astronomy jargon Archives

March 17, 2022March 10, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Magellanic Clouds

Little Galaxy with a Tail (Small Magellanic Cloud imaged by Spitzer)

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll only be visible in the southern hemisphere after today’s topic: the Magellanic Clouds!

March 16, 2022March 10, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Neutron Star

A typical neutron star with a radius of eleven kilometres is about as large as a medium-sized city. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll feel a little dense after reading about today’s topic: neutron stars!

March 15, 2022March 9, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Nova

A classical novae contains a white dwarf, and a larger companion star in orbit around it. The white dwarf attracts gas from its companion, leading to a massive explosion. Illustration Credit: David Hardy

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll feel like a brand new person after today’s topic: nova!

March 14, 2022March 9, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Open Cluster

Pleiades stars. Image: NASA, ESA, AURA/Caltech, Palomar Observatory. Credit: D. Soderblom and E. Nelan (STScI), F. Benedict and B. Arthur (U. Texas), and B. Jones (Lick Obs.)

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll start drifting away from your friends after reading today’s today: open clusters!

March 12, 2022March 9, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Planetary Nebula

ESO's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) has captured this unusual view of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), a planetary nebula located 700 light-years away. The coloured picture was created from images taken through Y, J and K infrared filters. While bringing to light a rich background of stars and galaxies, the telescope's infrared vision also reveals strands of cold nebular gas that are mostly obscured in visible images of the Helix. — ESO's Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) has captured this unusual view of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), a planetary nebula located 700 light-years away.

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll be confused with an actual planet after today’s topic: planetary nebula!

March 11, 2022March 9, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Planet

NASA’s New Horizons mission science team has produced this updated panchromatic (black-and-white) global map of Pluto. Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll finally have a place in the solar system after today’s topic: the planet!

March 10, 2022March 9, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Protoplanetary Disk

This is the sharpest image ever taken by ALMA — sharper than is routinely achieved in visible light with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. It shows the protoplanetary disc surrounding the young star HL Tauri. These new ALMA observations reveal substructures within the disc that have never been seen before and even show the possible positions of planets forming in the dark patches within the system. Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll just be getting started with today’s topic: protoplanetary disk!

March 9, 2022March 9, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Quasar

This artist's concept shows the most distant supermassive black hole ever discovered. It is part of a quasar from just 690 million years after the Big Bang. Credit: Robin Dienel/Carnegie Institution for Science

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll be feeling very powerful after today’s topic: the quasar!

February 15, 2022February 6, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Hydrostatic Equilibrium

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll feel balanced with today’s topic: hydrostatic equilibrium!

February 14, 2022February 6, 2022 by Paul M. Sutter

Astronomy Jargon 101: Hubble’s Law

velocity vs distance, from Hubble's 1929 paper

In this series we are exploring the weird and wonderful world of astronomy jargon! You’ll expand your horizons with today’s topic: Hubble’s Law!