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Hi Lucy! The age of the GRS is actually contested. Up until 2024 we were certain it was just under 400 years old however a new study might suggest the age of around 190 years old. Here’s a cool article discussing this.
Hi Emma fantastic fact!
We know the main factor determining the shape of celestial bodies is how they spin on their own axis – this explains how the earth slightly bulges at the equator.
Early in the moons life it was closer to the earth and mostly hot liquid surrounded by a thin crust; it was also spinning much faster than it is today. We understand that this is an important chapter in the history of its shape!
Hey Sharon, This is fantastic! some of my favourite space videos involve how water moves on the ISS
Water on the ISS – for Science!
Karen Nyberg Shows How You Wash Hair in SpaceIf you do use the international space station as an example it might be interesting to know that they plan to decommission the space station and deorbit it by 2030!
Hi Doireann, Thank you for your fact. It is quite normal for moons to move around like this in the solar system and beyond. Quite the opposite is happening to one of the moons around Mars – Phobos. This moon will fall closer to the planet and maybe even get ripped apart! https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/mars-tear-phobos-apart-could-happen-sooner
Hi Doireann, Thank you for your fact. It is quite normal for moons to move around like this in the solar system and beyond. Quite the opposite is happening to one of the moons around Mars – Phobos. This moon will fall closer to the planet and maybe even get ripped apart! https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/mars-tear-phobos-apart-could-happen-sooner
Hi Sharon, That sounds wonderful! What’s cool about choosing a rocket launch site is that we tend to favour sites on the equator, by the ocean and where we can launch rockets eastward!
As we know the earth rotates on its axis (one rotation being a day) but this speed is not the same everywhere – the highest speeds being at the equator this gives rockets an extra ‘push’ when launching.
Hi Lynn. Looking forward to hearing your favourite Space fact! There are loads of wonderful scientific endeavors happening in space right now! From the Artemis missions to the James Webb space telescope!
Hi Eimear. You will be delighted to hear that there is an entire week dedicated to Space outside of Science week every year! https://www.spaceweek.ie/
