Balls of Fire
How many planets does our Sun have? Name them in order.
Our sun has 8 planets. In order, they are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
What is the big spinning rock we live on?
Earth.
No, of course not! Aliens are any life outside of our planet, of which we've currently found none.
What is the ISS? What does it stand for?
The ISS is a space station, which is available for use for most countries. Its official name is the International Space Station.
What is the common factor between Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn?
These are our gas giants!
What element is the most abundant in our sun? How old is it?
Hydrogen! Stars are originally mostly hydrogen, but on the inside, the hydrogen is squished until it turns into helium. That's why its so hot! Our sun is 4.6 billion years old.
What are large rocks, which spin around planets? Which planet in our solar system has the most?
Moons! Jupiter has the most, at 95 officially recognized moons.
What part of our solar system being visible in the night sky is linked to higher rates of UFO sighting reports?
Venus! Venus, when at its brightest, only reflects a portion of its surface, leading to a crescent shape in our sky. Studies report that at this time, UFO sighting reports are heightened due to amateur astronomers believing Venus is not a planet's reflection, but a UFO.
How far into space have we gone? What went there?
Voyager 1 and 2 passed into interstellar space. They currently reside just outside of our solar system. They are both around 24 billion kilometers away from earth.
Which of the gas giants is the largest?
Jupiter! Jupiter is over 1000x bigger than earth, and is also one of the oldest, suspected to have formed just after the sun.
What is it called when a massive star dies?
Supernova!
Where do comets come from?
Comets come from our own solar system! Known to have orbits which are significantly less circular than things like our moons and planets, comets may come from different parts of our solar system, but the consensus is they originate from our solar system.
In what type of object is life most likely to be found in our solar system, outside of earth?
Moons! Multiple moons in our solar system are suspected to contain the necessary ingredients for life.
What is the closest galaxy? Are we getting closer or further from it?
Andromeda is the closest galaxy, and we are steadily approaching it. We're expected to collide with the galaxy in approximately 4 billion years.
Why are Uranus and Neptune blue?
Methane in their extremely thick atmospheres makes these gas giants appear blue.
Where do black holes come from? What are they?
Black holes form during the death of a massive star, and they slowly grow by consuming the material around them.
What is the hottest planet in our solar system?
Venus! Despite mercury being closer to the sun, due to Venus' runaway greenhouse effect, the planet functions like an oven, with a surface temperature of around 470 degrees celsius, or 870 degrees fahrenheit.
Where are we actively searching for life in our solar system? Name two.
Currently, Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa are being actively researched for their ability to possibly sustain life. Saturn's moon Enceladus is also being considered for a future mission due to its possibility of sustaining life.
Are there any suitable exoplanets? Name them.
No. We have yet to find a planet which is believed to have a suitable environment for human survival.
Which gas giant has the fastest winds? How fast are they?
Neptune! Its wind speeds can reach over 2000 kilometers per hour, strong enough to quite literally rip the skin off of your bones.
What two things can be formed during a supernova?
Neutron stars, or black holes! Neutron stars are densely packed stars which spin faster than most other stars, and have a gravity almost as strong as a black hole. Black holes are even more densely packed, and have gravity so strong that light cannot escape.
What is the Kuiper Belt?
The Kuiper Belt is the furthest known point in our solar system, containing many dwarf planets including Pluto, and many other rocky creations, like asteroids and comets.
Why do scientists think ice moons Europa and Enceladus may be home to life?
The inside is hot! Due to both moons spitting out liquid, or semi-liquid, water, they're suspected to have hydrothermal vents within a subsurface liquid ocean.
Why can't we live in space? What would happen if we did?
Due to the gravity of earth, our bodies are built to push blood up to our heads more than to the rest of our body. In zero gravity, this effect causes our heads to swell with blood. We also lose significant muscle strength and physical abilities.
Why are our gas giants considered strange compared to other solar systems?
They are far away. Within most solar systems, large gas giants like Jupiter are close enough to their suns to create a wobble in the sun's position, and that they can orbit in as little as 18 hours.