The Strangest Places in the Universe That Might Actually Exist

The Universe Isn’t Just Big — It’s Weird

Space is often described as infinite. But beyond the vastness and silence lies something even more incredible: its strangeness. Our solar system feels orderly — planets orbiting in neat circles, moons behaving politely. But when astronomers point their telescopes farther into the galaxy and beyond, they uncover places so bizarre, so mind-bending, that they seem more like fiction than reality.

Yet, many of these strange places are very real, and others are theoretical but backed by strong science. Some exist far beyond our reach, but the more we discover, the more we realise: the universe doesn’t play by our rules.

Let’s explore the strangest places in the universe — those that might actually exist, and defy everything we think we know.

Mirror Worlds – Where Left is Right and Time Feels Off

Some scientists believe that for every planet or particle we know, there may be a “mirror” version — a universe or realm made of mirror matter.

These so-called mirror worlds wouldn’t be visible in the traditional sense. They might interact only through gravity or other unknown forces. It’s like a version of Earth that exists in parallel, with its own set of particles and laws, possibly even its own lifeforms.

While we haven’t observed a mirror world directly, studies into antimatter, dark matter, and cosmic imbalances suggest they could be real.

Why it’s strange: Imagine a universe right next to ours that we can’t see — one that might even be your reversed twin.

HD 189733b – The Planet That Rains Glass

Located 63 light-years away in the constellation Vulpecula is HD 189733b, a gas giant roughly the size of Jupiter. But this planet’s weather is unlike anything on Earth. It’s known for rainstorms of molten glass, blowing sideways at 5,400 mph (8,700 km/h) due to powerful winds.

The planet’s intense cobalt-blue appearance once made astronomers think it was an ocean world — but it’s actually an ultra-hot atmosphere of silicates and metals.

Why it’s strange: Sideways glass rain? It’s like a sci-fi nightmare come true — and it’s a real exoplanet, confirmed by NASA’s Spitzer and Hubble telescopes.

WASP-12b – The Planet That’s Being Eaten Alive

WASP-12b is a gas giant that orbits so close to its star, it completes a full year in just over one Earth day. But it’s not just close — it’s doomed.

Its parent star is slowly pulling its mass away, devouring the planet’s atmosphere and outer layers like a cosmic vampire. The process has made WASP-12b oblong in shape, stretched by tidal forces — and eventually, it will be completely destroyed.

Why it’s strange: We usually think of planets as passive. But here, a star is actively eating its own child.

The Boötes Void – A Giant Hole in the Universe

Imagine a place in the universe where nothing exists — no stars, no galaxies, no dust. Just a giant empty sphere, nearly 330 million light-years across. That’s the Boötes Void, also known as “The Great Nothing.”

When astronomers discovered it, they were stunned. It’s not a black hole — it’s an absence of everything. Some theories suggest it formed due to unusual cosmic inflation. Others whisper more exotic ideas — like possible evidence of another universe bumping into ours.

Why it’s strange: It’s not just empty. It’s too empty, and we don’t fully understand how such a massive void could even form.

PSR J1719-1438b – A Planet Made of Diamond

Orbiting a pulsar (a type of neutron star), PSR J1719-1438b is one of the most exotic objects ever found. It’s the remnant core of a star that collapsed into an incredibly dense object — made almost entirely of crystalline carbon.

In short: it’s a planet-sized diamond, roughly the size of Jupiter, but 20 times denser.

Nicknamed the “diamond planet,” this strange world doesn’t shine, but its structure is thought to be one giant sparkling mass — the universe’s most glamorous graveyard.

Why it’s strange: It's proof that stars can die and turn into diamonds — literally.

The Eye of Jupiter – A Storm That Never Ends

Closer to home, we have a strange place within our own solar system: Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. This massive storm has been raging for over 300 years — possibly much longer.

It’s wider than Earth and sits high in Jupiter’s atmosphere, swirling endlessly with wind speeds over 430 km/h (267 mph). Scientists still don’t fully understand why it persists — most storms eventually run out of energy, but not this one.

Why it’s strange: On Earth, hurricanes last days. On Jupiter, they can last centuries — and the laws of physics let them.

Neutron Stars – Cosmic Objects That Break Physics

A neutron star is what remains after a massive star explodes in a supernova. What’s left behind is an object so dense, that a teaspoon of it would weigh over a billion tons.

These stars are incredibly small (about 20 km across) but unimaginably heavy. They spin rapidly, have intense magnetic fields, and can warp space-time around them.

Some even emit radio waves like a cosmic lighthouse — these are called pulsars.

Why it’s strange: They’re the densest observable objects in the universe — small, deadly, and impossible to replicate on Earth.

Rogue Planets – Worlds Without Suns

Not all planets have stars. Some roam the galaxy alone — “rogue planets”, wandering in darkness. They’ve either been ejected from their solar systems or formed on their own in isolation.

Astronomers believe there could be billions of rogue planets in our galaxy alone. Some might even be Earth-sized, possibly with subsurface oceans warmed by internal heat.

Why it’s strange: These are cold, dark worlds — planets without a home, floating through space like ghosts.

Planet Nine – The Hypothetical Giant at the Edge of Our Solar System

Some scientists believe a massive, icy planet lurks far beyond Neptune — perhaps 10 times the mass of Earth. This theoretical world, often called Planet Nine, has never been directly observed, but its gravitational influence may explain the strange orbits of distant space objects.

If real, Planet Nine would be the newest major planet in our solar system — and it might be covered in frozen gases and extreme darkness.

Why it’s strange: It could be part of our own solar family — and we still haven’t found it.

The Universe is Stranger Than Fiction

From diamond planets to rains of glass, from roaming worlds to cosmic voids, the universe continually surprises us. What we once thought impossible has become confirmed — and what seems fictional might only be waiting to be discovered.

Each new telescope we launch, each signal we decode, pulls back another curtain. Behind it lies something weirder, older, and more wondrous than before.

So next time you look at the night sky, remember:

The universe doesn’t just stretch your imagination — it breaks it wide open.