Astronomy

Astronomy

Of or pertaining to the study of celestial objects. This includes the physics, chemistry, and evolution of moons, planets, stars, galaxies, and any phenomena that takes place outside the atmosphere of Earth.

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Astronomy

Halo

Physics; Astronomy

A roughly spherical collection of old stars, clusters of old stars (called globular clusters), and a little bit of gas and dust that extends farther than all other components of a galaxy. Halos ...

Compare chart or t-chart

Physics; Astronomy

A graphic organiser used to compare two objects or ideas. The objects are listed as headings at the top of two columns. The characteristics being compared are then listed under each heading. The ...

Light-year

Physics; Astronomy

The distance travelled by light in a full year, equal to some 10 trillion kilometres (or about 6 trillion miles).

Milky way

Physics; Astronomy

The specific galaxy to which the Sun belongs, so named because many of its stars appear as a milky band of light extending across the sky overhead, on a clear, dark night. The Milky Way is a spiral ...

Ngc

Physics; Astronomy

These letters, when followed by numbers, refer to specific entries in The New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, which was compiled by John L.E. Dreyer in the nineteenth century. ...

Red stars

Physics; Astronomy

Stars with low temperatures. Hydrogen-burning red stars are small and use their available fuel slowly. These low-mass stars last for tens to hundreds of billions of years — much longer than ...

Spiral arms

Physics; Astronomy

Curved, pinwheel-like structures in the disc of a spiral galaxy. The spiral arms contain blue stars and luminous newborn stars that make their spiral pattern visible.