Dictionary of Space Concepts

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Gravity

(Last edited: Friday, 26 May 2023, 5:25 PM)

Image/Video/Audio:

Image/Video/Audio Source:

Short Definition:

Gravity is one of the fundamentals of the universe and the force of attraction between every single existing body. It keeps the universe and our solar system, together.

Detailed Definition:

One of the first theories about the existence of gravity was made by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher. He believed that objects tend toward their inner heaviness. Many researches and scientists later, this theory became more developed and finally, in XVII century Isaac Newton (after being hit by the famous apple) described gravity as a force that keeps the planets in their place. This definition evolved into a law and formula (F=G*(M*m)/r^2) which we use today.

Every object has its gravitational field. The heavier the object, the greater is its force of attraction in this field. An apple has its gravitational field too, however it weighs thousands of times less than a planet. That is why we don't see it every day. The gravitational force of a planet is so big that we need a great speed and precise calculations to be able to fly away from it and not be brought back. It is measured by the acceleration it gives to the falling object. For example, at Earth's surface it is equal to 9,81 m/s and at the Moon's only 1,6 m/s.

Etymology:

from Old French, or from Latin gravitas ‘weight, seriousness’

Sample Sentence(s):

Every object with mass has gravity. Gravity creates stars and planets by pulling together the material from which they are made.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages [Multiple fields for entering the translation of the term in each partner language, additional languages can potentially be added, e.g. Russian, Chinese, Portuguese]

French:

la gravité

German:

die Schwere

Polish:

grawitacja

Swedish:

allvar

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gravitational_theory

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/what-is-gravity/en/

https://www.britannica.com/science/gravity-physics

Heliosphere

(Last edited: Friday, 26 May 2023, 5:25 PM)

Term/Concept:

Heliosphere

Image/Video/Audio:

Image/Video/Audio Source:

Short Definition:

The Heliosphere is the extended layer of the Sun consisting of its magnetosphere, astrosphere and atmosphere. It has a bubble-like shape, covering the entire Solar System.

Detailed Definition:

The Heliosphere in physics terms is a cavity that is formed by the Sun in its neighbourhood. It binds our solar system together, like an atmosphere on Earth binds life on the surface. It also produces weather conditions like the ones on Earth, but the weather happens on a larger, solar system scale.

The Heliosphere consists of plasma, particles and magnetic fields that interact with the space environment, producing what we call space weather. It is also a shield, without which we probably would not exist, as it protects our planet from cosmic rays, particles created far away in space. Without the existence of a heliosphere, our living cells would be continuously bombarded, causing damage.

As this wave of solar wind wanders away from the Sun, at some point it reaches termination shock, where its speed suddenly drops from even 700 km/s. Beyond the termination shock lies the heliosheath, the outer region of the heliosphere, where solar wind becomes denser and hotter as it presses towards wind in interstellar space. The boundary between it and the interstellar wind is called heliopause, the pressure of both of the winds stays in balance there.

Etymology:

helio- +‎ -sphere

helio - from Ancient Greek ἥλιος (hḗlios).

sphere - from Ancient Greek σφαῖρα (sphaîra, “ball, globe”)

Sample Sentence(s):

Voyager 1 travelled through the heliosphere and encountered heliopause in 2015.

As the heliopause marks the boundary between the matter originating from the Sun and matter originating from the rest of the galaxy, the spacecrafts that left the heliosphere are travelling through interstellar space.

French:

Héliosphère

German:

Die Heliosphäre

Polish:

Heliosfera

Swedish:

Heliosfären

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/science/Heliosphere.html

https://sci.esa.int/web/ulysses/-/2576-the-heliosphere

https://www.thesuntoday.org/heliosphere/

Solar Eclipse

(Last edited: Wednesday, 9 August 2023, 11:32 AM)

Short Definition
A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the new moon is positioned between the Sun and Earth. A solar eclipse is visible when the Moon’s surface covers the Sun fully or partially casts a shadow on Earth.

Detailed Definition
A solar eclipse is a natural process during which the Sun is completely or partially obscured by the Moon's surface, creating a shadow over Earth. However, this shadow is not large enough to be visible from all parts of the world in the same way. For this reason, each successive solar eclipse can be observed from different sides of Earth, but never in all places at once.

We distinguish four types of solar eclipses:

1. A partial eclipse occurs when the Moon only partially eclipses the Sun.
2. An annular eclipse occurs when the entire Moon is not large enough to conceal the entire Sun. In this case, a ring of light can be observed around the shadow.
3. A total eclipse occurs when the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon. This can only be seen when the Moon is closest to Earth and only where the Moon’s shadow is the darkest.
4. An annular total eclipse (also called a hybrid eclipse) occurs when during the same eclipse it changes from the annular eclipse to the total eclipse or the other way around. This is the rarest type from all of those phenomena.

Etymology
Eclipse (Noun), originated from ancient Greek ἔκλειψις (ékleipsis) which means “the abandonment” or “the darkening of a heavenly body”.

Sample Sentence(s)

A solar eclipse cannot be visible from all the places on Earth all at once.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French
Éclipse solaire

German
Sonnenfinsternis

Italian
Eclissi solare

Polish
Zaćmienie Słońca

Swedish
Solförmörkelse

Links to Videos/Articles:

Hocken, V. (n.d.), What Are Solar Eclipses?, Retrieved from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar-eclipse.html
NASA Science SpacePlace Explore Earth and Space (n.d.), What Is Solar Eclpise?, Retrieved from https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/eclipse-snap/en/
Dobrijevic, D. (n.d.), What is a solar eclipse?, Retrieved from https://www.space.com/15584-solar-eclipses.html
Online Etymology Dictionary (n.d.), eclipse (n.), Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/eclipse
Online Etymology Dictionary (n.d.), solar (adj.), Retrieved from https://www.etymonline.com/word/solar#etymonline_v_23841
ESA (2015), Europe’s solar eclipse seen from Proba-2, Retrieved from https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2015/03/Europe_s_solar_eclipse_seen_from_Proba-2

Ilmenite

(Last edited: Wednesday, 16 August 2023, 12:42 PM)

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:

French: Illménite
German: Ilmenit
Polish: Ilmenit
Swedish: Ilmenit

Links to Videos/Articles:

Orbit (entry exists but has poor description)

(Last edited: Tuesday, 22 August 2023, 1:35 PM)

Image source:

Short Definition:
An orbit is a periodical, elliptical trajectory that all objects floating in space follow.

Detailed Definition:
An orbit is the path that objects in space follow in a two-or-more-body system. Everybody in such system revolves around a common center of mass. Usually, when talking about orbits, we think of two-body systems with one body much bigger than another. It appears like the smaller body is revolving around the larger one, but in fact both are revolving around a common center of mass.

Etymology: from Latin “orbita” meaning path.

Sample Sentence(s):
A new satellite was put in orbit.

Translations:

French:
Orbite

German:
Umlaufbahn

Polish:
Orbita

Swedish:
Bana

Links to Videos/Articles:
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-orbit-58.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cUe4oMk69E&list=TLGG8tIphgpDAHkxMzA0MjAyMw&t=1s

Keyword(s):

Zenith

(Last edited: Monday, 28 August 2023, 12:33 PM)

Media

Media Zenith & Nadir, DJ Jeffery, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2003.

Definitions

Short Definition
Zenith is a point on the celestial sphere that is directly above the observer. The zenith is diametrically opposite to the nadir.

Detailed Definition
Zenith is determined by the direction of the gravitational force at particular point on Earth. Typically, the term implies astronomical zenith, that is, the point at which the imaginary line drawn from the geometrical centre of the Earth through the observer intersects with the celestial sphere. The angular distance from zenith is called the zenith distance of the celestial body. The zenith and the nadir form two poles of the horizon.

Etymology
From Medieval Latin cenit, from Arabic samt (ar-ra's)“path (over the head)”

Sample Sentences

Glowing with astral turquoise, the comet dashingly passed zenith and started decelerating as it was approaching the horizon.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French

le zénith

German

der Zenit

Italian

lo zenit

Polish

zenit

Swedish

zenit

Additional Translations of Terms/Concepts into Other Languages

Russian
зенит

Ukrainian
зенiт

Links to Videos/Articles:

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Zenith | astronomy. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved [ 06.14.2023 ], from https://www.britannica.com/science/zenith-astronomy

Zenith | COSMOS. (n.d.). Retrieved [ 06.20.2023 ], from https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/z/Zenith

Yuri Gagarin

(Last edited: Monday, 28 August 2023, 12:34 PM)

Wikipedia Year: (n.d.) Yuri Gagarin - 1961-04-12. Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved May 29, 2023, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/vi/7/7f/Yurigagarin-1961-04-12.jpg

Definitions

Short Definition

Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut and the first human to travel into space. On April 12, 1961, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, Gagarin completed a single orbit around the Earth, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration. His flight lasted 108 minutes and made him an international symbol of space exploration and achievement.

Detailed Definition
Yuri Gagarin (1934 - 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut and the first human to journey into space. In 1961, he became the first human to travel into space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. His flight lasted just under two hours, during which he orbited the Earth once. Gagarin's historic achievement made him an international celebrity and a symbol of Soviet scientific and technological prowess.

Etymology
The surname "Gagarin" is derived from the Russian word "gagary," which means "cuckoo."

Sample Sentence(s)

1. Gagarin's flight came at a time when the United States and the Soviet Union were competing for technological supremacy in space.

David, L. Year: 2012 First Man in Space: Yuri Gagarin's Historic Vostok 1 Flight. Space.com Retrieved Date: May 29, 2023, from https://www.space.com/16159-first-man-in-space.html

2. The Gagarin crater on the Moon is named after Yuri Gagarin, in recognition of his achievement as the first human to journey into space.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French
Yuri Gagarin

German
Yuri Gagarin

Italian
Jurij Gagarin

Polish
Jurij Gagarin

Swedish
Jurij Gagarin

Additional Translations of Terms/Concepts into Other Languages

Russian: Юрий Гагарин

Links to Videos/Articles:

Britannica Year: (n.d.). Yuri Gagarin. Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved Date: May 29, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yuri-Gagarin

BBC News. 2021. Yuri Gagarin: The first man in space - BBC News. Retrieved Jun 12. 2024 from https://youtu.be/KANuFlelQ5k.

Aphelion

(Last edited: Monday, 28 August 2023, 3:52 PM)

Source: Vitalik1986 (2011, March 26). Perihelios-aphelion. wikimedia commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14702160

Short definition:

The point in the orbit of a planet or other celestial body that is farthest from the sun.

Detailed Definition:

Aphelion is the point in the orbit of a celestial body where it is farthest from the sun. It is the opposite of perihelion, which is the point in the orbit where the celestial body is closest to the sun. The distance between a celestial body and the sun varies during its orbit due to the elliptical shape of the orbit. The aphelion is the point where the distance is at a maximum.

Etymology:

aphelios - far from the sun

aph - from and helion - the sun

Sample Sentence(s):

"Mars reaches its aphelion in July, when it is about 250 million miles from the sun."

"The aphelion of Earth's orbit occurs in July, when it is about 3.1 million miles farther from the sun than at perihelion in January."

"The aphelion of Pluto's orbit is about 49.3 billion kilometres, while its perihelion is about 29.7 billion kilometres."

Translations:

French:

aphélie

German:

Aphel

Polish:

aphelium

Links to videos/articles:

https://www.britannica.com/science/aphelion

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/whats-up-january-2021

Ariane 5

(Last edited: Monday, 28 August 2023, 3:53 PM)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ariane_5_with_James_Webb_Space_Telescope_Prelaunch_(51773093465).jpg Author: Unknown Year: (n.d.) Title: Ariane 5 with James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Description: Ariane 5 rocket with the James Webb Space Telescope before launch Retrieved Date: May 29, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ariane_5_with_James_Webb_Space_Telesco pe_Prelaunch_(51773093465).jpg

Author: Unknown Year: (n.d.) Title: Ariane 5 with James Webb Space Telescope Prelaunch Description: Ariane 5 rocket with the James Webb Space Telescope before launch Retrieved Date: May 29, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ariane_5_with_James_Webb_Space_Telesco pe_Prelaunch_(51773093465).jpg

Definitions

Short Definition

Ariane V is a heavy-lift space launch vehicle developed by the European Space Agency. It is designed to deliver payloads, including satellites and space probes, into geostationary transfer orbit. The Ariane V rocket consists of two main stages, multiple solid rocket boosters, and a cryogenic upper stage, allowing it to launch large and heavy payloads into space.

Detailed Definition

Ariane V is a powerful rocket designed in 2021 to send satellites and spacecraft into space. It was created by the European Space Agency, ESA and is part of a family of rockets called Ariane.

The rocket has two main parts, or stages, that work together to launch the payload into space. The first stage has two powerful engines that burn solid fuel for about two minutes. After that, they detach and the second stage takes over. The second stage has a liquid fuel engine that takes the payload higher and faster until it reaches the desired orbit.

Ariane V is very reliable and has been used for many different types of missions, such as launching communication satellites, Earth observation satellites, and scientific missions. Ariane V can carry very heavy payloads, which makes it a perfect choice for launching big commercial satellites.

Etymology

Ariane is a name that comes from Greek mythology, specifically from the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. In the story, Theseus, a Greek hero, is sent to Crete to defeat the Minotaur, a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. He is aided in his mission by Ariane, she gives Theseus a ball of thread to help him navigate through the maze where the Minotaur lived. With her help, Theseus was able to kill the monster and escape the maze.

The name Ariane was chosen for the European Space Agency's rocket family because it represents the idea of finding a way through complex and difficult challenges, just as Theseus found his way through the labyrinth with Ariane's help. The rockets in the Ariane family are designed to help humans explore space, which is one of the most complex and challenging endeavours for humans.

Sample Sentence(s)

Among the many European satellites launched by Ariane have been Giotto, the probe to Halley’s Comet; Hipparcos, the stellar distance-measuring satellite; Rosetta, a comet rendezvous mission; and Envisat, a large Earth-observing satellite.

Author: Britannica Year: (n.d.) Title of the article: Ariane (European launch vehicles) Title of the website or source: Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved Date: May 29, 2023 URL: https://www.britannica.com/technology/Ariane- European-launch-vehicles

The European Space Agency's Ariane V rocket was successfully launched into space, carrying a satellite that will provide internet access to remote areas.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages:

French: Ariane V

German: Ariane V

Italian: Ariane V

Polish: Ariane V

Swedish: Ariane V

Additional Translations of Terms/Concepts into Other Lang...

Russian: Ариан 5

Links to Videos/Articles:

● https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_veh icles/Ariane_5

● https://youtu.be/UaYZieeCX68

Keyword(s):

Atmosphere

(Last edited: Monday, 28 August 2023, 4:00 PM)

Source: Gatley, R. (2018, January 27). Cruising at 47000 feet over Kazakhstan. Shot with an 8mm fisheye lens.. unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/oxgK2f_rxDc

Definition:

The mass of gas that surrounds an astronomical body, such as a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of this body.

Etymology:

From Greek ατμός (atmos)'vapor' + σφαιρα (sphaira)'sphere'

Translations:

French: atmosphère (fem.) – [at.mɔsˈfɛʁ]
German: Atmosphäre (fem.) – [ʔatmoˈsfɛːʀə]
Polish: atmosfera (fem.) – [ˌatmɔˈsfɛra]
Russian: атмосфера (fem.) – [ɐtmɐˈsfʲerə]
Swedish: atmosfär (comm.) –[ʔatmoˈsfɒ]

Keyword(s):

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