Term | Definition |
aberration | an undesirable effect caused by a defect, such as color or twisting of an image by the lens of a telescope |
apparent | observed and noted without taking into consideration factors that may not be known; what is seen |
celestial | of the heavens |
cluster | a group of constellations; in astronomy , a related group of galaxies with a common gravitational pull |
constellation | an apparent group of stars which seem to form a pattern and are given a name |
deterioration | the state of becoming worse over time |
disintegrating | coming to pieces |
distortion | an apparent warping or twisting, as of an image changed by an imperfection in a lens |
galaxy | a group of stars held together by gravity, forming a distinct unit |
Irregular | not having a regular form |
luminosity | the amount of energy being given off by an object |
magnitude | the actual brightness of a celestial object, such as a star |
nebula | a cloud of dust and gas in space |
optical | having to do with visible light and its study |
parabolic | having to do with a special curve, which is described as the intersection of a plane with a cone |
parallax | the apparent shift in an objects location based upon changes in one's position |
spherical | having a round shape, such as the cross section of a sphere |
asteroid | a rock that orbits the sun |
chromosphere | the middle layer of the sun's atmosphere, considered to be the sun's surface |
comet | an icy, gaseous object that orbits the sun |
corona | the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, consisting of light gases |
eclipse | the hiding of a heavenly body by another |
fusion | a nuclear process in which light atoms combine to form heavier atoms, giving of energy |
nucleus | the center of an object, especially an atom or an astronomical bocy |
optimum | the very best possible; that which provides the greatest opportunity for success |
photosphere | the innermost layer of the sun's atmosphere, which lies next to the core |
portend | to indicate, as predictive of a future (usually undesirable) event |
probe | a spacecraft designed to explore a region or object in space and send back regular reports |
prominence | a tall stream of gas and flame that shoots out from the chromosphere of the sun |
aphelion | the point at which an astronomical |
eclipse | the hiding of an astronomical object by another |
ellipse | an oblong spheroid such as a flattened oval |
equinox | either of two times when the sun's rays strike the earth at the equator |
lunar | having to do with the moon |
maria | seas on the moon or Mars; the plural of mare |
penumbre | an area of light shadow |
perihelion | the point at which an astronomical object is at its closest point to the object it rotates around |
phase | a form of the moon based on the way the light of the sun which strikes it is observed from earth |
satellite | an object which orbits another |
solstice | either of two points when the sun's rays strike the earth farthest from the equator |
subsequent | something which follows another in time |
tide | the rise and fall of the ocean based upon the pull of the sun or moon |
umbra | an area of dark shadow |