(Encyclopedia) radial velocity, in astronomy, the speed with which a star moves toward or away from the sun. It is determined from the red or blue shift in the star's spectrum.
(Encyclopedia) AurigaAurigaôrīˈgə [key] [Lat.,=the charioteer or wagoner], northern constellation traditionally represented as a man, possibly Vulcan, carrying a goat on his shoulder while driving a…
(Encyclopedia) AldebaranAldebaranălˌdĕbˈərən [key], brightest star in the constellation Taurus; Bayer designation α Tauri; 1992 position R.A. 4h35.5m, Dec. +16°30′. An orange giant star (spectral…
(Encyclopedia) Perseus, in astronomy, northern constellation lying E of Cassiopeia and N of Taurus. It contains the bright star Mirfak (Alpha Persei) and Algol (Beta Persei), a visible variable star…
(Encyclopedia) AlgolAlgolălˈgŏl [key], famous variable star in the constellation Perseus; Bayer designation β Persei; 1992 position R.A. 3h07.7m, Dec. +40°55′. Algol's variation in apparent magnitude…
(Encyclopedia) transit instrument or transit, telescope devised to observe stars as they cross the meridian and used for determining time. Its viewing tube swings on a rigid horizontal axis…
(Encyclopedia)
CE5
Equatorial coordinate system
equatorial coordinate system, the most commonly used astronomical coordinate system for indicating the positions of stars or other celestial…
(Encyclopedia) LuciferLuciferl&oomacr;ˈsĭfər [key] [Lat.,=light-bearing], in Christian tradition a name for Satan. In the Vulgate, Lucifer served as a translation of the Hebrew epithet meaning “…
(Encyclopedia)
CE5
spectral class, in astronomy, a classification of the stars by their spectrum and luminosity. In 1885, E. C. Pickering began the first extensive attempt to classify the stars…
