Astronomy Answers

Astronomy Answers
Astronomical Dictionary
This dictionary explains a number of difficult astronomical words that are also used
elsewhere in these web pages. If you find a word in these pages that you do not
understand, then you can check if the word is explained in this dictionary.
Some words are followed by an explanation, and some only have references. A
reference to another word in the dictionary is indicated as →, and a reference to
another web page as ⇒.
If the first sentence of the explanation of a word begins with this kind of letters,
then that sentence explains the origin of the word. The language of origin of the
word is shown between square brackets; usually this is [Greek] or [Latin].
Letter sections:
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
â„ƒ
â„‰
Aa
A>
the absorption line
absorptio = [Latin] drink
An absorption line is a spectral line (a narrow band of colors) in which an

object shines less brightly than in other similar colors.
absorption_lines
the active region
An active region is an area at the surface of the Sun with a lot of magnetic
field in the form of sunspots, pores, and plage. Large active regions can grow
to be 160,000 km long (equal to four times around the Earth) and can last for
two or more months, but small active regions appear and disappear in a
matter of days.
active_regions
Adrastea
A moon of 20 km diameter at about 129,000 km from the planet Jupiter. The

gravity at its surface is about 0.0005 times as strong as on Earth. The moon
goes once around its planet in about 7.2 hours. The moon was discovered in
1979. Also called JXV (Jupiter fifteen). Its provisional designation was S/1979
J1.
Air_Pump →
Aitne
A moon of 3 km diameter at about 23,229,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

The gravity at its surface is about 0.0001 times as strong as on Earth. The
moon goes once around its planet in about 723.1 days. The moon was
discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXI (Jupiter thirty-one). Its provisional
designation was S/2001 J11.
the albedo
albedo = [Latin] white paint or color
The albedo of an object is a number between 0 and 1 that indicates which

fraction of incoming light is immediately reflected by the object. The albedo
of the Earth is about 0.3: the Earth and its atmosphere reflect about 30
percent of the sunlight that hits them. All other things being equal, a planet
looks brighter and has a lower temperature when its albedo is greater.
Albert_Einstein →
Albiorix
A moon of 32 km diameter at about 16,182,000 km from the planet Saturn.

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXVI (Saturn twenty-six). Its provisional
designation was S/2000 S11.
the Almagest ⇒
The Almagest is the name by which the best-known astronomical book by

Claudius Ptolemy is known since about the 10th century. This book was
written by Ptolemy in the 2nd century in Greek (in Alexandria in Egypt) and
was then called Î¼Î±Î¸Î·Î¼Î±Ï„Î¹Îºá½µ Ïƒá½»Î½Ï„Î±Î¾Î¹Ï‚ (Mathematike
Syntaxis = Mathematical Treatise). It contains a complete description of a
geocentric model for all planets then known and for the Sun and Moon, with
explanations for how to calculate their positions and phenomena. The book
became the standard book for astronomy, so it was later called HÃ¨ MegalÃ¨
Syntaxis (The Great Treatise). In the 9th century, it was translated by Islamic
astronomers into Arabic. The Greek version was forgotten in Western Europe.
In the 12th century, Gerard of Cremona translated an Arabic version, which
was then called al-mjsṭy "the greatest", into Latin, and so the book became
known in Western Europe again, but now by the Latinized version of its
Arabic title, the Almagest.
Altar →
altitude
Altitude and elevation measure how far something is above some reference
plane. In daily life, they are used to indicate how far above sea level
something is. In astronomy, they are used for that as well, but also to
indicate how far (in degrees) something like a planet or a star is above the
horizon. This can be confusing, so the preferred use is for elevation to be
used for the height above sea level (in meters or feet), and altitude for height
above the horizon (in degrees).
In the horizontal coordinate system, altitude is the coordinate that measures

the height above the horizon (in degrees). The other coordinate is the
azimuth. Because the true horizon depends on the local landscape and the
exact location of the observer, astronomers often use an "artificial" horizon
that runs exactly midway between the zenith and nadir. If you read about
astronomical altitudes, then you may assume they are measured relative to
the artificial horizon, unless the accompanying text says otherwise.
Amalthea
A moon of 172 km diameter at about 181,400 km from the planet Jupiter.

moon goes once around its planet in about 12.0 hours. The moon was
discovered in 1892. Also called JV (Jupiter five).
Ananke

discovered in 1951. Also called JXII (Jupiter twelve).
And →
Andromeda
Andromeda is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way. The official

abbreviation is And.
Andromedae →
the angle
In geometry, an angle is a difference between directions. Angles are

commonly measured in degrees. A full circle is equivalent to 360 degrees: If
you turn around completely and end up looking in the same direction as you
did before, then you've turned over 360 degrees. A right angle is equal to 90
degrees, and the angles between the sides of an equilateral triangle (one with
three sides of equal length) is 60 degrees.
A degree is also written as Â°, so 31Â° is 31 degrees. A degree is further

divided into 60 arcminutes (also written as 60' or 60 minutes of arc), and an
arcminute into 60 arcseconds (also written as 60" or 60 seconds of arc), so
one degree is equal to 3600 arcseconds. Astronomical objects often appear so
small in the sky that their apparent angular sizes are expressed in arcminutes
or arcseconds. For instance, the Sun and Moon have angular diameters of
about 30 arcminutes, the planet Jupiter has an angular diameter of about 40
arcseconds, and the planet Pluto of 0.1 arcseconds.
The smallest detail a telescope can possible see (which is called its resolution)
is also often measured in arcseconds. It is about equal to 0.13 arcseconds
divided by the diameter of the primary entrance of the telescope in meters,
or to 130 arcseconds over the diameter in centimeters, or to 5.0 arcseconds
divided by the diameter in inches. With a perfect 6-inch telescope, you may
be able to see details as small as 0.8 arcseconds - so in such a telescope
Jupiter would appear as a small disk, but Pluto would look like a point, just
like the stars. Often, the resolution of telescopes is worse than what this
formula yields, because the mirrors or lenses are not perfect and because the
atmosphere of the Earth tends to blur the images.
angles
anomalistic
anoomalia = [Grieks] deviation, roughness
In astronomy, anomalistic means that it has something to do with the apsides

of the orbit of a celestial body. The anomalistic month is the time between
two passages of the Moon through its perigee.
anomalistical
anomalistic_month
anomalistic_months
the anomaly
anoomalia = [Greek] deviation, roughness
In astronomy, anomaly is used for different kinds of angles that are

important when calculating the position of objects in their orbits. Below,
several different anomalies are explained for the orbit of the Earth around the
Sun (or rather: of the Earth around the barycenter of the Solar System, but
that is almost the same thing), but they are also used for orbits of other
celestial objects.
1. The true anomaly is the angle (as seen from the Sun) between the Earth
and the perihelion of the orbit of the Earth. When the true anomaly is
equal to 0 degrees, then the Earth is closest to the Sun (or: in its
perihelion). When the true anomaly is equal to 180 degrees, then the
Earth is furthest from the Sun (in the aphelion).
2. The mean anomaly is what the true anomaly would be if the Earth
moved with constant speed along a perfectly circular orbit (with an
eccentricity equal to zero) around the Sun in the same time. Just as for
the true anomaly, the mean anomaly is equal to 0 in the perihelion and
to 180 degrees in the aphelion, but at other points along the Earth's
orbit the true and mean anomalies are not equal to one another. The
mean anomaly is often used for one of the orbital elements.
3. The eccentric anomaly is an angle that is related to both the mean and
the true anomaly. You encounter this angle if you solve Kepler's
Equation to find the true anomaly from the mean anomaly.
Ant →
the antimatter ⇒
Antimatter is in some invisible characteristics the opposite of ordinary matter.

Antimatter is made up of antiparticles just like ordinary matter is made up of
ordinary particles. Antimatter looks and acts just like ordinary matter, but if
an ordinary particle and its antiparticle meet then they both turn into energy
(according to the famous equation of Einstein (E = mc^2)), and energy can
be turned into pairs of an ordinary particle and the corresponding antiparticle.
Antlia
Antlia (Air Pump) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official
abbreviation is Ant.
Antliae →
Aoede

discovered in 2003. Also called JXLI (Jupiter forty-one). Its provisional
the aphelion
apo = [Latin] from, Helios = [Greek] Sun
The aphelion is the point in an orbit around the Sun that is furthest from the
Sun. The opposite point is called perihelion. The generic word for the furthest
point in an orbit around some other object is apofocus.
Apodis →
the apofocus
plural apoapsiden; apo = [Latin] from
The apofocus of an orbit of one object around another is the point at which
the one object is furthest away from the other object. Apoapsis is the general
term for such a point, but there are also many specific terms for specific
cases: the aphelion is the furthest point from the Sun in an orbit around the
Sun. Likewise, apoastron is linked to other stars, apogee to the Earth, and
apojove to Jupiter. The opposite is perifocus.
apparent_magnitude
Aps →
apsides
the apsis
hapsis = [Greek] connection
An apsis is a position in an orbit that is at an extreme distance (either a

minimum or a maximum) to the central object. The minimal distance is
attained in the perifocus and the maximal distance in the apofocus.
Apus
Apus (Bird of Paradise) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close

to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Aps.
Aql →
Aqr →
Aquarii →
Aquarius
Aquarius (Water Carrier) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic,
close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Aqr.
Aquila
Aquila (Eagle) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Aql.
Aquilae →
Ara
Ara (Altar) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky
Way. The official abbreviation is Ara.
Arae →
arccos
Arche

discovered in 2002. Also called JXLIII (Jupiter forty-three). Its provisional
Archer →
the arcminute
arcminute, plural arcminutes; arcus = [Latin] arch, minutus = [Latin] made

small
An arcminute or minute of arc is a unit of angle. An arcminute is the 60th

part of a degree. An arcminute is further divided into 60 arcseconds.
arcminutes
arcosh
the arcsecond
arcsecond, plural arcseconds; gradus minutus secundus = [Latin] second

diminished degree
An arcsecond or second of arc is a measure of angle. An arcsecond is the

60th part of an arcminute.
arcseconds
arcsin
arctan
Ari →
Ariel
A moon of 1157 km diameter at about 190,900 km from the planet Uranus.

discovered in 1851. Also called UI (Uranus one).
Aries
Aries (Ram) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Ari.
Arietis →
arographic
Ares = [Greek] Mars, graphia = [Greek] description
Arographic means it describes the planet Mars. The arographic coordinate

system has the martian equator for base plane, and uses the longitude and
latitude for coordinates.
arographical
Arrow →
arsinh
artanh
the ascending equinox
The ascending equinox or vernal equinox is the equinox at which the Sun
moves from south to north of the celestial equator. At that moment, spring
starts in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere. In
the Gregorian calendar, the ascending equinox is near 21 March.
ascending_equinox
ascending_equinoxes
ascending_node
ascending_nodes
the asteroid ⇒
asteroid, plural asteroids; astron = [Greek] star, -oid = [Greek] -like
An asteroid is a rock that orbits the Sun. The largest asteroid has a diameter
of about 1000 km, but most are much smaller than that. If they get small
enough, then they are sometimes called meteoroids. Most asteroids orbit the
Sun at distances between than of the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
asteroids
astrologer
astrologers
astrological
the astrology ⇒
Astrology is a group of methods to predict the future from the positions of

planets and other celestial objects in the sky at important moments of the
subject's life. Astrology is not scientific and science says that astrology is
nonsense. People who do astrology are called astrologers.
astronomer
astronomers
astronomical
the AU or Astronomical Unit
An AU is very close to the average distance between the Sun and the Earth.
Distances between the planets and the Sun are often expressed in AU. 1 AU
equals about 93 million miles or about 150 million km.
astronomical_name
astronomical_names
astronomical_units
astronomy ⇒
astron = [Greek] star, nomos = [Greek] knowledge
Astronomy is the science that studies everything outside of the Earth. This
includes, among other things, the Moon, planets, Sun, stars, black holes,
Milky Way, and Universe. People who do astronomy are called astronomers.
Atlas
A moon of 32 km diameter at about 137,700 km from the planet Saturn. The

1980. Also called SXV (Saturn fifteen). Its provisional designation was S/1980
S28.
atmosphere
atom
atomic_nucleus
AU →
Aur →
Auriga
Auriga (Charioteer) is a northern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Aur.
Aurigae →
Autonoe

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXVIII (Jupiter twenty-eight). Its provisional
autumn
autumnal_equinox
autumnal_equinoxes
autumn_equinox
the azimuth
as-sumut = [Arab] the roads
The azimuth is the coordinate from the horizontal coordinate system that
indicates the direction along the horizon. The azimuth is measured in
degrees, but not everyone uses the same range of azimuth or the same zero
point. Sometimes the azimuth is measured between −180 and +180Â°,
sometimes between 0 and 360Â°, and sometimes with 0Â° in the south, and
sometimes with 0Â° in the north. For astronomical application it is convenient
to set 0Â° in the south and to measure azimuth between −180 and +180Â°:
that provides the best fit to the hour angle.
Bb

babylonian_calendar
the barred spiral galaxy
A barred spiral galaxy is a spiral galaxy with a bar-shaped structure through

the center.
barred_spiral_galaxies
the barycenter
barus = [Greek] heavy
The barycenter is the same as the center of mass.
Belinda
A moon of 80 km diameter at about 75,300 km from the planet Uranus. The

1986. Also called UXIV (Uranus fourteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U5.
Berenice's_Hair →
Bianca

1986. Also called UVIII (Uranus eight). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U9.
the Big Bang

The Big Bang is the beginning of the very strong growth of the Universe, now
about 13.7 thousand million years ago. Since that event, the Universe has
been steadily expanding. This expansion gives almost all galaxies a redshift.
Big_Bang
Bird_of_Paradise →
the bissextile day
bissext- = [Latin] the second sixth
A bissextile day is a day that is inserted every few years to keep the calendar
in line with the tropical year, of which the average length is not a whole
number of days. In the Gregorian calendar the date of 29 February occurs
only in a leap year. This date is nowadays seen as the extra day of a leap
year, but in the original Julian calendar as installed about two thousand years
ago by the Romans the 23rd day of February was doubled, and the last day
of February had the same name in a leap year as in a non-leap year. The
Romans referred to the 23rd day of February as the 6th day before the
beginning of March, and the extra inserted day was the "second sixth" day, or
bissextile day.
bissextile_days
the black hole
A black hole is a thing in which mass is pressed together so tightly that its
gravity is so strong that even light cannot escape from it.
black_hole
black_holes
the blueshift
A blueshift is a doppler shift of distinguishing marks (such as spectral lines) in

the frequency spectrum of light to greater frequencies, so that yellow light
changes in the direction of blue. The opposite of blueshift is redshift.
blue_shift
Boo →
Bootes
Bootes is an equatorial constellation. The official abbreviation is Boo.
Bootis →
the brightness contrast
A contrast is a difference. A brightness contrast is a difference in how bright

two things seem to be. For example, there is a great brightness contrast
between the Sun and the sky.
broadband_filter
broadband_filters
Bull →
Cc
<A C>
Cae →
Caeli →
Caelum
Caelum (Chisel) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cae.
the calendar ⇒
Kalendae = [Latin] first day of the month
A calendar is
1. a method to combine days into larger units of time, such as weeks,

months, and years.
2. a representation of a division of time, for example on paper.
calendars
calendar_year
calendar_years
Caliban
A moon of 98 km diameter at about 7,231,000 km from the planet Uranus.

discovered in 1997. Also called UXVI (Uranus sixteen). Its provisional
designation was S/1997 U1.
Callirrhoe

discovered in 1999. Also called JXVII (Jupiter seventeen). Its provisional
Callisto

discovered in 1610. Also called JIV (Jupiter four).
Calypso

1980. Also called SXIV (Saturn fourteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1980 S25.
Cam →
Camelopardus
Camelopardus (Giraffe) is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way.

The official abbreviation is Cam.
Cancer
Cancer (Crab) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Cnc.
Cancri →
Canes Venatici
Canes Venatici (Hunting Dogs) is a northern constellation. The official

abbreviation is CVn.
Canis Major
Canis Major (Great Dog) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is CMa.
Canis Minor
Canis Minor (Little Dog) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic,
close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is CMi.
Canis_Majoris →
Canis_Minoris →
Canum_Venaticorum →
Cap →
Capricorni →
Capricornus
Capricornus (Sea Goat) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cap.
Car →
Carina
Carina (Keel) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Car.
Carinae →
Carme

discovered in 1938. Also called JXI (Jupiter eleven).
Carpo

discovered in 2003. Also called JXLVI (Jupiter forty-six). Its provisional
Cas →
Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way. The official

abbreviation is Cas.
Cassiopeiae →
celestial_equator
celestial_equators
celestial_meridian
celestial_pole
celestial_poles
Celsius →
celsius
Cen →
Centaur →
Centauri →
Centaurus
Centaurus (Centaur) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cen.
the center of mass
The center of mass of a system is the average of the positions of all objects
in the system, each position weighted with the mass of the object. The sum
of all the forces from outside the system on the objects of the system is the
same as the force on a single particle with the total mass of the system at the
center of mass. Forces between the objects in the system cannot influence
the center of mass.
centers_of_mass
central_american_calendar
central_american_calendars
the centrifugal force
The centrifugal force is a force that points away from the center of the curve
that you're taking. The centrifugal force pushes you to the side of the car
away from the center of the curve that the car is taking, pushes you to the
outer edge of a merry-go-round that you're on, and pushes your laundry
against the inside of the rim of your washing machine when it is spinning
fast. The centrifugal force is a virtual force, of which the strength depends on
your speed and on the diameter of the curve. The opposite force is the
centripetal force.
centrifugal_force
centrifugal_forces
the centripetal force
The centripetal force is a force that points towards the center of the curve
that you're taking. If no forces act on you, then you'll keep going straight at
the same speed. If you want to make a curve then some force must pull you
in the right direction. That's a centripetal force. The centripetal force that
keeps planets in their orbits around the Sun is the force of gravity. The
opposite force is the centripetal force.
centripetal_forces
centuries
the century ⇒
plural: centuries
A century is a period of 100 years. The 21st century contains the years 2001
until and including 2100.
Cep →
Cephei →
Cepheus
Cepheus is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way. The official

abbreviation is Cep.
Cet →
Ceti →
Cetus
Cetus (Whale) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cet.
Cha →
Chaldene

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXI (Jupiter twenty-one). Its provisional
Chamaeleon
Chamaeleon (Chameleon) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cha.
Chamaeleontis →
Chameleon →
Charioteer →
Charon
A moon of 1186 km diameter at about 19,600 km from the planet Pluto. The
goes once around its planet in about 6.9 days. The moon was discovered in
1978. Also called PI (Pluto one). Its provisional designation was S/1978 P1.
Chisel →
the chromosphere
chrooma = [Greek] color; sphairos = [Greek] ball
The chromosphere is a layer in the Sun that is roughly between about 250
miles (400 km) and 1300 miles (2100 km) above the solar surface. The
temperature in the chromosphere varies between about 4000 K at the bottom
(the so-called temperature minimum) and 8000 K at the top (6700 and
14,000 degrees F, 3700 and 7700 degrees C), so in this layer (and higher
layers) it actually gets hotter if you go further away from the Sun. The
density in the chromosphere is much, much smaller than the density of air at
sea level on Earth. At the top of the chromosphere there are only about 10
thousand million atoms in each cubic centimetre (100 thousand million atoms
per cubic inch). The chromosphere shows up in images taken in the center of
the H-alpha spectral line and also (briefly) near the beginning and end of a
total solar eclipse.
chromospheres
chromospheric
Chromospheric means it has something to do with the chromosphere of the
Sun or a star.
chromospherical
the Chronological Julian Date
The Chronological Julian Date (CJD) counts the number of days since
midnight local time at the beginning of January 1st, −4712 on the Julian
proleptic calendar. CJD depends on the local timezone, but JD does not. CJD
counts from midnight local time, JD from noon UTC.
CJD can have a fractional part. CJD 2451545.75 points at an instant 0.75
days or 18 hours beyond midnight local time at the beginning of January 1st,
2000 on the Gregorian calendar, i.e., January 1st at 18:00 (= 6 pm) local
time.
the Chronological Julian Day Number
The Chronological Julian Day Number (CJDN) counts the number of whole
days since midnight local time at the beginning of January 1st, −4712 on the
Julian proleptic calendar. You get the Chronological Julian Day Number if you
round a Chronological Julian Date (CJD) down to the nearest whole value.
Chronological_Julian_Dates →
Chronological_Julian_Day_Numbers →
Cir →
Circini →
Circinus
Circinus (Compasses) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cir.
CJD →
CJDN →
Clock →
CMa →
cme
cmes
CMi →
Cnc →
CNO_cycle
Col →
Columba
Columba (Dove) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Col.
Columbae →
Com →
the coma
komÃ¨ = [Greek] hair
The coma of a comet is a cloud of water vapor and dust particules around the
still frozen center of the comet. The coma develops when the comet gets
close enough to the Sun (within about 2.5 AU) that the water ice at the
surface of the comet sublimates (changes into water vapor). The coma can
grow to be many hundreds of thousands of kilometers (or miles) in size.
Coma Berenices
Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair) is an equatorial constellation, close to the

ecliptic. The official abbreviation is Com.
Comae_Berenices →
the comet ⇒
komÃ¨tÃ¨s = [Greek] with long hair
A comet is a block of ice and dust with perhaps a rock in the middle, that
orbits around the Sun. Most comets come from far beyond the furtherst
planet and fly through the inner part of the Solar System in a short time.
When comets come close enough to the Sun, then they usually develop a
coma and one or more tails.
comets
Compasses →
the conjunction ⇒
When two heavenly bodies are in conjunction, then they are very close
together in the sky. When astronomers say something like "Jupiter is in
conjunction" without mentioning a second heavenly body, then they mean
"with the Sun". In such a case Jupiter is not visible at any time of the night.
The planets that are further away from the Sun than the Earth (the superior
planets) have one conjunction each synodical orbital period. The planets that
are closer to the Sun (the inferior planets, Mercury and Venus) have two
conjunctions per synodical orbital period: one when they pass between the
Sun and the Earth (the inferior conjunction), and one when they pass behind
the Sun (the superior conjunction).
the conjunction spread
The conjunction spread is a measure, introduced on this web site, for how
close together planets or other things are in the sky. It is an angle that
indicates how far apart the planets or other things are in the sky.
conjunctions
conjunction_spread
conjunction_spreads
the constellation ⇒
con- = [Latin] together, with; stella = [Latin] star
A constellation is
1. a group of stars that form a pattern that made someone think of a

certain person, animal, or object, which makes the pattern easier to
remember and find again.
2. an area of the sky, designated by the International Astronomical Union
(IAU), in which there is a group of stars that form a pattern as described
above. The area of the sky has the same name as the group of stars.
Professional astronomical publications throughout the world always use the

constellations as defined by the IAU, but in the past many other
constellations were proposed, and in different areas of the world completely
different sets of constellations were (and are still) used.
constellations
the continuum
continuum = [Latin] something without breaks
In general a continuum is a collection of all possibilities or values, without

gaps.
In astronomy, the continuum is the name for the combination of all colors
that an object such as the Sun emits, and also for the broad variation from
color to color in how much light is emitted. Broad means: without looking at
the little details, such as spectral lines. The continuum is determined mostly
by the temperature of the object. The hotter the object is, the brighter it
shines. The color at which an object shines brightest also depends on the
temperature. Hot objects such as the Sun shine brightest in yellow light; less
hot objects shine most in red light, and cool objects shine brightest in
(invisible) infrared light.
the convection
convectio = [Latin] bring together, from con- = with, and vectio = carry
Convection is a form of energy transport in which the material with the

energy in it moves. The hotter material moves toward the cooler area and the
cooler material toward the hotter area. On Earth, you can see convection in a
pan of boiling water (where hot water moves up and cooler water moves
down), and also in a thunderstorm (where warmer, moist air moves up and
forms clouds). You can also find convection in the convection zone of the
Sun, and in granulation.
the convection zone
convectio = [Latin] bring together, from con- = with, and vectio = carry;
zona [Latin] from zoone = [Greek] girdle
The convection zone is a layer in the Sun that reaches from just below the
surface down to about 130,000 miles (183,000 km) below the surface. The
convection zone contains about 2/3 of the Sun's volume (up to the visible
surface) but only about 1/60 of the Sun's mass. In this layer the energy of
the Sun is transported to the surface by convection. The temperature inside
this layer is thought to vary between 2.0 million and 6500 K (4 million and
12,000 degrees F, 2.2 million and 6200 degrees Centigrade), and the density
between 100 times more and 4,000 times less than that of air at the Earth's
surface.
Many other stars also have one more more convection zones, which may also
be far below the surface, or even in the core of the stars.
convection_layer
convection_layers
convection_zones
convective
the coordinate
plural: coordinates
A coordinate is one of a set of numbers that together specify a location or
direction. There are many different ways to define coordinates. Each different
way leads to a different coordinate system, of which many are used in
astronomy.
the coordinate system
co- = [Latin] together, ordinatio = [Latin] ordering, arrangement
A coordinate system is a tool that allows fixing of positions by measuring

distances in different directions. Those distances are the coordinates. There
are two often-used classes of coordinate systems: those that use rectangular
(or cartesian) coordinates, and those that use polar coordinates. Polar
coordinates use angles (for the direction) and one distance, and usually have
a base plane that the angles are tied to. Rectangular coordinates use only
distances, measured in mutually orthogonal directions from a common origin.
Coordinate systems are often named for the thing in or on which they
measure positions, or for the base plane or origin with which they are
associated.
Here are a number of polar coordinate systems that are used in astronomy:
Table 1: Coordinate Systems
system object base plane longitude latitude

geographical Earth equator longitude latitude
equatorial sky equator right ascension declination
ecliptic sky ecliptic longitude latitude
galactic sky milky way longitude latitude
horizontal sky horizon azimuth altitude
selenographical Moon equator longitude latitude
heliographical Sun equator longitude latitude
arographical Mars equator longitude latitude
jovigraphical Jupiter equator longitude latitude
The column marked "system" indicates the name of the system; "object" lists
the object to which the coordinates apply; "base plane" shows the plane that
has a latitude of 0; "longitude" and "latitude" provide the names of the
coordinates that correspond to longitude and latitude.
The names of polar coordinate systems that fix positions on a celestial body
are often made up of the Latin or Greek name of the body, followed by
graphical, for example geographical for the Earth. The names of the
corresponding rectangular coordinate systems (with the center of the body as
origin) usually have the same first part, but followed by centric, for example
geocentric for the Earth, planetocentric for planets in general, or heliocentric
for the Sun.
coordinates
coordinate_systems
Nicholas Copernicus ⇒
Nicholas Copernicus (1473 - 1543) was an astronomer who wrote a book in

which he claimed and gave evidence that all planets including the Earth orbit
around the Sun (the heliocentric world view) instead of all (other) planets and
the Sun orbiting around the Earth (the geocentric world view) like most
people believed until then. Copernicus did still assume (like his predecessors)
that all motions in the Universe were along circular orbits. Johan Kepler
showed later that the orbits of the planets are far closer to ellipses than to
circles. The work of Copernicus and Kepler caused most people to start
believing in the heliocentric world view.
Cordelia

1986. Also called UVI (Uranus six). Its provisional designation was S/1986
U7.
the core
core, plural cores
The core of the Sun is the centermost part of the Sun, where all the Sun's
energy is produced by nuclear processes. It has a radius of about 86,000
miles (140,000 km). It contains about 1/120 of the Sun's volume (up to the
visible surface), and about 1/3 of the Sun's total mass. At the very center of
the Sun, the temperature is thought to be about 16 million K (28 million
â„‰, 16 million â„ƒ), and the density about 150 times that of water. At the
outer edge of the core, the temperature is thought to be 9 million K (17
million â„‰, 9 million â„ƒ), and the density 34 times that of water. The layer
immediately around the core is the convection layer.
cores
the corona
corona = [Latin] from koroonÃ¨ = [Greek] crown
The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun, starting at about 1300 miles
(2100 km) above the surface. The temperature in the corona is 500,000 K
(900,000 degrees F, 500,000 degrees C) or more, up to a few million K. The
corona is very dilute indeed (less than 1000 million atoms per cubic
centimetre or 10,000 million atoms per cubic inch) and cannot be seen with
the naked eye except during a total solar eclipse, or with the use of a
coronagraph.
Corona Australis
Corona Australis (Southern Crown) is a southern constellation, close to the

ecliptic, close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is CrA.
Corona Borealis
Corona Borealis (Northern Crown) is an equatorial constellation. The official

abbreviation is CrB.
Coronae_Austrinae →
Coronae_Borealis →
the coronagraph
corona = [Latin] from koroonÃ¨ = [Greek] crown; graphia = [Greek]

description
A coronagraph is an instrument that can look at the faint outer layers (the
corona) of the Sun, by covering the bright solar disk.
coronagraphs
coronal
Coronal means it has something to do with the corona of the Sun or a star.
the coronal hole
koroonÃ¨ = [Greek] crown
A coronal hole is an area in the corona of the Sun that appears dark in
pictures taken with coronagraphs or during total solar eclipses. There are
often coronal holes around the north and south poles of the Sun, especially
near the minimum of the solar cycle.
the coronal mass ejection
koroonÃ¨ = [Greek] crown
Also called Coronal Mass Eruption or Coronal Transient, and generally

abbreviated to CME. A CME is a huge eruption of material from the solar
corona into interplanetary space. They can look like bubbles or loops or
stranger shapes. When seen close to the Sun, these CMEs can be bigger than
the Sun itself, but they are also extremely dilute. Near the Earth, the material
typically has a density of at most about 6 protons per cubic inch (100 per
cm^3), which is equivalent to about 19 orders of magnitude less than the
mass density of air.
coronal_holes
coronal_mass_ejections
coronas
Corvi →
Corvus
Corvus (Crow) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Crv.
cos
cosh
the cosmic rays
kosmos = [Greek] arrangement
Cosmic rays are actually particles (mostly helium nuclei, protons, and
electrons) that travel through space with a relatively very large amount of
energy. Because of their large amount of energy, cosmic rays are about as
dangerous as X-rays or gamma-rays. Cosmic rays have many sources. Some
are formed in solar flares. Others come from beyond our solar system, such
as the galactic cosmic rays.
cosmic_rays
Cosmos
CrA →
Crab →
Crane →
Crater
Crater (Cup) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Crt.
Crateris →
CrB →
the crescent moon

The crescent Moon is the Moon during the period when less than half of the
disk of the Moon is illuminated. This period begins at Last Quarter and ends
at First Quarter.
crescent_moons
Cressida

1986. Also called UIX (Uranus nine). Its provisional designation was S/1986
U3.
Crow →
Crt →
Cru →
Crucis_Australis →
Crux Australis
Crux Australis (Southern Cross) is a southern constellation, close to the

ecliptic, close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Cru.
Crv →
culmination
Cup →
Cupid

2003. Also called UXXVII (Uranus twenty-seven). Its provisional designation
was S/2003 U2.
CVn →
Cyg →
Cygni →
Cygnus
Cygnus (Swan) is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way. The official
abbreviation is Cyg.
Cyllene

discovered in 2003. Also called JXLVIII (Jupiter forty-eight). Its provisional
Dd

daylight_savings_time
the December solstice
The December solstice is the solstice that falls in the month of December (in
the Gregorian Calendar). Because not everybody uses the Gregorian
Calendar, it seems better to call this solstice by a calendar-neutral name,
such as southern solstice.
decembersolstice
the declination
declinatio = [Latin] deviation
The declination is the coordinate in the equatorial coordinate system in the

sky that is similar to latitude on Earth. It ranges between −90 degrees at the
southern celestial pole and +90 degrees at the northern celestial pole and is
zero at the celestial equator. The other equatorial coordinate is the right
ascension.
declinations
the degree
degree, plural degrees; gradus = [Latin] step
In general, a degree is a division of a scale of measurement. In astronomy,

the following two kinds of degrees are used in particular:
the degree of temperature. There are different temperature scales, each

with their own degree. For example, the degree Celsius or Centigrade
(â„ƒ), and the degree Fahrenheit (â„‰).
the degree of angle. A degree (of angle) is the 360th part of all
directions in a plane. An degree is further divided into 60 arcminutes.
degrees
Deimos
A moon of 12 km diameter at about 23,460 km from the planet Mars. The

1877. Also called MII (Mars two).
Del →
Delphini →
Delphinus
Delphinus (Dolphin) is an equatorial constellation, close to the Milky Way. The

official abbreviation is Del.
the descending equinox
The descending equinox or autumnal equinox is the equinox at which the Sun
moves from north to south of the celestial equator. At that moment, spring
starts in the southern hemisphere and autumn in the northern hemisphere. In
the Gregorian calendar, the descending equinox is near 23 September.
descending_equinox
descending_equinoxes
descending_node
descending_nodes
Desdemona

1986. Also called UX (Uranus ten). Its provisional designation was S/1986
U6.
Despina
A moon of 150 km diameter at about 52,530 km from the planet Neptune.

discovered in 1989. Also called NV (Neptune five). Its provisional designation
was S/1989 N3.
the differential rotation
differentis = [Latin] different; rotatio = [Latin] rotation
Differential rotation is rotation in which not every part of the object has the
same period of rotation. Only objects that are not solid can show differential
rotation. In the Solar System, differential rotation occurs in, among other
things, the Sun, the giant gaseous planets, and the atmosphere of the Earth.
Dione
A moon of 1125 km diameter at about 377,420 km from the planet Saturn.

discovered in 1684. Also called SIV (Saturn four).
Dolphin →
the doppler effect
after C.J. Doppler (1803-1853)
The doppler effect is the phenomenon that the frequency of a wave depends
on the speed of the source of the waves relative to the receiver. When the
source moves towards the receiver (or the receiver towards the source; only
the relative speed matters) then the frequency is higher; if the source and
the receiver move apart, then the frequency is lower. The relative change in
the frequency is approximately equal to the ratio of the speed difference and
the speed of propagation of the waves, as long as the speed difference is
much smaller than the propagation speed.
For sound, the doppler effect changes the pitch: if a car, motor cycle, or train
passes by you fast then the pitch of the sounds they produce goes down. The
speed of sound is about 340 m/s (1200 km/h) at sea level on Earth, so the
pitch of the sounds coming from a passing car change by one standard note
(about 6 percent of frequency change) for about each 9 m/s (32 km/h) of its
speed relative to you.
A speed measured through its doppler effect is called a doppler speed. The
shift of characteristics in the frequency spectrum of waves (such as spectral
lines) is called doppler shift.
Astronomers can use the doppler effect to fairly simply determine the speeds
of stars and galaxies relative to us, and also of material in the photosphere of
the Sun.
the doppler shift
after C.J. Doppler (1803-1853)

Doppler shift is a shift of characteristics of a frequency spectrum (such as
spectral lines) because of the doppler effect. A doppler speed can be
calculated from a doppler shift. A doppler shift of light to smaller frequencies
is called redshift, and a doppler shift to greater frequencies blueshift.
the Doppler velocity
Doppler velocity is the speed in the direction of the line of sight, i.e. directed
toward you or away from you. The Doppler velocity is named after the
Doppler effect (named after the discoverer, Mr Doppler), which is the effect
that the frequency of a tone changes when the speed of the source in the line
of sight changes. The same effect occurs in frequencies of light and other
electromagnetic radiation and enables us to measure velocities on the Sun.
An image showing Doppler velocities is called a dopplergram. Redshift is a
kind of Doppler shift.
doppler_shifts
doppler_speed
doppler_speeds
doppler_velocities
Dor →
Dorado
Dorado (Swordfish) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Dor.
Doradus →
Dove →
Dra →
Draco
Draco (Dragon) is a northern constellation. The official abbreviation is Dra.
draconic_month
draconic_months
Draconis →
Dragon →
the dwarf planet
dwarf planet, plural dwarf planets
A dwarf planet is a large spherical object with a diameter of around or just

above 1000 km. A dwarf planet is massive enough that its own gravity keeps
it round (in contrast to asteroids, comets, and small moons), but too small to
clear the neighborhood of its orbit from similar objects (in contrast to
planets). A dwarf planet orbits directly around a star (in contrast to moons).
dwarf_planets
Ee
<C E>
Eagle →
the Earth ⇒
The Earth is the third planet of the Solar System, counted from the Sun. It is
a terrestrial planet, with an atmosphere and a moon (the Moon), but without
any rings. The Earth has an equatorial diameter of 12,756 km and is number
6 on the list of largest objects in our Solar System.
eccentricities
the eccentricity
The eccentricity of an orbit is one of the orbital elements. It is a number that

indicates how much the orbit deviates from a circle. A circular orbit has an
eccentricity equal to zero. An elliptical orbit has an eccentricity between zero
and one. In this case, the eccentricity is equal to the difference between the
lengths of the long and short axes of the ellipse, divided by the sum of those
lengths. A parabolic orbit has an eccentricity of one, and a hyperbolic orbit
has an eccentricity larger than one.
Orbits with eccentricities less than one are closed, so the objects in such
orbits return to the same position regularly. Orbits with eccentricities greater
than one are open, which means that objects in such orbits never return to
the same position.
eccentric_anomaly
eclipse
eclipses
eclipses_of_the_moon
eclipses_of_the_sun
eclipse_of_the_moon
eclipse_of_the_sun
the ecliptic ⇒
The ecliptic is
1. the plane of the Earth's orbit.

2. the line where the plane of the Earth's orbit intersects the celestial
sphere. This is almost the same as the path that the Sun appears to take
between the stars, as seen from the Earth.
The ecliptic passes through the middle of the zodiac. All of the planets and
the Moon also stay close to the ecliptic.
ecliptical
ekleiptikos = [Greek] belonging to an eclipse
Ecliptical means that it has something to do with the ecliptic. In the ecliptic
coordinate system, positions in the sky are indicated with the ecliptic
longitude and latitude. The latitude is measured relative to the ecliptic, and
the longitude relative to the vernal equinox.
Edwin_Hubble →
egyptian_calendar
Albert Einstein ⇒
Between 1900 and 1920, Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) explained a number
of imperfections in the classical theories that were used at the time. He
explained Brownian motion of dust particles, which happens because of
collisions with invisible molecules of air. Einstein showed that the emission
and absorption of light are quantum effects, and he was therefore one of the
founders of quantum theory. In 1905 Einstein published the Special Theory of
Relativity, which indicates that space and time are not wholly separate but
together form a single space-time continuum, and that mass and energy are
equivalent (the famous formula (E = m c^2)). In 1915 Einstein published the
General Theory of Relativity, which states that gravity comes from the
curvature of space-time because of the presence of mass. All of these
theories have been tested often and in great detail and have been shown to
be correct so far. Because of this, Einstein's fame is deservedly great.
Elara

discovered in 1905. Also called JVII (Jupiter seven).
electromagnetic
the electromagnetic radiation
elektron = [Greek] gold or amber; he Magnetos lithos = [Greek] stone of

Magnesia; radiatio = [Latin] radiate
Electromagnetic radiation is any kind of radiation that consists of alternating

electric and magnetic fields and that can propagate even in a vacuum.
Electromagnetic radiation is characterized by its wavelength (or, equivalently,
its frequency or energy). Some different types of electromagnetic radiation or
electromagnetic waves, in increasing order of frequency and energy and
decreasing order of wavelength, are: radio waves, microwaves, infrared light,
visible light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays. In general, the later in
the list the type is, the more dangerous it is. Visible light is the only form of
electromagnetic radiation that we can see with our eyes.
electromagnetic_force
electromagnetic_forces
electromagnetic_wave
electromagnetic_waves
electron
the electronvolt
An electronvolt is a very small amount of energy, namely the energy that is

involved when an electron experience a electric potential difference of 1 volt.
This energy corresponds to about 1.6 × 10−19 J. The symbol for electronvolt
is eV. The amount of energy that is involved in a typical chemical reaction is
of the order of a few eV. Because an eV is so small, the following multiples
are also often used: keV (kiloelectronvolt = 1000 eV), MeV (megaelectronvolt
= 1000 keV), and GeV (gigaelectronvolt = 1000 MeV). The mass of an
electron corresponds to about 0.5 MeV of energy, and the mass of a proton
with about 1 GeV of energy, so MeV and GeV are good units of energy for
nuclear reactions.
electronvolts
the elliptical galaxy
An elliptical galaxy is a galaxy that appears to have an elliptical shape no

matter from which side you see it. An elliptical galaxy contains no arms or
bar.
elliptical_galaxies
the elongation ⇒
The elongation of a celestial body is a measure for the distance in the sky
between that celestial body and the Sun. The following different definitions
are used:
1. the angular distance in the sky between the center of that body and the
center of the Sun, as seen from the center of the Earth
2. the difference in geocentric ecliptic longitude between the center of the
celestial body and the center of the Sun
For a celestial body on the ecliptic, both definitions yield the same results.
The elongation cannot exceed 180 degrees by definition. Superior planets can
have any elongation up to the maximum 180 degrees, but inferior planets
have a maximum elongation that is less than 180Â°. The maximum
elongation of Mercury is about 28Â°, and that of Venus about 48Â°.
elongations
embolistic
[Greek] embolos = something put in between
Embolistic means "put in between". An embolistic month is an extra month

that is added to the calendar only in certain years, usually to keep a lunar
calendar in line with the tropical year. The embolistic day of the Julian and
Gregorian calendars is more commonly called the bissextile day.
the emission line
emissio = [Latin] send away
An emission line is a spectral line (a very narrow set of colors) at which an

object shines more brightly than at nearby colors.
emission_lines
Enceladus

discovered in 1789. Also called SII (Saturn two).
the energy ⇒
Energy is the ability to do things. The more energy something has, the
further it can go or the faster it can go or the greater the influence is that it
can have. There are many different kinds of energy.
the energy transport
energeia = [Greek] ability to do work; trans- = [Latin] over, portare = [Latin]

carry
Energy transport can be done in three ways:
1. by convection (motion of a material), in which temperature differences

make hotter material move to colder areas and colder material to hotter
areas, which means that there is net heat (and so energy) transport
from hot to cold areas.
2. by conduction (transport through a material), in which heat travels
through a material without making the material itself move.
3. by radiation, in which energy travels through empty space (for example,
as electromagnetic radiation such as light).
All three kinds of energy transport happen when you heat a pan of soup on a
fire. The hot gases from the fire go up because of convection. The fire
produces heat radiation, which you can block with your hand. The outside
bottom of the pan is heated and conduction makes the heat reach the inside
bottom of the pan, where it heats the soup. At first, the heat travels up the
soup only by conduction, but later (when the soup is boiling) also by
conduction.
Epimetheus

discovered in 1980. Also called SXI (Saturn eleven). Its provisional
the epoch
An epoch is
1. the beginning (the start of day 1 of year 1) of a calendar. This need not
be the first day on which the calendar is used. For example, the epoch of
the Gregorian calendar lies over 1500 years before the first day on which
it was used.
2. the time for which a set of orbital elements is valid. Predictions of
positions based on those orbital elements will become less accurate the
further from the epoch the time is for which the prediction is made.
epochs
Equ →
the equation of time
The equation of time indicates how much you should subtract from the true
solar time (as read from a sundial) to get the mean solar time, which runs as
regularly as a mechanical clock. The equation of time occurs because the
orbit of the Earth around the Sun is not an exact circle, and because there
are seasons.
equation_of_kepler
equation_of_time
the equator
aequatio = [Latin] make equal
The equator is equally far from both geographical poles and divides the Earth
into a Northern and a Southern part. By extension, there is also an equator in
the sky, which divides the sky into a Northern and a Southern part.
equatorial
aequatio = [Latin] make equal
Equatorial means it has something to do with the equator. In the equatorial

coordinate system, positions in the sky are indicated with the right ascension
(relative to the vernal equinox) and the declination (relative to the celestial
equator). The celesital equator is the extension of the Earth's equator into the
sky, halfway between the celestial poles, which themselves are the
extensions of the rotation axis of the Earth.
equators
equinoci
the equinox ⇒
aequinoctium = [Latin] equinox, from aequatio = [Latin] make equal, and

noctium, nox = [Latin] night; plural equinoxes
The equinox is
1. the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator. Close to an
equinox, day and night have nearly the same length (12 hours)
everywhere on Earth. The equinoxes signal the beginning of the seasons
of spring and autumn (where those are relevant). The vernal or
ascending equinox occurs in March (in the Gregorian calendar) and
marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere and of
autumn in the southern hemisphere. The autumnal or descending
equinox occurs in September and marks the beginning of spring in the
southern hemisphere and of autumn in the northern hemisphere. The
beginning of the other seasons is governed by the solstices.
2. the place in the sky between the stars where the Sun is during the
vernal equinox. This location is also called the vernal equinox. In the
equatorial and ecliptic coordinate systems, the vernal equinox has
longitude and latitude equal to zero.
Because of the precession of the equinoxes, the equinox slowly moves

between the stars, so when one quotes ecliptic or equatorial coordinates,
one has to indicate relative to which equinox these coordinates are
measured. Three equinoxes that are commonly used in stellar atlases
and planetary calculations are those of 1950.0 (the beginning of the
year 1950), 2000.0 (the beginning of the year 2000), and the equinox of
the date (i.e., the equinox of the same date as the coordinates
themselves).
equinoxes
Equulei →
Equuleus
Equuleus (Foal) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Equ.
Eri →
Eridani →
Eridanus
Eridanus (River Eridanus) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Eri.
Erinome

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXV (Jupiter twenty-five). Its provisional
Erriapo
discovered in 2000. Also called SXXVIII (Saturn twenty-eight). Its provisional
the escape velocity
The escape velocity is the lowest speed that you need to have to escape from
the gravity of a celestial body without needing a rocket engine or other form
of propulsion anymore, if there is no atmosphere or other source of friction to
slow you down. Escaping here means that you can get as far away from the
celestial body as you want. The escape velocity depends on your location.
"The" escape velocity of a planet is the escape velocity that you'd need at the
surface of that planet.
escape_velocities
Euanthe

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXIII (Jupiter thirty-three). Its provisional
Eukelade

discovered in 2003. Also called JXLVII (Jupiter forty-seven). Its provisional
Euporie

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXIV (Jupiter thirty-four). Its provisional
Europa

discovered in 1610. Also called JII (Jupiter two).
Eurydome
discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXII (Jupiter thirty-two). Its provisional
eV →
event_horizon
event_horizons
exp
the exponential notation
Exponential notation is a method for writing numbers that is used a lot in

science because it is convenient for writing the very large and very small
numbers that occur often in science. Exponential notation consists of two
numbers, the mantissa and the exponent. The mantissa is a number that may
be fractional (with a part after the decimal point) and that is usually between
1 and 10. The exponent is a whole number that indicates by which power of
10 you should multiply the mantissa, so by how many places you should shift
the decimal point to the left (if the exponent is negative) or the right (if the
exponent is positive).
There are different methods in use for linking the mantissa and exponent of a
number. The proper mathematical way is to put "times ten to the power of"
between the mantissa and the exponent, but this requires the exponent to be
written in superscript, a bit higher than normal, and that cannot be displayed
properly (or at all) on simple screens. That's why in computer-related texts
people usually put a letter "E" or "e" between the mantissa and the exponent.
For example, three million million million, a three followed by 18 zeros, is

written in exponential notation as 3×1018 (the 18 ought to be written a bit
higher than the 10, if your screen supports this) or 3 × 1018. So, 3.2 × 103 is
equal to 3200 and 3.2 × 10−3 is equal to 0.0032.
In general, people use either exponential or normal notation, whichever is

shorter. Exponential notation is convenient for describing numbers that are
many orders of magnitude different from 1.
Extended_Algorithm_of_Euclid
extended_euclidean_algorithm
Ff
<D F>
Fahrenheit →
fahrenheit
Ferdinand

moon goes once around its planet in about 7.9 years. The moon was
discovered in 2001. Also called UXXIV (Uranus twenty-four). Its provisional
the filament ⇒ ⇒
'fiâ€§laâ€§ment, plural filaments; filum = [Latin] thread
In general, a filament is something that looks like a thin thread.
In astronomy, filament is used as a name for (amongst other things)
a thread-like structure in the Universe produced by the distribution of

galaxies.
a thread-like cloud of gas above the surface of the Sun, which looks dark
when seen against the bright solar disk, especially in the light of the HÎ±
spectral line. If such a cloud is seen beyond the limb of the Sun then it
appears bright and is called a prominence.
a dark or bright thread-like structure in the penumbra of a sunspot.
a thread-like structure in a cloud of gas such as a supernova remnant.
filaments
the filter
filtrum = [Middle Latin] compacted wool; from feltir = [German] felt
A filter is a device that transmits only certain (ranges of) colors (or
frequencies) from the electromagnetic spectrum. A broadband filter transmits
a wide range of frequencies, and a narrowband filter only a small range. With
a narrowband filter, spectral lines can be measured.
filters
the First Quarter
The First Quarter is a phase of the Moon, equal to
1. [daily life] the period when about half of the lunar disk is illuminated,
about a week after New Moon.
2. [astronomy] the instant at which the ecliptic longitude of the center of
the Moon is exactly 90 degrees greater than that of the center of the
Sun.
first_quarters
Fishes →
Fly →
Flying_Fish →
Foal →
For →
Fornacis →
Fornax
Fornax (Furnace) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is For.
Fox →
Francisco

discovered in 2001. Also called UXXII (Uranus twenty-two). Its provisional
french_revolutionary_calendar
the Full Moon
The Full Moon is a phase of the Moon, equal to
1. [daily life] the period when the whole disk of the Moon seems to be
illuminated, about two weeks after New Moon.
Sun.
full_moons
the fundamental force
plural: fundamental forces
A fundamental force is one of the four forces of which all other forces (outside
of elementary particles) are forms. The fundamental forces are (in order of
decreasing strength):
1. the strong nuclear force, which keeps protons and neutrons together in
the nucleus of an atom and plays a role in almost all nuclear reactions.
2. the weak nuclear force, which plays a role in spontaneous radioactivity.
3. the electromagnetic force, which keeps electrons and nuclei together in
atoms, and plays a role in all chemical reactions and in electrical and
magnetical forces.
4. gravity, which tries to keep mass together.
fundamental_force
fundamental_forces
Furnace →
Gg
<E G>
galactic
galaktos = [Greek] milk
Galactic means one of the following things:
1. that it has something to do with a galaxy.

2. that it has something to do with the Milky Way Galaxy, the galaxy that
we are in.
3. that it has something to do with the location of the Milky Way Galaxy in
the sky as seen from Earth.
The galactic coordinate system has the Milky Way (as seen from Earth) for
base plane. The galactic latitude is measured relative to the plane of the Milky
Way Galaxy, and the galactic longitude relative to the direction to the center
of the Milky Way. Because of more accurate information about where the
center of the Milky Way is, the old galactic coordinate system was replaced
with a new and improved one a few decades ago.
galactic_cosmic_rays
Galatea
discovered in 1989. Also called NVI (Neptune six). Its provisional designation
was S/1989 N4.
galaxies
Galaxy →
the galaxy ⇒ ⇒
'gaâ€§laxâ€§y; galaktos = [Greek] milk
A galaxy is a region of space with millions to thousands of millions of stars

and many clouds of gas that are tied together by their gravity. A typical spiral
galaxy or elliptical galaxy (two types of galaxies) contains 100 thousand
million stars, has a diameter of 100,000 lightyears, and is at a distance of a
few million lightyears from other neighboring spiral or elliptical galaxies. Our
Solar System is part of the Milky Way, which is a fairly ordinary spiral galaxy.
galaxy_cluster
galaxy_clusters
galaxy_cluster_cloud
galaxy_cluster_clouds
Galileo
the gamma rays
gamma = [Greek] third letter
Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with a large amount of

energy, and therefore dangerous. Gamma rays are made naturally by
material with temperatures of millions of degrees, as occurs in some solar
flares.
gamma_rays
Ganymede

discovered in 1610. Also called JIII (Jupiter three).
gauss
Gem →
Gemini
Gemini (Twins) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Gem.
Geminorum →
the General Theory of Relativity
The General Theory of Relativity by Albert Einstein describes how things are
with space and time even when forces act upon the observer. The General
Theory of Relativity says that the effects of an acceleration do not depend on
the cause of the acceleration (not even if that cause is the force of gravity). It
follows that gravity bends rays of light and can slow down time, and that
black holes can exist. Einstein invented this theory at the beginning of the
20th century. The theory has passed many tests.
general_theory_of_relativity
geocentric
GÃ¨ = [Greek] Earth; kentrum = [Greek] center, middle
Geocentric means it has something to do with the center of the Earth.
Geocentric coordinate systems have the center of the Earth for their origin,
and are almost always rectangular coordinate systems, but can vary in the
directions of the coordinate axes. Oft-used geocentric coordinate systems are
the equatorial geocentric coordinate system and the ecliptic geocentric
coordinate system.
the Geocentric World View
This is the world view in which the Earth is at rest in the center of the
Universe and all other celestial bodies orbit around the Earth. This world view
was made popular by the Greek philosopher Aristotle around 350 BC and
remained the dominant world view in the West until it was replaced in the
16th century by the Heliocentric World View.
geocentric_world_view
geographic
GÃ¨ = [Greek] Earth; graphia = [Greek] description

Geographic means that it describes the Earth. The geographical coordinate
system measures the latitude relative to the equator, and the longitude
relative to the prime meridian which runs, for historical reasons, through
Greenwich in London.
geographical
geomagnetic
GÃ¨ = [Greek] Earth; hÃ¨ Magnetis lithos = [Greek] stone from Magnesia
Geomagnetic means it has something to do with the magnetic field of the

Earth.
geomagnetical
the gibbous moon
The gibbous Moon is the Moon during the period when more than half of the
lunar disk is illuminated. This period begins at First Quarter and ends at Last
Quarter.
gibbous_moons
Giraffe →
gpc
granular
Granular means it has something to do with granules.
the granulation
granulus = [Latin] small grain
Granulation covers almost all of the visible surface of the Sun. It resembles
rice pudding, with bright "rice grains", called granules, that are separated
from one another by a network of dark lanes, called intergranular lanes.
the granule
granulus = [Latin] small grain
A granule is a ball of hot solar gas that has appeared at the surface of the
Sun. A typical granule has a roughly round shape and a diameter of about
1,000 km. The gas in a granule cools down when it has reached the surface
and flows back down through the intergranular lanes. Granules and
intergranular lanes together are called granulation and are a form of
convection.
granules
gravitation
gravity ⇒
Gravitation or the force of gravity acts between all things that have mass.
Gravity is one of the four fundamental forces of nature, and is the most
important one at astronomical scales (distances). Gravity is always an
attracting force, and never repulsive. Thanks to gravity, we do not float away
from Earth, the Earth stays together, and remains orbiting around the Sun.
The Sun keeps shining partly because of gravity.
the great circle
plural great circles
A great circle is a special circle at the surface of a sphere (for example of a

planet or of the sky). You can recognize a great circle by any of the following
attributes:
A great circle divides the surface of a sphere in two equal parts.

A great circle is the largest circle that fits on the sphere.
If you keep going straight across a sphere then you go along a great
circle.
A great circle has the same center as the sphere that it lies on.
The shortest route between two points, measured across the sphere, is
part of a great circle.
Some examples of great circles are: the ecliptic, the equator, any meridian.
Great_Bear →
great_circles
Great_Dog →
greek_calendar
greek_calendars
greenhouse_effect
gregorian
gregorian_calendar
gregorian_calendar_reform
Gru →
Gruis →
Grus
Grus (Crane) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Gru.
Hh
<F H>
Hare →
Harpalyke

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXII (Jupiter twenty-two). Its provisional
Hegemone

discovered in 2003. Also called JXXXIX (Jupiter thirty-nine). Its provisional
Helene

1980. Also called SXII (Saturn twelve). Its provisional designation was
S/1980 S6.
Helike

discovered in 2003. Also called JXLV (Jupiter forty-five). Its provisional
heliocentric
Helios = [Greek] Sun; kentrum = [Greek] center, middle

Heliocentric means it has the Sun as its center.
Heliocentric coordinate systems have the center of the Sun for their origin,
and are almost always rectangular coordinate systems, but vary in the
directions of the coordinate axes. Oft-used heliocentric coordinate systems
are the equatorial heliocentric coordinate system and the ecliptic heliocentric
coordinate system.
the Heliocentric World View
This is the world view in which the Sun is (practically) in the center of the
Universe and all planets of the Solar System orbit around the Sun. This world
view replaced the Geocentric World View in the 16th century, thanks to the
work of Kepler and Copernicus.
heliocentric_world_view
heliographic
Helios = [Greek] Sun; graphia = [Greek] description
Heliographic means it describes the Sun. The heliographic coordinate system

has the solar equator for base plane, and uses longitude and latitude for
coordinates.
heliographical
Her →
Hercules
Hercules is an equatorial constellation. The official abbreviation is Her.
Herculis →
Hermippe

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXX (Jupiter thirty). Its provisional
the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram is a diagram showing a measure for the

brightness of stars (usually along the vertical axis) against a measure for the
temperature of stars (usually along the horizontal axis). This kind of diagram
was invented around 1910 by Ejnar Hertzsprung and Henry Norris Russell. It
turns out that stars concentrate in certain parts of such a diagram, depending
on the phase of their life.
Hertzsprung-Russell_Diagrams →
Himalia

discovered in 1904. Also called JVI (Jupiter six).
Hohmann_transfer_orbit
Hor →
the horizon ⇒
horizoon = [Greek] boundary
In general, a horizon is a boundary line between an area that you can see
and an area that you cannot see. In astronomy, there are at least four
relevant meanings of horizon, of which three are closely related. The horizon
is:
1. The line along the sky that is exactly midway between (at 90 degrees
from) the zenith and the nadir, at a height of 0 degrees.
2. The imaginary boundary line in the sky between the land (or sea) and
the air, if the Earth were perfectly round (smooth). If your eye were
halfway in the ground (or sea), then this horizon would be the same as
the one of explanation 1 (though the difference is only important if you
are kilometers or miles above the land or sea).
3. The boundary line in the sky between the air and the things on the
ground (or sea). If mountains or buildings are nearby, then this horizon
is not a straight line. On a dead calm sea, this horizon is the same as the
one of explanation 2.
4. The horizon of a black hole is the edge of the region around a black hole
from where you cannot escape.
If an astronomical text mentions a horizon but doesn't explain which one it is,
then you can assume that it is the horizon of explanation 1.
horizons
horizontal
horizoon = [Greek] boundary
Horizontal means it has something to do with the horizon. The horizontal

coordinate system uses the horizon for base plane, and the azimuth and
altitude for coordinates.
horizontally
Horologii →
Horologium
Horologium (Clock) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Hor.
the hour
hour, plural hours; hora = [Latin] hour
An hour is a unit of time. An hour is the 24th part of a day. An hour is further
divided into 60 minutes.
the hour angle
The hour angle of a celestial body is the difference in right ascension between
that body and the meridian (of right ascension) that is due south at that time.
The hour angle is usually measured not in degrees but in hours, minutes, and
seconds, just like the right ascension. The hour angle indicates (in sidereal
time) how long ago the body was due south.
hours
hour_angles
HR_Diagram →
HR_Diagrams →
Edwin Hubble
Edwin Hubble (1889 - 1953) was the first person to prove (in 1923) that what
we now call spiral galaxies are outside of our Milky Way Galaxy, so that our
Galaxy does not fill the entire Universe. He found that far-away galaxies
move away from us at a speed that on average is proportional to their
distance from us. This relationship is now called Hubble's Law, and the
constant of proportionality (the ratio of the Doppler speed to the distance) is
Hubble's Constant.
hubble's_constant →
hubble's_law →
Hunting_Dogs →
Hya →
Hydra

2005. Its provisional designation was S/2005 P1.
Hydra
Hydra (Water Snake) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The

official abbreviation is Hya.
Hydrae →
Hydri →
Hydrus
Hydrus (Little Water Snake) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Hyi.
Hyi →
Hyperion

discovered in 1848. Also called SVII (Saturn seven).
Ii
<G I>
Iapetus

discovered in 1671. Also called SVIII (Saturn eight).
IAU →
Ijiraq
discovered in 2000. Also called SXXII (Saturn twenty-two). Its provisional
the inclination
inclinatio = [Latin] slope
In astronomy, inclination is an angle between some direction and a standard

plane. Inclination is used as name for
1. the angle between the orbit of a planet or other celestial body and the
base plane of the coordinate system (usually the ecliptic for bodies in
the Solar System). The inclination is one of the orbital elements.
2. the angle that the magnetic field makes with the local surface.
inclinations
Ind →
Indi →
Indian →
Indus
Indus (Indian) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Ind.
the inferior planet
An inferior planet is a planet that is closer to the Sun than the Earth is. Only
inferior planets have an inferior conjunction and an elongation that never
exceeds a maximum value that is smaller than 180 degrees. The inferior
planets are: Mercury and Venus. The opposite of an inferior planet is a
superior planet.
inferior_conjunction
inferior_planets
infrared
infera = [Latin] under
Infrared radiation is a kind of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths just

larger than those of visible light (on the red side). People sense infrared
radiation as "heat rays", which is an example of energy transport.
the intergranular lane
inter- = [Latin] between; granulus = [Latin] little grain
The intergranular lanes are the darker lanes between the granules in
granulation where cooler solar gas is flowing down below the surface.
intergranular_lanes
the International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the official international

organization for astronomy. Among other tasks, the IAU defines standards for
use in astronomy. The IAU determines the official name of things in our Solar
System outside the Earth, such as for moons, comets, and asteroids, and for
craters and mountains on other planets, moons, and astroids. The IAU has
also defined the boundaries and names of the official constellations. The web
site of the IAU is at //www.iau.org.
Io

discovered in 1610. Also called JI (Jupiter one).
Iocaste

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXIV (Jupiter twenty-four). Its provisional
ir
Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton (1662 - 1727) was the founder of the science of mechanics.
Newton gave the first useful explanation of gravity, in the form of Newton's
Law of Gravity. With this he explained how the Moon orbits the Earth. Newton
also invented differential calculus and explained many optical phenomena
such as the spectrum. The unit of force is named newton (symbol: N) after
him.
The three "ordinary" Laws of Newton are:
1. (The Law of Inertia) An object upon which no forces act moves at

constant speed along a straight line.
2. An object upon which a force acts is accelerated with an acceleration
that is proportional to the applied force and inversely proportional to the
mass of the object.
3. (The Law of Action and Reaction) For each applied force there is an
equal but opposite reaction force.
Isaac_Newton
islamic_calendar
Isonoe

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXVI (Jupiter twenty-six). Its provisional
Jj
<H J>
Janus

discovered in 1966. Also called SX (Saturn ten). Its provisional designation
was S/1980 S1.
JD →
JDN →
jewish_calendar
JI →
JII →
JIII →
JIV →
JIX →
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Kepler (1571 - 1630) defined the three Laws of Kepler that properly
explained the motion of the planets around the Sun for the first time. The
three Laws of Kepler are:
1. Each planet moves around the Sun in an orbit that is an ellipse, with the
Sun in one of the foci of the ellipse.
2. The straight line segment from the Sun to the planet covers the same
amounts of area of the ellipse in the same amounts of time.
3. The third power of the semimajor axis of the orbit of a planet is
proportional to the second power of the orbital period of the planet
around the Sun.
jovian
Jovian means that it has something to do with the planet Jupiter. A jovian
planet is a planet that looks like Jupiter, i.e., a giant gas planet. In our Solar
System, the jovian planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
jovian_planet
jovian_planets
jovigraphic
Jovi- = [Latin] of Jupiter; graphia = [Greek] description
Jovigraphic means that it describes the planet Jupiter. The jovigraphic

coordinate system uses Jupiter's equator for base plane, and uses longitude
and latitude for coordinates.
The visible surface of Jupiter is not solid but is made up of clouds. How long it
takes for a particular cloud to revolve once around the rotation axis of the
planet depends on the jovigraphic latitude: The clouds of Jupiter show
differential rotation. Astronomers have therefore defined several different
jovigraphic coordinate systems, referred to as "System I" and "System II".
jovigraphical
the Julian Date
The Julian Date (JD) counts the number of days since 12:00 UTC or 12:00
TAI on January 1st, −4712 on the Julian proleptic calendar. Don't confuse a
Julian Date (which consists of a single number) with a date on the Julian
calendar (which consists of three parts: a year, a month, and a day).
Julian Dates can have fractional parts. JD 2451545.25 indicates the instant of
time that is 0.25 days (i.e., 6 hours) past 12:00 UTC or 12:00 TAI on January
1st, 2000 on the Gregorian calendar, i.e., 18:00 UTC or 18:00 TAI.
the Julian Day Number

The Julian Day Number (JDN) counts the number of whole days since 12:00
UTC or 12:00 TAI on January 1st, −4712 on the Julian proleptic calendar. You
get the Julian Day Number if you round a Julian Date (JD) down to the
nearest whole value.
julian_calendar
julian_date
Julian_Dates →
julian_day
julian_day_count
julian_day_number
Julian_Day_Numbers →
julian_day_numbers
julian_year
julian_years
Juliet

1986. Also called UXI (Uranus eleven). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U2.
june_solstice
Jupiter ⇒
Jupiter = [Latin] chief god
Jupiter is the fifth planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun. Jupiter
is a jovian planet, with a very dense and thick atmosphere (of mostly
hydrogen and helium), many moons, and narrow rings. Jupiter is the largest
and most massive planet in our Solar System. Jupiter has an equatorial
diameter of 142,984 km and is number 2 on the list of largest objects in our
Solar System.
JV →
JVI →
JVII →
JVIII →
JX →
JXI →
JXII →
JXIII →
JXIV →
JXIX →
JXL →
JXLI →
JXLII →
JXLIII →
JXLIV →
JXLV →
JXLVI →
JXLVII →
JXLVIII →
JXV →
JXVI →
JXVII →
JXVIII →
JXX →
JXXI →
JXXII →
JXXIII →
JXXIV →
JXXIX →
JXXV →
JXXVI →
JXXVII →
JXXVIII →
JXXX →
JXXXI →
JXXXII →
JXXXIII →
JXXXIV →
JXXXIX →
JXXXV →
JXXXVI →
JXXXVII →
JXXXVIII →
Kk

K→
Kale

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXVII (Jupiter thirty-seven). Its provisional
Kallichore

discovered in 2003. Also called JXLIV (Jupiter forty-four). Its provisional
Kalyke

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXIII (Jupiter twenty-three). Its provisional
Karl Schwarzschild
Karl Schwarzschild (1873 - 1916) discovered in 1916 that the then new
General Theory of Relativity of Albert Einstein predicted that there could be
places where the force of gravity becomes infinitely great and the curvature
of space-time infinitely large. Such places are called Schwarzschild
singularities after him. Nowadays we call the surroundings of such a
singularity a black hole. The diameter of a black hole is called the
Schwarzschild diameter.
karl_schwarzschild
Keel →
kelvin
Kepler →
kepler
kepler's_equation
kepler's_law →
kepler's_laws →
the Keplerian orbit
plural: keplerian orbits
A Keplerian orbit is an orbit that is a circle. An object in a Keplerian orbit

always has the same distance to the middle of the thing that it orbits around
and always has the same speed. Keplerian orbits are named for John Kepler.
keplerian_orbits
Kiviuq

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXIV (Saturn twenty-four). Its provisional
kpc
Ll
<J L>
Lac →
Lacerta
Lacerta (Lizard) is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way. The

official abbreviation is Lac.
Lacertae →
the Lagrange point
plural: Lagrange points; after J.-L. Lagrange (1736 - 1813)
A Lagrange point is a point in a system of two celestial bodies that orbit their
common center of gravity in circular orbits, in which a space ship or other
thing of negligible mass can remain for a long time without needing
propulsion. Such a system of two bodies in circular orbits has five Lagrange
points.
lagrange_point
lagrange_points
the Large Magellanic Cloud
The Large Magellanic Cloud is a small, irregular galaxy that is very close to
our own Milky Way Galaxy, at about 179,000 lightyears from us. The Large
Magellanic Cloud is in the constellation Dorado and can (sometimes) be seen
with the unaided eye from places south of 30 degrees north latitude.
The Large Magellanic Cloud (abbreviation LMC) is called "Nubecula Major" in

Latin.
Larissa

discovered in 1989. Also called NVII (Neptune seven). Its provisional
designation was S/1989 N2.
the Last Quarter
The Last Quarter is a phase of the Moon, equal to
1. [daily life] the period when about half of the lunar disk is illuminated,
about a week before New Moon.
Sun.
last_quarters
the latitude
Latitude is a coordinate that is used to fix positions on a sphere. The latitude

of a place is the distance of that place from the equator of the coordinate
system, measured in degrees along a meridian. Places at the equator have a
latitude of 0; the north pole has a latitude of +90Â° (or 90Â° north latitude),
and the south pole has latitude −90Â° (or 90Â° south latitude). In the sky,
latitude is used in the ecliptic and galactic coordinate systems. The
corresponding second coordinate is the longitude.
latitudes
laws_of_kepler
laws_of_newton
law_of_conservation_of_energy
law_of_kepler
law_of_newton
the leap year
plural: leap years
A leap year is a year that contains one day more than ordinary years. Leap
years are necessary to keep the calendar in step with the seasons.
leap_year
leap_years
Leda

discovered in 1974. Also called JXIII (Jupiter thirteen).
Leo
Leo (Lion) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Leo.
Leo Minor
Leo Minor (Little Lion) is a northern constellation, close to the ecliptic. The
official abbreviation is LMi.
Leonis →
Leonis_Minoris →
Lep →
Leporis →
Lepus
Lepus (Hare) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Lep.
Level →
Lib →
Libra
Libra (Scales) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Lib.
Librae →
life
light
the lightyear ⇒
'lightâ€§year, plural lightyears
A lightyear is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in a year. So, a

lightyear is not a measure of time but of distance. A lightyear is not an official
unit and it is therefore not specified which definition of year you should use to
calculate its length. You may use the length of the Julian year. With that
year, a lightyear corresponds to about 9,460,730,000,000 km or
5,878,640,000,000 miles or 9.46073 Pm or 9.46073 × 1015 m or 63241.08
AU or 0.3066 pc.
lightyears
light_year
light_years
Lion →
Little_Bear →
Little_Dog →
Little_Lion →
Little_Water_Snake →
Lizard →
LMC →
LMi →
ln
log
the longitude
The longitude is a coordinate that is used to measure lccations on a sphere or

directions in the sky. The longitude of a location is equal to the distance of
the meridian of that location from the prime meridian of the coordinate
system, measured in degrees along the equator.
Places on the prime meridian have a longitude equal to zero. On almost all
celestial bodies in the Solar System and also in the sky, the longitude is
measured from 0Â° to 360Â° such that it increases towards the west. On
Earth and the Moon, the longitude is measured eastward and westward to
180Â° from the prime meridian.
In the sky, longitude is used in the ecliptic and galactic coordinate systems.
The corresponding second coordinate is the latitude.
longitudes
lunar
'luâ€§nar; lunaire = [French] of the Moon; from [Latin] Luna = Moon
Lunar means it has something to do with the Moon.
lunar_eclipse
lunar_eclipses
lunastice
lunastices
lunisolar
Luna = [Latin] Moon, Sol = [Latin] Sun
Lunisolar means it has something to do with both the Sun and the Moon.
Lup →
Lupi →
Lupus
Lupus (Wolf) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Lup.
ly
Lyn →
Lyncis →
Lynx
Lynx is a northern constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official abbreviation

is Lyn.
Lyr →
Lyra
Lyra (Lyre) is a northern constellation. The official abbreviation is Lyr.
Lyrae →
Lyre →
Lysithea

discovered in 1938. Also called JX (Jupiter ten).
Mm
<K M>
Mab

2003. Also called UXXVI (Uranus twenty-six). Its provisional designation was
S/2003 U1.
the magnetic field
hÃ¨ Magnetis lithos = [Greek] stone of Magnesia
The magnetic field is a force field that is associated with moving electrical
charge. A magnetic field can influence electrically charged particles and
certain metals by attracting or repulsing them. Almost all solar gas is
susceptible to the effects of magnetic field.
Magnetic field behaves as if it is made up of closed magnetic field lines (as

you can see if you hold a magnet under a transparent plate with iron filings
on it and then gently tap the plate). Magnetic field on the Sun appears to
exist in only two forms: either it is so weak that it is swept away by the
motion of the solar gas, or it is so strong that it inhibits free motion of the
gas (for example in convection). In the latter case, the magnetic field is made
up of flux tubes: isolated tube-like things in which the magnetic field is
strong, while it is weak or absent outside of the flux tube. Most interesting
things on the Sun have something to do with magnetic field: sunspots, pores,
plage, filaments, solar flares, and prominences. A famous quote in solar
physics, attributed to Robert B. Leighton (around 1970), is
If the Sun didn't have a magnetic field, then it would be as boring

as most people think it is.
Solar physicists measure the strength of the magnetic field in units of one
gauss (G). The magnetic field of the Earth is at most about 1 G strong. The
magnetic field in a sunspot at the solar surface can reach a strength of 3000
G.
magnetic_field
magnetic_fields
the magnitude ⇒
In general, "magnitude" means about the same as "importance". In science,

a magnitude is usually a logarithmic measure, such as for the strength of an
earthquake or the brightness of a star.
In astronomy, the magnitude or apparent magnitude is a measure for how

bright something appears to be (at the distance that it has). The brightest
stars in the sky have a magnitude of about 0 or 1. The dimmest stars that
someone with good eyesight can just make out under good conditions (far
from city lights and other lights) without optical aids (such as field glasses or
a telescope) have a magnitude of about 6 (are of about the sixth magnitude).
The greater (more positive) the magnitude, the less is the brightness.
The scale of magnitudes is a logarithmic scale. A difference of 1 magnitude

corresponds to a ratio of about 2.5, and a difference of 5 magnitudes
corresponds to exactly a ratio of 100: A star of magnitude 0 appears 100
times brighter than a star of magnitude 5. Stars and other things can also
have a negative magnitude. The Sun has a magnitude of about −26.7 and
the average full moon has a magnitude of about −12.6. Venus is of about
magnitude −4 at its brightest, and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, has
magnitude −1.5. The dimmest things seen so far (with large telescopes and
long exposure times) have a magnitude of about +31.
magnitudes
magnitudes_per_square_degree
the main sequence
The Main Sequence is a narrow strip in the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

where most stars spend most of their lives. A star on the Main Sequence is
called a main-sequence star. A main-sequence star gets its energy from
converting hydrogen to helium in nuclear fusion reactions.
main-sequence_star →
main-sequence_stars →
the major axis

The major axis is the longest straight line that fits in an ellipse. One half of
the major axis is called the semimajor axis and that one is used often for one
of the orbital elements.
major_axes
major_standstill
major_standstills
march_equinox
Margaret

discovered in 2003. Also called UXXIII (Uranus twenty-three). Its provisional
Mariner's_Compass →
Mars ⇒
Mars = [Latin] god of war
Mars is the fourth planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun. Mars is
a terrestrial planet with a very thin atmosphere (of mostly carbon dioxide)
and two small moons but no rings. Mars has a diameter of 6794 km and is
number 8 on the list of largest objects in our Solar System.
the mean conjunction
A mean conjunction is a conjunction that has been calculated without taking

numerous small perturbations into account, so a mean conjunction usually
deviates somewhat from the corresponding true conjunction. On the other
hand, the formulas for mean conjunctions are usually reasonably simple. The
true conjunction is often calculated by adding correction terms to the mean
conjunction.
mean_anomaly
mean_conjunctions
Megaclite

discovered in 2000. Also called JXIX (Jupiter nineteen). Its provisional
Men →
Mensa
Mensa (Table Mountain) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close

to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Men.
Mensae →
Mercury
'Merâ€§cuâ€§ry; Mercurius = [Latin] the messenger of the gods
1. In astronomy, Mercury is the first planet of our Solar System, counting

from the Sun. Mercury is a terrestrial planet without moons, rings, or an
atmosphere. Mercury has a diameter of 4880 km and is number 11 on
the list of largest objects in our Solar System.
2. On Earth, mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature.
the meridian
meridianus = [Latin] concering noon
A meridian is
1. a half-circle (semicircle) that runs across the surface between the

geographic poles of a planetary body. Meridians intersect the equator at
right angles. Observers on the same meridian have the same solar time.
2. the half-circle that runs from the equatorial north pole (near the Pole
Star) via the zenith to the equatorial south pole. When the Sun goes
through the meridian, then it is highest in the sky for the day, and then
it is noon. Also called the celestial meridian.
meridians
the meteor ⇒
meteooros = [Greek] lifted up, floating in the air
Meteors or falling stars are bits of stone, usually of the size of a grain or sand
or smaller, that enter the atmosphere, are heated by friction with the air, and
then burn up (usually completely) while they shine brightly. Meteors are
visible as fast-moving and only momentarily visible points of light, usually
soundless. Most meteors have burned up completely when they are still at
great heights (70 km or so above the ground). Sometimes they leave behind
a glowing trail that lasts for a little while. If a larger meteor breaks up into
many pieces during its fall, then this often yields an explosion of light. Large
meteors can appear brighter in the sky than the brightest stars and planets.
In space, before a meteor reaches the atmosphere, it is called a meteoroid. If

a meteor does not burn up completely, so that part of it reaches the ground,
then such a piece is called a meteorite.
the meteorite ⇒
A meteorite is a piece of rock that came out of space and fell to the ground.
Before it entered the atmosphere it was a meteoroid, and when it was
passing through the atmosphere it was a meteor.
meteorites
the meteoroid ⇒
A meteoroid is a piece of rock that floats in space. If it enters the atmosphere

then it is called a meteor, and if it reaches the ground then it is called a
meteorite.
meteoroids
meteors
Methone

2004. Also called SXXXII (Saturn thirty-two). Its provisional designation was
S/2004 S1.
Metis

1979. Also called JXVI (Jupiter sixteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1979 J3.
MI →
Mic →
Microscope →
Microscopii →
Microscopium
Microscopium (Microscope) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Mic.
the microwave
mikros = [Greek] small
Microwaves are a kind of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between

those of infrared light and radio waves.
microwaves
MII →
milankoviÄ‡_calendar
Milky_Way →
milky_way
Milky_Way_Galaxy →
millennia
the millennium ⇒
plural: millennia, millenniums
A millennium is a period of 1000 years. The 3rd millennium runs from the
year 2001 until and including the year 3000.
millenniums
Mimas

discovered in 1789. Also called SI (Saturn one).
minor_standstill
minor_standstills
the minute
minute, plural minutes; minutus = [Latin] made small
A minute is a unit of time. A minute is the 60th part of an hour. A minute is

further divided into 60 seconds.
minutes
minutes_of_arc
minute_of_arc
Miranda

discovered in 1948. Also called UV (Uranus five).
Mneme

discovered in 2003. Also called JXL (Jupiter forty). Its provisional designation
was S/2003 J21.
Mon →
Monoceros
Monoceros (Unicorn) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close

to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Mon.
Monocerotis →
the month ⇒
A month is a period of time that is (historically) tied to the motion of the

Moon around the Earth. Quite a few different kinds of months are in use:
the calendar month: a period of between 28 and 31 days that divides

calendars. In some calendars, such as the Gregorian calendar that is
used in the West, the months are no longer directly tied to the phases of
the Moon. In other calendars, such as the Jewish and Islamic calendars,
each month starts with a specific phase of the Moon.
the sidereal month: the period after which the Moon has returned to the
same position (longitude) between the stars.
the synodical month: the period after which the Moon attains the same
phase again.
the tropical month: the period after which the Moon returns to the same
position relative to the vernal equinox.
the anomalistic month: the period after which the Moon returns to the
same position relative to its perigee.
the draconic month: the period after which the Moon returns to the
same node of its orbit.
De next table shows the average length of the astronomically determined

months at 1 January 2000, and by how much this length changes in a century
(derived from Meeus: Astronomical Algorithms, ISBN 0943396352). For
example, on 1 January 2000 the average length of the synodical month was
equal to 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.877 seconds, and this length
increases at 0.019 seconds per century.
Table 4: Month Lengths
Month days d h m s s/century

sidereal 27.32166155 27 07 43 11.558 +0.019
synodical 29.53058885 29 12 44 02.877 +0.019
tropical 27.32158224 27 07 43 04.706 +0.013
anomalistic 27.55454988 27 13 18 33.109 −0.090
draconic 27.21222082 27 05 05 35.879 +0.033
months
Moon →
the moon ⇒ ⇒ ⇒ ⇒
moon, plural moons
A moon is a celestial body that orbits around a bigger celestial body. The
Earth not only has a natural moon (the Moon, 3496 km large, number 14 on
the list of largest objects in our Solar System), but also a couple of thousands
of artificial moons, launched from the surface of the Earth. Most planets of
our Solar System have one or more moons. The biggest planets have more
than ten. Another word for moon is satellite. The month is named for the
Moon.
moonrise
moons
moonset
mpc
Mundilfari

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXV (Saturn twenty-five). Its provisional
Mus →
Musca
Musca (Fly) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky
Way. The official abbreviation is Mus.
Muscae →
Nn
<L N>
the nadir ⇒
nadzir as samt = [Arab] opposite the zenith
The nadir is the direction straight down, at altitude −90Â°. The opposite
direction in the sky is called the zenith.
Naiad
A moon of 66 km diameter at about 48,230 km from the planet Neptune. The

1989. Also called NIII (Neptune three). Its provisional designation was
S/1989 N6.
the names of celestial bodies
The brightest celestial bodies, such as the Sun, Moon, and planets, have their
own names in pretty much every language. If a common name is needed,
then usually a greek or latin name is used. The following table shows the
english, greek, and latin names of a number of celestial bodies, and also the
prefixes and postfixes that can be used to refer to those bodies.
Table 5: Planet Names in Languages, Prefixes, and Postfixes
English Greek Latin Prefixes Postfixes

Sun HÃ¨lios Sol helio- -helium
Moon SelÃ¨nÃ¨ Luna seleno- -selenium
Mercury Hermes Mercurius mecurio- -mercurium
Venus AphroditÃ¨ Venus venero- -venerum
Earth GÃ¨ Terra geo- -gee
Mars Ares Mars aro- -martium
Jupiter Zeus Iupiter jovi- -jovum
Saturn Chronos Saturnus saturno- -saturnum
Uranus Ouranos Uranus urano- -uranum
Neptune Poseidon Neptunus neptuno- -neptunum
Pluto Ploutoon Pluto pluto- -plutum
Milky Way galaxias kuklos galaxis galacto- -galactium
planet planÃ¨tÃ¨s astÃ¨r planetus planeto- -planetum
star astÃ¨r siderus astro- sider- -astron
Some examples: geography, selenographical, heliocentric, periastron,

apogee, sidereal, astronomy.
name_of_a_celestial_body
narrowband_filter
narrowband_filters
Narvi

discovered in 2003. Also called SXXXI (Saturn thirty-one). Its provisional
Neptune
Neptune = [Latin] God of the Sea
Neptune is the eighth planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun.
Neptune is a jovian planet with a very dense and thick atmosphere (made
mostly of hydrogen and helium) and many moons. Neptune has a diameter of
49,532 km and is number 5 on the list of largest objects in our Solar System.
Nereid
A moon of 340 km diameter at about 5,513,400 km from the planet Neptune.

discovered in 1949. Also called NII (Neptune two).
Net →
the New Moon
The New Moon is a phase of the Moon, equal to
1. [daily life] the period when the Moon is so close to the Sun in the sky
that you cannot see the Moon. The Moon is then roughly between the
Sun and the Earth.
2. [astronomy] the instant of time when, as seen from Earth, the center of
the Moon has the same ecliptic longitude as the center of the Sun.
Newton →
newton's_law →
newton's_laws →
newton's_law_of_gravity
new_moons
NGC_292 →
NI →
Nicholas_Copernicus →
NII →
NIII →
NIV →
Nix

2005. Its provisional designation was S/2005 P2.
the node
The nodes of the orbit of a celestial body are the two places where the orbit
passes through the base plane of the coordinate system. The node at which
the object goes through the base plane from south to north is called the
ascending node, and the node at which the object goes from north to south
through the base plane is called the descending node.
nodes
Nor →
Norma
Norma (Level) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Nor.
Normae →
the northern solstice
The northern solstice is the solstice at which the Sun reaches the furthest
north of the celestial equator. This is at midsummer's day at the start of
summer in the northern hemisphere, and at midwinter's day at the start of
winter in the southern hemisphere. In the Gregorian calendar, this is near 21
June.
Northern_Crown →
northern_solstice
northern_solstices
Nubecula_Major →
Nubecula_Minor →
nuclear_force
nuclear_forces
nuclear_fusion
nuclear_reaction
nuclear_reactions
large numbers
Here is a list of British English and American English names of large numbers
and small fractions, and the prefixes of units that go with them. In the title
row, "om" stands for order of magnitude: this indicates how many zeros are
involved. The prefix can be used with units: for example, a kilometer or km is
equal to 1,000 meters, and a megameter or Mm is equal to 1,000,000 m or
1,000 kilometers.
Table 2: Very Large and Very Small Numbers

British American om prefix number
21 1.000.000.000.000.000.000.000
trillion 18 exa = E 1.000.000.000.000.000.000
quadrillion 15 peta = P 1.000.000.000.000.000
billion trillion 12 tera = T 1.000.000.000.000
billion 9 giga = G 1.000.000.000
million million 6 mega = M 1.000.000
thousand thousand 3 kilo = k 1.000
hundred hundred 2 hecto = h 100
ten ten 1 deca = da 10
tenth tenth −1 deci = d 1/10
hundredth hundredth −2 centi = c 1/100
thousandth thousandth −3 milli = m 1/1.000
millionth millionth −6 micro = Âµ 1/1.000.000
billionth −9 nano = n 1/1.000.000.000
billionth trillionth −12 pico = p 1/1.000.000.000.000
quadrillionth −15 femto = f 1/1.000.000.000.000.000
trillionth −18 atto = a 1/1.000.000.000.000.000.000
−21 1/1.000.000.000.000.000.000.000
numbers
NV →
NVI →
NVII →
NVIII →
Oo
<M O>
Oberon

discovered in 1787. Also called UIV (Uranus four).
Oct →
Octans
Octans (Octant) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the
Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Oct.
Octant →
Octantis →
Oph →
Ophelia

1986. Also called UVII (Uranus seven). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U8.
Ophiuchi →
Ophiuchus
Ophiuchus (Serpent Bearer) is an equatorial constellation, close to the

ecliptic. The official abbreviation is Oph.
the opposition
oppositio = [Latin] opposite
Two celestial bodies are in opposition when they are in opposite directions in
the sky (as seen from Earth). If only one celestial body is mentioned, then
the second body is understood to be the Sun. Only planets or other celestial
bodies that are further from the Sun than the Earth is can be in opposition (to
the Sun). Around that time, they are above the horizon all night, and
therefore the time of opposition is usually the best time to see the object. The
opposite of an opposition is a conjunction.
oppositions
orbit-orbit_resonance →
orbit-orbit_resonances →
the orbital element
The orbits of things around much more massive celestial bodies (for example,
of a planet around the Sun, or of a moon around a planet, or of a spacecraft
around a moon, planet, or the Sun) are often very close to conic sections
such as circles, ellipses, parabolas, hyperbolas or straight lines. Five numbers
are needed to specify the size, shape, and orientation of such an orbit, and
with a sixth number you can also fix the position of the thing in the orbit.
These six numbers are the orbital elements.
The most common set of orbital elements consists of the length of the
semimajor axis and the eccentricity for the size and shape of the orbit, and
the inclination, the ecliptic longitude of the ascending node, and the
argument of the perifocus (the three of them called the Euler angles) for the
orientation of the orbit. For the sixth orbital element, either the mean
anomaly at a certain time or a time at which the object goes through its
perifocus is often used.
orbital_elements
the order of magnitude
An order of magnitude is a factor of about 10. Orders of magnitude are used

a lot by astronomers and physicists, who study very small and very large
things and so talk about numbers that may not be known very precisely but
that have many zeros before or after the decimal point. If an astronomer
says that some thing is three orders of magnitude larger than some other
thing, then the astronomer means that the second thing is about 1000 times
larger than the first thing. It could be 3000 times, or perhaps only 500 times,
but not only 100 times or as much as 10,000 times.
For each extra order of magnitude, you must multiply by an extra factor of
10. Orders of magnitude are especially handy for very large numbers. It is
easier to talk about 18 orders of magnitude than about the number one
trillion (How many zeros did that have again in British English? And wasn't
that different in American English?) or one million million million, or
1,000,000,000,000,000,000, or 1018. 18 orders of magnitude is about the
ratio between the diameter of the Earth and the diameter of an atom, and
also about the ratio of the diameter of the visible Universe and the diameter
of the Earth.
orders_of_magnitude
Ori →
Orion
Orion is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky

Way. The official abbreviation is Ori.
Orionis →
Orthosie

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXV (Jupiter thirty-five). Its provisional
Pp
<N P>
Paaliaq

discovered in 2000. Also called SXX (Saturn twenty). Its provisional
Painter's_Easel →
Pallene

2004. Also called SXXXIII (Saturn thirty-three). Its provisional designation
was S/2004 S2.
Pan

1990. Also called SXVIII (Saturn eighteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1981 S13.
Pandora

1980. Also called SXVII (Saturn seventeen). Its provisional designation was
S/1980 S26.
the parallax
The parallax is a motion that an object seems to make because the observer
has moved to a different location. The parallax of a star is the angle over
which the star moves during a year because of the motion of the Earth
around the Sun. If that parallax is equal to (p) arcseconds, then that star is
at (1/p) parsec from the Earth.
the parsec
'parâ€§sec, plural parsecs; parallax + second
The parsec is approximately the distance at which the radius of the orbit of
the Earth around the Sun covers an angle of 1 second of arc. A star at a
distance of 1 parsec shows an annual parallax of 1 second of arc. A parsec
corresponds to 648,000/π = about 206,264.8062 AU or 30,856,780,000,000
km or 19,173,560,000,000 miles or 3.085678 × 1013 m or 30.085678 Pm or
3.2616 lightyears. A parsec may be abbreviated to pc. In astronomy,
distances occur that are large even when measured in parsecs. Therefore
standard abbreviations with SI-prefixes are used, too, such as kpc for 1000
pc, Mpc for 1000 kpc, and even Gpc for 1000 Mpc.
parsecs
partial_solar_eclipse
Pasiphae

discovered in 1908. Also called JVIII (Jupiter eight).
Pasithee

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXVIII (Jupiter thirty-eight). Its provisional
Pav →
Pavo
Pavo (Peacock) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Pav.
Pavonis →
pc
Peacock →
Peg →
Pegasi →
Pegasus
Pegasus is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky
Way. The official abbreviation is Peg.
the penumbra
paene = [Latin] almost; umbra = [Latin] shadow
The penumbra is the outermost part of a sunspot, in which thread-like light

and dark filaments mostly point away from the umbra. These structures are
formed by strong magnetic field.
penumbrae
penumbras
Per →
Perdita

1999. Also called UXXV (Uranus twenty-five). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U10.
periapsiden
the perifocus
peri- = [Greek] around; hapsis = [Greek] connection
The perifocus is the point in an orbit around a celestial body that is closest to
the celestial body. The opposite point is the apofocus. For some celestial
bodies more specific names are available that refer to just those bodies, for
example perihelion for the Sun, perigee for the Earth, periselene for the
Moon, perijove for Jupiter, or periastron for stars.
the perigee
peri- = [Greek] around; GÃ¨ = [Greek] Earth
The perigee is the point in an orbit around the Earth that is closest to the
Earth. The opposite point is called apogee. The more general word, that can
be used also for other bodies, is perifocus.
perigees
the perihelion
peri- = [Greek] around; Helios = [Greek] Sun

The perihelion is the point in an orbit around the Sun that is closest to the
Sun. The opposite point is called aphelion. The more general word is
perifocus.
perihelions
Persei →
Perseus
Perseus is a northern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky

Way. The official abbreviation is Per.
Phe →
Phobos
A moon of 22 km diameter at about 9,380 km from the planet Mars. The

1877. Also called MI (Mars one).
Phoebe

discovered in 1898. Also called SIX (Saturn nine).
Phoenicis →
Phoenix
Phoenix is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky

Way. The official abbreviation is Phe.
the photon ⇒
A photon is a quantum of electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic

radiation, such as light, behaves as if it is made up out of a stream of
individual photons. All photons of a particular color (wavelength, frequency)
have the same amount of energy, which is proportional to the frequency of
the radiation.
photons
the photosphere
phootos = [Greek] light; sphairos = [Greek] ball

The photosphere is the deepest layer of the Sun that we can see. This layer
reaches from the surface visible in the center of the solar disk to about 500
km above that height. The temperature in the photosphere reaches from
about 6500 K at the bottom to about 4000 K at the top, and the density of
material in the photosphere reaches from about 4000 to 200,000 times
smaller than the density of air at sea level on Earth. Almost the whole
photosphere is covered with granulation.
photospheres
photospheric
Photospheric means it has something to do with the photosphere of the Sun

or a star.
photospherical
PI →
Pic →
Pictor
Pictor (Painter's Easel) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close

to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Pic.
Pictoris →
Pisces
Pisces (Fishes) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Psc.
Piscis Austrinus
Piscis Austrinus (Southern Fish) is an equatorial constellation, close to the

ecliptic, close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is PsA.
Piscis_Austrini →
Piscium →
the plage
plage = [French] beach
Plage is an area on the Sun that is brighter than its surroundings if one looks
at it in the middle of a spectral line. The greater brightness means that
relatively small magnetic flux tubes stick through the surface there. Plage is
invisible in images taken in the continuum, except close to the edges of the
solar disk, but even there the contrast between plage and its surroundings is
quite small.
planet ⇒ ⇒
'plaâ€§net, plural planets; planÃ¨tÃ¨s astÃ¨r = [Greek] wandering star
A planet is a large spherical object with a diameter between about 1000 and
300,000 km. A planet is massive enough that its own gravity keeps it round
(in contrast to asteroids, comets, and small moons), but too small to
generate energy in its core through nuclear fusion (in contrast to stars). A
planet orbits directly around a star (in contrast to moons) and has no similar
other objects near its orbit (in contrast to dwarf planets).
the planetary system
plural: planetary systems
A planetary system is a planet with all things that orbit around it, such as
moons.
planetary_system
planetary_systems
planetocentric
planÃ¨tÃ¨s astÃ¨r = [Greek] wandering star; kentrum = [Greek] middle,

center
Planetocentric means: with a planet at the center, or relative to the center of

a planet. Planetocentric coordinate systems have the center of the planet for
origin, and are almost always rectangular coordinate systems, but vary in the
directions of the coordinate axes. Oft-used planetocentric coordinate systems
are the planetocentric equatorial coordinate system and the planetocentric
ecliptic coordinate system.
planetocentrical
planetocentrically
planets
Pluto ⇒
Pluto
Pluto is the ninth planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun. Pluto is
a small icy planet with one moon, Charon. Pluto has a diameter of 2274 km
and is number 17 on the list of largest objects in our Solar System.
pluto
the polar day
plural: polar days
A polar day is a day during which the Sun does not get below the horizon for
at least 24 hours. Similarly, a polar night is a night during which the Sun
does not get above the horizon for at least 24 hours. Polar days and polar
nights occur only above the polar circles, near the geographical poles.
polar_day
polar_days
polar_night
polar_nights
the pole
A pole of a celestial body is one of the two intersections of the surface of the
body and the rotation axis of the body. Traditionally, the pole from above
where the body appears to rotate counterclockwise is called the north pole,
and the pole from above where the body appears to rotate clockwise is called
the south pole. Seen from the north pole, the Sun goes through the sky from
left to right. Seen from the south pole, the Sun goes from right to left.
poles
Polydeuces

2004. Also called SXXXIV (Saturn thirty-four). Its provisional designation was
S/2004 S5.
the pore
poros = [Latin] opening
A pore is like a sunspot but has no penumbra.
pores
Portia
1986. Also called UXII (Uranus twelve). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U1.
pp-reaction
pp-reactions
Praxidike

discovered in 2000. Also called JXXVII (Jupiter twenty-seven). Its provisional
the precession
praecessio = [Latin] going first
The rotation axis of the Earth is slowly spinning around the poles of the
ecliptic because of the gravitational attraction between the equatorial bulges
of the Earth and the Moon and Sun. It takes about 26,000 years before the
axis has spun around once. This spinning motion is called precession.
One result of the precession is that the vernal equinox slowly moves between
the stars in the sky, at a speed of one degree each 71.6 years. This motion is
called the precession of the equinoxes. The places between the stars in the
sky where the Sun is at the beginning of the seasons are tied to the vernal
equinox, and so are also influenced by the precession. Since about the year
−68, the vernal equinox moves through the modern constellation of Pisces
(the Fishes), and it will move into the constellation of Aquarius (the
Waterman) around the year 2597.
Another result of the precession is that the poles of the sky also move
between the stars. At the moment, the celestial north pole is quite close to
the bright star alpha Ursae Minoris (alpha UMi, also called Polaris or the North
Star).
precession_of_the_equinoxes
the prime meridian
plural: prime meridians
The prime meridian is the meridian of which the longitude is zero. It is a free
choice which meridian should be the prime meridian. In the past, each
country used to use a prime meridian for their maps that ran through their
own capital city. Nowadays almost everyone uses the prime meridian that
runs through Greenwich in England.
proleptic ⇒
Proleptic means that it is applied to cases from before it was invented. This is
used most in calendars: you can apply the rules of a new calendar to years
from before that new calendar was invented.
proleptical
proleptic_calendar
proleptic_calendars
Prometheus

discovered in 1980. Also called SXVI (Saturn sixteen). Its provisional
the prominence ⇒
'proâ€§miâ€§nence, plural prominences; prominere = [Latin] to stick out, be

prominent
A prominence is a bright cloud of solar gas that sticks out beyond the limb of
the Sun. If such a cloud is seen against the even brighter solar disk, then it
appears dark and is called a filament.
prominences
Prospero

discovered in 1999. Also called UXVIII (Uranus eighteen). Its provisional
Proteus

discovered in 1989. Also called NVIII (Neptune eight). Its provisional
designation was S/1989 N1.
proton-proton_reaction
proton-proton_reactions
PsA →
Psc →
Ptolemy
Puck
1985. Also called UXV (Uranus fifteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1985 U1.
Pup →
Puppis
Puppis (Stern) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Pup.
Pyx →
Pyxidis →
Pyxis
Pyxis (Mariner's Compass) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Pyx.
Qq
<O Q>
the quadrature
Two celestial bodies are in quadrature when they are 90Â° (i.e., a quarter of
the circumference of the sky) apart in the sky.
quadratures
Quaoar
the quasar ⇒
quasar, plural quasars; [English] quasi-stellar radio source
A quasar is a celestial body that at first sight looks like a star (i.e., like a
small point of light), but that after closer investigation often turns out to be in
the center of a galaxy. A quasar is far brighter than the rest of the galaxy,
and can therefore be seen at much greater distances than the galaxy itself.
Corrected for the distance, quasars are about 100 times brighter than the
brightest galaxies.
Astronomers think that quasars are really large black holes that capture great
amounts of material from the surrounding galaxy, and that that material
emits much energy as it falls into the black hole, not just as visible light, but
also as, for example, radio waves, which is where quasars were first
discovered.
All quasars are far away, which means they existed long ago only. It seems
that many galaxies were quasars for a while in their youth.
quasars
Rr

radio
the radio wave
radius = [Latin] stick, radius
Radio waves are electromagnetic waves with wavelengths greater than those
of microwaves.
radioactivity
radio_waves
Ram →
the red giant
A red giant or red giant star is a star that is much bigger and cooler and
redder than the Sun is. Red giants have diameters up to a few hundred times
as large as that of the Sun. In about 5 thousand million years, the Sun will
turn into a red giant, when the hydrogen in the center of the Sun starts to
run out. The diameter of the Sun will then grow to about 40 times the size it
has today.
the redshift
A redshift is a doppler shift, of characteristics (such as spectral lines) in the
frequency spectrum of light, to smaller frequencies, so that yellow light gets
more reddish. The opposite of redshift is blueshift. The ratio of the
frequencies of redshifted characteristics and the frequencies of the unshifted
characteristics is also called redshift, usually denoted by a variable called (z).
Systematic redshift is found in the spectra of all but the closest of galaxies,
which is seen as evidence for the expansion of the Universe.
redshifts
red_giant
red_giants
red_shift
red_shifts
relativistic
Relativistic means that the speed or escape velocity becomes so great

(namely comparable to the speed of light) that the classical theories of force
and motion cannot make sufficiently accurate predictions anymore. To be
able to make accurate predictions for relativistic circumstances, you need the
full theories of relativity.
relativity_theories
relativity_theory
resolution
the resonance ⇒
In astronomy, a resonance is a case where small effects that can usually be

ignored now do have a measurable impact because they happen exactly in
step with something else. An orbit-orbit resonance occurs, for example, when
a multiple of the orbital period of a moon is equal to the orbital period of
another moon, or a multiple of it. A spin-orbit resonance occurs, for example,
when a multiple of the spin period of a moon (around its own axis) is equal to
the orbital period of the moon, or a multiple of it.
resonances
Ret →
Reticuli →
Reticulum
Reticulum (Net) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Ret.
retrograde_motion
Rhea

discovered in 1672. Also called SV (Saturn five).
the right ascension
The right ascension is the coordinate from the equatorial coordinate system in
the sky that has the same role as the longitude in other coordinate systems.
The right ascension is measured from the vernal equinox. The right ascension
is usually measured not in degrees as the other longitudes are, but rather in
units of time, such that 360 degrees correspond to 24 hours of right
ascension, and 15 degrees to 1 hour of right ascension. Just like for real time,
an hour (symbol: h) of right ascension is divided into 60 minutes (symbol:
m), and one minute into 60 seconds (symbol: s). Here is an example of a
right ascension: 5h23m12s, or 5 hours, 23 minutes, and 12 seconds.
right_angle
right_ascensions
the ring ⇒
plural: rings
In general, a ring is something flat and round that has an open center. In
astronomy, rings occur around planets and then consist of small rocks, dust
particles, and ice particles that orbit around the planet in the planet's
equatorial plane.
rings
River_Eridanus →
Rosalind

1986. Also called UXIII (Uranus thirteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1986 U4.
Ss
<Q S>
S/1975_J1_=_S/2000_J1 →
S/1978_P1 →
S/1979_J1 →
S/1979_J2 →
S/1979_J3 →
S/1980_S1 →
S/1980_S13 →
S/1980_S25 →
S/1980_S26 →
S/1980_S27 →
S/1980_S28 →
S/1980_S3 →
S/1980_S6 →
S/1981_S13 →
S/1985_U1 →
S/1986_U1 →
S/1986_U10 →
S/1986_U2 →
S/1986_U3 →
S/1986_U4 →
S/1986_U5 →
S/1986_U6 →
S/1986_U7 →
S/1986_U8 →
S/1986_U9 →
S/1989_N1 →
S/1989_N2 →
S/1989_N3 →
S/1989_N4 →
S/1989_N5 →
S/1989_N6 →
S/1997_U1 →
S/1997_U2 →
S/1999_J1 →
S/1999_U1 →
S/1999_U2 →
S/1999_U3 →
S/2000 J11

discovered in 2000.
S/2000_J10 →
S/2000_J2 →
S/2000_J3 →
S/2000_J4 →
S/2000_J5 →
S/2000_J6 →
S/2000_J7 →
S/2000_J8 →
S/2000_J9 →
S/2000_S1 →
S/2000_S10 →
S/2000_S11 →
S/2000_S12 →
S/2000_S2 →
S/2000_S3 →
S/2000_S4 →
S/2000_S5 →
S/2000_S6 →
S/2000_S7 →
S/2000_S8 →
S/2000_S9 →
S/2001_J1 →
S/2001_J10 →
S/2001_J11 →
S/2001_J2 →
S/2001_J3 →
S/2001_J4 →
S/2001_J5 →
S/2001_J6 →
S/2001_J7 →
S/2001_J8 →
S/2001_J9 →
S/2001_U1 →
S/2001_U2 →
S/2001_U3 →
S/2002 N1

discovered in 2002.
S/2002 N2

discovered in 2002.
S/2002 N3

discovered in 2002.
S/2002 N4

discovered in 2002.
S/2002_J1 →
S/2003 J10

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J12

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J14

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J15

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J16

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J17

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J18

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J19

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J2

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J23

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J3

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J4

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J5

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 J9

discovered in 2003.
S/2003 N1

discovered in 2003.
S/2003_J1 →
S/2003_J11 →
S/2003_J13 →
S/2003_J20 →
S/2003_J21 →
S/2003_J22 →
S/2003_J6 →
S/2003_J7 →
S/2003_J8 →
S/2003_S1 →
S/2003_U1 →
S/2003_U2 →
S/2003_U3 →
S/2004 S10

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S11

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S12

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S13

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S14

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S15

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S16

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S17

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S18

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S7

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S8

discovered in 2005.
S/2004 S9

discovered in 2005.
S/2004_S1 →
S/2004_S2 →
S/2004_S5 →
S/2005 S1

2005.
S/2005_P1 →
S/2005_P2 →
Sagitta
Sagitta (Arrow) is an equatorial constellation, close to the Milky Way. The

official abbreviation is Sge.
Sagittae →
Sagittarii →
Sagittarius
Sagittarius (Archer) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close

to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Sgr.
Sails →
saros
sarosses
saros_number
saros_numbers
saros_series
the satellite ⇒
satellite, plural satellites
A satellite is another name for a moon.
satellites
Saturn ⇒
Saturn; Saturnus = [Latin] father of Jupiter
Saturn is the sixth planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun. Saturn
is a jovian planet with a very dense and thick atmosphere (made mostly of
hydrogen and helium), many moons, and wide rings. Saturn has an
equatorial diameter of 120,536 km and is number 3 on the list of largest
objects in our Solar System.
Scales →
Schwarzschild →
schwarzschild
schwarzschild_diameter
schwarzschild_diameters
schwarzschild_radii
schwarzschild_radius
schwarzschild_singularities
schwarzschild_singularity
the science ⇒ ⇒
science, plural sciences
A science is a collection of knowledge and methods to check that knowledge

for correctness and to get more knowledge. There are many sciences, such as
physics, astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, geography, history, economics,
and biology. A scientist is someone who does science for his work. A very
important part of science is to check knowledge for correctness so that ideas
that do not fit reality can be abandoned and only good ideas remain. Pseudo-
sciences such as astrology and alchemy lack this self-correction.
sciences
scientific
scientifical
scientist
scientists
Scl →
Sco →
Scorpii →
Scorpion →
Scorpius
Scorpius (Scorpion) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Sco.
Sct →
Sculptor
Sculptor is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky

Way. The official abbreviation is Scl.
Sculptoris →
Scuti →
Scutum
Scutum (Shield) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Sct.
season
seasons
Sea_Goat →
the second
second, plural seconds; hora minutus secundus = [Latin] second diminished

hour
A second is a unit of time. A second is the 60th part of a minute.
seconds
seconds_of_arc
second_of_arc
Sedna
selenographic
SelÃ¨nÃ¨ = [Greek] Moon; graphia = [Greek] description
Selenographic means it describes the Moon. The selenographic coordinate

system has the lunar equator for base plane, and uses the longitude and
latitude for coordinates.
selenographical
semimajor_axes
semimajor_axis
september_equinox
Ser →
Serpens
Serpens (Serpent) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The

official abbreviation is Ser.
Serpent →
Serpentis →
Serpent_Bearer →
Setebos

discovered in 1999. Also called UXIX (Uranus nineteen). Its provisional
Sex →
Sextans
Sextans (Sextant) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The

official abbreviation is Sex.
Sextant →
Sextantis →
Sge →
Sgr →
Shield →
a shooting star
A shooting star is the same as a meteor.
shooting_star
shooting_stars
SI →
Siarnaq

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXIX (Saturn twenty-nine). Its provisional
sidereal
siderus = [Latin] star
Sidereal means it has something to do with the stars. A sidereal period of

time (such as the sidereal month and the sidereal year) is a period of time
after which a celestial body reaches the same position relative to the stars.
the sidereal time
The sidereal time is equal to the right ascension that passes through the
celestial meridian at that moment. If a given sidereal time (between 0 and 24
hours) returns, then the stars are again in the same places in the sky (seen
from the same place on Earth). The sidereal time runs a little faster than
ordinary time: 24 hours of sidereal time correspond to 23 hours 56 minutes 4
seconds of ordinary time. Near the equinox of september, the sidereal time
and solar time are almost equal.
sidereal_time
sidereal_year
sidereal_years
SII →
SIII →
sin
sinh
Sinope

discovered in 1914. Also called JIX (Jupiter nine).
SIV →
SIX →
Skathi

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXVII (Saturn twenty-seven). Its provisional
the Small Magellanic Cloud
The Small Magellanic Cloud is a small, irregular galaxy that is very close to
our own Milky Way Galaxy, at about 210,000 lightyears from us. The Small
Magellanic Cloud is in the constellation Tucana and can (sometimes) be seen
with the unaided eye from places south of 30 degrees north latitude.
The Small Magellanic Cloud (abbreviation SMC) is called "Nubecula Minor" in

Latin, and is also called NGC 292.
SMC →
software
solar
'soâ€§lar; solaire = [French] of the Sun, from [Latin] Sol = Sun
Solar means it has something to do with the Sun.
the solar eclipse
A solar eclipse is the covering of the disk of the Sun by the Moon. If the Sun
is wholly covered by the Moon then it is a total solar eclipse. If only part of
the Sun is covered, then it is a partial solar eclipse.
the solar flare
Solar flares are explosions near the solar surface in which the local magnetic
field is relaxed. This releases a lot of energy which heats up the solar gas and
launches it into space. Solar flares usually occur near active regions.
the solar physicist
physicus = [Latin] physicist
A solar physicist is a physicist or astronomer that studies the Sun using the
tools of physics. The science that studies the Sun is called solar physics.
solar physics
physica = [Latin] physics
Solar physics is the science that studies the Sun. It is part of astronomy.
People who do solar physics are called solar physicists.
the Solar System
solar system, plural solar systems
The Solar System is the star system of the Sun and consists of the Sun itself
and everything that orbits around the Sun, such as planets (e.g., the Earth),
comets, and asteroids. Because the Sun is a star, star systems of other stars
are also sometimes called solar systems.
the solar time
Solar time is the time measured according to the position of the Sun in the
sky. It is 12 o'clock solar time (noon) when the Sun is highest in the sky.
North of the tropics, the Sun is then due south, and south of the tropics it is
due north then. You can measure the solar time with a well-adjusted sundial.
Solar time is usually not equal to the official clock time. In the Netherlands
and Belgium, solar time is about 40 minutes behind official clock time in
winter, and about one hour and 40 minutes behind in summer.
solar_activity_cycle
solar_cycle
solar_cycles
solar_eclipse
solar_eclipses
solar_flares
solar_maximum
solar_maximums
solar_minimum
solar_minimums
solar_physicists
solar_system
solar_systems
solar_time
the solid angle
The surface area of a constellation is a solid angle, for example measured in

square degrees or in steradians. The length, width, and circumference of a
constellation are (plane) angles, for example measured in degrees or radians.
A small part of the sky with a length and width of 1 degree has a solid angle
(surface area) of about 1 square degree. All directions put together (both
above and below the horizon) cover 129600/π = (about) 41253 square
degrees, or 4π = (about) 12.566 steradians.
the solstice ⇒
solstice, plural solstices
A solstice is a moment when the declination of the Sun changes from

increasing to decreasing, or from decreasing to increasing. There are two
solstices each tropical year: the northern solstice and the southern solstice.
The solstices mark midsummer's day and midwinter's day, and the beginning
of the astronomical seasons of summer and winter.
solstices
the southern solstice
The southern solstice is the solstice at which the Sun reaches the furthest
south of the celestial equator. This is at midsummer's day at the start of
summer in the southern hemisphere, and at midwinter's day at the start of
winter in the northern hemisphere. In the Gregorian calendar, this is near 21
December.
Southern_Cross →
Southern_Crown →
Southern_Fish →
southern_solstice
southern_solstices
Southern_Triangle →
special_theory_of_relativity
the spectral line
spectum = [Latin] to watch
A spectral line is a very narrow range of wavelengths (colors) at which a

bright object such as the Sun shines more brightly or less brightly than at
neighboring wavelengths. A spectral line in which an object shines less
brightly is called an absorption line, and a spectral line in which an object
shines more brightly is called an emission line.
Every substance has its own set of spectral lines, so spectral lines give a sort
of fingerprint of the associated substance. The strength of a spectral line
(how much absorption or emission it has) depends on many things, including
the temperature and gas pressure of the material, and sometimes also of the
strength of the magnetic field at that location. The exact wavelength or
frequency of a spectral line also depends (through the doppler effect) on the
speed of the material relative to the observer. Astronomers often use filters
to look at one spectral line in turn, to measure the things that the spectral
line is sensitive to.
spectral_lines
the speed of light
The speed of light in a vacuum is a constant of nature, by definition equal to

299,792,458 m/s. The speed of light in a medium, such as water or glass, is
less than the speed of light in a vacuum by a factor that is equal to the index
of refraction of the medium. If no medium is explicitly mentioned, then you
can assume that the speed of light in a vacuum is meant.
speed_of_light
spin-orbit_resonance →
spin-orbit_resonances →
the spiral galaxy
'spiâ€§ral 'gaâ€§laxâ€§y
A spiral galaxy is a galaxy with a flat disk in which (when seen from above)
bright "arms" appear to come from the center. A spiral galaxy also contains a
number of globular clusters, of which most are outside of the disk. In the
center of the disk there may be a bar-shaped structure: then the galaxy is a
barred spiral galaxy.
spiral_arm
spiral_arms
spiral_system
spiral_systems
Sponde

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXXVI (Jupiter thirty-six). Its provisional
spring
spring_equinox
standard_time
standstill
standstills
the star ⇒
astÃ¨r = [Greek] star
A star is a ball of (mostly) hydrogen gas that is so massive that it
1. is held together by its own gravitation.

2. has such a high gas pressure and temperature in its center that nuclear
fusion of hydrogen to helium occurs there, which provides the energy
that makes the star shine brightly.
stars
star_cluster
star_clusters
star_system
star_systems
stellar_system
stellar_systems
stellar_time
Stephano

discovered in 1999. Also called UXX (Uranus twenty). Its provisional
Stern →
stice
stices
strong_nuclear_force
strong_nuclear_forces
summer
summer_solstice
the Sun
sun, plural suns
The Sun is the star in the middel of our Solar System, which provides us here
on Earth with light and warmth. Because the Sun is a star, stars are
sometimes referred to as suns. The Sun is by far the largest object in our
Solar System, with a diameter of 1,391,980 km.
sun
sunrise
suns
sunset
the sunspot
Sunspots are regions on the solar surface where the magnetic field is very
strong, up to 3000 gauss in strength. Sunspots look a lot darker than their
surroundings in almost all kinds of observations, because they are a few
thousand degrees cooler than their surroundings and because they are also
large. Sunspots range in diameter from about 2500 to over 50,000 km. A
sunspot is often roughly circular in shape, though some have a very irregular
appearance. Sunspots have two very distinct parts: the dark umbra in the
middle, and the less-dark penumbra around the umbra. The difference
between a sunspot and a pore is that a pore has no penumbra.
the solar cycle
The number of sunspots on the Sun varies fairly regularly with a period of
about 11 years which is called the sunspot cycle. When the number of
sunspots is smallest (zero or close to it) then the Sun is in the sunspot
minimum. When the number of sunspots is greatest, then the Sun is in the
sunspot maximum. The strength of other phenomenons changes with the
number of sunspots, for example the number of solar flares and the number
of coronal mass ejections. The sunspot cycle is therefore also called the solar
activity cycle.
sunspots
sunspot_cycles
sunspot_maximum
sunspot_maximums
sunspot_minimum
sunspot_minimums
supercluster
superclusters
the superior planet
A superior planet is a planet that is further from the Sun than the Earth is.
Only superior planets can be in opposition, and their elongation can have any
value up to 180 degrees. The superior planets are: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. The opposite of a superior planet is an inferior
planet.
superior_conjunction
superior_planets
supernova
supernovae
supernovas
the surface brightness
The surface brightness of a thing is the amount of light that you receive from
it per unit solid angle. In astronomy, surface brightness is often measured in
magnitudes per square degree, which is the magnitude of a star of which
you'd receive as much light as from a square degree of the surface of the
thing. The surface brightness does not change with distance or (if you have
perfect optics) with the magnification of the telescope.
The surface brightness of the Sun (and hence also of most other things with a
surface temperature of 5700 K) is about 10.9 magnitudes per square second
of arc. The surface brightness of a typical galaxy is about 20 magnitudes per
square second of arc.
Suttungr

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXIII (Saturn twenty-three). Its provisional
SV →
SVI →
SVII →
SVIII →
Swan →
Swordfish →
SX →
SXI →
SXII →
SXIII →
SXIV →
SXIX →
SXV →
SXVI →
SXVII →
SXVIII →
SXX →
SXXI →
SXXII →
SXXIII →
SXXIV →
SXXIX →
SXXV →
SXXVI →
SXXVII →
SXXVIII →
SXXX →
SXXXI →
SXXXII →
SXXXIII →
SXXXIV →
Sycorax

discovered in 1997. Also called UXVII (Uranus seventeen). Its provisional
synodic
synodical ⇒
sunodos = [Greek] meeting; from sun = [Greek] together, and hodos =

[Greek] road
A synodical period is the period after which the phases of a celestial body as
seen from another celestial body repeat themselves. If only a single body is
mentioned, then the synodical period as seen from Earth is usually meant.
After a synodical month, the Moon has reached the same phase again (for
example: full moon). The time between two oppositions or (similar)
conjunctions of a planet is the synodical period of the planet. After that time,
the Earth has caught up again with the planet (or the planet with the Earth)
in its orbit around the Sun. The time after which a certain sunspot returns to
the same location on the solar disk is the synodical period of the Sun (but
that is not the same everywhere on the Sun, because of differential rotation).
The synodical periods of the planets are, rounded to whole days: Mercury
116, Venus 584, Mars 780, Jupiter 399, Saturn 378, Uranus 370, Neptune
367, Pluto (at present) 367. Calculate it yourself.
Periods of motion measured relative to the stars are called sidereal periods.
synodical_month
synodical_months
Tt
<R T>
Table_Mountain →
tan
tanh
Tarvos

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXI (Saturn twenty-one). Its provisional
Tau →
Tauri →
Taurus
Taurus (Bull) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Tau.
Taygete

discovered in 2000. Also called JXX (Jupiter twenty). Its provisional
Tel →
Telescope →
Telescopii →
Telescopium
Telescopium (Telescope) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic,

close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Tel.
Telesto

1980. Also called SXIII (Saturn thirteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1980 S13.
the temperature ⇒
The temperature is a measure for how hot something is. There are several
units in use for temperature. In Europe, the most common unit is the degree
Celsius (written â„ƒ). In the USA, the degree Fahrenheit is used (â„‰). In
science, the kelvin (no capital letters; also written K â€• without Â°) is used a
lot. The freezing point of water at sea level on Earth is at 0â„ƒ, 32â„‰, and
273 K. The boiling point of water is then at 100â„ƒ, 212â„‰, and 373 K.
temperatures
Tethys

discovered in 1684. Also called SIII (Saturn three).
Thalassa
A moon of 82 km diameter at about 50,080 km from the planet Neptune. The

1989. Also called NIV (Neptune four). Its provisional designation was S/1989
N5.
Thebe

1979. Also called JXIV (Jupiter fourteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1979 J2.
Thelxinoe

discovered in 2004. Also called JXLII (Jupiter forty-two). Its provisional
Themisto
A moon of 8 km diameter at about 7,284,000 km from the planet Jupiter. The

2000. Also called JXVIII (Jupiter eighteen). Its provisional designation was
S/1975 J1 = S/2000 J1.
theories_of_relativity
the theory of relativity
plural: theories of relativity
A theory of relativity is a theory in which there is no privileged position or

time. More specifically, a Theory of Relativity is one of the two theories of
that name that were invented by Albert Einstein.
theory_of_relativity
Thrymr

discovered in 2000. Also called SXXX (Saturn thirty). Its provisional
Thyone

discovered in 2001. Also called JXXIX (Jupiter twenty-nine). Its provisional
the tidal force
plural: tidal forces
Tidal forces are forces due to a change in gravity from place to place. On
Earth, tidal forces of the Moon cause the tides, and also cause the slow
deceleration of the rotation of the Earth (and the lengthening of the day).
Tidal forces cause moons to eventually show always the same side to their
planet. The vulcanism on Io is probably kept going by tidal forces of Jupiter
acting on Io's interior.
tidal_boundary
tidal_force
tidal_forces
the tide ⇒ ⇒
plural: tides
On Earth, the tides are the regular rising and falling of the sea level because
of the tidal forces of the Moon.
tides
time
timezone
timezones
time_measurement
time_travel
time_zone
time_zones
Titan

discovered in 1655. Also called SVI (Saturn six).
Titania

discovered in 1787. Also called UIII (Uranus three).
total_solar_eclipse
Toucan →
TrA →
the transit ⇒ ⇒
transit, plural transits
A transit is
1. the moment when a celestial body crosses the meridian (sense 2).
2. a passage of an apparently smaller body in front of an apparently larger
body. More particularly: the crossing of Mercury or Venus in front of the
Sun, as seen from Earth.
transits
Tri →
Triangle →
Trianguli →
Trianguli_Australis →
Triangulum
Triangulum (Triangle) is a northern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Tri.
Triangulum Australe
Triangulum Australe (Southern Triangle) is a southern constellation, close to

the ecliptic, close to the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is TrA.
Trinculo

discovered in 2001. Also called UXXI (Uranus twenty-one). Its provisional
Triton

discovered in 1846. Also called NI (Neptune one).
tropical
In astronomy, a tropical period of time is a period of time measured relative

to the passage through the vernal equinox, and so is linked to the seasons.
The tropical year is the period after which the Sun returns to the vernal
equinox, and the tropical month is the period after which the Moon returns to
the vernal equinox.
tropical_year
tropical_years
true_anomaly
true_conjunction
true_conjunctions
Tuc →
Tucana
Tucana (Toucan) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Tuc.
Tucanae →
Twins →
twin_paradox
Tycho
Tycho_Brahe
Uu
<S U>
UI →
UII →
UIII →
UIV →
UIX →
ultraviolet
ultra = [Latin] further
Ultraviolet radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths

just smaller than those of visible light, i.e., just beyond those of violet light.
UMa →
the umbra
umbra = [Latin] shadow, plural umbrae, umbras
The umbra is the middle part of a sunspot, which is (relatively) very dark
because it is a lot cooler than the rest of the solar surface. The magnetic field
in the umbra is very strong and points almost straight up.
umbrae
umbras
Umbriel

discovered in 1851. Also called UII (Uranus two).
UMi →
Unicorn →
universal_time
the Universe ⇒ ⇒
the 'Uâ€§niâ€§verse, plural universes
The Universe is all space put together, with everything that's in it. Because of
the finite age of the Universe and the finite speed with which light and other
information carriers move, we can have knowledge of even in principle only a
finite part of the Universe. That part is also often called the Universe (or the
Visible Universe). For more information about the Universe, see the Universe
Page of the Universe Family Tree.
universe
universes
Uranus ⇒
Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun.
Uranus is a jovian planet with a very dense and thick atmosphere (made
mostly of hydrogen and helium), many moons, and narrow rings. Uranus has
a diameter of 51,118 km and is number 4 on the list of largest objects in our
Solar System.
Ursa Major
Ursa Major (Great Bear) is a northern constellation. The official abbreviation

is UMa.
Ursa Minor
Ursa Minor (Little Bear) is a northern constellation. The official abbreviation is

UMi.
Ursae_Majoris →
Ursae_Minoris →
UTC
UTC means "Coordinated Universal Time" and is the time that belongs to the
meridian of 0Â° on Earth. Each UTC second lasts exactly as long as all other
ones (namely exactly as long as the second from the International System of
Units). UTC is kept synchronized with the somewhat irregular rotation of the
Earth by occasionally inserting a leap second as needed.
UV →
uv
UVI →
UVII →
UVIII →
UX →
UXI →
UXII →
UXIII →
UXIV →
UXIX →
UXV →
UXVI →
UXVII →
UXVIII →
UXX →
UXXI →
UXXII →
UXXIII →
UXXIV →
UXXV →
UXXVI →
UXXVII →
Vv
<T V>
Vel →
Vela
Vela (Sails) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the Milky
Way. The official abbreviation is Vel.
Velorum →
Venus ⇒
Venus = [Latin] goddess of love
Venus is the second planet of the Solar System, counting from the Sun.
Venus is a terrestrial planet, with a thick atmosphere of mostly carbon
dioxide but no moons or rings. Venus has a diameter of 12,104 km and is
number 7 on the list of largest objects in our Solar System.
the vernal equinox
The vernal equinox is the intersection of the equator of the sky and the
ecliptic, through which the Sun passes during the March equinox, at the
beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere, and autumn in the southern
hemisphere. The vernal equinox is the zero point of longitude and latitude of
the equatorial and ecliptic coordinate systems. The period between two
successive passages of the Sun through the vernal equinox is the tropical
year.
vernal_equinox
Vir →
Virgin →
Virginis →
Virgo
Virgo (Virgin) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic. The official

abbreviation is Vir.
visible light
Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between

about 400 and 800 nm. It seems silly to talk about "visible" light; after all,
you can always see light, can't you? Yet, there are good reasons:
1. some kinds of electromagnetic radiation that we cannot directly see are

yet called light, for example infrared and ultraviolet "light".
2. the boundary between colors we see well and "colors" we cannot see at
all is not sharp but gradual, so we cannot pinpoint an exact border
between visible and invisible light.
3. not everybody is equally sensitive to any given color. A color that is just
visible to some may be invisible to some others. Should such a color be
considered to be light or not?
4. visible light does not differ fundamentally from invisible light (such as
infrared and ultraviolet light) that is just beyond the visible colors.
Scientists therefore use the phrase "visible light" for the wavelength range of
electromagnetic radiation that the average person can see at least a little bit,
with vague boundaries on the low and high sides.
visible_universe
a void ⇒
plural: voids
In general, a void is an empty space. In astronomy, a void is a giant bubble-

shaped region of the Universe where there are no or hardly any galaxies.
There are filaments at the edges of such voids.
voids
Vol →
Volans
Volans (Flying Fish) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

the Milky Way. The official abbreviation is Vol.
Volantis →
the VSOP model
From the VSOP model (Variations SÃ©culaires des Orbites PlanÃ©taires) of

P. Bretagnon and G. Francou, the positions of the planets can be calculated
very accurately for a few thousand years into the past and into the future.
This model is available for free. See //adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-
bib_query?bibcode=1988A%26A...202..309B&db_key=AST&
data_type=HTML.
Vul →
Vulpecula
Vulpecula (Fox) is an equatorial constellation, close to the Milky Way. The

official abbreviation is Vul.
Vulpeculae →
Ww

the waning moon
The waning Moon is the Moon during the period in which the area of the lunar
disk that is illuminated decreases. This period begins at Full Moon and runs
until New Moon.
waning_moons
Water_Carrier →
Water_Snake →
the waxing moon
The waxing Moon is the Moon during the period in which ever more of the
disk of the Moon becomes illuminated. This period begins at New Moon and
ends at Full Moon.
waxing_moons
weak_nuclear_force
weak_nuclear_forces
week_number
week_numbers
the weight
You feel weight when a force acts on the surface of your body. If you stand
quietly on the ground, then the ground pushes up against your feet but not
against your head, and gravity pulls down all parts of your body equally
strongly, so then it feels as if your head and your feet are pushed together,
and that gives the feeling of weight.
If you're loose from the ground (for example if you just jumped up), then
there is no force pushing against your feet, so then your feet and head are no
longer pushed together, and then you feel weightless.
If you sit in an accelerating car, facing forward, then the chair pushes harder
against your back, and you feel that as extra weight.
If you sit or stand quietly, then your weight depends on your mass and on
the strength of gravity. On the Moon, gravity is less strong than on Earth, so
your weight is less on the Moon than on Earth.
Even though weight is a measure for physical force, it is usually described in

units of mass, such as the kilogram or pound. A kilogram of weight should be
interpreted as "the amount of force of gravity that would act on a mass of
one kilogram on Earth". Even on Earth your weight depends on where you
are. At the equator you weigh about half a percent (one part in 200) less
than at the poles.
weightless
weightlessness
Whale →
winter
winter_solstice
Wolf →
Xx
<V X>
the X-rays
X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that has a relatively large

amount of energy per photon and is therefore dangerous. X-rays are emitted
naturally by material that is very hot, such as the gases in a solar flare that
can have temperatures of hundreds of thousands or even millions of degrees,
and by certain radioactive materials.
x_ray
x_rays
Yy
<W Y>
the year ⇒ ⇒
The year is a period of time that is related to the motion of the Earth around
the Sun. There are quite a few different kinds of years in use:
the calendar year: a period of (depending on the used calendar)

between 354 and 384 days. Some calendars (such as the Gregorian
calendar that is used in most developed countries) follow the seasons
without regard to the phases of the Moon, and have 365 or 366 days in
any given year. Other calendars (such as the Islamitic calendar) follow
the phases of the Moon without taking into account the seasons. Yet
other calendars (such as the Jewish calendar) follow both the phases of
the Moon and the seasons.
the Julian year: a period of 365Â¼ days, which is the average length of
a calendar year in the Julian calendar.
the sidereal year: the period after which the Sun returns to the same
position (ecliptic longitude relative to a fixed equinox) between the stars,
as seen from Earth.
the tropical year or solar year: the period after which the seasons
return, when the Sun returns to the same position along the ecliptic,
relative to the vernal equinox (the same ecliptic longitude relative to the
equinox of the date). The length of the tropical year depends on the
ecliptic position that the year is tied to, and on whether the true Sun or
the mean Sun (that ignores small disturbances) is meant.
For the four cardinal directions along the ecliptic, tied to the beginning of
the four seasons, the tropical years are on average as shown in the
following table. In this table, the "length" is the corresponding ecliptic
longitude, "month" the month in the Gregorian calendar when the Sun
reaches the cardinal direction, "year" the length of the corresponding
tropical year, "change" the rate of change in the length, and "name" a
name that I propose for this type of year.
Table 3: Year of Seasons
length month "year" change name

degrees Gregorian days sec/century
0 march 365.24237 +0.893 ascending-equinox year
90 june 365.24163 +0.056 northern-solstice year
180 september 365.24202 −2.000 descending-equinox year
270 december 365.24274 −1.075 southern-solstice year
Sometimes, tropical year is used as the name for what I call the
ascending-equinox year above (the year defined by the ascending
equinox, which is the vernal equinox).
Sometimes, tropical year is used for the average over all positions along
the ecliptic (the average over all seasons). We can call that the "average
tropical year", though that is still ambiguous. Do you mean averaged
over all positions along the ecliptic (for one or more elapsed years), or
averaged over a number of years (for one position along the ecliptic)?
For more distinction, we could call the first kind the "ecliptic-averaged
tropical year", and the second the "time-averaged tropical year" (but we
should then also specify the associated position along the ecliptic, e.g.,
the "time-averaged northern-solstice year").
On average, the ecliptic-averaged tropical year now lasts 365 days, 5

hours, 48 minutes and 45.20 seconds, and decreases in length by 0.53
seconds per century.
It is clear that "tropical year" by itself is too vague. If the difference

between all of the subtypes is important to you, then you should explain
very clearly exactly which kind of tropical year you mean.
the anomalistic year: the period after which the Earth is again closest to
the Sun (in the perihelion), or furthest from the Sun (in the aphelion).
This year is now 365.25964 days long and increases in length by 0.1365
seconds per century.
years
Ymir

discovered in 2000. Also called SXIX (Saturn nineteen). Its provisional
Zz
<X Z>
the zenith ⇒
samt ar-ras = [Arab] the way of the head
The zenith is the point in the sky that is straight above your head. The
altitude of the zenith is 90Â°. The opposite point is the nadir, and the horizon
is midway between the two.
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Last updated: 2018-01-04

Astronomy Answers - Astronomical Dictionary

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the absorption line

absorptio = [Latin] drink

An absorption line is a spectral line (a narrow band of colors) in which an

the active region

A moon of 20 km diameter at about 129,000 km from the planet Jupiter. The

A moon of 3 km diameter at about 23,229,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

albedo = [Latin] white paint or color

The albedo of an object is a number between 0 and 1 that indicates which

A moon of 32 km diameter at about 16,182,000 km from the planet Saturn.

The Almagest is the name by which the best-known astronomical book by

In the horizontal coordinate system, altitude is the coordinate that measures

A moon of 172 km diameter at about 181,400 km from the planet Jupiter.

A moon of 28 km diameter at about 21,276,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

Andromeda is a northern constellation, close to the Milky Way. The official

In geometry, an angle is a difference between directions. Angles are

A degree is also written as Â°, so 31Â° is 31 degrees. A degree is further

anoomalia = [Grieks] deviation, roughness

In astronomy, anomalistic means that it has something to do with the apsides

In astronomy, anomaly is used for different kinds of angles that are

Antimatter is in some invisible characteristics the opposite of ordinary matter.

A moon of 4 km diameter at about 23,981,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

apo = [Latin] from, Helios = [Greek] Sun

plural apoapsiden; apo = [Latin] from

hapsis = [Greek] connection

An apsis is a position in an orbit that is at an extreme distance (either a

Apus (Bird of Paradise) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close

Aquila (Eagle) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

A moon of 3 km diameter at about 22,931,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

arcminute, plural arcminutes; arcus = [Latin] arch, minutus = [Latin] made

An arcminute or minute of arc is a unit of angle. An arcminute is the 60th

arcsecond, plural arcseconds; gradus minutus secundus = [Latin] second

An arcsecond or second of arc is a measure of angle. An arcsecond is the

A moon of 1157 km diameter at about 190,900 km from the planet Uranus.

Aries (Ram) is an equatorial constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Ares = [Greek] Mars, graphia = [Greek] description

Arographic means it describes the planet Mars. The arographic coordinate

the ascending equinox

asteroid, plural asteroids; astron = [Greek] star, -oid = [Greek] -like

Astrology is a group of methods to predict the future from the positions of

the AU or Astronomical Unit

A moon of 32 km diameter at about 137,700 km from the planet Saturn. The

Auriga (Charioteer) is a northern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to

A moon of 4 km diameter at about 24,046,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

the barred spiral galaxy

A barred spiral galaxy is a spiral galaxy with a bar-shaped structure through

barus = [Greek] heavy

The barycenter is the same as the center of mass.

A moon of 80 km diameter at about 75,300 km from the planet Uranus. The

A moon of 51 km diameter at about 59,200 km from the planet Uranus. The

the Big Bang

the bissextile day

bissext- = [Latin] the second sixth

the black hole

A blueshift is a doppler shift of distinguishing marks (such as spectral lines) in

Bootes is an equatorial constellation. The official abbreviation is Boo.

A contrast is a difference. A brightness contrast is a difference in how bright

Caelum (Chisel) is a southern constellation, close to the ecliptic, close to the

Kalendae = [Latin] first day of the month

1. a method to combine days into larger units of time, such as weeks,

A moon of 98 km diameter at about 7,231,000 km from the planet Uranus.

A moon of 8 km diameter at about 24,103,000 km from the planet Jupiter.

A moon of 4820 km diameter at about 1,882,700 km from the planet Jupiter.