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SAT Natural Sciences - Astronomy and Aerospace Science

Here you will learn some English words related to astronomy and aerospace science, such as "comet", "flare", "orbit", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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SAT Vocabulary for Natural Sciences
astronomer

a scientist who studies or observes planets, stars, and other happenings in the universe

Ex: Modern astronomers use computer simulations and mathematical models to predict celestial events and phenomena .
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astrophysicist

a scientist who studies the physical properties and phenomena of celestial objects and the universe as a whole

Ex: Universities often employ astrophysicists to teach courses on stellar evolution and the structure of galaxies .
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planetarium

a device that simulates the motion and appearance of celestial objects such as planets, stars, and galaxies, typically using projectors and optical systems to depict the solar system and universe

Ex: The digital planetarium software allowed astronomers to visualize complex astronomical phenomena like supernovae and black holes .
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observatory

a building where scientists observe stars, meteors, the weather, etc. using equipment such as telescope

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celestial
celestial
[Adjective]

related to or occurring in the sky or outer space

Ex: Celestial coordinates , such as right ascension and declination , are used to locate objects in the night sky .
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asteroid
asteroid
[noun]

any of the rocky bodies orbiting the sun, ranging greatly in diameter, also found in large numbers between Jupiter and Mars

Ex: Some asteroids contain valuable minerals and resources that could be mined in the future .
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meteorite
meteorite
[noun]

a piece of rock or metal from space that has hit the surface of the earth

Ex: The study of meteorites helps researchers understand the potential hazards of asteroids and comets .
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supernova
supernova
[noun]

an exploding star that as a result is emitting a very large amount of light, more than the sun

Ex: Supernovae release enormous amounts of energy, producing heavy elements essential for planetary formation.
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constellation

a specific group of stars that form a pattern and have a name related to their shape

Ex: The constellation Cassiopeia forms a distinct " W " shape in the northern sky .
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comet
comet
[noun]

an object in space that is a mass of ice and dust and when it nears the sun it starts illuminating in the shape of a tail

Ex: The appearance of a bright comet in the night sky often attracts attention from amateur astronomers and stargazers alike .
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white dwarf

a small, dense, and faint stellar remnant that is left after a medium-sized star exhausts the nuclear fuel in its core and undergoes gravitational collapse

Ex: Although small , white dwarfs can be quite hot , emitting radiation across a broad spectrum including visible light .
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exoplanet
exoplanet
[noun]

a planet that is outside the solar system

Ex: Scientists use advanced telescopes and observatories to detect the faint signals of exoplanets orbiting distant stars .
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asteroid belt

a region in the solar system located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, populated by numerous small celestial bodies called asteroids

Ex: Some asteroids in the asteroid belt occasionally cross Earth 's orbit , posing potential impact hazards that astronomers monitor closely .
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to orbit
to orbit
[Verb]

to move around a star, planet, or a large object in space

Ex: The dwarf planet Pluto orbits the sun in a region of space known as the Kuiper Belt .
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revolution

the orbital movement of a planet, moon, or satellite around another body

Ex: Jupiter 's revolution around the sun is much slower than Earth 's .
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ablation
ablation
[noun]

the process by which the surface of an object, such as a comet or an asteroid, erodes or vaporizes due to the effects of solar radiation and other environmental factors

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corona
corona
[noun]

the outer layer of the Sun's atmosphere, observable as a plasma halo during a solar eclipse

Ex: The corona's magnetic fields contribute to the formation of solar prominences and eruptions .
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flare
flare
[noun]

a sudden, brief burst of increased brightness observed from the sun's surface, usually accompanied by a burst of energy and radiation

Ex: Astronomers studied the flare to understand solar activity .
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planetary
planetary
[Adjective]

related to or characteristic of planets or the solar system

Ex: Planetary exploration missions , like those conducted by NASA and other space agencies , aim to study distant worlds .
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crater
crater
[noun]

a depression on the surface of a celestial body, formed by the impact of cosmic debris such as meteoroids or asteroids

Ex: The impact that formed Meteor Crater in Arizona left a nearly perfectly preserved crater rim, offering insights into impact dynamics.
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solar mass

a unit of mass used in astronomy, defined as the mass of the Sun

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extraterrestrial
extraterrestrial
[Adjective]

relating to or originating from outside the Earth or its atmosphere

Ex: Some believe that crop circles are created by extraterrestrial beings.
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photosphere

the visible surface of a star, including the Sun, where energy is emitted as light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation

Ex: The photosphere marks the boundary between a star's opaque surface and its outer atmosphere.
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to eclipse

to overshadow another astrological body

Ex: The moon ’s passing in front of the sun caused it to eclipse the sun ’s light completely for a few minutes .
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annular eclipse

a type of solar eclipse where the moon, passing between the earth and the sun, appears smaller than the sun, creating a ring of sunlight around the darkened moon

Ex: People travel to specific locations along the eclipse path to experience and photograph the unique spectacle of an annular eclipse.
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interstellar
interstellar
[Adjective]

situated or occurring between stars or within the space that exists between stars

Ex: Interstellar communication explores the possibility of sending messages or signals between distant stars.
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Nebula
Nebula
[noun]

a glowing cloud of gas and dust in outer space, often the result of a star explosion or formation

Ex: The beautiful colors of the Eagle Nebula were captured by the space telescope.
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aurora
aurora
[noun]

a natural light display in the Earth's polar regions, caused by the collision of charged particles from the sun with atoms in the Earth's atmosphere

Ex: The indigenous people in polar regions often incorporate stories of the aurora into their cultural narratives .
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dwarf planet

a celestial body that orbits the Sun and has sufficient mass for its gravity to pull it into a nearly spherical shape

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tektite
tektite
[noun]

a small, natural glassy object formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts, known for its smooth texture and found in strewn fields across the Earth's surface

Ex: Tektites can vary in size from tiny millimeters to several centimeters across .
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armillary sphere

a model of the celestial sphere, historically used to depict and study the positions of celestial objects, consisting of a series of hoops representing important circles in the sky

Ex: Today , modern replicas of armillary spheres serve as educational tools in astronomy classrooms and planetariums .
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aeronautics

the science and practice of designing, building, and operating aircraft, including airplanes and spacecraft

Ex: The development of supersonic aircraft is a milestone in modern aeronautics.
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spacecraft

a vehicle designed to travel in space

Ex: After completing its mission , the spacecraft re-entered Earth 's atmosphere and safely returned with samples collected from space .
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to launch
to launch
[Verb]

to send an object, such as a satellite, missile, etc., into space

Ex: SpaceX is preparing to launch another batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit .
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launch pad

a designated area at a spaceport or rocket launch site where rockets or spacecraft are positioned and prepared for liftoff

Ex: The launch pad is equipped with fueling stations , support structures , and safety systems to facilitate rocket launches .
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probe
probe
[noun]

an unmanned spacecraft or device sent to gather information from space and transmit it back

Ex: The probe sent back high-resolution images .
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space shuttle

a vehicle designed and used to go to space and return multiple times

Ex: Endeavour was one of the space shuttles used for scientific research and satellite deployment missions .
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rover
rover
[noun]

a robotic vehicle designed to move across the surface of a celestial body to conduct scientific experiments and gather data

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