Solar System and the Universe

Front

Universe Noun

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[yoo-nuh-vurs]

Back

Universe

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All of space and everything in it, including stars, galaxies, planets, and all forms of energy and matter.

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Example: The image shows a galaxy, illustrating part of the universe's vastness.

Front

Galaxy Noun

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[gal-uhk-see]

Back

Galaxy

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A massive system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity.

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Example: This image shows a spiral galaxy, illustrating its structure with stars and dust bound by gravity.

Front

Spiral Galaxy Noun

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[spy-ruhl gal-uhk-see]

Back

Spiral Galaxy

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A type of galaxy with a central bulge and arms that spiral outward, containing both old and young stars.

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Example: The image shows a spiral galaxy with labeled arms and center, illustrating its structure.

Front

Elliptical Galaxy Noun

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[ih-lip-ti-kuhl gal-uhk-see]

Back

Elliptical Galaxy

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A galaxy with a smooth, oval shape that contains mostly older stars and has very little gas or dust.

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Example: The image shows an elliptical galaxy with a smooth, oval shape, illustrating its structure and lack of gas or dust.

Front

Irregular Galaxy Noun

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[ih-reg-yuh-ler gal-uhk-see]

Back

Irregular Galaxy

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A galaxy that does not have a distinct, regular shape and is often rich in gas, dust, and young stars.

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Example: This image shows an irregular galaxy with no distinct shape, highlighting its stars and gas.

Front

Quasar Noun

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[kwey-zahr]

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Quasar

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An extremely luminous and distant active galactic nucleus, powered by a supermassive black hole at the center of a galaxy.

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Example: The image shows a quasar with an accretion disk around a supermassive black hole, illustrating its luminosity and structure.

Front

Star System Noun

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[stahr sis-tuhm]

Back

Star System

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A small number of stars that orbit each other, bound together by the force of their mutual gravitational attraction.

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Example: The image shows multiple stars orbiting each other, demonstrating a star system bound by gravity.

Front

Binary Star Noun

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[bahy-nuh-ree stahr]

Back

Binary Star

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A star system consisting of two stars that orbit around their common center of mass, bound by gravity.

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Example: Two stars orbiting a common center of mass, showing a binary star system.

Front

Eclipsing Binary Noun

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[ih-klip-sing bahy-nuh-ree]

Back

Eclipsing Binary

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A binary star system where the orbital plane is aligned so one star periodically passes in front of the other.

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Example: An eclipsing binary system where one star passes in front of the other, causing a dip in brightness.

Front

Star Cluster Noun

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[stahr kluhs-ter]

Back

Star Cluster

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A large group of stars that formed from the same giant molecular cloud and are bound together by gravity.

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Example: A star cluster is a large group of stars bound together by gravity, formed from the same cloud.