Space exploration began with the launch of Sputnik and Astrophysics was born as the application of physics to the phenomena observed by Astronomy, which etymologically means laws of the stars.
There are 2759 entries in this glossary.| Term | Definition |
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| Hyperbolic |
Having the shape of a hyperbola, one of the family of curves known as conic sections. The hyperbola is one of the possible shapes for the orbit of a body under the influence of a central gravitational force. The hyperbolic shape results if the body has enough energy to be able to escape from the gravitational force. A body travelling fast enough for this to occur is sometimes described as having a hyperbolic velocity.
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