Astronomy terms starting with G

10 terms

1. Galaxy A cluster of stars held together by their own gravity, and apparently dark matter as well.
2. Gamma Rays Created by nuclear reactions, this is the most energetic electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun.
3. General Relativity See Relativity.
4. Geocentric A model of the universe, believed by Aristotle, and Ptolemy which puts the earth at the center.
5. Geometries Models of the curvature of the universe in which the laws of geometry are like those that would apply on flat, spherical, or saddle-shaped surfaces.
6. Geosynchronous Refers to an orbit (about 22,300 miles above Earth’s surface) with a period equal to one day.
7. Globular Clusters A collection of hundreds of thousands of old stars held together by gravity.
8. Gluon The carrier particle of the strong interactions. It holds quarks together and the atom's nucleus together.
9. Granules Short-lived cells of plasma that carry heat to the Sun’s surface via convection (rising and falling).
10. Gravitational Attraction The interaction of particles due to their mass/energy.