Welcome to Science Reader!
Welcome to Science Reader!
38 glossary terms
Space, astronomy, and cosmology ask three overlapping questions: what is out there, how did it get there, and where is it going? The terms in this section describe stars and galaxies, the instruments that observe them, and the large-scale frameworks astronomers use to interpret what they see. You will find definitions for the everyday (heliocentric model, absolute magnitude) alongside ideas still under active debate, including dark matter and the cosmic expansion. Taken together, these terms give you the footing to read a modern observatory paper or follow a mission update without losing the thread.
The multiverse is a hypothetical ensemble of universes beyond our own. The word covers three distinct ideas: cosmological bubble universes, the string-theory landscape, and quantum many-worlds.
Mars rover discoveries are the scientific findings from robotic vehicles on Mars, including evidence of ancient water, organic chemistry, and potential biosignatures that reshape our understanding of the planet's past habitability.
Solar wind is a continuous stream of charged particles from the Sun, flowing at 400 to 800 kilometers per second. When this plasma reaches Earth, it compresses the magnetic field, drives geomagnetic storms, generates auroras, and can disrupt power grids and satellites.
Jovian moon geology is the study of the surface features, internal structure, and geological processes of Jupiter's natural satellites.
Kuiper Belt objects are icy bodies orbiting beyond Neptune in a disc from 30 to 55 AU, including dwarf planets and remnants from the solar system's formation.
Lagrange points are five positions in a two-body orbital system where gravity and orbital motion balance, letting smaller objects hold station. Space agencies use them to park telescopes and solar monitors.
Keplerian orbital mechanics describes the motion of one body around another under gravity alone, following the three laws Johannes Kepler published between 1609 and 1619.
A radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) converts heat from radioactive decay into electricity using thermocouples, providing reliable power for spacecraft beyond the reach of sunlight.
A supernova remnant is the expanding structure of gas, dust, and shock waves left behind after a star explodes, shaping the galaxy through heavy element dispersal and cosmic ray acceleration.
A white dwarf is the dense remnant left when a low- or intermediate-mass star exhausts its fuel and sheds its outer layers.
