Top 10 Kids’ Space Questions—Answered!
A fun science post from Galaxy on the Go—Chicago’s traveling planetarium for K-8 schools
At Galaxy on the Go, we visit schools and libraries with our indoor mobile planetarium. Kids always ask incredible space questions—and these are the ones we hear the most!
We love engaging with curious young minds when we visit K-8 schools in Chicago with our incredible STEM assemblies, and so of course we have answers ready!
1. How big is space?
Space is still growing! Scientists believe the universe started with something called the Big Bang, about 13.8 billion years ago. Since then, it’s been expanding—stretching out farther and farther in every direction.
Some of the farthest things we’ve seen are galaxies over 13 billion light-years away. That means the light from those galaxies took over 13 billion years just to reach us!
2. Is Pluto still a planet?
Pluto is no longer called a planet—it’s a dwarf planet now. There are other dwarf planets too, like Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres. Fun fact: Eris is actually slightly bigger than Pluto!
Dwarf planets are space objects that are big and round like planets, but they don’t clear out other space rocks from their orbit.
3. Can you jump on the Moon?
Yes—and you’d go way higher than on Earth! That’s because the Moon has less gravity.
Gravity depends on how much something weighs (its mass). Earth is super heavy—it weighs about 81 times more than the Moon. That’s why the Moon’s gravity is only about 1/6 of Earth’s. If you weigh 90 pounds here, you’d weigh just 15 on the Moon!
4. Why is the sky blue?
Sunlight is made of many colors. When sunlight hits Earth’s air, the blue light gets scattered more than the other colors, so the sky looks blue to our eyes.
5. What happens if you fall into a black hole?
A black hole has super strong gravity—so strong, not even light can escape. The edge of a black hole is called the event horizon. Once something crosses it, it can’t come back out.
If you fell into one, you’d get stretched out like spaghetti (scientists call that “spaghettification!”). But don’t worry—there are no black holes close to Earth.
6. How hot is the Sun?
The surface of the Sun is around 10,000°F, but the middle is much hotter—about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit!
The Sun is a giant ball of gas that’s always exploding with energy. It gives us light and heat, and it’s the reason life can exist on Earth.
7. Are aliens real?
We haven’t found any aliens yet, but space is really, really big, so scientists are still looking! NASA and other space programs search for signs of life on other planets and moons. Maybe one day we’ll discover something!
8. How do astronauts go to the bathroom?
In space, they can’t use a regular toilet because there’s no gravity. So they use special space toilets that use airflow to pull the waste away.
For emergencies or spacewalks, astronauts use something called a “piddle pack.” That’s a fun name for a bag they go in—and yes, it works in zero gravity!
9. What is a shooting star?
A shooting star isn’t a star at all—it’s a tiny rock from space, called a meteoroid, that burns up when it hits Earth’s air. When we see it streaking across the sky, we call it a meteor.
Most meteors come from asteroids or comets. After they burn up, they usually disappear. But if a piece makes it all the way to the ground, it’s called a meteorite.
10. Can I go to space someday?
Maybe—more people are going to space than ever before! NASA still sends astronauts, but now companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic are sending people too.
If you love science, technology, and exploration, who knows? You might be a future astronaut or space tourist!
Want to bring this kind of excitement to your school?
Galaxy on the Go is an educational program for elementary and middle schools that brings a 360° dome theater right to your gym. It’s a K-8 field trip alternative that comes to you—no buses, no hassle!
📍 Perfect for STEM assemblies in Chicago and surrounding areas
📅 Now booking for the 2025 school year