this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Yeah that's called Kármán line, but it's just arbitrary line. ISS is still orbiting within Earth's thermosphere

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 6 points 15 hours ago

The Karman Line's lowest theoretical point is still substantially higher up than commercial airplanes and its highest is substantially lower than the ISS. Most nations agree on it as the boundary for the purposes of law and regulation. Commercial airplanes fly about half as high as the line, while spacecraft orbit at four times its altitude or more.

It may be scientifically arbitrary, but it's got a lot going for it as a rough approximation.

[–] lauha@lemmy.world 46 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes, definitions are arbitrary but that is the definition of space.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com -1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

One can be simultaneously on earth, and in space. In fact we all are

But I'm just arguing that while orbiting earth and being within the Earth's atmosphere, it's pretty much still on Earth. Just like you're still at home even if you're at the on the yard or even just outside the gate picking up mail from the mailbox. Looking at it from distance, it really doesn't make difference

[–] Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 day ago (5 children)

I'm also orbiting the sun, ergo, I am a planet

[–] Test_Tickles@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's not like citizenship you don't get to be a planet just because your mom is.

[–] Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Look, I won't go down without a fight like pluto did

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

But you are also spinning around (with) the earth, so wouldn't that make you a moon?

[–] Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Momma always told me to 'aim for a planet, even if you miss you'll still be a moon'

[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 2 points 1 day ago

Plus you've got nippes so you can be milked.

[–] _stranger_@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Look at Mr "hasn't cleared his orbit" over here getting all up in Plutos face. Neptune is being real quiet right now.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago

You're part of a planet for sure :)

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 11 points 1 day ago (3 children)

What does "ISS" stand for again? I forgot.

[–] FundMECFS@piefed.zip 2 points 11 hours ago

International Space Station

[–] TaTTe@lemmy.world 5 points 15 hours ago

Islamic State of Syria

[–] Goodlucksil@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 day ago

Imperial Starship. Wait, wrong comm.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

My favorite fact is that earth's atmosphere extends 95,000 miles / 150,000 km beyond the moon.

[–] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I couldn't find any source for that, but exosphere is considered to extend to 10,000km or 190,000km, from which the latter is about halfway to the moon.

Anyways those numbers are pretty damn tiny even on a small solar system scale

Anyways, even if you look from very close, from our own moon to the earth, anything on the low earth orbit is so extremely close to the planet. Just look at some of the famous earthrise photos, and think of something orbiting ~8% of the radius distance

[–] BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] rmuk@feddit.uk 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Hérë, håvē ßòmê mõrè.