Black holes: agreed terms help sensible discussion.

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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• Replies: 10

Oxford Dictionary of Astronomy Ian Ridpath OUP 2011
"Black hole. An object with such a strong gravitational field that its escape velocity exceeds the velocity of light. One way in which black holes are believed to form is when massive...

Quantum Entanglement NEW Agreed Terms March 2022

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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Quantum Entanglement – NEW – Agreed Terms

This section is a prequel to: Quantum Entanglement – Possible on the Macro Level and starts with the phenomenon itself.


Science – The Definitive Guide Ed Piers Bizony Quercus 2010

“If...

Smaller Solar System Bodies - Agreed Terms - March 2022

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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Rocks in the Solar System. Maybe we should call them sub-planetary objects? I do not want to get involved in geological differences between rocks and minerals. For those that do, I think the best distinction is similar to that between mixtures...

Heliocentralism - Agreed Terms - April 2022

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics Ed Robert A Myers Academic Press 1989.

"Centuries before the Christian era, several Greek philosophers had prepared heliocentric models to observed motions of the Sun, Moon and planets in...

Geocentrism - Agreed Terms - April 2022

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics Ed Robert A Myers Academic Press 1989.
"Myths of creation, whether based on purely philosophical speculations, or carrying the authority of (various)...

Kuiper Belt - NEW - Agreed Terms - April 2022

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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Kuiper Belt – Agreed Terms - New and Extended:

“Comets, Meteors and Asteroids” by John Man BBC 2001

“Kuiper Belt
This belt of icy bodies is named after the Dutch-American astronomer Gerard Kuiper, who suggested its...

Asteroids - Agreed Terms - April 2022

Catastrophe Apr 19, 2022

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Asteroids comprise a very large proportion of more massive smaller Solar System objects. They vary from the size of dwarf planets to the smallest objects we want to recognise. Obviously there are immense smaller objects, down even to specks of dust...

Dark matter: Agreed terms help sensible discussion

Catastrophe Jul 9, 2021

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Universe - the definitive visual guide Gen ed Martin Rees Dark matter and dark energy DK 2012
There is far more dark matter in the Universe than that contained in stars and other visible objects. The invisible mass is...

What is a Dwarf Star?

SaraRayne Aug 15, 2020

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As far as suns go, ours is pretty small, but we never think of it as such. It’s fairly average in size when you consider how big other stars are, though. There are, of course, larger stars out there. Much...

Are Black Holes Really That Massive?

SaraRayne Aug 15, 2020

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Did you know that at the center of nearly every galaxy, there’s a supermassive black hole lurking? Supermassive conjures up scary images of a hulking mass, which isn’t too far off. But we always hear about...

How Strong is the Gravity of a Black Hole?

SaraRayne Aug 15, 2020

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Black holes test our comprehension of physics. They’re extremes that are fascinating to study and difficult to understand. One of the most intriguing aspects of black holes is their intense gravity. It’s what...

How Does Time Dilation Work?

SaraRayne Aug 15, 2020

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Time isn’t quite as straightforward as we think. We tend to work by the clock, punching in at 9 and heading home at 5, and in that span our experience of time doesn’t change (though it seems to slow down...

What is the Biggest Object Ever Discovered in Space?

SaraRayne Aug 15, 2020

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There are a lot of things out there that are far more massive than anything in our solar system. We’re like ants on our giant rock of a planet, but our planet is an ant compared to the Sun. This type of scale...

What is Jupiter’s Atmosphere Made Of?

SaraRayne Aug 15, 2020

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Jupiter is an intriguing planet, and not just because of how massive it is. The first of the outer planets and a gas giant that dwarfs our tiny planet, Jupiter and its Great Red Spot has been a subject of...

What is VY Canis Majoris?

SaraRayne Jun 30, 2020

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There are many classes of stars, from the red, white, and brown dwarfs to the red giants and blue supergiants. As far as stars go, ours is pretty average. It’s not small, but it doesn’t rank among the...

Can Alcohol Survive in Space?

SaraRayne Jun 28, 2020

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Alcohol is an ingrained (get it?) part of our culture and has been since as far back as the Babylonians. It is, however, banned on the International Space Station, so if you had dreams of boozing it up in low...

How Does a Star Form?

SaraRayne Jun 24, 2020

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Look up at the night sky, and you’ll see a twinkling display of thousands of stars. There are billions more that we can’t see, but they’re there nevertheless. Some of those points of light are entire galaxies...

What Would Happen if the Earth Started Spinning in the Other Direction?

SaraRayne Jun 24, 2020

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We can’t feel it, but we’re happily spinning through space on this globe we call the Earth at about 1000 mph at the equator. From above, Earth is turning counterclockwise in a prograde motion, which means the...