Science, Tech, Math › Science Space Tornadoes Share Flipboard Email Print Science Weather & Climate Storms & Other Phenomena Understanding Your Forecast Chemistry Biology Physics Geology Astronomy By Rachelle Oblack Rachelle Oblack is a K-12 science educator and Holt McDougal science textbook writer. She specializes in climate and weather. our editorial process Rachelle Oblack Updated March 18, 2017 Space tornadoes is a weather term that can have 2 different meanings. A space tornado can mean a tornado that occurs in outer space or it can mean terrestrial tornadoes that can be seen from space. Keep in mind that only terrestrial tornadoes on Earth are technically classified as a real tornado. Cosmic Tornadoes from Young Stars Solar Windstorm Tornadoes New research from the University of California has made detailed measurements of these space tornadoes, also known as substorm current wedges. According to a National Geographic News story, space tornadoes kick-start terrestrial auroras. The University of California team has discovered that space tornadoes form at least every three hours and take just a minute to reach the ionosphere. Tornadoes from Space Weather on Other Planets is an excellent site to tour the typical weather on other planets. For instance, the temperature on Venus, with an intense greenhouse effect, can reach 900 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also tour the 1,00 mile per hour winds on the planet Saturn.