Space & Astronomy
Exploring "Why" questions about Space & Astronomy
480 articles
Why can’t I start my own nation?
It becomes recognized whenever other countries recognize it. That's not a satisfying answer, but it's the truth. Just ask Palestine.
Why are stars and planets named so strangely?
First, there are tons of stars outside our solar system that have "normal" names. They tend to be in Latin or Greek but that's because of tradition. Take a look at this list: _URL_0_ But, I think you'
Why aren’t we trying to create settlements on the moon first before we try settlements on Mars?
Some people believe the moon isn't worth it. Gravity too low, fewer resources, no atmosphere. Mars is way more appealing.
Why does this picture of Mercury appear to wobble whilst I’m eating something and staring at it?
I have no idea what y'all are talking about. It doesn't wobble for me. I've tried eating something, shaking my phone, doing the thing with your jaw and bringing your teeth together, but I still got no
Why do man made satellites, such as the ISS, appear bright like stars when they pass overhead even though they have no signifigant light source?
If you ever look at the ISS sighting times for your city, you will notice they are always early morning or late evening - never the middle of the night. This is because the sky has to be dark to see i
why is directly looking at a solar eclipse bad for your eyes?
Your eyes adjust to the total light in your field of view, not the brightness of any particular object in your field of view. So during an eclipse, there's less total light, however any visible portio
Why do we say ‘the NSA’ but rarely ‘the NASA’?
"NSA" is an initialism, like FBI or most 3-letter agencies. "NASA" is an acronym and linguistically treated like a noun.
Why are you required to take the full course of antibiotics even if you start to feel better?
to ensure that the bacteria are all dead. if you take antibiotics, and stop once you feel better, that doesn't ensure they are all dead. those that survive, could develop resistances to the drugs.
why planets rotate on a flat plain?
The solar system was developed from a cloud of gas. That cloud of gas condensed and started to spin for whatever reason (gravimetrics are very interesting.) The condensing and spinning flattened out t
Why is there a limit on how large planets can be?
The pressure at the core increases with the size of the planet. If it gets large enough to start fusing elements it will become a star rather than a planet.