Vocabulary list for astronomy and space travel

David Bar-Tzur

GENERAL TERMINOLOGY

acceleration angle of inclination angular frequency angular velocity of precession astronomy atmosphere attract
bandwidth calculate calibrate celsius chart concurrent configuration
conservation of energy conservation of momentum conversion convert cusp cycle cyclical
degree celsius degree fahrenheit degree kelvin dense density determine (a value) deviate, deviation
device distant Doppler effect Doppler shift eccentricity estimate European Space Agency
expand explode fahrenheit Federal Aviation Administration filter finite fixed
flow formation formula global positioning system gyromagnetic ratio heat horizon
infrared Jet Propulsion Laboratory kelvin mechanics microsecond millisecond minute (degree)
moon National Aeronautics and Space Administration notation operate orbit outer space particle
pascal picosecond planet plasma precession precise precision
pressure pulse radar rocket rocket launch satellite scientific notation
sensitive sensor source space spacecraft, spaceship sun take off
telescope temperature theorem thermal theory universe

ATOMS AND STARLIGHT

absorption spectrum binding energy blue shift continuous spectrum emission spectrum ground state permitted orbits
radial velocity red shift transition (between energy levels) wavelength of maximum intensity

COSMOLOGY

antimatter Big Bang cosmic microwave background radiation cosmological constant cosmological principle cosmology critical density
flatness problem grand unified theories horizon problem inflationary universe isotropy - isotrop massive compact halo object non-baryonic matter
observable universe Olbers' paradox oscillating universe theory recombination steady-state theory superclusters universality

THE DEATH OF STARS

accretion disk angular momentum black dwarf Chandrasekhar limit degenerate matter helium flash inner Lagrangian point
nova planetary nebula Roche lobes Roche surface supernova supernova remnant

GALAXIES

active galactic nuclei active galaxy barred spiral galaxy blazars cluster method diameter (of a sphere) distance indicator
double-exhaust model double-lobed radio source elliptical galaxy galactic cannibalism galaxy gravitational lens "h two region"
Hubble constant irregular galaxy large Magellanic cloud local group look-back time luminosity mass
megaparsec penumbra (lunar eclipse) penumbra (solar eclipse) penumbra (sunspot) poor galaxy cluster quasars radio galaxy
recession relativistic red shift rich galaxy cluster ring galaxy rotation curve Seyfert ("say fort" ) galaxy small Magellanic cloud
spiral galaxy starburst galaxy supercluster velocity dispersion method velocity of recession

JOVIAN PLANETS

average albedo average density belt-zone circulation eccentricity of orbit equatorial diameter escape velocity inclination of orbit to ecliptic
inclination of equator to orbit liquid metallic hydrogen magnetosphere mass moon (of another planet) oblateness orbital velocity
period of rotation rings Roche limit surface gravity volcanism

METEORITES, ASTEROIDS, AND COMETS

achondrite asteroid carbonaceous chondrite chondrite chondrules coma comet
dust tail ion tail Kuiper belt meteor, meteoroid meteorite meteor shower nucleus
Oort cloud

NEUTRON STARS AND BLACK HOLES

binary pulsar black hole escape velocity event horizon gamma-ray burster gravitational radiation gravitational red shift
hypernova, collapsar magnetars millisecond pulsar neutron star Pauli exclusion principle pulsar positron
Schwarzschild radius singularity soft gamma-ray repeater time dilation x-ray burster

THE ORIGIN OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

accretion asteroid condensation sequence differentiation extrasolar planets heat of formation half-life
gravitational collapse Jovian planet meteor, meteoroid meteorite outgassing planet planetesimals
protoplanet solar nebula theory terrestrial planet uncompressed density

THE PROPERTIES OF STARS

absolute visual magnitude binary star diameter (of a sphere) dwarf star eclipsing binary system giant Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
intrinsic brightness luminosity main sequence parsec red dwarf spectroscopic binary system spectroscopic parallax
stellar parallax super giant visual binary system white dwarf

THE SUN

aurora chromosphere corona coronal hole coronal mass ejection flare granule
granules, granulation helioseismology magnetic prominence neutrino neutrino oscillation North-South pole reversals nuclear fission
nuclear fusion penumbra photosphere solar atmosphere solar wind spicule split (due to Zeeman effect)
strong force sunspot supergranule umbra weak force

TERRESTRIAL PLANETS

average albedo average density capture hypothesis condensation hypothesis cratering differentiation eccentricity of orbit
ejecta equatorial diameter escape velocity fission hypothesis flooding inclination of equator to orbit inclination of orbit to ecliptic
large impact hypothesis lava mantle mare (pl. maria) mass midocean rise moon
oblateness orbital velocity period of rotation plastic (quality) plate techtonics P wave rift valley
shield volcano slow surface evolution subduction zone surface gravity S wave volcanism volcano

TOOLS AND PARAMETERS

achromatic lens charge-coupled device chromatic aberration diffraction fringe dish reflector electromagnetic radiation eyepiece
focal length grating Hubble, Hubble Space Telescope light pollution magnifying power objective lens optical quality
optical telescope primary (lens, mirror) radio telescope radio waves resolution resolving power "seeing"
spectrograph speed of light twinkle

For the signs for these terms, see Signs for technical/specialized vocabulary.

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