Dictionary of Space Concepts
What is the Dictionary of Space Concepts?
The Dictionary of Space Concepts (DSC) is a project by UNIVERSEH – the European Space University of Earth and Humanity. Starting in 2020, this Alliance of five European Universities decided to launch an online dictionary dealing with terms and concepts related to space sciences. It should be created and used by students, lecturers, researchers and citizens alike.
After an initial planning phase, the DSC was published in spring 2022. It opens up several opportunities for all members of the UNIVERSEH Alliance and interested citizens to contribute to the content of the DSC.
In our course "Terms and Concepts of Space" (to the registration) , students learn how to write a dictionary article and later on contribute several entries to the DSC. Students and other members of the UNIVERSEH Alliance can also submit articles for the DSC via an entry in here . Interested citizens can contribute in this entry platform.
Once submitted, these articles are reviewed by UNIVERSEH Alliance staff and, if necessary, edited before their publication in the Dictionary.
In this way, the DSC is a dynamic project that is constantly expanding in content and quality through constant contributions from students, staff and citizens.
Ilmenite | |
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Short Definition:A usually massive iron-black mineral that consists of an oxide of iron and titanium and that is a major titanium ore. Detailed Definition:Ilmenite is named after the Ilmenski mountains in Russia, where the mineral was first discovered. It is slightly magnetic, which means that magnets can be used to separate it from other minerals in sand deposits. Ilmenite is also a common accessory mineral in igneous rocks, sediments, and sedimentary rocks in many parts of the world. Also, it is a black iron-titanium oxide with a chemical composition of FeTiO3. Etymology:
Named after Ilmen Mountains in Russia + -ite in 1827. The suffix –ite is used to form nouns denoting rocks or minerals, from Latin -ītēs, and from Ancient Greek -ῑ́της. Sample Sentences:
"Ilmenite is an economically important and interesting mineral." "Ilmenite is the most important ore of titanium and the main source of titanium dioxide, which is used in paints, printing inks, fabrics, plastics, paper, sunscreen, food and cosmetics." Translations:
Links to Videos/Articles:
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Inflation | |
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Sources: https://wmap.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/bb_cosmo_infl.html https://www.space.com/42261-how-did-inflation-happen-anyway.html Definition:Rapid expansion of the universe at its early stages of development (at around 10-36 seconds after the Big Bang). The Inflation Theory was developed in 1980 by Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Paul Steinhardt, and Andy Albrecht and attempted to account for phenomena that could not be explained by the Big Bang Theory (the Horizon Problem, the Flatness Problem and the Monopole Problem). Nowadays, the Inflation Theory is considered to be an extension of the Big Bang Theory. Translation
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Infrared | |
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Image:
Source: Short Definition: Light with wavelength from 800 nanometers to 1 millimiter. Detailed Definition: Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths ranging from 800 nanometers to one millimeter. It is next to the red end of the visible spectrum, hereby the name. Also called IR, it is a kind of electromagnetic radiation that has qualities like both a wave and a particle, the photon, and propagates energy and momentum as well as exerting radiation pressure. Etymology: Infrared comes from Latin: infra, which means below. Sample Sentence(s): To keep an eye on workplace activities, they used infrared cameras. Without disturbing the bats, an infrared camera records them. Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages French: infrarouge German: Infrarot Polish: podczerwień Swedish: infraröd Links to Videos/Articles: https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/infrared-vision | |
Initial mass function (IMF) | |
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Image source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Plot_of_various_initial_mass_functions.svg/800px-Plot_of_various_initial_mass_functions.svg.png Short Definition: The initial mass function (IMF) describes the distribution of stellar masses as a large cluster of stars is newly formed and is based on an average from stars in our Milky Way. This function is useful for understanding the formation of stellar systems and their evolution. In most cases, the initial mass function is shown with a logarithmic scale. Derailed Definition: The initial mass function shows few massive stars which are more massive than the sun, while sun-sized stars are more abundant and stars that are smaller than the sun are quite common (this trend does not continue linear the smaller they get): The function can be described by using the following law: IMF = constant x m^(-α) where m = initial star mass and α = slope of the logarithmic plot. Until this point in time, it is not certain if the IMF varies in extreme situations and if the calculation based on our Milky Way can be unconditionally applied to other galaxies. Etymology: initial - Latin initialis ("initial, incipent, of the beginning") mass - old French masse (" lump, heap, pile; crowd, large amount") function - Latin functionem (" a performance, an execution") Sample sentences: There are different curve forms of the initial mass function based on the way the alpha and the constant are calculated. Translation: French: fonction de masse initiale German: Anfangsmassenfunktion Polish: początkowa funkcja masy Swedish: funktion för dem ursprungliga massan Links to Videos/Articles: http://astro1.physics.utoledo.edu/~megeath/ph6820/lecture12_eqn.pdf http://www.astro.yale.edu/larson/papers/Nagoya99.pdf https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/initial-mass-function https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5WlgcBh9T8 | |
International Asteroid Warning Network | |
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Short
Definition
Sample Sentence(s): IAWN includes members from all over the world that are creating a response in case of meteorite impact. Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages: French: International Asteroid Warning Network
Links to Videos/Articles:
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International Space Station | |
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Definition:A research facility that was launched in 1998, is orbiting around the Earth and is operated by multinational groups of astronauts sent regularly by five space agencies participating in the project – NASA (the USA), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (Europe), JAXA (Japan) and CSA (Canada). Translations:
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Interstellar Medium | |
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webteam@eso.org. (n.d.). ESO - The Planet, the Galaxy and the Laser. 1999- 2008 ESO. https://web.archive.org/web/20081121184421/http://www.eso.org/gallery/v/ES OPIA/Paranal/phot-33a-07.tif.html Short Definition: The interstellar medium (ISM) is a composition of radiation and matter which occurs between star systems, which are compositions of stars orbiting each other. The medium is usually created from various gasses, mostly hydrogen and helium. This matter is a filler between the stars. Detailed Definition: The interstellar medium (ISM) is a region filled with gas and dust in between stars. The medium is created when a star dies. As the star collapses into itself, it releases huge amounts of energy and matter at high velocity and high temperature. When this mix encounters patches of interstellar gas, the visible nebulas of interstellar medium are created. The gas is ionized, and space dust blocks certain light waves which. Contrary to common belief, space is not completely empty and is not a full vacuum but is filled with matter such as gas and space dust. The interstellar medium is impactful in formations it is in. Stars which are positioned in the denser areas of ISM supply it with matter and energy through stellar winds or supernovae (the explosion of a star). The inter-influence of stars and ISM formations helps scientists determine the lifespan of given star formations. Etymology: This phrase is a conjunction between the words 'interstellar' and 'medium'. The word 'interstellar' comes from combining the prefix 'inter' from Latin for "between" and the word 'stellar' from Latin 'stellaris' meaning "pertaining to a star". The word 'medium' from Latin medium "the middle, midst, center; interval" Sample Sentence(s): 1. The interstellar medium can be visible with long exposure astrological
photography. Translations: French: milieu interstellaire German: interstellares Medium Italian: mezzo interstellare Polish: ośrodek międzygwiazdowy Swedish: interstellärt medium | |