Strong ForceThe interaction responsible for binding quarks, antiquarks, and gluons to make hadrons. Residual strong interactions provide the nuclear binding force.
StructureChanges in the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior.
SunspotDark areas on the Sun created by strong magnetic fields beneath the Sun’s surface.
Sunspot CycleThe recurring, eleven-year rise and fall in the number of Sunspots.
Super ClusterA cluster of clusters of galaxies. A vast collection of galaxy clusters that may contain tens of thousands of galaxies spanning over a hundred million…
SupernovaSupernova refers to several types of stellar (meaning star) explosions that produce extremely bright objects that decline to invisibility over weeks or…
Total Solar IrradianceThe total amount of radiant energy from the Sun that falls on a surface in a given amount of time.
Transition RegionArea of the Sun’s atmosphere with temperatures between those of the chromosphere and the corona, 20,000 and 1,000,000 K (35,000 and 1,800,000°F)…
Type Ia SupernovaSupernova formed from the explosion of an old, compact star (white dwarf). Used as standard candles as they have uniform intrinsic brightness.
UltravioletElectromagnetic radiation at wavelengths shorter than 400 nm.
UniverseIn the world of investments, the word universe refers to a specific group or category of investments that share certain characteristics.
Vacuum EnergyA theorized energy everywhere in space, arising from quantum mechanics.
Variable StarsStars which brighten and dim, some with precise regularity. For Cepheid variables, their period allows determination of their brightness, and so their…
VelocityThe rate and direction of change of an object's position. The speed and direction at which something is moving.
Visible LightElectromagnetic radiation from about 400 to 700 nm, which is detectable by the human eye.
Visible MassMass that gives off electromagnetic radiation, so that it can be detected. It is ordinary (baryonic) matter.
Visible UniverseThe part of the entire universe from which light would have had time to reach us in the age of the universe.
WavelengthThe distance between one peak or crest of a wave (of light, heat, or other energy) and the next corresponding peak or crest.
X-RaysThe part of the electromagnetic spectrum whose radiation has much greater frequencies and smaller wavelengths than those of ultraviolet radiation.
Zeeman effectA splitting of a spectral line into several components due to the presence of a static magnetic field.