What is space made from?

 

What is space made from?

Space is mostly a vast, silent, empty space. It looks dark because of huge gaps between objects that give off light, such as stars. Space is expanding all the time. We don’t know where it ends or if it even has an end. If you could drive a car straight up in the air, it would take about an hour to reach space.

 

Galaxies

Groups of billions of stars are called galaxies. Galaxies have collapsed stars called black holes at their center.

 

Dark matter

Scientists believe an invisible substance called dark matter and an invisible force called dark energy exist in space. Most of the universe is made up of dark matter and energy.

 

Visible matter: 20 percent

Dark matter and energy: 80 percent

 

Stars

There are lots of different types of star. Some are just being born and some are exploding at the end of their lives. They shine because they burn gases at hot temperatures.

 

How do we take photos of space?

 

Land-based telescopes

It is easier to build and fix telescopes on land than in space. Huge telescopes take detailed images of space.

 

Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Telescope floats in space. It takes pictures of the universe away from the light pollution found on Earth.

 

True or false?

1. There are more galaxies in the universe then people on planet Earth.

2. Our star, the sun, is about halfway through its life.

3. Space is mainly full of stars.