8 Mind-Blowing Facts About Space – Mashable

By Dennis GreenMar 05, 2014

When you look up at the stars, what do you think about? That we may be not be alone? The vastness of it all?

There’s a lot to wonder about space. The fact is we don’t know all the answers about it. We know it’s vast and beautiful, but we’re not really sure how vast (or how beautiful, for that matter).

15 Mind-Blowing Space Facts

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1. Neutron stars can spin at a rate of 600 rotations per second.

Neutron stars are one of the possible evolutionary end-points of high mass stars. They’re born in a core-collapse supernova star explosion and subsequently rotate extremely rapidly as a consequence of their physics. Neutron stars can rotate up to 60 times per second after born. Under special circumstances, this rate can increase to more than 600 times per second.

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By Laura Vitto2014-02-26 07:28:00 -0800

Though the study of astronomy predates recorded history, and physical space exploration has been possible since the 1950s, humans still remain largely in the dark about what’s really out there.

For all that we’ve discovered, astronomers estimate that nearly 96% of the universe remains impossible to see or even comprehend.

See also: 55 Astonishing Images of Earth From Space

But for all the mystery surrounding space, one thing we’re sure of is its staggering beauty. Telescopes like NASA’s Hubble illuminate the observable universe with captivating images of far-off planets, galaxies and star clusters.

Take in the beauty our universe has to offer through these 30 stunning images of space.

Stunning Photos of Space

Enhanced Hubble Image of Comet ISON

Image: Flickr, NASA HQ PHOTO
Taken Under the “Wing” of the Small Magellanic Cloud

Image: NASA, ESA, CXC and the University of Potsdam, JPL-Caltech, and STScI
Merging Clusters in 30 Doradus

Image: NASA, ESA, and E. Sabbi (ESA/STScI)
Hubble Snaps a Splendid Planetary Nebula

Image: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Hubble’s Festive View of a Grand Star-Forming Region

Image: NASA, ESA, F. Paresce (INAF-IASF, Bologna, Italy)
Sun Emits a Mid-Level Flare

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Synthesized View of Earth showing the Arctic, Europe and Asia

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
The Star-Studded Center of the Milky Way

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Sees the Remains of a Star Gone Supernova

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
NASA Hubble Sees Sparring Antennae Galaxies

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Horsehead Nebula

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Sees Hidden Treasure in Large Magellanic Cloud

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble reveals heart of Lagoon Nebula

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Captures Cosmic Ice Sculptures

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Starburst Cluster Shows Celestial Fireworks

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
A Galactic Spectacle

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Supernova Remnant W49B

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Snaps Messier 66 of the Leo Triplet

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Catches Jupiter’s Largest Moon

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Sees ‘Island Universe’ in the Coma Cluster

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Dying Star Shrouded by a Blanket of Hailstones Forms the Bug Nebula

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Crab Nebula

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Jupiter’s Red Spot

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Saturn’s Rings in Ultraviolet Light

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble Sees a Star Set to Explode

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Cassiopeia A Supernova

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Cat’s Eye Nebula

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Carina Nebula Detail

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Colorful Stars Inside Globular Star Cluster Omega Centauri

Image: Flickr, NASA Goddard Photo and Video
Hubble’s Panoramic View of a Turbulent Star-Making Region

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8 Mind-Blowing Facts About Space – Mashable

1. Neutron stars can spin at a rate of 600 rotations per second.

Paid Conten

Enhanced Hubble Image of Comet ISON

Taken Under the “Wing” of the Small Magellanic Cloud

Merging Clusters in 30 Doradus

Hubble Snaps a Splendid Planetary Nebula

Hubble’s Festive View of a Grand Star-Forming Region

Sun Emits a Mid-Level Flare

Synthesized View of Earth showing the Arctic, Europe and Asia

The Star-Studded Center of the Milky Way

Hubble Sees the Remains of a Star Gone Supernova

NASA Hubble Sees Sparring Antennae Galaxies

Horsehead Nebula

Hubble Sees Hidden Treasure in Large Magellanic Cloud

Hubble reveals heart of Lagoon Nebula

Hubble Captures Cosmic Ice Sculptures

Starburst Cluster Shows Celestial Fireworks

A Galactic Spectacle

Supernova Remnant W49B

Hubble Snaps Messier 66 of the Leo Triplet

Hubble Catches Jupiter’s Largest Moon

Hubble Sees ‘Island Universe’ in the Coma Cluster

Dying Star Shrouded by a Blanket of Hailstones Forms the Bug Nebula

Crab Nebula

Jupiter’s Red Spot

Saturn’s Rings in Ultraviolet Light

Hubble Sees a Star Set to Explode

Cassiopeia A Supernova

Cat’s Eye Nebula

Carina Nebula Detail

Colorful Stars Inside Globular Star Cluster Omega Centauri

Hubble’s Panoramic View of a Turbulent Star-Making Region

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