travelling through space video

Earth is screaming through space at 1.3 million mph. A simple animation by a former NASA scientist shows what that looks like.

• As Earth rotates on its axis, it orbits the sun , which orbits the center of the Milky Way , which itself is barreling through space.
• A simple animation by the former NASA scientist James O'Donoghue shows how fast all those objects are moving.
• Earth is relatively slow, but against the background of cosmic radiation , we're rocketing through space. We just can't feel it because our speed is constant.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .

You can't feel it, but we're rocketing through space at 1.3 million mph.

That's because the Earth is orbiting the sun, which is orbiting the center of the galaxy, which is barreling through the cosmic wind of radiation released during the Big Bang. 

A simple animation created by the planetary scientist James O'Donoghue  puts the whole thing in perspective.

"People often talk about how we are standing on a ball (Earth) which rotates at great speed, and that this ball orbits another at an even greater speed. Sometimes this is extended to how fast we orbit the center of our Milky Way," O'Donoghue, who used to work at NASA and is now employed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, told Business Insider in an email.

He added: "In all the confusion of big numbers and directions, I simply wanted to put all this information into context in a single frame so people could understand where they're headed — and how fast."

On the left side of the animation, numbers indicate the speeds of Earth's rotation, its orbit around the sun, the solar system's orbit around the Milky Way's center, and the galaxy hurtling through space. The dots moving across the right side of the animation show how quickly each object travels 150 kilometers.

As you can see, Earth's rotation is relatively slow, whereas the Milky Way is barreling through space, traveling 600 kilometers (373 miles) every second.

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Normally, O'Donoghue said, people portray the Milky Way's speed by how quickly it's approaching the nearby Andromeda galaxy. But that isn't necessarily the best point of comparison.

"There are so many galaxies moving at different velocities relative to our own, so I figured I'd skip that step and go straight to the biggest apparently moving thing I could think of — the CMB," O'Donoghue said, referring to the cosmic microwave background. That's the faint radiation left over from the Big Bang that fills all of space.

"Measurements of it indicate it is coming from a particular direction, kind of like a wind," O'Donoghue added.

But since all of this is moving, speed is relative.

So although Earth orbits the sun at 66,600 mph, and the sun orbits the Milky Way at 514,500 mph, our solar system's speed relative to the CMB is about 827,000 mph. Zoom out further, and our entire galaxy is zipping through the CMB at about 1.3 million mph.

Of course, in your everyday life on Earth, you don't notice that we're moving so quickly.

As Elon Musk said on Twitter, this video "makes it clear that you can only sense acceleration, not velocity." 

That is, you can sense only changes in speed. When you're in a car, even though you might be driving at 80 mph, you don't feel that motion. You can watch the world whoosh past the car window, of course, just as astronomers observe the Earth's movements by looking to the sky. But you notice the speed only when someone hits the brakes or the gas.

That's why we don't sense the Earth's rotation, or the movement of the solar system as it rockets around the Milky Way's center. Those things are constant. As the animation shows, they're relative too.

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Watch an exclusive clip from the CNN' 'Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight' finale (video)

The absorbing CNN miniseries airs its last two episodes on Sunday, April 14, 2024

Other than the national tragedy of the Apollo 1 command capsule fire that took the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chafee on Jan. 27, 1967 during a launch rehearsal at Cape Kennedy, NASA's darkest hour up to that point occurred 19 years later when the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launch on Jan. 28, 1986, causing the deaths of all seven astronaut aboard. 

Then on Feb. 1, 2003 disaster struck once again after the space shuttle Columbia broke apart during its reentry flight over Texas, sadly killing its STS-107 crew of seven brave astronauts, bringing the program to a shuddering halt.

" Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight " is a riveting new four-part series that debuted April 7, from CNN Originals and co-produced by BBC and Mindhouse Productions, and we have an exclusive interview clip to share from the two-episode series finale landing on CNN on Sunday, April 14.

Related: 'Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight' documentary to conclude on CNN

Here's the docuseries' official synopsis:

" Columbia was the first Space Shuttle to launch and redefined space travel – it took off like a rocket, landed like a plane, and was reusable – making the dream of routine space flight a tangible reality. Across four episodes, the story of the ticking-clock of Columbia's final mission is told in dramatic detail, beginning months before the troubled launch, unfolding across the sixteen days in orbit, and concluding with the investigation into the tragic loss of the seven astronauts' lives. Weaving together intimate footage shot by the astronauts themselves inside the orbiter, exclusive first-hand testimony from family members of the Shuttle's crew, key players at NASA – some of whom have never spoken before – and journalists who covered the story on the ground, the series paints an intimate portrait of the women and men onboard and uncovers in forensic detail the trail of events and missed opportunities that ultimately led to disaster. 

"With wide-ranging access to NASA's archives, including previously unseen footage and findings from the official investigation, 'Space Shuttle Columbia' is the definitive telling of this national tragedy and the inside story of one America's most iconic institutions, uncovering how financial pressures and a culture of complacency may have contributed to the events of February 1, 2003. The series also reflects on the legacy of the Space Shuttle era, serving as a timely exploration of the challenges and inherent dangers that remain relevant to space travel today."

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Our exclusive clip above features interviews with former NASA Photo Analysis Manager Bob Page, Wayne Hale, former NASA Manager, Shuttle Program and CNN Analyst Miles O'Brien regarding the past ongoing issues at NASA where people were afraid to speak up and offer dissenting opinions in a bureaucratic system ill-equipped for good communication across all integrated departments.

CNN's "Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight" premiered Sunday, April 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT with its first two installments. The docuseries' final two episodes both air Sunday, April 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Its executive produced by Emma Tutty and Emma Whitehead for Mindhouse, and Amy Entelis and Lyle Gamm for CNN Original Series.  

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

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Total solar eclipse: see the jaw-dropping new 4k videos from space.

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The moon's shadow as captured by a SEN satellite during the total solar eclipse on April 8.

A British satellite orbiting Earth has sent back stunning images in 4K quality of the total solar eclipse on April 8.

They come after NASA’s incredible images of the moon’s shadow on Earth taken from the International Space Station, some of the best photos of the total solar eclipse .

As well as multiple images on its X feed (where Elon Musk also published a similar eclipse video from a Starlink satellite ), Sen published this exquisite video of the eclipse on YouTube:

Dark Shadow

Sen —a company with one satellite in orbit, called ETV-A1—captured multiple views of the moon’s umbra, its dark central shadow, as it traveled 9,200 miles across the Earth’s surface in three hours and 17 minutes.

That dark shadow is, on Earth, called the path of totality, which was around 115 miles wide as it crossed the planet. Everyone within that moving oval shadow experiencing totality—darkness in the day and the chance to see, in clear skies, the sun’s corona.

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Trump s first criminal trial starts today here s who could show up and what to watch for, apple’s game-changing iphone updates are here—but there’s a catch, low earth orbit.

Sen’s ETV-A1 is in low-Earth orbit, about 318 miles above Earth, and takes around 90 minutes to complete one orbit. It was launched into orbit on January 13, 2022, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It’s planned to be the first of many, with Sen planning a constellation of satellites from 2025.

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The company is expected to begin live-streaming views of Earth from the ISS this year. Its “SpaceTV-1” camera will provide three 4K camera views:

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At least one camera will be live-streamed continuously and be freely accessible to everyone at Sen.com or from the company’s app, which for now is only available on Apple’s App Store (though a Google Play app is planned).

The Next Eclipse

If you want to see another total solar eclipse then consider traveling to Europe on August 12, 2026, when mainland Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999 will see an 83-190-mile-wide moon shadow move from remote Russian Siberia to Greenland, Iceland and Spain. Around 15 million people live within the path, unlike the 42 million under the shadow in Mexico, the U.S, and Canada on April 8.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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By Tori B. Powell , Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc and Adrienne Vogt , Jerome Taylor and James Legge, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved here .

Iran warns its response will be "stronger and more resolute" if Israel retaliates following latest strikes

From CNN’s Alireza Hajihosseini and Eyad Kourdi

Iran has warned that it will respond with more force if Israel retaliates over this weekend's strikes, which Tehran said were themselves a reply to an Israeli attack earlier this month on its embassy complex in Syria's capital Damascus.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent right of self-defense when required," Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, said in a statement.

Citing self-defense against repeated Israeli military aggressions, Iravani said the strikes were specifically in retaliation to an Israeli attack on April 1 against what Iran says were diplomatic facilities in Damascus.

Iran claims the attack violated international law and led to the death of seven Iranian military advisors, including key commanders from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement also criticizes the United Nations Security Council for “failing to uphold international peace,” allowing Israel to “breach” established international norms and “escalate” regional tensions.

Additional context: Israel has carried out numerous strikes on Iran-backed targets in Syria, often targeting weapons shipments allegedly intended for Hezbollah, a powerful Iranian proxy in Lebanon. 

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the April 1 attack which destroyed an Iranian consulate building in the capital Damascus, including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top Revolutionary Guards commander.

However an Israel Defense Forces spokesman told CNN that their intelligence showed the building was not a consulate and was instead “a military building of Quds forces disguised as a civilian building.”

China expresses 'deep concern', calls for ceasefire

From CNN's Philip Wang and Irene Nasser

China has expressed "deep concern" over the "current escalation" following Iran's attack on Israel, according to a spokesperson for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, adding that it is a "spillover of the Gaza conflict" and a ceasefire should be implemented without delay.

In a statement, China called "on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent further escalations."

"The ongoing situation is the latest spillover of the Gaza conflict," the spokesperson said, adding that a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be implemented without any more delay.

Beijing did not  name or condemn Hamas  in the wake of the initial October 7 attacks. Since then, it has condemned the war and been a vocal  proponent of an immediate ceasefire  and the implementation of a “two-state” solution.

Last month, Chinese diplomat Wang Kejian met Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar, the first meeting between a Chinese and Hamas official publicly acknowledged by Beijing since the outbreak of the  war in Gaza .

Wang’s visit follows efforts by Beijing to step up its profile as a  peace broker in the Middle East conflict.

US forces intercepted 70+ drones and at least three ballistic missiles, US officials say

From CNN's Oren Liebermann and Haley Britzky

US forces intercepted more than 70 one-way attack drones and at least three ballistic missiles during Iran's attack on Israel, according to two US officials familiar with the situation.

The ballistic missiles were intercepted by warships in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the officials said. Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in total at Israel, according to a senior administration official.

The US Navy currently has two destroyers in that area, both are guided missile destroyers capable of intercepting missile and drone launches.

US fighter jets were also part of the response to Iran’s attack on Saturday and shot down drones launched towards Israel, another US official told CNN.

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US President Joe Biden will meet with G7 leaders Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” according to a statement released by the White House. 

“My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders,” the statement from Biden reads. “And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.”

US defensive assets moved to the region earlier this week and “helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles,” according to the statement.

Biden also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu following Saturday’s attack “to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.” 

United Airlines cancels three Middle East flights

From CNN’s Sara Smart

At least three United Airlines flights headed to or departing from the Middle East have been canceled amid the ongoing conflict unfolding between Iran and Israel.

On Saturday a flight from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, a flight from Washington D.C. to Amman, Jordan, and one from Dubai to Newark were canceled, the airline told CNN in a statement.

There have been no changes to any Sunday flights for United as of Saturday night, according to the airline. 

CNN has reached out to other airlines regarding cancellations.

Biden told Netanyahu US will not participate in offensive operations against Iran, US official says

From CNN's MJ Lee

The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden has made clear to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a senior administration official told CNN.

The comments were relayed during the phone call that the two leaders shared in the aftermath of Iran's retaliatory strikes against Israel.

Biden tells Netanyahu tonight was a win, nothing of "value" hit in Israel, US official says 

Israel should consider tonight a win because the current US assessment is that Iran’s attacks had been largely unsuccessful and demonstrated Israel’s superior military capability, President Joe Biden told Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their phone call, a senior administration official told CNN.

The US’s assessment tonight was that almost all of the drones and missiles – including more than 100 ballistic missiles -- launched by Iran had been knocked out of the sky. No cruise missile made impact, the official said, and nothing of “value” was hit. 

Bolton: 'Passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake'

From CNN's Heather Chen

John Bolton, the former US national security adviser and ambassador to the UN, said “passivity at this point for Israel would be a big mistake,” warning of more attacks. 

“This is not time to play academic games and message and signal. This is a question of power,” Bolton told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. "If they came from a different location containing nuclear warheads, Israel might not be so lucky.”

A known Iran policy hawk, Bolton served in senior national security positions during the Trump and Bush administrations. A neoconservative, Bolton has in the past advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea.

In 2022, he was the target of an alleged assassination attempt orchestrated by a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

He has warned against underestimating Iran’s nuclear program, which Tehran has said is for peaceful purposes only.

“I think we have enough experience with faulty intelligence by now, not to be so sure, not to know how much of Iran’s uranium enrichment program is really being conducted under a mountain in North Korea,” Bolton said.

If Tehran sent “a wire transfer to Pyongyang,” it would give the North Koreans “enough time to put a couple of warheads on an airplane and fly them to Tehran. (But) if you take away their nuclear capability, that would be a dramatic hit to the regime, maybe enough to topple it.”

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Major Middle East airlines to resume flights after Iran's attack on Israel

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