May 3 – National Space Day
Today, May 3, is National Space Day! Space exploration is fascinating and helps us learn more about our universe. You can check out all of the Facts of the Day for kids here.
Five Fun Facts about National Space Day
- Space Day is celebrated annually on the first Friday in May.
- Space is completely silent because there’s no air to carry sound waves, so no one can hear you scream in space!
- On Venus, a day is longer than a year! A day on Venus (one full rotation) takes 243 Earth days, while a year (one full orbit around the sun) only takes about 225 Earth days.
- The largest volcano in our solar system is not on Earth, but on Mars! Olympus Mons is about 13.6 miles (22 kilometers) high, making it nearly three times taller than Mount Everest.
- There’s a planet where it rains glass sideways! On the exoplanet HD 189733b, which is about 63 light-years away from Earth, the winds blow so hard that the rain is made of glass, and it moves sideways at speeds of up to 4,500 miles per hour (7,200 kilometers per hour).
- Astronauts grow taller in space! Without the pull of gravity compressing their spines, astronauts can gain up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in height while they’re in space. But don’t worry, they shrink back to their original height once they return to Earth!
- For more space facts for kids, visit this page.
Activity Ideas to Celebrate May 3
Here are five exciting ways to celebrate National Space Day:
- Outer Space Word Search: Challenge yourself with a space-themed word search puzzle. Hunt for words like “galaxy,” “rocket,” and “astronaut” as you explore the cosmos through letters. Find the word search here.
- Space Bingo: Get ready for an interstellar game of bingo! Print out space-themed bingo cards and mark off the celestial objects as they’re called out. Will you be the first to shout “bingo”? Access the bingo game here.
- Space Escape Room: Embark on a thrilling adventure with a space escape room challenge. Solve puzzles, crack codes, and unlock the secrets of the universe as you race against the clock to escape. Check out the space escape room here.
- Build Your Own Rocket: Tap into your inner engineer and construct your very own rocket ship. Use household materials like cardboard, paper, and tape to design and build a spacecraft fit for exploration.
- Stargazing Party: Spend the evening under the stars with a stargazing party. Set up blankets and telescopes outdoors, and marvel at the wonders of the night sky. Spot constellations, planets, and shooting stars as you celebrate the beauty of space.
Space Escape Room
Questions to Think About for May 3
Here are some questions to ponder:
- Why is space exploration important?
- How do astronauts live in space?
- What challenges do scientists face when studying space?
- What can we learn from studying other planets?
- How does space technology impact our daily lives?
Would You Rather Questions about Space
Here are five questions to spark conversation:
- Would you rather travel to the moon or Mars?
- Would you rather float in zero gravity or walk on the surface of a planet?
- Would you rather discover a new planet or a new galaxy?
- Would you rather meet an alien or travel through a black hole?
- Would you rather live on a space station or a colony on another planet?
National Space Day is a day to celebrate the wonders of outer space and the achievements of space exploration. It’s a time for learning about the universe, engaging in fun activities, and inspiring curiosity about the cosmos.
