Astronomy

Definition of Saturn

Saturn is a concept with several meanings. The term has its etymological origin in the medieval Latin Saturnus, which can be translated as "lead." The most frequent use is associated with a planet that is part of the Solar System. Saturn, in this framework, is the name of the star that is easily identifiable by its rings. Characteristics […]

Definition of dawn

The etymology of dawn takes us to the Hispanic Latin admanescĕre. This word, in turn, derives from the Latin mane, which refers to what happens or is done in the morning hours. The first meaning of dawn mentioned in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), in this framework, refers to what […]

Definition of azimuth

The term azimuth, also accepted by the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) as azimuth, is used in the field of astronomy. Its etymological origin is found in the Arabic word assumūt, which is the plural of samt. The angle that, together with the meridian, makes up the vertical circle that crosses a […]

Definition of boreal

The etymology of boreal takes us to Latin, more precisely to the word boreālis. It is an adjective that can be used to refer to what is linked to the north or the Boreas. The cardinal point that is located in front of the observer to whose right is east is called north. The Boreas, meanwhile, is […]

Definition of stellar

The late Latin word stellāris came into our language as stellar. The first meaning of this adjective that appears in the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) refers to that which is linked to the stars. Stars are the celestial bodies that, at night, can be detected by their brightness, with […]

Definition of lunation

Lunation is a term that comes from the late Latin lunatio. The term refers to the time that occurs between two equal phases of the Moon. Synodic lunar month The lunar phases are linked to the illumination of the Sun. Each phase is associated with how the illuminated portion of the Moon is modified according to its change in […]

Definition of precession

Precession is the rotational movement developed by the inclined axis of rotation of a gyroscope. Rotational movement Precession is a rotational movement: that is, a movement made by a body around an axis. The axis, in turn, is the piece that passes through a rotating object, giving it […]

Definition of astrobiology

Astrobiology is a discipline dedicated to studying the beginning, development and distribution of life throughout the universe, both on Earth and outside our planet. Appealing to knowledge of different sciences and the use of technology, it is proposed to know the origin of life, search for life in […]

Definition of Almagest

In the 2nd century, Claudius Ptolemy published a treatise on astronomy entitled Hè magalè syntaxis, which in Arabic became known as Almagest. The work includes an extensive list of stars, explains the apparent movement of the stars and offers a description of a geocentric system (which places the Earth at the center of the universe). […]

Definition of exobiology

Exobiology is a discipline dedicated to examining the possibility that life exists outside planet Earth. It is a field of knowledge that combines contributions from chemistry, physics, astronomy and other sciences. Space research Investigate the birth and development of the planetary system, study organic compounds […]