Interstellar refers to the space existing between stars. It is not empty, but instead contains various components.
The Composition of Interstellar Space
While seemingly empty, interstellar space is actually filled with a variety of matter and energy. Here's a breakdown:
- Particles: Interstellar space contains charged particles and atoms.
- Molecules: Complex molecules also exist in the space between stars.
- Radiation: It includes photons spanning a wide spectrum, from high-energy radiation to the cosmic microwave background (CMB).
- Neutrinos: These subatomic particles are abundant in interstellar space.
- Dark Matter: A significant, though poorly understood, component of the universe also resides in these vast expanses.
Although these components exist, they are sparsely spread out across the immense distances between stars.
Key Takeaway
Interstellar space is the area between the stars, but it is far from empty. It contains vast quantities of neutrinos, charged particles, atoms, molecules, dark matter and photons ranging from the highest-energy radiation to the sluggish light of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) albeit rather sparsely spread out.
