only Solar System planet not named after a god.

#15

Pluto looks so small when compared with the United States

Pluto is small in diameter than the United States.

The cosmos is full of beautiful mysteries waiting to be discovered.
Stay tuned to our blog to explore more about it.