Space Terms

Deuterium is an isotope of hydrogen that has one proton and one neutron. As a result, deuterium is considered a heavy hydrogen. It is naturally occurring and sometimes exists as Deuterium gas. However, it is it is bonded with a hydrogen atom forming a gas called hydrogen deuteride. This naturally occurring gas is usually found […]

Astronomers often use mathematical equations in order to find out more about a planet. Since planets are quite far from earth, calculating their mass, size, speed, volume and density gives astronomers an idea as to how big a planet is, and what it is made up of. The first step in this getting-to-know process is

One of the greatest contributors to astronomy and science is Denison Olmsted, a physicist, astronomer and teacher. He graduated from Yale in 1813 and two years later, re-entered as a tutor with the intention of entering the ministry. In November 1817, he became a professor of Chemistry in the University of North Carolina, which was

The Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (DASI) is a device created to study the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies. It is a 13-element interferometer that operates on low frequency end of the microwave spectrum. In 2002, the DASI project scientist, John Carlstrom, announced that the Degree angular Scale interferometer (DASI) had successfully measured the polarization of

Space dust used to be a nuisance to many astronomers long ago because it obstructed their view of other cosmic bodies. With advancement in technology and recent discoveries, astronomers have found out that cosmic dust plays an important part in many astronomical processes. Cosmic dusts are grains of carbon and silicates that measure about a

A dwarf galaxy is a small, dim galaxy that is made up of several billions of stars. Their formation has been associated to dark matter and metals that contain gas. However, recent discoveries point out that the latter is not completely true.

The pictures of planets, stars and other heavenly bodies that grace books, magazines and websites can be breathtaking, but in reality, seeing them through your very own eyes is less exciting. The stars and moon are easy to see, but getting a glimpse of the faint ones, even with a telescope, is extremely difficult. More

A dwarf star is the name given to stars whose mass is normal for its size. It is usually twenty times brighter than the sun and lie on the main sequence. Main sequence stars are stars whose energy is a result of nuclear fusion due to the conversion of Hydrogen to Helium. Such stars are

An interstellar cloud made up of gas, plasma and galaxy dust can sometimes obscure light from background stars or a reflection nebula creating irregular shapes that have no defined boundaries. As a result, a dark nebula, or absorption nebula, is formed. Large dark nebula can be seen by the naked eye, often appearing as dark

The equatorial coordinate system is made up of two coordinates, the declination and the right ascension, also known as the hour angle. In astronomy, the declination is similar to the geographical latitude but is projected in the celestial sphere which, like Earth, has an equator too. It is said that the celestial sphere is an