Earth, third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest planet in the solar system in terms of size and mass. Its single most outstanding feature is that its near-surface environments are the only places in the universe known to harbor life. Learn more ab
High-resolution spacecraft pictures revealed that the feature’s pinkish cloud layer can be overlain from time to time by high-altitude white clouds, producing the gray impression seen from Earth. In the late 19th century the length of the spot was about 48,000 km (30,000 miles), and ...
Hubble finally launched aboard thespace shuttle Discoveryon April 24, 1990 and a day later was deployed into low Earth orbit, about 340 miles (545 kilometers) above our planet. Getting Hubble developed and launched cost $1.5 billion, but there would be ongoing costs as well — both expected ...
Though its surface gravity is only about 3% earth-normal, that’s enough to pull itself into a pretty good sphere as you can see here in the photo. Vesta is smaller but it’s the brightest asteroid as seen from the earth, at times marginally visible to the naked eye. After Vesta ...
It is difficult to see the Great Wall from the low Earth orbit because it looks like a natural landscape and isn't much wider than many roads or rivers.However, satellites with good cameras can take pictures of the Great Wall from space. So, while you can't see it with your eyes ...
Lake Baikalis a stop on the Trans-Siberian rail route. How about a refreshing dip in the cold water of the world's deepest lake? Kizhi Island in Karelia Kizhi Island's open-air museum in Karelia is a great adventure for the whole family. Step back in time and learn about the Karelia...
SpaceX's satellite internet proposalwas announcedin January 2015. Though it wasn't given a name at the time, CEOElon Musksaid that the company had filed documents with international regulators to place about 4,000 satellites in lowEarthorbit. ...
the rocket will be moving at some 18,000 mph. That's fast enough to cover 88 football fields, placed end to end, in one second. The rocket's upper stage will increase the velocity to 22,600 mph — 110 football fields per second — to break out of Earth orbit and send the Orion ...
More cool facts about Neptune In 2011, Neptune completed the first orbit of the Sun since its discovery 165 years prior, in 1846. The Earth turns right round on its own axis in 24 hours, giving us the change from day – when we face the sun – to night, when our part of the Earth...
in 2004. The first three missions were short-term flybys, butCassiniwent into orbit around Saturn for years of investigations, while its Huygens probe parachuted through the atmosphere of Titan and reached its surface, becoming the first spacecraft to land on a moon other than Earth’s. ...