List of basic astronomy topics
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/* Branches of astronomy */
'''[[Astronomy]]''' is the [[science]] of celestial objects (''e.g.'', stars, [[planet]]s, [[comet]]s, and [[galaxy|galaxies]]) and [[phenomena]] that originate outside the [[Earth's atmosphere]]. It is concerned with the evolution, [[physics]], [[chemistry]], [[meteorology]], and [[motion (physics)|motion]] of celestial objects, as well as the [[physical cosmology|formation and development of the universe]]. Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. Astronomers of early civilizations performed methodical observations of the night sky, and astronomical artifacts have been found from much earlier periods. However, astronomy did not develop into a modern science until after the [[telescope]] was invented.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and introduction to '''astronomy'''.
{{portalpar|Astronomy}}
== Essence of astronomy ==
: ''Main article: [[Astronomy]]''
===Relation to [[astrophysics]]===
The subjects of astronomy and [[astrophysics]] are very large and closely related, too overlaid and intertwined in almost all their branches for either to be considered subordinate to the other. ''Astronomy'' is the ancient subject, concerning the observations of bodies beyond the [[Earth]] (and also with [[timekeeping]] and [[calendar]] maintenance), together with the meaning of those observations and our understanding of the nature of those bodies. ''Astrophysics'' is much more recent. The basic understanding of the movement of celestial bodies, and its essential connection with earthly natural science, or [[physics]], dates from the work of [[Galileo]] and [[Isaac Newton]]. The realization that the light of stars could be analyzed for clues about their physical nature, such as mass, size, temperature, composition, age, and evolution, began with the development of optical [[spectroscopy]] in the mid-19th century.
Thus ''uninterpreted observation'' may be considered as closest to pure astronomy, whereas physical modeling of the [[Universe]], from [[comet]]s and [[asteroid]]s to the [[Sun]], [[planet]]s and [[star]]s, to [[cosmology]] and the [[Big Bang]], becomes more nearly "pure astrophysics" (if indeed such a subject exists apart from speculation) the more it is concerned with laboratory and theoretical physics, and the more detached from observation. As astronomy has taught us a great deal about physics, so has physics (and its related fields, from mathematics to chemistry, and perhaps soon to include biology) proved essential to our understanding of astronomy.
== Branches of astronomy ==
[[Astrophysics|General astrophysics]] is the study of physics of the universe, including the physical properties ([[luminosity]], [[density]], [[temperature]], [[Chemistry|chemical composition]]) of astronomical objects. Theoretical astrophysics seeks to explain and model the physical properties of the universe using the laws of physics and the [[physical science]]s.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ The subdisciplines of theoretical astrophysics
|-
! Subdiscipline || Study
|-
| [[Astrobiology]]
| The advent and [[evolution]] of [[biological system]]s in the universe.
|-
| [[Compact objects]]
| Very dense matter in [[white dwarf]]s and [[neutron star]]s and their effects on environments including [[accretion]].
|-
| [[Exoplanet studies]]
| The various planets outside of the Solar System
|-
| [[Physical cosmology]]
| The origin and evolution of the universe as a whole. The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at its largest scale.
|-
| [[Galactic astronomy]]
| The structure and components of our galaxy and of other galaxies.
|-
| [[High energy astrophysics]]
| Phenomena occurring at high energies including [[active galactic nuclei]], [[supernova]]e, [[gamma-ray burst]]s, [[quasar]]s, and [[shocks]].
|-
| [[Interstellar astrophysics]]
| The [[interstellar medium]], [[intergalactic medium]] and [[dust]].
|-
| [[Extragalactic astronomy]]
| Objects (mainly galaxies) outside our galaxy, including [[Galaxy formation and evolution]].
|-
| [[Astronomy#Stellar astronomy|Stellar astronomy]]
| [[Star formation]], physical properties, [[main sequence]] life span, [[variable star|variability]], [[stellar evolution]] and extinction.
|-
| [[Plasma astrophysics]]
| The properties of [[plasma]] in outer space.
|-
| [[Relativistic astrophysics]]
| The effects of [[special relativity]] and [[general relativity]] in astrophysical contexts including [[gravitational waves]], [[gravitational lens]]ing and [[black hole]]s.
|}
[[Planetary Sciences]] is the study of the [[planet]]s of the [[Solar System]].
{| class="wikitable"
! Subject || Study
|-
| [[Atmospheric science]]
| The study of atmospheres and weather.
|-
| [[Planetary formation]]
| The formation of planets and moons in the context of the [[formation and evolution of the Solar System]].
|-
| [[Planetary rings]]
| The dynamics, stability, and composition of planetary rings
|-
| [[Solar physics]]
| The Sun and its interaction with the remainder of the Solar System and interstellar space.
|-
| [[Magnetosphere]]s
| The magnetic fields of planets and moons
|-
| [[Planetary surface]]s
| The surface geology of planets and moons
|-
| [[Planetary interiors]]
| The interior composition of planets and moons
|-
| [[Small Solar System bodies]]
| The smallest gravitationally bound bodies, including [[Asteroid]]s, [[Comet]]s, and [[Kuiper belt object]]s.
|}
The subdisciplines of [[observational astronomy]] are generally made by the specifications of the detectors:
* [[Radio astronomy]]
* [[Microwave astronomy]]
* [[Submillimetre astronomy]]
* [[Infrared astronomy]]
* [[Optical astronomy]]
* [[Ultraviolet astronomy]]
* [[X-ray astronomy]]
* [[Gamma-ray astronomy]]
* [[Cosmic ray astronomy]]
* [[Neutrino astronomy]]
* [[Gravitational wave astronomy]]
General techniques for astronomical research are also convenient ways of dividing the field:
* [[Photometry]] - the study of how bright celestial objects are when passed through different filters
* [[Spectroscopy]] - the study of the spectra of astronomical objects
* [[Astrometry]] - the study of the position of objects in the sky and their changes of position. Defines the system of coordinates used and the [[kinematics]] of objects in our galaxy.
Other disciplines that may be considered part of astronomy:
* [[Archaeoastronomy]]
* [[Astrochemistry]]
== History of astronomy ==
: ''Main article: [[History of astronomy]]''
== Basic astronomy concepts ==
===Basic phenomenon===
[[Atmosphere]] | [[Celestial pole]] | [[Tides]] | [[Orbit]] | [[Eclipse]] | [[Solar eclipse]] | [[Cosmic rays]] | [[Kepler's laws]] | [[Doppler effect]] | [[Redshift]] | [[Proper motion]] | [[Zodiac]] | [[Ecliptic]] | [[Precession (astronomy)|Precession]] | [[Nutation]]
===Instruments, measurement and units===
[[Radio telescope]] | [[Telescope]] | [[Calendar]] | [[Astronomical Unit]] | [[Celestial coordinates]] | [[Parsec]] | [[Precession]] | [[Celestial mechanics]] | [[Solar time]] | [[Sidereal time]]
===Sun===
<!-- [[Solar wind]] | [[Sunspots]] -->
{{The Sun|state=uncollapsed}}
===Solar system===
{{Solar System table}}
<!--
[[Solar system]] | [[Asteroid]] | [[Comet]] | [[Meteor]] | [[Sun]] | [[Planet]] | [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] | [[Venus (planet)|Venus]] | [[Earth]] | [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] | [[Jupiter (planet)|Jupiter]] | [[Galilean satellites]] | [[Saturn (planet)|Saturn]] | [[Uranus (planet)|Uranus]] | [[Neptune (planet)|Neptune]] | [[Pluto (planet)|Pluto]] | [[Moon]] | [[Halley's comet]]
-->
===Stars and stellar objects===
<!-- [[Star]] | [[Black Hole]] | [[Neutron star]] | [[Pulsar]] | [[Stellar evolution]] | [[Stellar parallax]] | [[Metallicity]] | [[Supernova]] | [[Variable star]] | [[White dwarf]] -->
[[Binary star]] | [[Cepheid variable]] | [[Flare star]] | [[Hertzsprung-Russell diagram|HR Diagram]] | [[Nova]] | [[Star formation]] |
{{Star}}
===Constellations===
<!-- [[Constellation]] | -->
{{Constellations|modern-only}}
===Clusters and nebulae===
[[Interstellar matter]] | [[Nebula]] | [[Crab Nebula]] | [[Globular cluster]] | [[H I region]] | [[H II region]] | [[Open cluster]] | [[Orion nebula]] | [[Planetary nebula]] | [[Pleiades]]
=== Galaxies ===
[[Galaxy]] | [[Andromeda Galaxy]] | [[Magellanic Clouds]] | [[Quasar]]
{{Milky Way}}
===Cosmology===
[[Big Bang]] | [[Cosmic microwave background]] | [[Cosmos]] | [[Dark matter]] | [[Cosmic distance ladder]] | [[Hubble constant]] | [[Olber's paradox]] | [[Universe]]
===Space exploration===
<!-- [[Galileo (spacecraft)]] | [[Voyager]] -->
{{NASA planetary exploration programs}}
{{Jupiter spacecraft}}
{{Venus spacecraft}}
{{Moon spacecraft}}
{{Asteroid spacecraft}}
{{Space telescopes}}
===Organizations===
[[American Association of Variable Star Observers|AAVSO]] | [[Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy|AURA]] | [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] | [[European Space Agency|ESA]] | [[JAXA]] | [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] | [[Royal Astronomical Society|RAS]] | [[Webb Society]]
{{Public sector space agencies|state=autocollapse}}
===Books and publications===
[[Almagest]] | [[Astronomia nova|Astronomia Nova]] | [[Astronomical Journal]] | [[Astrophysical Journal]] | [[Durchmusterung|BD Catalogue]] | [[De Revolutionibus]] | [[Henry Draper Catalogue]] | [[Isaac Asimov's Guide to Earth and Space]] | [[Messier Catalogue]] | [[New General Catalogue]] | [[Principia]]
== Astronomers ==
[[Walter Baade]] | [[Friedrich Bessel]] | [[Tycho Brahe]] | [[Annie Jump Cannon]] | [[Alvan Clark]] | [[Nicholas Copernicus]] | [[Galileo]] | [[George Ellery Hale]] | [[William Herschel]] | [[Edwin Hubble]] | [[Jacobus Kapteyn]] | [[Johannes Kepler]] | [[Gerard Kuiper]] | [[Henrietta Leavitt]] | [[Isaac Newton]] | [[Edward C. Pickering]] | [[Ptolemy]] | [[Henry Norris Russell]] | [[Harlow Shapley]]
== See also ==
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Astronomy}}
*[http://astronomyguide.byethost4.com/ Astronomy Guide] For reviews on astronomy products, how-to's and current events.
*[http://www.astronomy.net/ Astronomy Net] Resources, forums (from 1995), articles on Astronomy.
*[http://www.astronomy2009.org International Year of Astronomy 2009] IYA2009 Main website
* [http://www.aip.org/history/cosmology/index.htm Cosmic Journey: A History of Scientific Cosmology] from the American Institute of Physics
*[http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ Astronomy Picture of the Day]
*[http://www.astronomy.net.nz Southern Hemisphere Astronomy]
*[http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ Sky & Telescope] publishers
*[http://www.astronomy.com/ Astronomy Magazine]
*[http://www.astrolink.ir/en Latest astronomy news in 11 languages]
*[http://www.universetoday.com/ Universe Today] for astronomy and space-related news
*[http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/educational.php/ Celestia Motherlode] Educational site for Astronomical journeys through space
*[http://www.astrofind.net/ Search Engine for Astronomy]
*[http://www.hubblesite.org Hubblesite.org - home of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope]
*[http://www.literature.at/elib/index.php5?title=Astronomy_-_A_History_-_George_Forbes_-_1909 Astronomy - A History - G. Forbes - 1909 (eLibrary Project - eLib Text)]
* (historical)
* [http://www.vega.org.uk/video/subseries/16 Prof. Sir Harry Kroto, NL], Astrophysical Chemistry Lecture Series. 8 Freeview Lectures provided by the Vega Science Trust.
* [http://ads.harvard.edu/books/clab/ Core books] and [http://ads.harvard.edu/books/claj/ core journals] in Astronomy, from the Smithsonian/NASA [[Astrophysics Data System]]
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