Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Cancer, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Cancer [Lat.,=the crab], in astronomy, constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path through the heavens) between Gemini and Leo; it is a constellation of the zodiac. It contains the st...

Canopus, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Canopus, in astronomy, 2d brightest star in the sky, located in the constellation Carina, which is part of the ancient constellation Argo Navis; Bayer designation α Carinae; 1992 position R.A. 6h23.8...

Venus, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Venus, in astronomy, 2d planet from the sun; it is often called the evening star or morning star and is brighter than any object in the sky except the sun and the moon. Because its orbit lies between ...

Vesta, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Vesta vĕsˈtə [key], in astronomy, the fourth asteroid to be discovered. It was found in 1807 by H. Olbers. It is the third largest asteroid in size, with a diameter of c.326 mi (525 km). Its averag...

Portia

(Encyclopedia)Portia pôrˈshə [key], in astronomy, one of the natural satellites, or moons, of Uranus. ...

Umbriel

(Encyclopedia)Umbriel ŭmˈbrēĕlˌ [key], in astronomy, one of the moons, or natural satellites, of Uranus. ...

Oberon

(Encyclopedia)Oberon ōˈbərŏnˌ [key], in astronomy, one of the moons, or natural satellites, of Uranus. ...

Sycorax

(Encyclopedia)Sycorax sĭkˈərăksˌ [key], in astronomy, one of the natural satellites, or moons, of Uranus. ...

Rosalind

(Encyclopedia)Rosalind rŏzˈəlĭndˌ, rōˈzə– [key], in astronomy, one of the natural satellites, or moons, of Uranus. ...

Titania

(Encyclopedia)Titania tĭtāˈnēə [key], in astronomy, largest of the known moons, or natural satellites, of Uranus. ...

Browse by Subject