Outline of astronomy
(Redirected from List of basic astronomy topics)
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to astronomy:
Astronomy – studies the universe beyond Earth, including its formation and development, and the evolution, physics, chemistry, meteorology, and motion of celestial objects (such as galaxies, planets, etc.) and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth (such as the cosmic background radiation). Astronomy also intersects with biology, as astrobiology, studying potential life throughout the universe.
<templatestyles src="Template:TOC limit/styles.css" />
Nature of astronomy
Astronomy can be described as all the following:
- An academic discipline: one with academic departments, curricula and degrees; national and international societies; and specialized journals.
- A scientific field (a branch of science) – widely recognized category of specialized expertise within science, and typically embodies it
- A natural science – one that seeks to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world using empirical and scientific methods.
- A branch or field of space science
- A natural science – one that seeks to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world using empirical and scientific methods.
- A hobby or part-time pursuit for the satisfaction of personal curiosity or appreciation of beauty, the latter especially including astrophotography.
Branches
- Astrobiology – studies the advent and evolution of biological systems in the universe.
- Astrophysics – branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of celestial objects, as well as their interactions and behavior.[1][2] Among the objects studied are galaxies, stars, planets, exoplanets, the interstellar medium and the cosmic microwave background; and the properties examined include luminosity, density, temperature, and chemical composition. The subdisciplines of theoretical astrophysics are:
- Compact objects – this subdiscipline studies very dense matter in white dwarfs and neutron stars and their effects on environments including accretion.
- Physical cosmology – origin and evolution of the universe as a whole. The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at its largest scale.
- Quantum cosmology - the study of cosmology through the use of quantum field theory to explain phenomena general relativity cannot due to limitations in its framework.
- Computational astrophysics – The study of astrophysics using computational methods and tools to develop computational models.
- Galactic astronomy – deals with the structure and components of our Galaxy and of other galaxies.
- High energy astrophysics – studies phenomena occurring at high energies including active galactic nuclei, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, quasars, and shocks.
- Interstellar astrophysics – study of the interstellar medium, intergalactic medium and dust.
- Extragalactic astronomy – study of objects (mainly galaxies) outside our Galaxy, including galaxy formation and evolution.
- Stellar astronomy – concerned with Star formation, physical properties, main sequence life span, variability, stellar evolution and extinction.
- Plasma astrophysics – studies properties of plasma in outer space.
- Relativistic astrophysics – studies effects of special relativity and general relativity in astrophysical contexts including gravitational waves, gravitational lensing and black holes.
- Solar physics – Sun and its interaction with the remainder of the Solar System and interstellar space.
- Planetary Science – study of planets, moons, and planetary systems.
- Atmospheric science – study of atmospheres and weather.
- Exoplanetology – various planets outside of the Solar System
- Planetary formation – formation of planets and moons in the context of the formation and evolution of the Solar System.
- Planetary rings – dynamics, stability, and composition of planetary rings
- Magnetospheres – magnetic fields of planets and moons
- Planetary surfaces – surface geology of planets and moons
- Planetary interiors – interior composition of planets and moons
- Small Solar System bodies – smallest bodies, including asteroids, comets, Kuiper belt objects, and dust.
- Astronomy divided by general technique used for astronomical research:
- Astrometry – study of the position of objects in the sky and their changes of position. Defines the system of coordinates used and the kinematics of objects in our Galaxy.
- Observational astronomy – practice of observing celestial objects by using telescopes and other astronomical apparatus. It is concerned with recording data. The subdisciplines of observational astronomy are generally made by the specifications of the detectors, specifically the ranges of wavelengths observed:
- Radio astronomy – Above 300 μm
- Submillimetre astronomy – 200 μm to 1 mm
- Infrared astronomy – 0.7–350 μm
- Optical astronomy – 380–750 nm
- Ultraviolet astronomy – 10–320 nm
- X-ray astronomy – 0.01–10 nm
- Gamma-ray astronomy – Below 0.01 nm
- Cosmic ray astronomy – Cosmic rays, including plasma
- Neutrino astronomy – Neutrinos
- Dust astronomy – Cosmic dust
- Gravitational wave astronomy – Gravitons
- Photometry – study of how bright celestial objects are when passed through different filters
- Spectroscopy – study of the spectra of astronomical objects
- Other disciplines that may be considered part of astronomy:
History
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- History of the Center of the Universe
- Archaeoastronomy
- Pretelescopic astronomy
- History of astronomy in the Renaissance
- Scientific developments during the Scientific Revolution
- Patronage in astronomy
- Copernican Revolution
- Copernican heliocentrism
- Nicolaus Copernicus
- Tycho Brahe
- Galileo Galilei
- Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems defense of the heliocentric system written by Galileo, which led to his trial and house arrest by the Inquisition.
- Invention of the telescope
- Scientific developments during the Scientific Revolution
- History of astronomy in the Age of Reflection
- Template:Section link
- History of X-ray astronomy
- History of infrared astronomy
- History of gamma-ray astronomy
- History of supernova observation
Basic astronomical phenomena
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Astronomical objects
Solar System
- Solar System
- Geology of solar terrestrial planets
- List of Solar System objects
- Galilean satellites
- Halley's comet
Sun
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Location
- Stellar classification
- Internal structure
- Stellar atmosphere
- Solar variation
- Heliosphere
- Related phenomena
- Equipment used to study the Sun
Planets
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Planet
- Features
- Natural satellites (moons)
- Planetary rings
- Features
- Planets of the Solar System
- Dwarf planets of the Solar System
Small Solar System bodies
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Exoplanets
- Exoplanet (also known as extrasolar planets) – planet outside the Solar System. 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.
- Super-Jupiter – an exoplanet more massive than Jupiter.
- Sub-Earth – an exoplanet "substantially less massive" than Earth and Venus.
- Circumbinary planet – an exoplanet that orbits two stars.
- Hot Jupiter – an exoplanet whose characteristics are similar to Jupiter, but that have high surface temperatures because they orbit very close to their parent stars, whereas Jupiter orbits its parent star (the Sun) at 5.2 AU (780×106 km), causing low surface temperatures.
- Hot Neptune – an exoplanet in an orbit close to its star (normally less than one astronomical unit away), with a mass similar to that of Uranus or Neptune.
- Pulsar planet – a planet that orbits a pulsar or a rapidly rotating neutron star.
- Rogue planet (also known as an interstellar planet) – a planetary-mass object that orbits the galaxy directly.
Stars and stellar objects
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
Stars
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Stellar evolution
- Star formation
- Pre–main sequence
- Main sequence
- Horizontal branch
- Asymptotic giant branch
- Dredge-up
- Instability strip
- Red clump
- PG 1159 star
- Mira variable
- Planetary nebula
- Protoplanetary nebula
- Luminous red nova
- Luminous blue variable
- Wolf–Rayet star
- Supernova impostor
- Supernova
- Hypernova
- Hertzsprung–Russell diagram
- Color–color diagram
- Protostars
- Luminosity class
- Stellar classification
- Remnants
- Failed and theoretical stars
- Stellar nucleosynthesis
- Stellar structure
- Properties
- Star systems
- Earth-centric observation of stars
- Lists of stars
- List of proper names of stars
- List of Arabic star names
- Traditional Chinese star names
- List of most massive stars
- List of least massive stars
- List of largest known stars
- List of brightest stars
- List of most luminous stars
- List of nearest stars
- List of exoplanetary host stars
- List of brown dwarfs
- List of planetary nebulae
- List of novae
- List of supernovae
- List of supernova remnants
- List of supernova candidates
- Timeline of stellar astronomy
Variable stars
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Pulsating
- Cepheids and cepheid-like
- Blue-white with early spectra
- Long Period and Semiregular
- Other
- Eruptive
- Pre-main sequence star
- Main Sequence
- Giants and supergiants
- Eruptive binary
- Cataclysmic or explosive
- Cataclysmic variable star
- Dwarf nova
- Nova
- Supernova
- Z Andromedae
- Rotating
- Non-spherical
- Ellipsoidal
- Stellar spots
- FK Comae Berenices
- BY Draconis variable
- Magnetic fields
- Alpha² Canum Venaticorum variable
- SX Arietis
- Pulsar
- Non-spherical
- Eclipsing binary
Supernovae
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Classes
- Related
- Structure
- Progenitors
- Remnants
- Discovery
- Notable
- Research
Black holes
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Types
- Size
- Formation
- Properties
- Models
- Issues
- Metrics
- Related
Constellations
The 88 modern constellations
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Andromeda
- Antlia
- Apus
- Aquarius
- Aquila
- Ara
- Aries
- Auriga
- Boötes
- Caelum
- Camelopardalis
- Cancer
- Canes Venatici
- Canis Major
- Canis Minor
- Capricornus
- Carina
- Cassiopeia
- Centaurus
- Cepheus
- Cetus
- Chamaeleon
- Circinus
- Columba
- Coma Berenices
- Corona Australis
- Corona Borealis
- Corvus
- Crater
- Crux
- Cygnus
- Delphinus
- Dorado
- Draco
- Equuleus
- Eridanus
- Fornax
- Gemini
- Grus
- Hercules
- Horologium
- Hydra
- Hydrus
- Indus
- Lacerta
- Leo
- Leo Minor
- Lepus
- Libra
- Lupus
- Lynx
- Lyra
- Mensa
- Microscopium
- Monoceros
- Musca
- Norma
- Octans
- Ophiuchus
- Orion
- Pavo
- Pegasus
- Perseus
- Phoenix
- Pictor
- Pisces
- Piscis Austrinus
- Puppis
- Pyxis
- Reticulum
- Sagitta
- Sagittarius
- Scorpius
- Sculptor
- Scutum
- Serpens
- Sextans
- Taurus
- Telescopium
- Triangulum
- Triangulum Australe
- Tucana
- Ursa Major
- Ursa Minor
- Vela
- Virgo
- Volans
- Vulpecula
Constellation history
The 48 constellations listed by Ptolemy after 150 AD
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Andromeda
- Aquarius
- Aquila
- Ara
- Argo Navis
- Aries
- Auriga
- Boötes
- Cancer
- Canis Major
- Canis Minor
- Capricornus
- Cassiopeia
- Centaurus
- Cepheus
- Cetus
- Corona Australis
- Corona Borealis
- Corvus
- Crater
- Cygnus
- Delphinus
- Draco
- Equuleus
- Eridanus
- Gemini
- Hercules
- Hydra
- Leo
- Lepus
- Libra
- Lupus
- Lyra
- Ophiuchus
- Orion
- Pegasus
- Perseus
- Pisces
- Piscis Austrinus
- Sagitta
- Sagittarius
- Scorpius
- Serpens
- Taurus
- Triangulum
- Ursa Major
- Ursa Minor
- Virgo
The 41 additional constellations added in the 16th and 17th centuries
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Vespucci or Corsalius early 16c: Crux
- Triangulum Australe ▶ Vopel 1536: Coma Berenices ▶ Keyser & de Houtman 1596: Apus
- Chamaeleon
- Dorado
- Grus
- Hydrus
- Indus
- Musca
- Pavo
- Phoenix
- Tucana
- Volans ▶ Plancius 1613: Camelopardalis
- Columba
- Monoceros ▶ Habrecht 1621: Reticulum ▶ Hevelius 1683: Canes Venatici
- Lacerta
- Leo Minor
- Lynx
- Scutum
- Sextans
- Vulpecula ▶ de Lacaille 1763: Antlia
- Caelum
- Carina
- Circinus
- Fornax
- Horologium
- Mensa
- Microscopium
- Norma
- Octans
- Pictor
- Puppis
- Pyxis
- Sculptor
- Telescopium
- Vela
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Obsolete constellations including Ptolemy's Argo Navis Anser
- Antinous
- Argo Navis
- Asterion
- Cancer Minor
- Cerberus
- Chara
- Custos Messium
- Felis
- Frederici Honores/Gloria Frederici
- Gallus
- Globus Aerostaticus
- Jordanus
- Lochium Funis
- Machina Electrica
- Malus
- Mons Maenalus
- Musca Borealis
- Noctua
- Officina Typographica
- Polophylax
- Psalterium Georgianum/Harpa Georgii
- Quadrans Muralis
- Ramus Pomifer
- Robur Carolinum
- Sceptrum Brandenburgicum
- Sceptrum et Manus Iustitiae
- Solarium
- Rangifer/Tarandus
- Taurus Poniatovii
- Telescopium Herschelii
- Testudo
- Tigris
- Triangulum Minus
- Turdus Solitarius
- Vespa
- Vultur cadens
- Vultur volans
Clusters and nebulae
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Navbox".
Galaxies
Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "Navbox".
Cosmology
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Space exploration
Organizations
Public sector space agencies
Africa
North Africa
- Template:Flagicon Algerian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
- Egypt Remote Sensing Center
- Template:Flagicon Royal Centre for Remote Sensing
- Template:Flagicon National Remote Sensing Center
Sub-Saharan
- Template:Flagicon National Space Research and Development Agency
- Template:Flagicon South African National Space Agency
North America
- Template:Flagicon Agencia Espacial Mexicana
- Template:Flagicon Canadian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon NASA
- Template:Flagicon United States Department of Defense
South America
- Template:Flagicon Agencia Bolivariana para Actividades Espaciales
- Template:Flagicon Brazilian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Brazilian General Command for Aerospace Technology
- Template:Flagicon Colombian Space Commission
- Template:Flagicon Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales
- Template:Flagicon Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacial
- Template:Flagicon Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica
- Template:Flagicon Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas
- Template:Flagicon National Institute for Space Research
Asia
East Asia
- Template:Flagicon China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
- China Academy of Space Technology
- China Chang Feng
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
- Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense)
- China National Space Administration
- Template:Flagicon Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
- National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan
- National Space Development Agency of Japan)
- National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
- Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer
- Template:Flagicon National Remote Sensing Center
- Template:Flagicon Korean Committee of Space Technology
- Template:Flagicon Korea Aerospace Research Institute
- Template:Flagicon National Space Organization
Southeast Asia
- Template:Flagicon National Institute of Aeronautics and Space
- Template:Flagicon Malaysian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
- Template:Flagicon Thai Ministry of Science and Technology's Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Space Technology Institute
- Vietnam Space Commission
South Asia
- Template:Flagicon Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization
- Template:Flagicon Department of Space
- Template:Flagicon Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
Southwest Asia
- Template:Flagicon Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency1
- Template:Flagicon Iran Aviation Industries Organization
- Iranian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Israel Space Agency
- National Committee for Space Research
- Template:Flagicon TÜBİTAK UZAY
Central Asia
- Template:Flagicon KazCosmos
- Kazakh Space Research Institute1
- Template:Flagicon Turkmenistan National Space Agency1
- Template:Flagicon UzbekCosmos1
Europe
- Template:Flagicon Austrian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Belarus Space Agency1
- Template:Flagicon Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
- Template:Flagicon Bulgarian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Czech Space Office
- Template:Flagicon Danish National Space Center
- esa European Cooperation for Space Standardization
- European Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon EUMETSAT
- European Union Satellite Centre
- Template:Flagicon CNES
- Template:Flagicon German Aerospace Center
- Template:Flagicon Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing
- Template:Flagicon Hungarian Space Office
- Template:Flagicon Space Ireland
- Template:Flagicon Italian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Space Science and Technology Institute1
- Template:Flagicon Luxinnovation
- Template:Flagicon Netherlands Institute for Space Research
- Template:Flagicon Norwegian Space Centre
- Template:Flagicon Space Research Centre
- Template:Flagicon Portuguese Space Company
- Template:Flagicon Romanian Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon Russian Federal Space Agency1
- Russian Space Research Institute1
- Russian Space Forces
- Template:Flagicon Soviet space program
- Template:Flagicon Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
- Template:Flagicon Swedish National Space Board
- Template:Flagicon Swiss Space Office
- Template:Flagicon UK Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon State Space Agency of Ukraine1
Oceania
World
- Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization
- Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
- File:COSPAR symbol placeholder.svg Committee on Space Research
- International Academy of Astronautics
- International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
- Intercosmos
- Intersputnik
- Template:Flagicon Pan-Arab Space Agency
- Template:Flagicon United Nations
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
1 Preceded by the Soviet space program
Books and publications
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Astronomers
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
- Aryabhata
- Walter Baade
- Friedrich Bessel
- Tycho Brahe
- Annie Jump Cannon
- Alvan Clark
- Nicholas Copernicus
- Galileo Galilei
- George Ellery Hale
- William Herschel
- Edwin Hubble
- Jacobus Kapteyn
- Johannes Kepler
- Gerard Kuiper
- Joseph-Louis Lagrange
- Pierre-Simon Laplace
- Henrietta Leavitt
- Isaac Newton
- Edward C. Pickering
- Ptolemy
- Henry Norris Russell
- Harlow Shapley
See also
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Script error: No such module "Sister project links".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Astronomy Guide For reviews on astronomy products, how-to's and current events.
- Astronomy Net Resources, forums (from 1995), articles on Astronomy.
- International Year of Astronomy 2009 IYA2009 Main website
- Cosmic Journey: A History of Scientific Cosmology from the American Institute of Physics
- Astronomy Picture of the Day
- Southern Hemisphere Astronomy
- Sky & Telescope publishers
- Astronomy Magazine
- Latest astronomy news in 11 languages
- Universe Today for astronomy and space-related news
- Celestia Motherlode Educational site for Astronomical journeys through space
- Search Engine for Astronomy
- Hubblesite.org – home of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope
- Astronomy – A History – G. Forbes – 1909 (eLibrary Project – eLib Text)
- (historical)
- Prof. Sir Harry Kroto, NL, Astrophysical Chemistry Lecture Series. 8 Freeview Lectures provided by the Vega Science Trust.
- Core books and core journals in Astronomy, from the Smithsonian/NASA Astrophysics Data System
Template:Astronomy navbox Script error: No such module "Navbox".