General astronomy

General astronomy

Contributors in General astronomy

General astronomy

A stellar wind which emanates, by preference, the star's two polar regions rather than all other latitudes. Bipolar outflows often represent significant periods of mass loss in a star's life. They ...

Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT)

Astronomy; General astronomy

The Thirty Meter Telescope will be the world's largest when it's finished in 2018, at the summit of Mauna Kea volcano in Hawaii. The telescope, known as TMT, will be able to observe planets that ...

heat death

Astronomy; General astronomy

The ultimate end of an open universe when its contents reach thermal equilibrium, ie everything is the same temperature. In this instance chemical reactions will cease. Stars, planets and galaxies ...

Hawking radiation

Astronomy; General astronomy

The process by which a black hole can apparently evaporate into space. When virtual particles are produced in the near vicinity of a black hole, it is possible for one member of the matter-antimatter ...

absolute positioning

Astronomy; General astronomy

A location system in which a position is identified with respect to a well-defined coordinate system such as the commonly geocentric system.

absolute zero

Astronomy; General astronomy

The lowest theoretical temperature that is possible to attain. As matter is cooled down, the motion of atoms and molecules gradually comes to a stop. At absolute zero all movement stops. It occurs at ...

absorber

Astronomy; General astronomy

Any material that can stop ionizing radiation. Lead, concrete, and steel all attenuate gamma rays. A thin sheet of paper or metal will stop or absorb alpha particles and most beta particles.