Amazing Facts: There Are More Stars in Space Than Grains of Sand on Earth
Why Scientists Say There Are More Stars in Space Than Grains of Sand on Earth
Have you been to a beach and scooped sand to let it go and watch the grains of sand fall? The some the sand you scoop feels like an endless number of particles. Now you remember each and every beach, desert, and the river banks of our planet. The number of stars in space, however, is still more than all the grains of sand on earth, according to scientists.
How Many Stars Are in the Universe?
The Milky Way alone is believed to have between 100 and 400 billion stars, and that is only one galaxy. Because of the Hubble space telescope, scientists believe there could be around 2 trillion galaxies within our observable universe.
When it comes to this astonishing comparison, Dr. David Kornreich, an astronomer, stated that there are around 1 septillion stars in the universe, which is a huge number equal to a one and 24 zeros. This is still less than the number of grains of sand on the earth.
Stars vs. Sand: A Striking Comparison
What comes to mind when you think of the beaches in Goa, the Sahara desert, or perhaps the sandbanks of the Ganga. The stars would still be the winner, and the margin is unfathomable. The difference between the two is like comparing a street cricket match to the World Cup, one is big and the other is immeasurable.
Why This Fact Matters
It isn’t only beautiful dots on the celestial sphere. They are enormous suns, many bigger than ours. They form planets, and oceans, and even life. Kepler Space Telescope has found thousands of planets circling different stars, hinting of the possibility of Earth-like worlds. This serves as a reminder that there may be intelligent life elsewhere in the cosmos.
A Thought to Carry With You
Your eye can see about 2,500 stars, but the actual figure is far greater. The next time you are at the beach, take a handful of sand and let it drift through your fingers. Look up! The universe above has far more than all the grains of sand below your feet.
References
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NASA Hubble – Hubble Reveals Observable Universe Contains 2 Trillion Galaxies
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Cornell University – Are There More Grains of Sand Than Stars?
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Space.com – How Many Stars Are in the Universe?
