Demystifying Space
Outer space is a mysterious, yet interesting, part of science. We’re constantly seeing new advancements in the world of aerospace and aeronautics, but so much of space is unknown. Here we have some of the most common questions surrounding space and our universe.
What is the “Great Red Spot”?
In March of 1979, the spacecrafts Voyager I and II sent pictures of Jupiter back to Earth, and many noticed a distinct red spot on Jupiter’s exterior. This is actually a swirling hurricane, first observed in 1831, and its size was once recorded to be three times larger than Earth! The color of the spot varies from bright red to pink, depending on the amounts of red phosphorus. The storm has been ongoing since as long as we’ve known, however it has been shrinking for around 150 years.
Why are there still footprints on the Moon?
In 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to step on the surface of the moon with the Apollo 11 mission. Today, more than 50 years later, we can still see these triumphant first steps on the face of the moon. This is because the moon lacks an atmosphere, and so there’s no wind or weather to blow away the imprints of the footprints. These prints will stay for quite a while, until they are eventually eroded in millions of years thanks to the moon’s exposure to tiny meteorites. Until then, we are given a constant reminder of this feat of science and technology.
What really are black holes?
A black hole is a place in space with such strong gravity that no light at all can escape. Not even a single ray of light can pass. So, if black holes are black, how do we know they exist? Well, we can observe the presence of a black hole by watching the behavior of nearby stars. If a black hole is in close orbit of a star, gases that are emitted by the star are sucked into the black hole. These gases get squeezed and heated, and gamma rays (a form of energy) are emitted. Scientists can detect these rays to see where there might be a black hole.
Sources:
Dunbar, Brian. “What Is a Black Hole?” NASA, NASA, 21 May 2015, https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-is-a-black-hole-k4.html 
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Dunbar, Brian. “Apollo 11 — First Footprint on the Moon.” NASA, NASA, https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/home/F_Apollo_11.html .
Miller, Katrina. “Jupiter’s Great Red Spot Is Surprisingly Deep.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2021, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/jupiters-great-red-spot-is-surprisingly-deep/ .
Scientific Peer Review by Alysia Mandato
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