Universe: The Vast Expanse
The observable universe is about 93 billion light-years in diameter. It's composed of galaxies, stars, and other celestial bodies, all bound by gravity. Yet, it's just a fraction of the entire cosmos.
Galactic Superclusters Defined
The universe is structured into a web of galactic superclusters. These are vast regions of space, containing thousands of galaxies interconnected by gravity. The Milky Way is part of the Laniakea Supercluster.
Stars: Nuclear Fusion Factories
Stars are powered by nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen into helium at their cores. This process releases immense energy, causing stars to shine. The Sun fuses approximately 620 million metric tons of hydrogen each second.
Red Giants to White Dwarfs
After exhausting their hydrogen, stars become red giants, expanding vastly. Eventually, they shed their outer layers, leaving behind a white dwarf. A teaspoon of white dwarf material weighs about 15 tons.
Supernovae: Celestial Fireworks
Larger stars end their life in a supernova explosion, outshining entire galaxies for a short time. The Crab Nebula is the remnant of a supernova observed on Earth in 1054 AD.
Neutron Stars: Density Extremes
The remnants of supernovae can form neutron stars, the densest stars known. Just one sugar cube of neutron star matter would weigh about a billion tons on Earth.
Black Holes Mystify Scientists
Black holes, regions where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape, remain one of the universe's greatest mysteries. The first image of a black hole's event horizon was captured in 2019.Quantum Foam in Space
Empty space isn't truly empty; it's filled with fleeting particles popping in and out of existence, a phenomenon known as quantum foam.
Observable universe diameter?
93 million light-years
93 billion light-years
93 trillion light-years
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