Astronomy Jargon

Some words I like. Here are some words I’ve encountered in astronomy I had not known elsewhere.

Barycenter–The point of the center of mass between two or more bodies.

Lagrangian points–Zones around the sun where an object placed there will orbit the sun relative the the Earth’s orbital progression.

“Dwarf Planet”–The International Astronomical Union always puts quotation marks around the word “dwarf planet” and “planet.”

Orbital resonances–These are corresponding pulls of gravity in orbiting systems. It causes the gaps in the rings of Saturn and the elliptical orbit of Io around Jupiter.

Troposphere–The lowest layer of the atmosphere where greenhouse warming occurs.

Transit signature–The observable light change made by a exoplanet passing in front of its star.

Chartreuse–A color between yellow and green.

Spirographs–The path caused by a point in a circle rotating around another circle.

Epicycles–A circle moving around another circle.

Spirographic art.