From the blistering Sahara Desert to freezing Antarctica, extreme temperatures are not foreign to the 8.7 million species that inhabit Earth. However, Earth’s temperatures mostly fluctuate within a predictable range, making it hospitable for life. The same cannot be said for the universe.
The universe has a magnitude that’s hard to gauge – it’s constantly expanding and has no center due to which much of the universe is unexplored by humans. LiveScience reports space is very cold, colder than planets, moons or asteroids, due to the absence of energy-absorbing matter.
However, scientists have discovered a place that’s colder than the space.Here’s the coldest place in the universe.
What is the coldest place in the universe?
According to National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the coldest place in theuniverse is the Boomerang Nebula. NASA reported that “at a cosmologically crisp one degree Kelvin,” the Boomerang Nebula takes the title of the coldest place in the known universe.
One degree Kelvin translates to minus 458 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately minus 272 degrees Celsius. For comparison, the coldest recorded temperature on Earth is minus 128.6 degrees Fahrenheit in Vostok, Antarctica.
A nebula is a cloud or mist of gas and dust occurring in the interstellar space, according to Britannica. Located 5,000 light years away from Earth in the constellation Centaurus, the Boomerang Nebula is a relatively young planetary nebula, according to NASA. Planetary nebulae are stars in their end-of-life phases. These nebulae emit intense ultraviolet radiation, causing the gases to glow and produce vibrant-colored light.
More record-breaking chills:Lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth
Is anything colder than space?
Revealed by astronomers Raghvendra Sahai and Lars-Åke Nyman in 1995, the Boomerang Nebula has a temperature lower than its background radiation, according to European Space Agency. It is only one degree warmer than absolute zero or zero on the Kelvin scale – it is the lowest temperature that’s theoretically possible.
Outer space has a baseline temperature of 2.7 Kelvin, minus 453.8 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 270.45 degrees Celsius, according to LiveScience. However, this temperature is not consistent throughout the solar system.
What is the hottest place in the universe?
While there is no specific title-holder for the hottest place in the universe, a contenderis the star at the center of theRed Spider Nebula.
The star's surface temperature is supposedly between150,000 to 250,000 degrees Kelvin, but this is difficult to officially determine due to its thick dust shell. This star is one of the hottest known stars, according to NASA.
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "What is the coldest planet?" to "What causes thunderstorms?" to "Which planet has the most moons?" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
As an enthusiast with a profound interest in astrophysics and astronomy, I can confidently delve into the fascinating concepts interwoven within the article you provided. My expertise spans a wide spectrum of celestial bodies, temperatures in space, nebulae, and extremes found in our universe.
Let's dissect the key concepts highlighted in the article:
-
Temperature Extremes in the Universe: The article touches upon the temperature variations across the universe, emphasizing the extreme coldness prevailing in space due to the absence of matter that can absorb energy. It highlights the contrast between the temperatures experienced on Earth and those existing in the cosmos.
-
The Coldest Place in the Universe - Boomerang Nebula: The article identifies the Boomerang Nebula as the coldest known location in the universe. Situated approximately 5,000 light-years away in the Centaurus constellation, this nebula boasts an astonishingly low temperature of one degree Kelvin, which translates to around minus 458 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately minus 272 degrees Celsius.
-
Understanding Nebulae: It introduces the term "nebula," describing it as a cloud or mist composed of gas and dust existing in interstellar space. Specifically, the Boomerang Nebula is highlighted as a relatively young planetary nebula formed during a star's final stages of life. It emits vibrant-colored light due to intense ultraviolet radiation interacting with gases.
-
Temperature Measurements and Comparisons: The article discusses temperatures in Kelvin, Fahrenheit, and Celsius scales, making comparisons between the coldest temperatures recorded on Earth and the Boomerang Nebula's incredibly low temperature, which is only slightly higher than absolute zero.
-
Extreme Temperatures Beyond the Boomerang Nebula: It briefly touches upon the baseline temperature of outer space, which is approximately 2.7 Kelvin, emphasizing that temperatures vary across the solar system.
-
The Hottest Places in the Universe: While it doesn't name a definitive hottest place, it suggests the star at the center of the Red Spider Nebula as a potential contender. This star's surface temperature ranges between 150,000 to 250,000 degrees Kelvin, making it one of the hottest known stars.
-
Further Curiosity: The article prompts further curiosity by mentioning that specific questions about planetary temperatures, thunderstorms, moon counts, and more can be explored, inviting readers to delve deeper into various astronomical topics.
Understanding these concepts offers a glimpse into the diverse and extreme temperature environments present throughout the universe, showcasing both the frigid coldness of the Boomerang Nebula and the scorching heat of celestial bodies like the star within the Red Spider Nebula. This knowledge illustrates the vast spectrum of conditions that exist beyond our planet, contributing to the awe-inspiring complexity of the cosmos.
