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NASA Space Place: Exosphere

The exosphere is the outermost layer of our atmosphere. 

“Exo” means outside and is the same prefix used to describe insects like grasshoppers that have a hard shell or “exoskeleton” on the outside of their body.

The exosphere is the very edge of our atmosphere. This layer separates the rest of the atmosphere from outer space. It’s about 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. That’s almost as wide as Earth itself. The exosphere is really, really big. That means that to get to outer space, you have to be really far from Earth.

The exosphere has gases like hydrogen and helium, but they are very spread out. There is a lot of empty space in between. There is no air to breathe, and it’s very cold.

 

 

Launched in 1998, NASA Space Place’s mission is to inspire and enrich upper-elementary-aged kids’ learning of space and Earth science online through fun games, hands-on activities, informative articles and engaging short videos.

With material in both English and Spanish and resources for parents and teachers, NASA Space Place has something for everyone.


Science Topics
Meteorology
K-6
3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade

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