A Concise Dictionary of Astronomy

Astronomy is expanding almost as rapidly as the universe itself, and the proliferating scientific jargon can sometimes baffle even the most dedicated amateur. Now, in some 2,400 concise, up-to-date entries, this dictionary cuts a clear path through the maze of complex technical language, offering full, clear definitions drawn from all aspects of classical and modern astronomy. It has been compiled by Jacqueline Mitton, an officer of the Royal Astronomical Society, who has devoted much of her time in recent years to works which convey the excitement of astronomy to general readers. Here are the names of planets, moons, asteroids, stars, constellations, and galaxies. Mitton includes the types of stars (Red Giants, Blue Stragglers, Brown Dwarfs), the most common scientific terms used in modern astrophysics and cosmology (for instance, butterfly diagram) as well as relevant terms from physics and other fields. Entries on telescopes and other measuring devices, observatories, and space missions show how astronomers have explored the universe. The Dictionary also explains abbreviations and acronyms, and it examines a wide range of fascinating phenomena, from blazers and black holes to runaway stars and the Hawking effect. From Betelgeuse to the Big Bang, and from spiral galaxies to solar waves, A Concise Dictionary of Astronomy opens a window on the universe for amateur astronomers everywhere.… (more)