Journey through the Cosmos

Closest Star to Our Solar System

• Proxima Centauri is the closest star, located approximately 4.24 light-years away from the Sun.

Major Components of the Milky Way Galaxy

• The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy with a central bulge, disk, and halo structure.
• Contains hundreds of billions of stars, including the Sun.
• Features star clusters, nebulae, and various interstellar materials like gas and dust.
• Home to several spiral arms, including the Orion Arm where our solar system resides.

Black Holes: Formation and Characteristics

• Black holes form from the gravitational collapse of massive stars at the end of their life cycle, particularly after supernova explosions.
• Characterized by an event horizon, the boundary beyond which nothing can escape.
• They possess strong gravitational fields that can distort spacetime and affect nearby objects.
• Can be classified into three types: stellar black holes (up to a few tens of solar masses), supermassive black holes (millions to billions of solar masses), and intermediate black holes.

Significance of the Hubble Space Telescope

• Launched in 1990, Hubble has provided deep-space images that have vastly improved our understanding of the universe.
• Its observations helped to determine the rate of expansion of the universe and the existence of dark energy.
• Plays a crucial role in fields like cosmology, astronomy, and astrophysics, offering insights into various celestial phenomena.

Differences Between Meteor, Meteoroid, and Meteorite

• A meteoroid is a small rock or particle from space, typically smaller than an asteroid.
• Upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, a meteoroid becomes a meteor, commonly known as a "shooting star," due to the bright trail created by its high-speed entry and atomic friction.
• If a meteor survives its journey and lands on Earth, it is classified as a meteorite.

Test your knowledge about the universe with this quiz! From the closest star to our solar system to the components of the Milky Way galaxy, explore topics like black holes, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the challenges of long-term space survival. Learn how scientists measure distance in space and discover fascinating facts about the cosmos.