General astronomy

General astronomy

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General astronomy

loop prominence

Astronomy; General astronomy

A very bright active prominence in the form of a loop above a very large flare that is often seen on the Sun's limb in Hα light. A series of loop prominences usually occurs, progressively larger ...

interplanetary grains

Astronomy; General astronomy

Small solid matter particles that reside between the planets of the Solar System. They are produced mainly from asteroid collisions and the break-up of comets, while others enter the Solar System ...

limiting magnitude

Astronomy; General astronomy

The faintest apparent magnitude that can be detected with a given instrument under prevailing conditions.

zenith telescope

Astronomy; General astronomy

An instrument for measuring the zenith distances, and/or times of meridian transit, of stars close to the zenith. The telescope is usually mounted vertically so it does not distort under its own ...

variable star

Astronomy; General astronomy

Any star that varies in brightness. There are two broad categories: extrinsic variables, which undergo a real change in luminosity of either an individual star or some element in a binary system. ...

The amount by which the wavelength of light from a receding object is lengthened (i.e. moved to the red) by either the Doppler shift or the expansion of the Universe. Redshift is calculated with the ...

ultraviolet astronomy

Astronomy; General astronomy

The study of the Universe in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum, approximately 91.2–350 nm. These wavelengths are largely blocked by the Earth's atmosphere, so observations are ...