Dark matter is believed to be made up of weakly interacting massive particles and holds galaxies together through gravity, though it does not emit or reflect light. Dark energy is the energy of empty space that is accelerating the expansion of the universe. Understanding dark matter and dark energy could allow for faster-than-light travel and more thorough astronomical research. Only 5% of the universe is visible matter - 25% is dark matter and 70% is dark energy.
Dark matter is believed to be made up of weakly interacting massive particles and holds galaxies together through gravity, though it does not emit or reflect light. Dark energy is the energy of empty space that is accelerating the expansion of the universe. Understanding dark matter and dark energy could allow for faster-than-light travel and more thorough astronomical research. Only 5% of the universe is visible matter - 25% is dark matter and 70% is dark energy.
The four outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - are known as the external or gas giant planets. They are the largest planets in the solar system and are divided into two groups: gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn that are primarily composed of gaseous materials, and ice giants like Uranus and Neptune that have higher proportions of ice and rock in their compositions compared to the gas giants.
- An asteroid impact likely caused the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Evidence for this comes from a thin global layer containing the rare element iridium found above the last dinosaur fossils.
- In 1994, comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 broke apart and collided with Jupiter, providing a dramatic example of a major impact event. Several black scars were left on Jupiter's atmosphere.
- While impacts from asteroids and comets are rare, the threat is real as shown by impacts to Jupiter. Near-Earth objects occasionally collide with Earth with potentially catastrophic effects.
The four outer planets - Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - are known as the external or gas giant planets. They are the largest planets in the solar system and are divided into two groups: gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn that are primarily composed of gaseous materials, and ice giants like Uranus and Neptune that have higher proportions of ice and rock in their compositions compared to the gas giants.
- An asteroid impact likely caused the mass extinction that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Evidence for this comes from a thin global layer containing the rare element iridium found above the last dinosaur fossils.
- In 1994, comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 broke apart and collided with Jupiter, providing a dramatic example of a major impact event. Several black scars were left on Jupiter's atmosphere.
- While impacts from asteroids and comets are rare, the threat is real as shown by impacts to Jupiter. Near-Earth objects occasionally collide with Earth with potentially catastrophic effects.
