Space Definitions

Space Definitions

About Space, Univers and Cosmos

The following definitions aim to outline the most commonly used terms related to space (synonymous with the Cosmos and the Universe). Some of the basics (overview), black holes and astrophysics are discussed at greater length elsewhere. Evidently, list non-exhaustive.

Nebulae, stars and other deep space components. Image: Copyright © Elena

Asteroid – Small rocky stellar body. An impressive number ofasteroids orbit the sun, between Mars and Jupiter, and are called the asteroid belt.

Astral – Anything that has to do with stars.

Astrobiology – The study life and living organisms in deepspace, if any.

Astrochemistry – Chemistry (the study of elements and their interactions) as related to interstellarlocations.

Astrology – Predictions and postulates stemming from thebelief that the positions of stars influence lives of individuals and outcomesof events.

Astronomy – The pure and applied science studying celestial objects.

Astrophysics – Branch of astronomy that concentrates on physics.

Black Hole – A mysterious area from which nothing, including light, can escape.

Comet – Small celestial bodies containing ice, rock and dust, often seen with a trail resembling a tail.

Constellation – A collection of stars representing an imaginary drawing, widely used in astrology to predict (non-scientifically) the future.

Illustration: Old Drawing

Dark Energy – Hypothetical form of energy present in the Universe in very large quantities (most of the Cosmos, cosmology).

Dark Matter – Matter that cannot be directly seen due to failure to reflect light and electrophysiological properties (astronomical and cosmological theories)

Dust – Cosmic or space dust is differentiated by its molecular composition and its type (interplanetary, interstellar, intergalactic, etc.).

Dwarf – Dwarf stars are smaller than the norm; there are white and brown dwarf stars. If Jupiter was larger and more massive, it would become a brown dwarf. By the same toke, at the end of its life cycle stars such as the sun become white dwarfs.

Galaxy – A massive collection of stars, solar systems and planets. Stars are counted in the billions and orbit around the center of the galaxy. Galaxies sometimes merge, for example, according to astrophysical theories, the Milky Way (our galaxy) and the nearest galaxy, Andromeda, will collide in infinitely many years.

Light year – A unit of measure of distance (and not of time!), used to describe the immense distances in the Universe and referring to the colossal amount of kilometers or miles traveled by light in an Earth year.

Nebula – A cloud of dust, gas and other particles deep in space.

Quasar – A highly active galactic nucleus.

Solar System – The planetary system we live in. The system has as it center our sun, while the planets in orbit are (in order from the star) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Pluto used to be considered a planet, but lost its planetary status since many similar dwarf planets (such as Erin and Sirius) have been discovered. Likewise, satellites, such as the Moon, or Saturn’s Titan, orbit the planets themselves.

Solar storm – Storms on our sun are cyclical, taking place roughly every eleven Earth years.

Star Attitude. The word star can also refer to celebrities or otherwise renown individuals, as well as projects or other objects that stand out (e.g. a star product). Image: Copyright © M. Jorgensen (Elena)

Star – A large sphere of plasma, contained together by the forces of gravity. Very large stars are called giants, there are red, and orange giant and hypergiants. The largest star in the world is VY Canis Majoris.

Telescope – A tool used to look at stars, ranging in complexity and capacity from amateur stargazing to professional, international observatories and probes sent into space.

Copyright © Megan Jorgensen (Elena) 2011. All rights reserved.