Astronomy Flashcards

the study of the universe

a collection of star systems

the sun with the celestial bodies that revolve around it in its gravitational field

a group of about 30 galaxies that includes the Milky Way

a unit of length used for distances within the solar system; equal to the mean distance between sun and earth

the distance that light travels in a vacuum in 1 year

a bar of magnetic material (as soft iron) that passes through a coil and serves to increase the inductance of the coil

layer just outside the sun’s core, where energy is transported mostly in the form of radiation

outermost layer of the sun’s interior

the intensely luminous surface of a star (especially the sun)

a gaseous layer of the sun’s atmosphere (extending from the photosphere to the corona) that is visible during a total eclipse of the sun

the outermost region of the sun’s atmosphere

a fourth state of matter distinct from solid or liquid or gas and present in stars and fusion reactors

areas on the sun’s surface that are cooler and less bright than surrounding areas, are caused by the sun’s magnetic field, and occur in cycles

a sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the sun’s surface

a stream of protons moving radially from the sun

an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands of light caused by charged solar particles following the earth’s magnetic lines of force

large volumes of high energy gas released from the Sun’s corona

large eruptions of luminous hydrogen gas that rise thousands of kilometers above the chromosphere

a nuclear reaction in which nuclei combine to form more massive nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves

a cosmological theory holding that the universe originated approximately 20 billion years ago from the violent explosion of a very small agglomeration of matter of extremely high density and temperature.

apparent shift in spectrum to the red end due to the movement of the light emitting object in space away from the observer

an immense cloud of gas (mainly hydrogen) and dust in interstellar space

Early form of a star; This stage lies between the collapsing of dust and gas and the beginning of nuclear fusion

H fusion begins in core; forces balanced; star stable

a large cool star

H runs out, fusion of heavier elements begins (to iron); unstable and dying

massive explosion of unstable high mass star

a faint star of enormous density

a star that has collapsed under its own gravity

gravitational field so intense light cannot escape; end of a very massive star