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This glossary of astronomy is a list of definitions of terms and concepts relevant to astronomy and cosmology, their sub-disciplines, and related fields. Astronomy is concerned with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth. The field of astronomy features an extensive vocabulary and a ...
MPO – (space craft) Mercury Planetary Orbiter, ESA space craft to Mercury; MPP – (instrumentation) Multi-Pinned-Phase, CCD technology that reduces dark current noise; MPCS – (publication) Minor Planet Circulars Supplement
Planetary nomenclature, like terrestrial nomenclature, is a system of uniquely identifying features on the surface of a planet or natural satellite so that the features can be easily located, described, and discussed. [1]
These designations are sometimes written like "S/2003 S1", dropping the second space. The letter following the category and year identifies the planet (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune; although no occurrence of the other planets is expected, Mars and Mercury are disambiguated through the use of Hermes for the latter).
The zoo hypothesis assumes a civilization may have a ten-million, one-hundred-million, or half-billion-year head start on humanity, [13] i.e., it may have the capability to completely negate our best attempts to detect it. The zoo hypothesis relies in part on applying the concept of hegemonic power to the Fermi paradox.
Comet Lovejoy and Jupiter, a giant gas planet The Sun ; Sirius A with Sirius B, a white dwarf ; the Crab Nebula , a remnant supernova A black hole (artist concept); Vela Pulsar , a rotating neutron star
A total of 4,341 such planets have been identified as of 28 Jan 2021. Super-Earth – exoplanet with a mass higher than Earth's, but substantially below those of the Solar System's ice giants. Mini-Neptune – also known as a gas dwarf or transitional planet. A planet up to 10 Earth masses, but less massive than Uranus and Neptune.
The adjectival forms of the names of astronomical bodies are not always easily predictable. Attested adjectival forms of the larger bodies are listed below, along with the two small Martian moons; in some cases they are accompanied by their demonymic equivalents, which denote hypothetical inhabitants of these bodies.