General astronomy

General astronomy

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General astronomy

asymptotic branch star

Astronomy; General astronomy

Globular cluster stars, which are found in that part of the HR diagram that connects the top pf the giant tip with the horizontal branch stars.

atmophile element

Astronomy; General astronomy

volatile element that tends to be found in the atmosphere of a planet or asteroid

atmosphere

Astronomy; General astronomy

Mantle of gases round a star planet or moon, sometimes even forming the apparent surface of the body. For a body to retain an atmosphere depends on the body's gravity, and the temperature and ...

atmospheric dispersion corrector

Astronomy; General astronomy

An optical device usually comprising two thin prisms which can rotate to compensate for the elongation of a star image caused by the wavelength dependence of the refractive index of air.

atmospheric extinction

Astronomy; General astronomy

Decrease in the intensity of light from a celestial body due to absorption and scattering by the Earth's atmosphere. The extinction increases from the zenith to the horizon and affects short ...

atomic mass constant (mu)

Astronomy; General astronomy

One-twelfth the mean mass of an atom of carbon 12 (including the orbital electrons.)

atomic mass number

Astronomy; General astronomy

The total number of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus. For example, oxygen-16 has a mass number of sixteen, because it has eight protons and eight neutrons.