Astronomy

ASTRONOMY

APHELION (N) farthest point from the sun

APOGEE (N) farthest point from the earth

ASTERISM (N) cluster of stars

AURORA (N) bands of light produced by an atmospheric Phenomenon

AZIMUTH (N) measurement of direction, expressed as an angle and measured clockwise from a celestial reference point

CORONA (N) the outermost Portion of the sun's atmosphere

COSMOGONY (N) the study of the origin of the universe

FACULA (N) a large, bright spot on the sun's surface, most easily seen near the edge

NADIR (N) the point on the celestial sphere directly below the observer and directly opposite the zenith

NEBULA (N) an immense irregular, diffuse interstellar cloud of gas and dust

NOVA (N) star showing a sudden flash of brightness and then subsiding

ORRERY (N) a model of the solar system

PENUMBRA (N) a partial outer shadow lighter than the darker inner shadow

PERIHELION. (N) nearest point from the sun

PERIGEE (N; nearest point from the earth

PULSAR (N) a small dense star that emits brief intense bursts of visible radiation, radio waves and X-rays

  SYZYGY (N) conjunction / opposition of the moon and the sun

UMBRA (N) the region of total shadow in an eclipse; the inner, darker area of a sunspot

VESPERTINE (N) sunset time; very close to sunset

ZENITH (N) the point of the celestial sphere directly over the observer