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Cosmos

The universe seen as a well-ordered whole.

Astronomer

A scientist who studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole.

Geocentric Model

An Earth-centered model of the universe proposed by Aristotle.

Heliocentric Model

A Sun-centered model of the solar system proposed by Copernicus.

Light-Year

The distance that light travels in one year, used to measure astronomical distances.

Astronomical Unit (AU)

The average distance from Earth to the Sun, approximately 149.6 million kilometers.

Radio Telescope

An instrument that observes radio waves from space and can detect objects that are invisible to optical telescopes.

Parallax

The apparent shift in position of an object when viewed from different locations, used to measure distances to nearby stars.

Spectrometer

An instrument used to measure and analyze the light spectrum emitted by stars to determine their composition.

Triangulation

A method used to determine distances by measuring angles in a triangular setup.

Canadarm

A robotic arm on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station developed in Canada, used for manipulating objects.

Meteor

A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and produces a bright streak of light.

Meteoroid

A small rocky or metallic body in outer space.

Impact Crater

A depression left on a surface by the impact of a meteoroid or asteroid.

Space Junk

Debris resulting from defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and other discarded materials in orbit around Earth.

Life Support Technology

Systems that provide the necessary conditions for human life in space, including air, water, and food recycling.

Elliptical Orbit

The oval-shaped path planets take as they revolve around the Sun.

Optical Telescope

A telescope that uses lenses or mirrors to gather and focus light from celestial objects.

Radio Interferometry

A technique that combines signals from multiple radio telescopes to create a more detailed image.