Astrophysics terms starting with N

6 terms

1. Neutrino A lepton with no electric charge. Neutrinos participate only in weak and gravitational interactions and are therefore very difficult to detect.
2. Neutron A baryon with electric charge zero; it has the basic structure of two down quarks and one up quark (held together by gluons).
3. Nought Usually referring to the first value in a range, and denoted by a subscript, "0".
4. Nucleon Proton or neutron, part of atomic nucleus.
5. Nucleosynthesis The process by which atoms are formed by the coming together of subatomic particles and other smaller atoms.
6. Nucleus/Nuclei (plural- nuclei; adjective- nuclear ) The center of an atom. Nearly 100% percent of the mass of an atom is contained in the nucleus.