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Eclipse

(Last edited: Friday, 28 April 2023, 6:09 PM)


Image/Video/Audio Source:

Short Definition:
An eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon caused by the specific location of the three celestial bodies placed in one line. Three types of the eclipse can be distinguished: a total eclipse, a partial or an annular eclipse.

Detailed Definition:
An eclipse is an event that corresponds to the particular position of the celestial bodies. The phrase eclipse is most frequently used to refer to either a solar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon's shadow passes across the surface of the Earth, or a lunar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon enters the Earth's shadow.  It can infer from the name what becomes darker when an eclipse occurs. The Sun becomes dimmer during a solar eclipse. A lunar eclipse causes the Moon to dim. An eclipse view may differ depending on the area in which it is seen. A total eclipse is extremely rare. Only a few minutes of a solar eclipse are typically visible in the same location on Earth every 375 years on average. About twice a year, a partial eclipse can be seen anywhere in the world.

Etymology:
Latin from Greek ekleipsis, from ekleipein‘fail to appear, be eclipsed’

Sample Sentence(s):
The next total eclipse will be visible on the 8th of April 2024 in Mexico. The next annular eclipse will be visible on the 14th of October 2023.

Translations:
French:

Une éclipse

German:
die Finsternis

Polish:
Zaćmienie

Swedish:

En eklips

Spanish:
El eclipse

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse
https://www.britannica.com/science/eclipse
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/eclipses/en/
https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/eclipse-snap/en/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_eclipses_in_the_21st_century



Einstein ring

(Last edited: Monday, 13 March 2023, 3:51 PM)



Definition

A ring-shaped distortion of light from a galaxy caused by gravitational lensing, while this galaxy passes behind another massive object.

It is sometimes also referred to as the Chwolson ring, named after a Soviet scientist Orest Chwolson, who mentioned this phenomenon in his article (in English, his surname is usually transcribed as Khvolson, however, German transliteration Chwolson is used instead, since his article was first published in a German academic journal).


Etymology

The phenomenon is named after Albert Einstein, who predicted it in his theory of general relativity.


Translation:
  • French: anneau d'Einstein
  • German: Einsteinring [ˈaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯nˈʁɪŋ]
  • Polish: pierścień Einsteina
  • Russianкольцо Эйнштейна [kɐlʲˈt͡so ɛnˈʂtɛɪ̯nə]
  • Swedish: Einsteinring

Links to Videos/Articles:

Gallery of Einstein rings: https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2005/32/1788-Image.html

 



Elementary differentiation (Planetary differentiation)

(Last edited: Sunday, 17 September 2023, 10:42 PM)


Source: By James St. John - Brachinite (NWA 3151 Meteorite) 3, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34763072


Short Definition:

A process that a planetary body goes through during its formation to acquire its physio-chemical composition. Elementary differentiation can be witnessed on planets, and natural satellites such as the moon.


Detailed Definition:

Etymology:

1. Elementary (Adjective), originating from Latin elementarius, which means “belonging to the constituents of all things”.

2. Differentiation (Verb), originating from Medieval Latin, differentiatus, which means “to distinguish”.


Sample Sentence(s):

“These high precision measurements (δ56Fe ≈ ± 0.04‰, 2 S.D.) place tight constraints on Fe isotope fractionation during planetary differentiation.”


Translations:
  • French: Différenciation élémentaire
  • German: Elementare Differenzierung
  • Polish: Dyferencjacja planetarna
  • Swedish: Elementär differentiering

Links to Videos/Articles:

[Gardner-Vandy et Al. (2012)] The Tafassasset primitive achondrite: Insights into initial stages of planetary differentiation

Differentiation Planetary, Frank Sohl and Doris Breuer, Encyclopedia of Astrobiology.

 

 



Ephemeris

(Last edited: Saturday, 30 September 2023, 6:19 PM)


Source:


Short definition: 

An ephemeris is a table or data file that gives the positions of celestial objects at specific times.

Detailed Definition:

An ephemeris is a detailed table or data file that provides the positions of celestial objects in the sky at specific times. Ephemerides are used in astronomy to predict the future positions of these objects and to understand their orbits and movements. They can be calculated for any point in time and are usually given for a series of times at regular intervals, such as every day or every hour. Initially ephemerides were written, then printed, nowadays, they are digital. Ephemerides of the Solar System play a crucial role in navigating spacecraft.

Etymology:

ephemeris (Latin) - diary; ephemeris (Greek) - diary, journal

Sample Sentence(s):

"I consulted an ephemeris to find out when the next solar eclipse would occur."

"The astronomer used an ephemeris to predict when the comet would be visible in the sky."

"Ephemerides are widely used in astrology."

Translations:

French:

Éphéméride

German:

Ephemeriden

Polish:

Efemeryda

Swedish:

Efemerid

Links to videos/articles:

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

https://www.astro.com/swisseph/swepha_e.htm

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons/




Equation of time

(Last edited: Saturday, 30 September 2023, 6:20 PM)
Source: https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/cf59f354b34391ef9ddbec41a1409bef/ece2a825-e54c-4ea4-a57c-bc1f3e901591_rw_1920.jpg?h=e8d9d5ab3208bd43c08d7702b9ec2c74

Source: https://pro2-bar-s3-cdn-cf3.myportfolio.com/cf59f354b34391ef9ddbec41a1409bef/ece2a825-e54c-4ea4-a57c-bc1f3e901591_rw_1920.jpg?h=e8d9d5ab3208bd43c08d7702b9ec2c74

Short Definition:

The equation of time is a result of the difference between the daytime on Earth and the position of the sun.


Detailed Definition:

The equation of time exists because the orbit of the Earth around the sun is elliptical (where the orbit is not centered around the sun) and not circular which results in a difference in speed around the elliptical orbit as a difference in the length of the Earth days.

The equation is the following:

EOT =GHA- GMHA where EOT is the equation of time, GHA is the Greenwich Hour Angle of the apparent sun and GMHA is the Universal Time-Off.

As a result, the 21./22. December is the shortest day of a year, the real local time (WOZ) results in uneven long hours and the middle time (MOZ) results in a sun orbit, which is unsymmetrical to the time.

Etymology:

Equation - latin aequationem (" an equal distribution, a sharing in common")

Time -  Proto-Germanic Timon-/timi ("Time, proper time")

Sample Sentence(s):

" The equation of time is the reason a Analemma( a diagramm which shows the position of the sun from one point at a specific time over a year) can be seen"


Translation:

French:

équation du temps

German:

Zeitgleichung


Polish:
Równanie czasu

Swedish:
tidsekvation

Links to Videos/Articles:
https://youtu.be/Mx9AJJSKIL4
https://astro.dur.ac.uk/~ams/users/equation_of_time.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hn0js5EzmEc





Euclid mission

(Last edited: Saturday, 30 September 2023, 6:22 PM)
Image source: https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2019/09/euclid_spacecraft/19709645-1-eng-GB/Euclid_spacecraft.jpg

Image source: https://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2019/09/euclid_spacecraft/19709645-1-eng-GB/Euclid_spacecraft.jpg

Short Definition:

The euclid mission is project, being prepared by ESA to investigate dark matter as well as dark energy. At this moment, it is planned to launch the mission in the year 2023 (no specific date is set yet).

The planned time the mission will take is set for six years and can be extended, but is limited by the amount of cold gas propulsion.


Detailed definition:

ESA has started the euclid mission is a project to try to investigate dark matter as well as dark energy. The spacecraft consists of a camera in the visible wavelength and a camera /spectrometer which works in the near-infrared area.

It will launch from the Europe'sSpaceport in Kourou, which is located in French Guiana, and will move in an orbit which is halo shaped around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point.

Another aspect which will be inspected by the mission is the reason why the expansion of the universe in accelerating and how the evolution of the universe took place, to gain more information about fundamental physics and cosmology.


Etymology:

Euclid - Greek euclid ("renowned, glorious")

mission -Latin missionem ("act of sending a dispatching; a release, a setting at liberty")


Sample Sentence:

The Euclid mission is expected to bring new knowledge about the history of the universe and dark matter.


Translations:

French: Mission Euclide

German:Euklid-Mission

Polish: Misja Euclid

Swedish: UppdragEuclid


Links to Articles:

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/euclid

https://sci.esa.int/web/euclid

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/euclid/main/index.html





European Space Agency

(Last edited: Monday, 13 March 2023, 3:54 PM)


Source: https://about.gitlab.com/customers/european-space-agency/


Definition:

European Space Agency is an intergovernmental organisation, whose mission is to develop space capabilities through exploration for the benefit of citizens of Europe and the whole world.

European Space Agency was established in 1975 and  is dedicated to the peaceful exploration of space. It comprises of 22 Member States, who work together to find out more about the Earth and space, but it also cooperates closely with other organisations outside of Europe, for example with NASA. The aim is to develop research, coordinate space programmes and to promote mutual agreements between the members. It is funded by membership donations calculated based on each country’s gross national product.


Sample Sentence(s):

"The European Space Agency is using a launching facility situated in French Guiana in Latin America."

"The Eurobot Ground Prototype is a mobile reconnaissance robot from the European Space Agency (ESA)."


Translations:
  • French: Agence spatiale européenne
  • German: Europäische Weltraumorganisation
  • Polish: Europejska Agencja Kosmiczna
  • Swedish: Europeiska rymdorganisationen 

Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.esa.int/


EVA

(Last edited: Wednesday, 30 August 2023, 5:44 PM)
Astronaut Steve Robinson performing an EVA during STS-114 mission. Source: Wikipedia/NASA

Astronaut Steve Robinson performing an EVA during STS-114 mission. Source: Wikipedia/NASA


Short Definition:
EVA is an act of performing different activities outside your spaceship while in orbit. This could include repairing, attaching or other experiments.

Detailed Definition:
Performing an EVA can refer to activities such as spacewalks, where astronauts leave the spacecraft to work in the vacuum of space, as well as other tasks such as inspections or repairs on the exterior of the spacecraft. EVAs are a common part of space exploration and are conducted by astronauts in a variety of different settings, including the International Space Station and during lunar, or in the future, planetary missions.

Etymology:
EVA stands for Extravehicular Activity

Sample Sentence(s):
Astronauts on the ISS are preparing to perform an EVA.
Yesterday's EVA was completed successfully.

Translations:

French:
Sortie extravéhiculaire

German:
Außenbordeinsatz

Polish:
Spacer kosmiczny

Swedish:
Rymdpromenad

Links to Videos/Articles:
https://www.nasa.gov/content/extravehicular-activities/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extravehicular_activity

Event Horizon

(Last edited: Friday, 28 April 2023, 6:09 PM)


Source(s):


Short Definition:

The event horizon of a black hole is a threshold around the black hole where the escape velocity surpasses the speed of light. It is also referred to as a boundary beyond which events cannot affect an observer.

Detailed Definition:

The term event horizon is used to describe the phenomena of a very strong gravitational pull in the vicinity of a massive and compact object, which is able to prevent even light from escaping. The escape velocity is a threshold value for which the event horizon occurs. It is the velocity needed for an object to overcome the forces acting due to the presence of an enormous mass. If it is greater than the speed of light, it is impossible to witness any event taking place past the event horizon.

Etymology:

The term was first used by Wolfgang Rindler in the 1950s.

Sample Sentence(s):

"The event horizon is the ultimate prison wall - one can get in but never get out."

                                             - Avi Loeb, chair of astronomy at Harvard University.

Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages

French: Horizon des événements

German: der Ereignishorizont

Polish: Horyzont zdarzeń

Swedish: Händelsehorisont


Links to Videos/Articles:

https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html

https://astronomy.com/news/2019/04/the-event-horizon-telescope-may-soon-release-first-ever-black-hole-image


ExoMars Programme

(Last edited: Wednesday, 30 August 2023, 5:45 PM)


Definition

A programme created in cooperation between ESA and Roscosmos, which is trying to find signs of biological processes on Mars indicating whether life has ever existed on that planet. The programme includes two missions:

  • The Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli module (launched in 2016)
  • The Rosalind Franklin rover and a stationary surface science platform Kazachok (put on hold in March 2022 due to impossibility of cooperating with Roscosmos; launch date is not yet known)

The Trace Gas Orbiter’s task is to look for trace atmospheric gases, including methane, which would indicate the presence of biological processes, whereas the Rosalind Franklin rover is supposed to look for evidence of life on the surface and underground.


Etymology:

“Exo” in ExoMars refers to “exobiology”, a branch of sciences investigating life beyond Earth. A rover involved in this mission is named after Rosalind Franklin, who was an English chemist known in particular for her contribution to DNA research. The platform Kazachok is named after a Russian folk dance.


Sources:

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/What_is_ExoMars


More about the mission:

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/ExoMars_Factsheet




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