Open Course Info

 

Introduction to Astronomy

 

Index of Terms


When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.

-- Humpty Dumpty, in Lewis Carroll's
Through the Looking Glass



A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


A

absolute zero

absolute temperature scale

acceleration

Adams, John Couch

albedo

altazimuth

altitude

AM

Ampere

Ampere-hour

angle of
incidence
reflection
refraction

angular diameter

angular separation

angular momentum
in general
conservation
spin

annihilation, pair

annular solar eclipse

ante meridian

antimatter

aphelion

arc
minute of
second of

Aristarchus

ascension, right

Asteroid
Belt
in general

astronomical unit

astrophysicist

atmosphere
of Sun
unit of pressure

atom

atomic
mass
number

Attractor, Great

AU

autumnal equinox

axis
magnetic
rotation
semimajor

azimuth


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


B

background, cosmic microwave

Background Explorer, Cosmic

Bang, Big
description
motivation

bar

barometer

Betelgeuse

Big Bang
description
motivation

boil

boom, sonic

bound
bound
marginally bound
unbound

bow wave

Brahe, Tycho


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


C

Calendar
Gregorian
Julian

calorie, food

Cancer, tropic of

Capricorn, tropic of

carbon fusion

Celsius temperature scale

celestial
equator
meridian
pole
sphere

center

centigrade temperature scale

centimeter

change, phase

charge
electric
conservation of electric

chemical element

Cherenkov radiation

circle
in general
great
 
circular orbits
and Kepler's Laws
and Newton's Laws

circumstellar shell

closed Universe

COBE

comet

condensation

conduction

conjunction
in general
inferior
superior
 
conservation of
angular momentum
electric charge
energy
linear momentum
mass
mass + energy
 
constant
cosmological
Hubble

constellation

contact forces

contraction, length

convection

convection rolls

convective zone

Copernicus, Nicolaus

core

cosmic
Background Explorer
microwave background
particle horizon
singularity
 
cosmology
in general
geocentric
heliocentric
 
cosmological
constant
principle
redshift

crescent moon

critical
density
Universe

crystal

current, electric

curvature
negative
positive
zero

cycle, proton-proton


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


D

day
leap
synodic
sidereal
 
decay
neutron
radioactive

declination

deferent

degree

density
mass
critical

detector, neutrino

deuterium

diagram, phase

diameter, angular

differential rotation

diffusion, radiative

dilation, time

dipole moment, magnetic

direct motion

dispersion

diurnal motion

dry ice


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


E

e

eccentricity

ecliptic
celestial
plane of the
 

eclipse

 
electric
charge
charge, conservation of
current
force

electricity

electron

element

elliptical orbits

and Kepler's Laws
and Newton's Laws

ellipse

elongation

eastern
in general
maximum
western
 
energy
+ mass conservation
conservation
description
gravitational potential
heat
kinetic
potential
rate of use or production
total
unit

epicycle

equator

celestial
geographic
 
equilibrium
hydrostatic
mechanical
thermal
equinox
autumnal
description
precession of
spring
vernal

escape velocity

Eta Carinae

evaporation

Explorer, Cosmic Background


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


F

factor, Lorentz

Fahrenheit temperature scale

field of view

field, magnetic

finite Universe

first quarter moon

fission, spontaneous nuclear

flat Universe

fluid

focus
of ellipse
of telescope

food calorie

foot

force
and motion
contact
electric
friction
gravitational
magnetic
normal
tension
weak nuclear
general
hydrogen fusion
neutron decay
neutrino detection
strong nuclear
general
hydrogen fusion
nuclei
unit

Franklin, Benjamin

freeze

friction

full moon

fundamental electric charge

fusion
carbon
hydrogen
neon
nuclear
oxygen
silicon
thermonuclear


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


G

Galilean satellites

Galilei, Galileo

gas

General Theory of Relativity

geocentric cosmology

geographic pole

gibbous moon

gigayear

glass

gram

gravity
force of
potential energy of
well

Great Attractor

great circle

Gregorian calendar


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


H

half-life

Halley
Edmond
Comet

heat

heat energy

heliocentric cosmology

helioseismology

hemisphere

Hipparchus
geocentric cosmology
latitude and longitude
precession of the equinoxes

homogeneous

horizon
local
cosmic particle

hour

Hubble
Constant
Law

hydrogen fusion

hydrostatic equilibrium

hyperbola

hyperbolic
orbit
Universe


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


I

ice, dry

icy asteroid

inch

incidence, angle of

inclination, orbital

inertia

infinite Universe

inner planet

interior of Sun

intrinsic
angular momentum

ion

isotope

isotropic


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


J

Joule

Jovian
Belt
planet

Julian calendar

Jupiter
naked-eye observation
outer planet
opposition


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


K

KBO

Kelvin

Kepler
First Law
discovery
and Newton's Laws
Johannes
Laws
Second Law
discovery
and conservation of angular momentum
Third Law
discovery
and Newton's Laws

kilogram

kilometer

kinetic energy

Kuiper Belt
in general
object


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


L

last quarter moon

latitude

Law, Hubble

Laws of Motion, Newton's

leap
day
year

length contraction


Le Verrier, Urbain-Jean-Joseph
and discovery of Neptune
and precession of Mercury's orbit
 
light
minute
year
speed of
white
 
linear momentum
in general
conservation of

liquid

local
horizon
meridian

longitude

Lorentz factor

lunar eclipse
in general
partial
penumbral
total


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


M

magnetic
axis
field
force
dipole moment

magnetism

marginally bound

Mars
naked-eye observation
outer planet
opposition
 
mass
+ energy conservation
atomic
definition
conservation

matter

matter, phase of

mechanical equilibrium

melt

Mercury
inner planet
maximum elongation
naked-eye observation
precession of orbit
 
meridian
ante
celestial
local
of longitude
post
prime

metal

meter

method, scientific

metric system

microwave background, cosmic

mile

minor planet

minute

minute, light

minute of arc

molecule

moment, magnetic dipole

momentum
angular
angular, conservation of
linear
linear, conservation of
spin angular
 
month
sidereal
synodic
 
Moon
crescent
first quarter
full
gibbous
last quarter
new
phase of the
quarter
third quarter
waning
waxing
 
motion
characteristics
direct
diurnal
laws of
First Law of
retrograde
Second Law of
Third Law of


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


N

negative curvature

neon fusion

Neptune

neutrino
detector
particle
problem, solar neutrino
 
neutron
decay
particle

neutronization

new moon

Newton
Isaac
unit
 
Newton's:
First Law
Laws of Motion
Second Law
Third Law
 
nodes
ascending
descending
line of

noon

normal force

north pole
celestial
geographic
magnetic

north, orbital

North Star

northern hemisphere

notation, scientific

nuclear force
weak
general
hydrogen fusion
neutron decay
neutrino detection
strong
general
hydrogen fusion
nuclei
 
nuclear
fission, spontaneous
fusion

nucleon

nucleus

number, atomic


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


O

object, point

oblate

observable universe

Occum's Razor

Oort Cloud

open Universe

opposition

orbital
inclination
north
period of revolution
 
orbit
circular, and Kepler's Laws
circular, and Newton's Laws
elliptical, and Kepler's Laws
elliptical, and Newton's Laws
hyperbolic
parabolic, and Newton's Laws
retrograde

outer planet

oxygen fusion


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


P

pair
annihilation
production

parabola

parabolic orbit

parallax

parsec

partial lunar eclipse

partial solar eclipse

particle horizon, cosmic

particle, subatomic

penumbra
Earth's
Moon's

penumbral lunar eclipse

perihelion

period
of revolution, orbital
sidereal
synodic
 
phase
change
diagram
of matter
of the Moon

photodisintegration

plane of the ecliptic

planet
in general
inner
Jupiter
Mars
Mercury
minor
Neptune
outer
Pluto
Saturn
Uranus
Venus
Vulcan
X

planetary system

plasma

Pluto

P.M.

point object

Polaris

pole
celestial
geographic
magnetic

positive curvature

positron

post meridian

potential energy
gravitational potential

pounds per square inch

power

precession

precession of the equinoxes

pressure

prime meridian

principle, cosmological

production, pair

proton

proton-proton cycle

psi

Ptolemy


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


Q

quadrature
eastern
in general
western

quantization

quantum mechanics

quarter moon


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


R

radian

radiation, Cherenkov

radiative
diffusion
zone

radioactivity

radioactive decay

radius

redshift
cosmological
 
reflection
angle of
refraction
angle of
Relativity
General Theory of
Special Theory of
 
retrograde
motion
orbit
 
revolution
angle
around an orbit
orbital period of

right ascension

rise

rotation
axis
differential
Earth's


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


S

satellites, Galilean

Saturn
naked-eye observation
outer planet
opposition

scientific method

scientific notation

second

second of arc

semimajor axis

separation, angular

set

shell, circumstellar

shock wave

sidereal
day
month
period
sidereal
 

silicon fusion

singularity
cosmic
 
solar eclipse
annular
partial
total

solar neutrino problem

Solar System

solid

solidify

solstice
description
summer
winter

sonic boom

sound

sound, speed of

south pole
celestial
geographic
magnetic

southern hemisphere

spontaneous nuclear fission

space-time

Special Theory of Relativity

spectrum

speed
definition
sound
light

sphere, celestial

spherical Universe

spin

spin angular momentum

strong nuclear force
general
hydrogen fusion
nuclei

subatomic particle

sublimation

subtend

summer solstice

Sun
atmosphere
interior
surface

surface of Sun

synodic
day
period
month
 
system
planetary
Solar


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


T

temperature

temperature scale
absolute
Celsius
centigrade
Fahrenheit
Kelvin

tension

terminator

terrestrial
Belt
planet

thermal equilibrium

thermonuclear fusion

third quarter moon

time dilation

TNO

Tombaugh, Clyde

total energy

total lunar eclipse

total solar eclipse

trans-Neptunian object

transit

tropic of
Cancer
Capricorn

tropics


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


U

umbra
Earth's
Moon's

units

unbound object

universe
closed
critical
everything
finite
flat
hyperbolic
infinite
observable
open
spherical

Uranus


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


V

vapor

vaporization

velocity, escape

Venus
inner planet
maximum elongation
naked-eye observation

vernal equinox

view. field of

volume

Vulcan


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


W

waning moon

Watt

wave
definition
density
shock
bow

waxing moon

weak nuclear force
general
hydrogen fusion
neutron decay
neutrino detection

weight

well, gravity

white light

winter solstice


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


X


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


Y

yard

year
leap
light
sidereal
tropical


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


Z

zenith

zero
absolute
curvature
 
zone
convective
radiative


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M

N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z


Introduction to Astronomy


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©1996-2002 Scott R. Anderson
Last update: 2002 January 15
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