20 Terms
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Planetary science
The scientific study of planets including Earth, moons, and planetary systems of the Solar System in particular and the processes that form them.
Industry: Astronomy
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Planetary science
Sea of Serenity
Astronomy; Planetary science
One of the maria on the Moon's nearside; Mare Serenitatis.
parallax
Astronomy; Planetary science
Apparent motion of a nearby object as projected against more distant background objects due to the motion of the observer.
core-collapse supernova
Astronomy; Planetary science
An enormously bright, energetic, catastrophic explosion that occurs at the end of the lifetime of a massive star whose core collapses. A star must have at least nine times the mass of the Sun to ...
recovery
Astronomy; Planetary science
In astronomy, the first time a periodic comet is observed on its inbound journey toward perihelion. In meteoritics, the collection of a meteorite after its fall.
apparition
Astronomy; Planetary science
An appearance; in astronomy, the period of observation of a returning periodic comet.
roche limit
Astronomy; Planetary science
The smallest distance at which a planetary object that has no internal strength can orbit another body without being torn apart by the larger body's gravitational force.
helium
Astronomy; Planetary science
An element with atomic number 2; symbol: He. It is the second most common element in the Sun and outer planets, but rare on the rocky planets.
