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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| Thuban Alpha Draconis; α Dra |
A third magnitude star in the constellation Draco. Despite its designation as Alpha, it is only the seventh-brightest star in Draco. About 5,000 years ago Thuban was the nearest bright star to the north celestial pole. The location of the north pole among the stars changes slowly over time because of precession. The name, derived from Arabic, means dragon.
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