What does astronomy mean?

Definitions for astronomy
əˈstrɒn ə mias·tron·o·my

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word astronomy.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. astronomy, uranologynoun

    the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole

Wiktionary

  1. astronomynoun

    The study of the physical universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere, including the process of mapping locations and properties of the matter and radiation in the universe.

  2. Etymology: astronomie, from astronomia, from ἀστρονομία, from ἄστρον, from h₂stḗr + νόμος, related to νέμω.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. ASTRONOMYnoun

    A mixed mathematical science teaching the knowledge of the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods, eclipses, and order. The origin of astronomy is uncertain; but from Egypt it travelled into Greece, where Pythagoras was the first European who taught that the earth and planets turn round the sun, which stands immoveable in the center; as he himself had been instructed by the Egyptian priests. From the time of Pythagoras, astronomy sunk into neglect, till it was revived by the Ptolemys, kings of Egypt and the Saracens, after their conquest of that country, having acquired some knowledge of it, brought it from Africa to Spain, and again restored this science to Europe, where it has since received very considerable improvements. Ephraim Chambers

    Etymology: ἀστϱονομία, from ἄστϱὸν, a star, and νόμος, a law, or rule.

    To this must be added the understanding of the globes, and the principles of geometry and astronomy. Abraham Cowley.

Wikipedia

  1. Astronomy

    Astronomy (from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία (astronomía) 'science that studies the laws of the stars') is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Relevant phenomena include supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, quasars, blazars, pulsars, and cosmic microwave background radiation. More generally, astronomy studies everything that originates beyond Earth's atmosphere. Cosmology is a branch of astronomy that studies the universe as a whole.Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences. The early civilizations in recorded history made methodical observations of the night sky. These include the Babylonians, Greeks, Indians, Egyptians, Chinese, Maya, and many ancient indigenous peoples of the Americas. In the past, astronomy included disciplines as diverse as astrometry, celestial navigation, observational astronomy, and the making of calendars. Nowadays, professional astronomy is often said to be the same as astrophysics.Professional astronomy is split into observational and theoretical branches. Observational astronomy is focused on acquiring data from observations of astronomical objects. This data is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. Theoretical astronomy is oriented toward the development of computer or analytical models to describe astronomical objects and phenomena. These two fields complement each other. Theoretical astronomy seeks to explain observational results and observations are used to confirm theoretical results. Astronomy is one of the few sciences in which amateurs play an active role. This is especially true for the discovery and observation of transient events. Amateur astronomers have helped with many important discoveries, such as finding new comets.

ChatGPT

  1. astronomy

    Astronomy is a scientific field that involves the study of celestial objects, events, and phenomena that occur outside the Earth's atmosphere. This includes studying the properties, structures, development, and motion of celestial bodies such as planets, stars, galaxies, comets, asteroids, as well as phenomena such as nebulae and black holes. It also examines the universe as a whole, including its origin, evolution, and physical laws. Astronomy often involves use of telescopes and other data-collecting technologies.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Astronomynoun

    astrology

  2. Astronomynoun

    the science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena

  3. Astronomynoun

    a treatise on, or text-book of, the science

  4. Etymology: [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr. , fr. astronomer; 'asth`r star + to distribute, regulate. See Star, and Nomad.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Astronomy

    as-tron′om-i, n. the laws or science of the stars or heavenly bodies.—n. Astron′omer, one versed in astronomy.—adj. Astronom′ic.—adv. Astronom′ically.—v.t. Astron′omise. [Gr. astronomiaastron, star, nomos, a law.]

U.S. National Library of Medicine

  1. Astronomy

    The science concerned with celestial bodies and the observation and interpretation of the radiation received in the vicinity of the earth from the component parts of the universe (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 5th ed)

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. astronomy

    The splendid department of the mixed sciences which teaches the laws and phenomena of the universal system. It is practical when it treats of the magnitudes, periods, and distances of the heavenly bodies; and physical when it investigates the causes. In the first division the more useful adaptation nautical is included (which see).

Editors Contribution

  1. astronomy

    The study, principles and rules of the universe including the process of mapping locations and properties of the energy, frequency, light and matter in the universe.

    Astronomy is a popular subject for people of all ages to experience.


    Submitted by MaryC on December 26, 2019  

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of astronomy in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of astronomy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of astronomy in a Sentence

  1. Ed Guinan:

    Eclipses are great hooks for involving children and the public about astronomy and science, i am wishing for clear skies all across the path of totality and that everyone gets a view of this breathtaking moment of observing (the corona), a dimension of our star that most people don't know exists.

  2. Wendy Freedman:

    The GMT will herald the beginning of a new era in astronomy. The GMT will reveal the first objects to emit light in the universe, explore the mysteries of dark energy and dark matter, and identify potentially habitable planets in the Earth's galactic neighborhood, the decision by the GMTO partner institutions to start construction is a crucial milestone on our journey to making these amazing discoveries using state-of-the-art science, technology and engineering.

  3. Martin Weisskopf:

    The launch of IXPE marks a bold and unique step forward for X-ray astronomy, iXPE will tell us more about the precise nature of cosmic X-ray sources than we can learn by studying their brightness and color spectrum alone.

  4. Suzy Johnson:

    I just know that my daughter — when I picked her up, she was really upset because when they first got there…counselors said their name, where they're from, what their favorite animal is — which is something kids can relate to — and then whether they identify as a pronoun. … My daughter is not ready to think about that stuff. She's in fifth grade, 11 years old, learning about science, taking astronomy classes.

  5. Subo Dong:

    Like many mysteries in astronomy, it may take years, if not decades, of observational and theoretical efforts to unravel it.

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