"Lies, there is one lie everywhere, even in orbit!" or a few common misconceptions about space. Infrared rainbow, aliens and skirmishes: what they lie to us about space games We all lie about space
The promises of the No Manʼs Sky development team were very immodest. They promised endless galaxies, an indecent number of planets with randomly generated conditions and life forms, dizzying adventures, trade with intelligent races, skirmishes with space pirates. A lot of this is really in the game, if you wade through numerous bugs, a chaotic interface and an unobvious process of collecting resources. Billboard Daily, however, was more interested in how far the reality is from what No Man's Sky draws.
Vitaly Egorov
Exoplanets
In Game: The essence of No Man's Sky is to surf virtual space in search of more or less suitable for landing and study of planets. There are supposedly 18.6 quintillion of them here (a quintillion is one followed by 18 zeros). You can sit on any one and try to find adventure.
Actually: "According to the latest data, 3501 planets outside the solar system in 3215 planetary systems have now been confirmed. Most of them were discovered by indirect methods, and only a dozen were photographed with telescopes. Not everything is clear with the solar system either. After Pluto was" demoted "to dwarf planets The Sun has eight planets left, but at the beginning of 2016, American scientists began to talk that there may be another planet the size of Neptune. Only it is too far away, and it is dark and cold, so it has not yet been found. "
In Game: Planets in the game space - like cherries in a compote. It is enough to direct the spaceship to an arbitrary point, and here they are, choose any!
A visualization of what Earth's cousin might look like, the planet Kepler 186f
Actually:"Several space and ground-based observatories are engaged in the search for exoplanets. The most productive" planet catcher "is NASA's Kepler space telescope, its task is to continuously look at a large star cluster and register the moments when planets pass between it and each of the thousands of stars. This method is called transit Then they look at this star from the Earth and try to determine whether Kepler was right. If the data agree, the planet will be recognized. By the way, anyone can become the discoverer of the planet, since the results of Kepler's work are open, and there is a special one that allows you to search for exoplanets. However, the discovery does not give the opportunity to choose a name for their planet, all the honor will go to the telescope.
The Gaia telescope promises to surpass the success of Kepler, TESS will search for exoplanets in the “vicinity” of the Sun - within a radius of 100 light years, and JVST will be able to view nearby exoplanets directly. Now the greatest interest for scientists and the public is represented by earth-like planets in the so-called "zone of life" - an area surrounded by a star, where it is possible to maintain liquid water. Several of them have already been found, but so far there is no confirmation of their habitability. "
Names of cosmic bodies
In Game: You can name the planets and, in general, any space novelties as you like, and the users took it with delight. In the cosmic depths of No Manʼs Sky, the planets Big Ass and Butovo, as well as Trump, Donʼt Go Here and Sandyʼs Fat Face, now gradually rotate.
Actually: "The space explorer has only one way to leave his name in the sky: to discover a new comet. Asteroids, planets, satellites and other objects cannot be called whatever he pleases. The discoverer can only suggest a name and explain the reason for the choice, and the world community of astronomers will consider his proposal. If, for example, an asteroid is named after a person, then it must be an honored scientist or public figure who contributed to the progress of mankind, that is, it has nothing to do with military service.
For some objects, there are even narrower options for choosing a name. For example, the craters of Mercury are named after prominent cultural figures: writers, artists, composers. On Venus, almost all the names are borrowed from the female mythological characters of the world, there is even Baba Yaga and the Snow Maiden. They also try to choose the names of large objects of the solar system from the names of mythical characters.
Stars are usually named according to the constellation in which they are located, or according to the catalog in which they are entered. Buying a "star as a gift" has no official effect - it is just a funny souvenir that no one knows about except its owner, donor and seller of the corresponding certificate. "
Bright colors and colorful sunsets
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Sunset captured by rover
Actually: "For human eyes, space is rather dim. We can hardly see even our own Galaxy - the Milky Way, for this we need to go away from city lights, better to the desert or mountains. But even from there it will seem black and white and nondescript. the reason is the accumulation of light. The camera matrix can collect photons for fractions of seconds and minutes. Space telescopes can accumulate light for weeks, the result is "deep surveys" when very distant galaxies are visible. Our eye cannot do this in principle, therefore, to see all the beauty space, some additional space assets will be required.
On the other hand, the atmospheres of the planets can really surprise and amaze our imagination. For example, on Mars in the afternoon beige and black sky 
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Center of the Galaxy and black holes
In Game: The goal is to move to the center of the Galaxy, where something important is supposedly waiting for the user.
Actually: “There are indeed many mysteries in the center of the Galaxy, although from what we know about it, it follows that it is not worth flying to this place. The Galactic Center is the most intense source of X-rays and gamma rays in our Galaxy. The abundance of stars, dense gas clouds, high radiation contribute to the collapse of old stars and the birth of new ones. And in the center is a supermassive black hole, which is not averse to being bitten by passing stars, which contributes to even more intense emissions of cosmic rays into the surrounding space. Scientists are interested in this cosmic crucible and the processes in its depths, but they are still trying to study them from afar: with the help of infrared, X-ray, gamma and radio telescopes. In search of inhabited planets it is also not worth flying there, because the conditions there do not contribute to the development of the forms of life we know. "
In Game: The black hole also appears in the list of game objects. In one of the tasks, it is offered to fly into it no less.
Actually: "Black holes are the most extreme places in our Universe. The laws of physics we know end there, so what is hidden in the depths can only be assumed. When approaching a black hole, space travelers will face the problems described above: intense radiation and fluxes of high-energy particles from accretion disk of a black hole.not all black holes have a disk, but only those that are in the process of absorbing the surrounding matter, for example, from a nearby star.If the black hole is in a void, then the traveler can send his ship into the hole and on his skin learn what the curvature of space-time is. As a result, it will become a very exotic suicide, and extended in time for an outside observer. "
Spaceships
In Game: The main friend and assistant of the hero of the game is his spaceship. He moves in it, stores supplies in it, and fights against pirates in it. The starships of No Man's Sky look like in any space fiction: cockpit, wings, giant nozzles.
Actually: “The game ships look like they are propelled by reactive force. Today it is the only method of controlled movement in space used in practice. There is still a possibility to achieve an increase in force due to gravitational maneuvers near large cosmic bodies, but the apparatus without a rocket engine will still be uncontrollable. At the same time, we already understand that jet thrust has a rather limited application. We barely have enough to move between the planets of our system, there is no question of any stars, even the nearest ones. If we want to gain high speed with the help of reactive force, then we either need a colossal supply of fuel so that it can be thrown out through the nozzles. Or you need a colossal source of energy to eject fuel at a high enough speed. Ideally, the speed of fuel flow from the nozzle should approach the speed of light, in which case we can already encroach on interstellar distances, but all the same, these will be only nearby stars, moving between which will take tens of years.
Visualization of how miniprobes will fly to the Alpha Centauri system
An alternative way of moving, which also requires huge energy, but does not contradict modern knowledge of physics, are sailing ships. The solar reflector sailboat has already been launched into space for experimental purposes. Sunlight exerts some pressure, but it is not enough for a significant increase in speed. Sailboats can be used more efficiently if giant laser installations are built on the Earth and surrounding planets. Then, on reflector sails, it is possible to concentrate beams of high intensity and give serious acceleration. Such a project has already begun to be developed in earnest, with the support of businessman Yuri Milner and physicist Stephen Hawking. However, it is supposed to run there one-gram spacecraft 
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Interstellar travel
In Game: Of course, here they boldly operate with concepts like “hyperspace engine”. You will spend the first few hours assembling and refueling it if you decide to tackle No Manʼs Sky.
Actually: “Hypothetically, we can assume a drive on the curvature of space, like a fantastic" warp drive ". The emergence of a "wormhole" in space does not contradict the general theory of relativity, and one can imagine a spaceship that creates such a "wormhole" in front of itself and slams it behind. But so far no one knows how to transfer this process from chalk boards, at least in a laboratory, not to mention space.
There is still some development, called EMDrive, which already exists and is even capable of delivering scanty thrust without emitting fuel, but so far no one can explain the physical principle of this engine, and it has not come to serious research. "
Minerals in space
In Game: There is no time to relax in virtual space. Keeping a protective suit operational requires resources. You also need to constantly refuel the spaceship, however, minerals are mined directly from asteroids flying by.
Actually: “The idea of taking fuel components from the environment, rather than carrying them with you, was embodied in a theoretical development. There, in front of the spacecraft, a huge funnel was formed with the help of a magnetic field, which collected the rarefied interstellar gas and sent it into a thermonuclear reactor. The gas turned into a narrow and ultrafast jet of plasma that pushed the starship. For such a design, the concentration of this interstellar gas is very important. It could be more efficiently applied in gas clouds and nebulae, but ironically, the Earth is located in a large rarefied bubble of space, in which gas is ten times less than the average for the Galaxy. Nevertheless, "Bassard's ramjet" is the closest in design to those starships that are drawn in the game. "
In Game: In No Manʼs Sky, for some reason, gold is in price. It appears on the surfaces of planets in the form of shiny mountains, which must be sawed with a beam drill and then sold at stations hanging in space.
Actually: “Speaking generally about space minerals, their usefulness is determined by specific needs. For example, on Earth, clay is a pretty useless fossil. It is used in some places, but in general the deposits are of little interest to industrialists. On Mars, the local clay may turn out to be the basis of Martian agriculture, since it is rich in nitrogen dioxide, contains organic matter, water and has a small admixture of harmful salts. For the future lunar base, soil, which contains 10% water, will be of the greatest value as a source of water, and helium-3 contained in the regolith will one day become thermonuclear fuel for the first starship or the basis of the thermonuclear energy of the Earth of the future.
From the point of view of modern terrestrial industry, there is nothing in space that is of significant interest or high cost. Space fossils will become useful when there is a need for them in space itself. There is nothing to bring to Earth from there - we can always find the same or invent a replacement. "
Space battles
In Game: Without space skirmishes with classic flamboyant "pew-pew", No Manʼs Sky would finally turn into a driller simulator. Therefore, they are and are no different from battles in science fiction films.
Actually: “As far as I know, not a single book has been written, not a single film or cartoon has been filmed, no games have been written that would reliably show space combat. In most cases, these are air battles transferred to space. When it comes to large spaceships, then they show a three-dimensional sea battle, moreover, during the First World War or in general a caravel. I have a dream to gather a dozen ballistics and space navigation specialists and describe the first reliable space battle.
Of course, modern weapons can be used in space: rockets and machine guns, but they will be effective only in a very limited range. For example, if two opponents are in the same orbit and have almost the same speed. But if the inclination of the orbit is different or the collision takes place on oncoming trajectories, then the effectiveness of the machine-gun burst decreases until a handful of balls are thrown from the bearing. In other words, to successfully conduct a space battle, you will need not to catch the enemy in the crosshair of the sight, but to spend colossal computing power on modeling its trajectory and orbit, take into account external influences, your own position in space, carry out trajectory measurements, referring to the map of stars, pulsars or quasars " ...
Traces of alien civilizations
In Game: Here you will have to communicate with representatives of other races and look for fragments of ancient civilizations. Even learn the alien language!
Actually: “Since the development of radio astronomy in the post-war years, humanity has hoped to hear the signals of intelligent civilizations. For this purpose, the SETI program was created - the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Now it has already been withdrawn from state funding, but continues with the support of private patrons. Searches are carried out by the most powerful radio telescopes and conducted by professional scientists. So far, nothing interesting has been heard. Recently they even unraveled, which remained a mystery for three decades, - it turned out, too, did without aliens.
Less well known are other areas of SETI's activities, such as spacecraft exploration of the surfaces of planets and satellites. Pictures of space bodies are made for various scientific purposes, but within the framework of SETI, these frames are looking for signs of the activity of alien intelligent beings. Many enthusiasts are engaged in such activities, but without scientific training, you can become a victim of your own imagination, so frogs and even frogs found on Mars appear in the news. True, in fact, these are just stones. "It is usually played by those who, in their education or interests, are close to astronautics, but their careers have developed in a different area."
What
08:16 April 17, 2018"Lies, there is one lie everywhere, even in orbit!" or a few common misconceptions about space
What would you do in the first place if you found out that many of the facts about space that you know are lies? Most likely you would be surprised and upset, right? But don't worry, you are not alone. Most people will have such a reaction, and especially those who are fond of studying outer space. As sad as it may sound, many people, when it comes to space, believe blatantly false information.
Why is this happening? In fact, there are many reasons for this. Various facts about the Universe are so quickly losing relevance that even famous astronauts have to monitor all these changes very carefully. So, you want to know what is really a lie and what is true? If yes, then let's go!
Astronauts just hover in orbit
Everything would be fine, but in reality this statement is far from the reality. When you see astronauts hovering freely inside the shuttle in the pictures, this is because in fact the shuttle, and along with it the astronauts, is in a state of free fall. So why doesn't all this happiness just crash to Earth? Quite simply, their lateral velocity is too high, so in fact they are constantly rolling over the horizon.
The sun is yellow
Actually, the Sun is white, but most of the time it seems to us yellow due to the refraction of light rays in the atmosphere.
Your mobile phone is satellite powered
This is not true. Ninety-nine percent of all communication on Earth occurs through cable coverage. Only a small fraction of mobile devices actually use satellite signals.
Flying through the asteroid belt is dangerous
If you've watched Star Wars, you probably already know what we mean. However, in reality everything is a little different, as the guys from Hollywood show us, and if you actually flew through the asteroid belt, you probably would not even notice it. The fact is that the real density of asteroids is much less than what is shown to us in space thrillers and horror films.
The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space
No, the Great Wall of China is far from the only structure that is actually visible. For example, from the International Space Station, in addition to the Great Wall of China, you can see many other modern structures, however, it is worth giving the ancient Chinese their due, their wall is indeed the most noticeable human structure on our planet.
Mercury is the hottest planet
Due to the fact that Mercury is located so close to the Sun, many of us probably consider it the hottest planet in the entire solar system. In fact, this is not the case. The atmosphere of Venus provides a temperature of about 480 degrees Celsius on its surface, while the average temperature on the surface of Mercury hovers around 167 degrees Celsius.
The sun is a huge ball of fire
This is another common misconception because there is actually no fire on the sun. Fire can only burn in an environment with a sufficient oxygen content, and the Sun mainly consists of hydrogen and helium. In fact, the heat that radiates from the Sun is the result of a series of complex thermonuclear reactions. The pressure and temperature in the solar core causes hydrogen atoms to be converted into helium atoms, and it is as a result of this process that the sun's heat and light are generated.
The "dark side" of the moon does not exist
In fact, the Moon has no "dark side" that would be forever shrouded in impenetrable darkness. It's just that one side of the Moon is always closed from our eyes due to the constant rotation of the Earth and the Moon in space, so it would be more accurate to call this phenomenon not "dark", but the far side of the Moon. The only way to see this far side is to fly around the moon in a spaceship.
It's cold in space
This is not entirely true. In fact, it is almost impossible to measure temperature in space, because, in fact, there is nothing to measure there. Temperature is defined as the speed of movement of atoms, and since there is a small deficit in a cosmic vacuum with atoms, then space is not cold and not hot, it is rather none. And yes, you can't freeze in space. If a person suddenly finds himself in open space, then, theoretically, he is more likely not to become stiff, but to overheat. Why? Simply because the heat generated by our body has no place to go. On Earth, heat exchange occurs due to convection and other similar processes, and since there is no temperature in space, you will not be able to give your heat to the surrounding space.
Do you like it when the interlocutor openly lies or talks about things about which he has not the slightest idea? Unfortunately, most people have long been victims of erroneous or deliberately deceitful stereotypes about space. In addition, our knowledge of the universe is constantly changing, and it can be difficult even for scientists to make sense of new information. But which common beliefs actually have nothing to do with reality? Find out now with a selection of 25 of the brightest misconceptions about space!
25. Astronauts in orbit are in full weightlessness
Well, almost, but not quite ... On recordings from video cameras at orbital stations, we often observe how objects float in the cockpit, and the astronauts themselves seem lighter than a fluff. Experts from NASA tried to explain this in the simplest way so as not to burden you with complex terms. Inside the orbiting shuttle, all loose objects seem to have no weight because the spacecraft itself is in free fall, and the astronauts inside it experience reduced gravity. Why, then, does the ISS not fall to Earth in any way? The fact is that the apparatus moves so fast that it misses all the time. In other words, astronauts fall over the horizon all the time.
24. The sun is yellow
It's actually white. It appears yellow to us due to the distortion of solar radiation as it passes through our atmosphere.
23. Your mobile phone works thanks to satellites
Typically 99% of all signals go through conventional cables. Only a very small proportion of communications are related to satellites.
22. Flying through the asteroid belt is deadly
If you've watched Star Wars, you've already imagined this scary scene. However, the truth is that if you actually flew through the asteroid belt, you wouldn't even notice. The density of celestial bodies in this zone is so low that it poses almost no danger to space travelers, but Hollywood was forced to lie in order to make the most spectacular movie possible.
21. The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space
And again by, because the Great Wall of China is not so unique. From the ISS, at a distance of about 400 kilometers, you can see other buildings and structures, some of which are much more noticeable than the legendary Chinese fortification.
20. The Earth is a perfectly round sphere.
Due to the constant rotation, our planet near the equator is slightly convex, and it is more of an ellipse than a perfectly rounded ball.
19. Mercury is the hottest planet in the solar system
You probably thought that since Mercury is the closest other planets to the Sun, then it is probably the hottest there. However, this opinion is another delusion. Due to atmospheric conditions, the second planet of the solar system, Venus, boasts an average temperature of 480 ° C, while on Mercury this figure is around 167 ° C.
18. The sun is a huge ball of fire
There is no fire there. For fire, in our usual sense, oxygen is needed, and the Sun consists mainly of helium and hydrogen. The source of the sun lies in the process of thermonuclear reaction. The pressure and temperature inside the solar core is so great that hydrogen atoms react and convert to helium atoms. This process provides us with the much-needed warmth and light.
17. The Moon has a "dark side"
There are legends about that side of the moon, which is supposedly forever enveloped in darkness and keeps some terrible secrets. Know, in fact, nothing like this exists. But there is the opposite (or far) side of the Moon, which is usually not visible from the Earth due to the rotation of both our planet and our natural satellite. To see this side, you just need to fly around the moon. Only.
16. Pluto - planet of the solar system
At school we were taught that there are 9 planets in the solar system, and that Pluto is one of them. But science does not stand still, and the terminology is constantly changing. Since 2006, by decree of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Pluto has been demoted and recognized as a dwarf planet. But why? The thing is that in 2006 the same IAS gave a new definition to the term "planet", and Pluto, as it turned out, does not have all the necessary qualities. You've probably heard that the Kuiper Belt is farther from Neptune. In fact, it is a huge asteroid belt, and Pluto is not the largest object within it.
15. Mysterious ninth planet (or planet 9)
Pluto is no longer considered the ninth planet in the solar system, but scientists still believe that a ninth planet exists. This hypothetical trans-Neptunian celestial may well turn out to be real. Scientists came to this conclusion based on observations of the orbits of several other space objects from the Kuiper belt, which are clearly under some kind of extraneous gravitational influence. Planet 9 is probably very far away from us and much larger than Earth.
14 black holes are funnels
In movies and cartoons, black holes are usually depicted as huge funnels that suck in everything around them. In reality, black holes are more like giant spheres. In fact, these are rather incredibly dense stars with powerful gravity.
13. In the Middle Ages, people thought the Earth was flat
Almost any scientist of those years knew that our home planet was spherical. It is for this reason that the Europeans began to make heroic voyages - to get to the West through the East and find a new sea route. In addition, the ancient Greeks knew about the shape of the Earth. This is mentioned in the records of 300 BC.
12. Space is cold
Not really. Measuring the temperature of space isn't easy. Probably because there is simply nothing to measure. High temperatures usually mean that the atoms of the substance are in an excited state. However, the cosmic vacuum is clearly not distinguished by the mobility of atoms. It would be more correct to say that there is no temperature in space.
11. In outer space, you will freeze to death
As we have already seen, the temperature in space is not so simple. Moreover, if a person suddenly finds himself in open space and without a spacesuit, he is more likely to overheat. Why? Because the heat generated by our body will be prevented from leaving the body. On Earth, we easily cool down - we sweat, exchange temperatures with the environment, and so on. In space, however, such methods will no longer work, because there is simply nothing to exchange with.
10. In space, human blood boils
This statement is also wrong. Yes, under the condition of a lower pressure, liquids boil at lower temperatures (if this pressure does not allow the liquid to convert to gas), but this will not happen to your blood. Why? Because yours is in a closed system, and the zero pressure effect will not have such a fleeting effect. Of course, liquids exposed to the environment (saliva, the outer shell of the eyes) will boil almost immediately. But blood is not. In addition, don't confuse boiling with heat. Saliva will not get hot, because of the reduced pressure, it will simply turn into a gaseous state.
9. In outer space, your body will explode
This vivid picture has repeatedly appeared in front of the eyes of fans of science fiction films. And yes, this is another lie, invented for dramatization and box office gains. The human body will swell slightly, but it certainly won't fly apart. In 1966, a Houston scientist tested the suit in an artificial vacuum equivalent to being at an altitude of 37 kilometers. The protective suit was defective, and the technician survived the most dangerous decompression. The pressure was restored within 30 seconds, so the man did not experience any harmful effects on his health, and later the scientist even recalled that before losing consciousness, he felt his saliva boil.
8. The tail of a comet depends on the trajectory of the path of this celestial body
No, everything is wrong again, because the comet's tail is formed under the influence of heat and solar wind, and not from friction or some other mechanical influence. This means that the tail is always facing the sun, regardless of the direction of the comet's motion.
7. Explosions can be heard in space
In space, it is impossible to hear absolutely nothing, because there is no medium through which sound signals could be transmitted.
6. We cannot fly too fast because modern engines are not powerful enough
In space, there is virtually no resistance, so even the most modest engine can accelerate a huge ship to incredible speeds. NASA is currently experimenting with low-thrust ion thrusters. The main problem, however, is fuel supplies. To accelerate such a large object for a long time, the engine needs a serious power source. When the spacecraft nevertheless reaches its maximum speed, its engine can be turned off, because now the ship will reach the other end of the universe without any problems. Another thing is that someday you will want to stop the ship, and for this you will need reverse thrust. Stopping the ship will need just as much fuel as it will accelerate, so scientists still have something to break their bright minds over.
5. Explosions in space are accompanied by flames
Star Wars is still a poor source of information. As we have already found out with the example of the Sun, oxygen is necessary for fire. Since there is no air in space, explosions there will look very different, that is, far from like in Hollywood films. As far as rocket engines are concerned, they produce flames, but only because the fuel tanker also has a supply of oxygen.
4. Astronauts in outer space fly with small jet engines
Almost, but not quite. The suits are, indeed, equipped with something similar, but just in case, and in such systems there is not enough fuel for flying in the style of Hollywood films.
3. There is nothing faster than the speed of light
This is relatively true, but scientists have increasingly come to the conclusion that quantum mechanics does not always follow its own rules. For example, quantum entanglement and other similar phenomena could lead to the discovery of the ability to travel at speeds faster than the speed of light. This will be an extremely important breakthrough not only for space travel, but also for the field of computing devices.
2. NASA spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would write in space
This myth is often told when people think about the space race of the 60s, which flared up between the agencies of the United States and the USSR. People laughed that NASA had spent millions of dollars to develop a ballpoint pen that would write in conditions of relative weightlessness, while the Soviet cosmonauts showed the famous Russian ingenuity and took ordinary pencils with them. However, the truth is that both countries first used pencils and markers, and then switched to a special pen, but its development did not cost anyone any millions of dollars. The astronaut writing utensil was created on its own initiative by the private company Fisher Pen Company, which then began selling its pens for $ 6 each.
1. The Earth revolves around the Sun
And here is the most incredible lie! Now you will have something to flaunt in front of your friends in an idle conversation, and surprise everyone in earnest. Each object affects any other body, which means that not only the gravity of the Sun affects the Earth, but the gravity of our planet also affects the movement of the Sun. Technically, both of these celestial bodies revolve around the so-called barycenter. In the case of the Earth, this conditional point is so close to the center of the Sun that they began to simply ignore it. However, in the case of Jupiter, the barycenter is 48,280 kilometers from the surface of the Sun. In a sense, we all revolve around each other ...
All photos: pixabay (public domain)
Do you like it when the interlocutor openly lies or talks about things about which he has not the slightest idea?
Unfortunately, most people have long been victims of erroneous or deliberately deceitful stereotypes about space. In addition, our knowledge of the universe is constantly changing, and it can be difficult even for scientists to make sense of new information. But which common beliefs actually have nothing to do with reality? Find out now with a selection of 25 of the brightest misconceptions about space!
25. Astronauts in orbit are in full weightlessness
Well, almost, but not quite ... On recordings from video cameras at orbital stations, we often observe how objects float in the cockpit, and the astronauts themselves seem lighter than a fluff. Experts from NASA tried to explain this in the simplest way so as not to burden you with complex terms. Inside the orbiting shuttle, all loose objects seem to have no weight because the spacecraft itself is in free fall, and the astronauts inside it experience reduced gravity. Why, then, does the ISS not fall to Earth in any way? The fact is that the apparatus moves so fast that it misses all the time. In other words, astronauts fall over the horizon all the time.
24. The sun is yellow
It's actually white. It appears yellow to us due to the distortion of solar radiation as it passes through our atmosphere.
23. Your mobile phone works thanks to satellites
Typically 99% of all signals go through conventional cables. Only a very small proportion of communications are related to satellites.
22. Flying through the asteroid belt is deadly
If you've watched Star Wars, you've already imagined this scary scene. However, the truth is that if you actually flew through the asteroid belt, you wouldn't even notice. The density of celestial bodies in this zone is so low that it poses almost no danger to space travelers, but Hollywood was forced to lie in order to make the most spectacular movie possible.
21. The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space
And again by, because the Great Wall of China is not so unique. From the ISS, at a distance of about 400 kilometers, you can see other buildings and structures, some of which are much more noticeable than the legendary Chinese fortification.
20. The Earth is a perfectly round sphere.
Due to the constant rotation, our planet near the equator is slightly convex, and it is more of an ellipse than a perfectly rounded ball.
19. Mercury is the hottest planet in the solar system
You probably thought that since Mercury is the closest other planets to the Sun, then it is probably the hottest there. However, this opinion is another delusion. Due to atmospheric conditions, the second planet of the solar system, Venus, boasts an average temperature of 480 ° C, while on Mercury this figure is around 167 ° C.
18. The sun is a huge ball of fire
There is no fire there. For fire, in our usual sense, oxygen is needed, and the Sun consists mainly of helium and hydrogen. The source of the sun's heat lies in a thermonuclear reaction. The pressure and temperature inside the solar core is so great that hydrogen atoms react and convert to helium atoms. This process provides us with the much needed warmth and light.
17. The Moon has a "dark side"
There are legends about that side of the moon, which is supposedly forever enveloped in darkness and keeps some terrible secrets. Know, in fact, nothing like this exists. But there is the opposite (or far) side of the Moon, which is usually not visible from the Earth due to the rotation of both our planet and our natural satellite. To see this side, you just need to fly around the moon. Only.
16. Pluto - planet of the solar system
At school we were taught that there are 9 planets in the solar system, and that Pluto is one of them. But science does not stand still, and the terminology is constantly changing. Since 2006, by decree of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Pluto has been demoted and recognized as a dwarf planet. But why? The thing is that in 2006 the same IAS gave a new definition to the term "planet", and Pluto, as it turned out, does not have all the necessary qualities. You've probably heard that the Kuiper Belt is farther from Neptune. In fact, it is a huge asteroid belt, and Pluto is not the largest object within it.
15. Mysterious ninth planet (or planet 9)
Pluto is no longer considered the ninth planet in the solar system, but scientists still believe that a ninth planet exists. This hypothetical trans-Neptunian celestial body may well turn out to be real. Scientists came to this conclusion based on observations of the orbits of several other space objects from the Kuiper belt, which are clearly under some kind of extraneous gravitational influence. Planet 9 is probably very far away from us and much larger than Earth.
14 black holes are funnels
In movies and cartoons, black holes are usually depicted as huge funnels that suck in everything around them. In reality, black holes are more like giant spheres. In fact, these are rather incredibly dense stars with powerful gravity.
13. In the Middle Ages, people thought the Earth was flat
Almost any scientist of those years knew that our home planet was spherical. It is for this reason that the Europeans began to make heroic voyages - to get to the West through the East and find a new sea route. In addition, the ancient Greeks knew about the shape of the Earth. This is mentioned in the records of 300 BC.
12. Space is cold
Not really. Measuring the temperature of space isn't easy. Probably because there is simply nothing to measure. High temperatures usually mean that the atoms of the substance are in an excited state. However, the cosmic vacuum is clearly not distinguished by the mobility of atoms. It would be more correct to say that there is no temperature in space.
11. In outer space, you will freeze to death
As we have already seen, the temperature in space is not so simple. Moreover, if a person suddenly finds himself in open space and without a spacesuit, he is more likely to overheat. Why? Because the heat generated by our body will be prevented from leaving the body. On Earth, we easily cool down - we sweat, exchange temperatures with the environment, and so on. In space, however, such methods will no longer work, because there is simply nothing to exchange with.
10. In space, human blood boils
This statement is also wrong. Yes, under the condition of a lower pressure, liquids boil at lower temperatures (if this pressure does not allow the liquid to convert to gas), but this will not happen to your blood. Why? Because your blood is in a closed system and the zero pressure effect will not have such a fleeting effect. Of course, liquids exposed to the environment (saliva, the outer shell of the eyes) will boil almost immediately. But blood is not. In addition, don't confuse boiling with heat. Saliva will not get hot, because of the reduced pressure, it will simply turn into a gaseous state.
9. In outer space, your body will explode
This vivid picture has repeatedly appeared in front of the eyes of fans of science fiction films. And yes, this is another lie, invented for dramatization and box office gains. The human body will swell slightly, but it certainly won't fly apart. In 1966, a Houston scientist tested the suit in an artificial vacuum equivalent to being at an altitude of 37 kilometers. The protective suit was defective, and the technician survived the most dangerous decompression. The pressure was restored within 30 seconds, so the man did not experience any harmful effects on his health, and later the scientist even recalled that before losing consciousness, he felt his saliva boil.
8. The tail of a comet depends on the trajectory of the path of this celestial body
No, everything is wrong again, because the comet's tail is formed under the influence of heat and solar wind, and not from friction or some other mechanical influence. This means that the tail is always facing the sun, regardless of the direction of the comet's motion.
7. Explosions can be heard in space
In space, it is impossible to hear absolutely nothing, because there is no medium through which sound signals could be transmitted.
6. We cannot fly too fast because modern engines are not powerful enough
In space, there is virtually no resistance, so even the most modest engine can accelerate a huge ship to incredible speeds. NASA is currently experimenting with low-thrust ion thrusters. The main problem, however, is fuel supplies. To accelerate such a large object for a long time, the engine needs a serious power source. When the spacecraft nevertheless reaches its maximum speed, its engine can be turned off, because now the ship will reach the other end of the universe without any problems. Another thing is that someday you will want to stop the ship, and for this you will need reverse thrust. Stopping the ship will need just as much fuel as it will accelerate, so scientists still have something to break their bright minds over.
5. Explosions in space are accompanied by flames
Star Wars is still a poor source of information. As we have already found out with the example of the Sun, oxygen is necessary for fire. Since there is no air in space, explosions there will look very different, that is, far from like in Hollywood films. As far as rocket engines are concerned, they produce flames, but only because the fuel tanker also has a supply of oxygen.
4. Astronauts in outer space fly with small jet engines
Almost, but not quite. The suits are, indeed, equipped with something similar, but just in case, and in such systems there is not enough fuel for flying in the style of Hollywood films.
3. There is nothing faster than the speed of light
This is relatively true, but scientists have increasingly come to the conclusion that quantum mechanics does not always follow its own rules. For example, quantum entanglement and other similar phenomena could lead to the discovery of the ability to travel at speeds faster than the speed of light. This will be an extremely important breakthrough not only for space travel, but also for the field of computing devices.
2. NASA spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would write in space
This myth is often told when people think about the space race of the 60s, which flared up between the agencies of the United States and the USSR. People laughed that NASA had spent millions of dollars to develop a ballpoint pen that would write in conditions of relative weightlessness, while the Soviet cosmonauts showed the famous Russian ingenuity and took ordinary pencils with them. However, the truth is that both countries first used pencils and markers, and then switched to a special pen, but its development did not cost anyone any millions of dollars. The astronaut writing utensil was created on its own initiative by the private company Fisher Pen Company, which then began selling its pens for $ 6 each.
1. The Earth revolves around the Sun
And here is the most incredible lie! Now you will have something to flaunt in front of your friends in an idle conversation, and surprise everyone in earnest. Each object affects any other body, which means that not only the gravity of the Sun affects the Earth, but the gravity of our planet also affects the movement of the Sun. Technically, both of these celestial bodies revolve around the so-called barycenter. In the case of the Earth, this conditional point is so close to the center of the Sun that they began to simply ignore it. However, in the case of Jupiter, the barycenter is 48,280 kilometers from the surface of the Sun. In a sense, we all revolve around each other ...
All photos: pixabay (public domain)
