With much of the northern part of the United States experiencing extraordinarily cold temperatures due to a polar vortex, people have understandably taken to social media to complain and commiserate.
As temperatures in Chicago drop to a frosty -25º Fahrenheit, with wind chills as low as -42º F, Americans are getting a taste of a Canadian winter.
Many are tracking this uncommon weather phenomenon, including NOAA, and at least 9 people have died due to the dangerously low temperatures.
#GOESEast spotted snow on the ground as the sun rose on what will be a bitterly cold day across much of the U.S. A… https://t.co/MwLBflgM2M— NOAA Satellites (@NOAA Satellites) 1548860707.0
The frigid temps have people dreaming of escape to anywhere warmer than here, even other planets.
But they'd be out of luck if they tried it, none of the other celestial bodies near us have temperatures that can support human life.
Neil deGrasse Tyson pointed this out on Twitter, showing exactly how different the planets in our solar system really are.
Outdoor temperature on Earth not quite your liking today? You’ll freeze solid or vaporize anywhere else. Average te… https://t.co/25PVLy5VvT— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@Neil deGrasse Tyson) 1548925310.0
Some people were doubtful about the usefulness of Tyson's information.
@neiltyson thanks?— Kaylathebreaddaughter (@Kaylathebreaddaughter) 1548943411.0
@neiltyson Oh thanks, now I know in case I ever travel out of planet— Luis Valdez (@Luis Valdez) 1548945368.0
@neiltyson @InnoTechToday Loled at tge Sun bit.☺— Nanadaime Hokage😎 (@Nanadaime Hokage😎) 1548942418.0
Tyson's post really put things in perspective for some people.
@neiltyson @24_architect Wow this really puts in perspective the viability of life on Mars. Even with the best insu… https://t.co/EJTDvqRjnt— Clair Marie Wholean AIA LEED AP BD+C (@Clair Marie Wholean AIA LEED AP BD+C) 1548956276.0
@neiltyson Well Mars seems fairly reasonable. I mean some folks are already at -40F.— Brig space boi 👨🚀⭐️🌕 (@Brig space boi 👨🚀⭐️🌕) 1548925382.0
@neiltyson @karenbbooth Guess I’ll quit complaining about that 15-degree drop we noticed this morning when the furnace got glitchy.— Tess Grant (@Tess Grant) 1548946725.0
@neiltyson I’m in chicago and it is kind of wild how chicago is closer to mars temp than it is to a “normal” chicag… https://t.co/9GxTyPA7iW— 🌎💫 (@🌎💫) 1548942703.0
People were oddly upset about Tyson's use of Fahrenheit, the temperature scale most of his audience would understand.
@neiltyson Thanks for the info, but next time in Celsius or Kelvin please — the units of science!— Mr. Tebbens (@Mr. Tebbens) 1548936856.0
@5tigJen5en @neiltyson That is what I'm saying! A scientist that doesn't use the International System of Units or Metric?? C'mon indeed!— Research Hatch (@Research Hatch) 1548935834.0
@neiltyson Fahrenheit? Come on!— Stig Jensen 🇩🇰 🇬🇧 (@Stig Jensen 🇩🇰 🇬🇧) 1548925776.0
There was also a big whoosh.
@neiltyson There is no night for a star— Julia (@Julia) 1548925676.0
@neiltyson The sun would never experience “night”— Hal Stewart (@Hal Stewart) 1548933017.0
@neiltyson Day and night is relative to the sun. What is the sun's day and night relative to? Honest question.— Samuel Cohen (@Samuel Cohen) 1548934547.0
It wouldn't be the internet without puns.
@neiltyson @jbaksht Well, YOU will, I'd be totally fine here with my... space heater. Zing!— Sean M Masters (@Sean M Masters) 1548940752.0
If you're in the path of the polar vortex: stay warm and bring your pets inside!