The universe and the very own solar system are full of mysteries people have yet to find the answers for. The space is one of subjects that are always interesting for the human brain, as it can to wander and stretch towards infinity. However, some facts are known about the solar system, yet many people aren’t aware of them. That is why we have decided to point out 10 really cool facts you probably didn’t know about the solar system.
Seasons on Uranus Last for Twenty Years
What’s special about this planet is that it has an orbital tilt of 82 degrees, meaning it is basically positioned on its side. The consequence that comes with this tilt is that one season on Uranus lasts around 20 years. The planet is also dominated by strange weather conditions all the time. It is currently spring on Uranus and will stay like that for another two decades.
Jupiter’s Magnetosphere is Larger than the Sun
Jupiter being far bigger than all other planets, the one thing larger than it is actually the Sun itself. However, the magnetosphere (the magnetic field of influence) of this planet is even stronger than the magnetosphere of the sun, so even the Sun could fit in it. Some parts of this magnetosphere have surfaces that are even hotter than the surface of the Sun.
Venus is the Hottest Planet
Most people believe that Mercury is the hottest planet in the solar system, which is logical due to it being the closest to the Sun. The reason why Venus is hotter than Mercury is because the latter doesn’t even have an atmosphere, so nothing can actually hold the heat in. On a side note, Venus is also the only planet in the solar system that spins in the opposite direction.
Weird Life Could Exist on Gas Giants
Most people believe that Mars is the only planet in the solar system on which life could exist. However, theories suggest that Jupiter is capable of being home to some forms of life, which is strange to most people as it is a Gas Giant. Nevertheless, life on Jupiter would be incredibly diverse and extreme.
The Missing Planet
A number of astronomers claim that at a certain point in time, the solar system contained one more planet, which was much larger than Earth. The planet we are talking about is referred to as Tycho, and was thrown out of the solar system several billion years ago.
We’re Surrounded by Black Holes
There are a few types of black holes, but there is one kind called a micro black hole that constantly attacks our planet. Most people know how dangerous black holes are, but there is no need to worry about this type of them, as they evaporate instantly without causing damage in most cases. And even if they don’t, it would take them more time than the age of the universe to consume just one atom of matter.
Jupiter Sucks Up Space Garbage
Most people don’t know about the qualities of the biggest planet in the solar system. We have already talked about potential life on Jupiter, but there is one more reason why the planet is very important for our own safety. The large size of this planet is explained due to the gravitational pull of it. A comet was once discovered to be heading towards earth some time ago, but was pulled by Jupiter’s gravitational field and was thus removed from the whole solar system.
It Rains Diamonds on Uranus and Neptune
The magnetic poles on these two planets are actually misaligned by 60 degrees. There is no sure explanation why the poles are aligned like that, but theories suggest that they once collided, or even consumed, another unknown planet. Because the poles are like this, you can find big oceans filled with liquid carbon (containing diamond icebergs, as well as diamond rain on these two planets.
Earth is Covered with a Halo Made up from Dark Matter
Astronomers, unfortunately, still can’t solve the mysteries surrounding dark matter, but it is known that it plays a big part in the mass of our whole universe. However, one thing about dark matter is known, and that is that its role is to keep both solar systems and galaxies tearing apart. It was noticed that when spacecrafts and satellites change their speed all of a sudden once they are traveling from and to Earth. This is exactly because of the dark matter we spoke about, as Earth is covered with a halo (the size of Jupiter) of it.
The Solar System’s Mass is 99% Sun
The Sun is responsible for life on our planet, but looking at the sky, you can’t tell how big this star actually is. Most people are completely unaware that 99 percent of our whole solar system is the Sun