We have learned and discovered much about the space in the past couple of decades and even centuries. However, despite confirmed data that have been made accessible to everyone, a lot of myths and conspiracy theories have been created about space.
In fact, many of these myths and conspiracy theories revolve around the other planets in the Solar System. Here are examples of those that have already been debunked:
Myth #1: There is Face on the Surface of Mars
Can you spot what looks like a face in the photo of the Martian surface taken by the Viking 1 spacecraft seen above? If you can, you might be able to make sense of why such a conspiracy theory went around about the photo. Conspiracy theorists even went as far as to say that it is proof that aliens exist and the face has been left as proof, according to a report by Space.
However, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has already debunked this theory and said that it is actually just a pile of rocks that look like face-like features thanks to a trick of light and shadows.
Myth #2: Mercury is the Hottest Planet in the Solar System
Many have the misconception that Mercury, which orbits the sun at an average distance of 36 million miles, is the hottest planet in the Solar System. That is not true. In fact, Venus is the hottest planet despite being farther from the sun.
According to a separate article by Space, the average temperature in Venus during the day is 864 degrees Fahrenheit. In comparison, the average temperature in Mercury is around 800 degrees Fahrenheit,
So what made Venus hotter than Mercury despite the latter being closer to the sun? It all boils down to the atmosphere.
"On Venus, the atmosphere is thick and composed mainly of carbon dioxide, trapping the heat in an insulating bubble, while Mercury has a very thin atmosphere," the article explains. It points out that the temperature in Mercury reaches -292 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Related Article: #SpaceSnap NASA's Messenger Spacecraft Snaps Mercury's First Photo From Orbit in 2011
Myth #3: The Hexagon on Saturn's North Pole is Alien Technology
One of the not-so-known facts about Saturn is that there is a hexagon on its north pole. This unusual shape was first spotted by NASA's Voyager spacecraft, per Space.
When the first images of the planet taken by the Voyager showed the hexagon, it was unsusprising that conspiracy theories arose from it. Some said that the hexagon is an example of alien technology. Other claimed that it was "a gateway to hell."
Neither of those claims are true. The hexagon is actually a hurricane.
Myth #4: Saturn is the Only Ringed Planet in the Solar System
When you think of planets in the Solar System that have rings, the first and probably only planet that might come to mind is Saturn. Saturn, as many know, has seven main rings. It might come as a surprise then that Saturn is actually not the only ringed planet in the Solar System. In fact, there are three others.
According to Space, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus all have rings too. These have been confirmed thanks to Voyager flybys conducted in the 1970s as well as the 1980s.
"The rings are much thinner and less visible from Earth, but astronomers think that this might not always have been the case," Space explains in its article.
Read Also: #SpaceSnap Cassini Mission's First Photo of Saturn, Titan Taken in 2002
