Standard Vocabulary (Version 2007-08-20) Having to do with the large-scale properties of the universe ucd:phys.cosmology Cosmic background Dark Energy Dark matter Having to do with the state of the early universe Large-scale structure of the universe Generic cosmological parameter Hubble's constant (current) Einstein's lambda parameter Cosmological energy/mass fraction parameter Having to do with astronomical devices, instruments, and methods ucd:instr Technology used on astronomical telescopes to remove the effects of atmospheric distortion Generic amplifier Antenna for radio reception Telescope autoguider Device to transport instruments in the upper atmosphere Camera for monitoring clouds Delay line (e.g. in an interferometer) Generic detector of electromagnetic radiation or particles ucd:instr.det Generic bolometer Photomultiplier detector PMT CCD detector CCD CMOS detector CMOS Thermal dark current of detector Photographic film or plate ucd:instr.plate.emulsion Total noise of detector ucd:instr.det.noise Position-sensitive proportional counter PSPC Read-out noise of detector RON Superconducting Tunnel Junction detector Quantum efficiency ucd:instr.det.qe QE Computer Very small computer Parallel computer Dichroic window/mirror Differential Image Motion Monitor (for seeing) DIMM Fabry-Perot etalon FP Eyepiece Generic filter for electromagnetic radiaion ucd:instr.filter Generic narrow-band filter Neutral-density filter Bessel filter system Bessel filter # (U,B,V,R,I) Cousins filter system Cousins filter # (V,R,I) Geneva filter system Geneva filter # (U,B,B1,B2,V,V1,G) Gunn filter system Gunn filter # (g,r,i,z) HST filter system HST filter # (Fnnn[LMNW]) Kron filter system Kron filter # (R,I) Johnson filter system Johnson filter # (U,B,V,R,I,J,H,K,L,M,N) Generic red-green-blue filter system Red filter Green filter Blue filter Sloan filter system Sloan filter # (u,g,r,i,z) Stroemgren filter system Stroemgren filter # (u,b,v,y,beta) Vilnius filter system Vilnius filter # (U,P,X,Y,Z,V,T,S) Walraven filter system Walraven filter # (V,B,L,U,W) Filterwheel Grating Echelle grating VPH grating Grism=Grating+Prism Generic imaging instrument camera Imaging instrument with a coronographic mask Wide-field imaging instrument Generic (astro)physical instrument ucd:instr Interferometer Lamp Flat-field lamp Lamp for wavelength calibration Refractive lens Optical mask Microchannel plate amplifier MCP Reflective mirror Primary mirror Secondary mirror Tertiary mirror Mixer (e.g. radio) Photocathode amplifier Generic photometer Optical window 1/2 wave plate 1/4 wave plate Polarimeter Prism Rocket (e.g. sounding) Generic sensing device anemometer (wind speed) barometer (pressure) dust sensor hygrometer (humidity) rain/snow sensor thermometer (temperature) wind vane (wind direction) Shutter Slit Generic man-made device sent to space Generic spectrograph Coude spectrograph Echelle spectrograph Imaging spectrograph Integral-field spectrograph Multi-fiber spectrograph Multi-slit spectrograph Spectrograph with OH-suppression Spectropolarimeter Generic switch Generic telescope ucd:instr.tel Refracting telescope Mirror telescope Weather station Internet camera Having to do with diffuse interstellar, interplanetary or intergalactic media Extraterrestrial cosmic rays Generic diffuse cloud or nebula cloud Nebula visible by its own emission Nebula visible by its obscuration against a background Small, less diffuse cloud; Bok globule Cometary globule Neutral hydrogen cloud Ionized hydrogen cloud HII-region Molecular cloud Giant molecular cloud GMC Planetary nebula PN A proto-planetary cloud or disk (not a proto-PN!) proplyd Herbig-Haro nebula HH-Object High-velocity cloud HVC Nebula visible from the reflected light of another object Remnant from an explosion or eruption Having to do with galaxies galaxy with an active nucleus AGN Highly variable active galaxy blazar Galaxy of type BL Lac Quasar-type active galaxy QSO Weakly active galaxy LINER Non-stellar Black Hole in a galaxy Bulge of a galaxy Galaxy cluster Compact galaxy Dwarf galaxy Elliptical or lenticular galaxy Elliptical galaxy of type # (E*) E# Giant elliptical galaxy cD Unusually large galaxy Group of galaxies Compact group of galaxies Irregular galaxy Lenticular galaxy S0 Peculiar galaxy Seyfert galaxy Seyfert galaxy of type # Spiral galaxy SA Spiral galaxy of type # (SA#) SA# Barred spiral galaxy SB Barred spiral galaxy of type # SB# Weakly barred spiral galaxy SAB Weakly barred sprial galaxy of type # SAB# Super-cluster of galaxies Unusually luminous galaxy Having to do with (cosmic) location Being along a single line-of-sight with an observer Being along a single line-of-sight with an observer but in front of another object Being along a single line-of-sight with an observer but in back of another object Located at the center-of-mass Spatially localized between other objects or regions Around a binary or multiple star system Around a galaxy Around a star Outside of the Milky Way Outside of the Solar System Outside of the Earth Between galaxies within a planetary system Between stars Within a cluster Within a galaxy Region close to but still beyond an object Having to do with mathematical concepts. The figure formed by two lines sharing a common endpoint Quantity expressing the size of a surface ucd:phys.area The measure of how much two random variables vary together The rate of change of a function when the values of its inputs change Theoretical probability distribution in statistical significance tests ucd:stat.fit.chi2 Function describing the probability distribution of a real-valued random variable Gaussian continuous probability distribution Poissonian probability distribution Differential equation Type of differential equation involving partial derivatives Mathematical function; the # form is used for commonly recognizable functions like sin, cos, abs, etc. FFT Having to do with astronomically relevant methods, analyses, etc. Having to do with the analysis / processing of data Graphical display of data, e.g. a 2-dimensional plot of one quantity versus another Having to do with analytical calculation Having to do with astronomical calibration Alignment calibration Bias calibration Centering calibration Dark-current calibration Dead-time calibration Flatfield calibration Flux calibration Focus calibration Frequency calibration Calibration of unwanted fringes Calibration of linear response Calibration of phase Position calibration Position angle calibration Calibration of tracking performance Calibration of throughput Wavelength calibration Having to do with laboratory methods/techniques Having to do with numerical calculations on a computer Single Particle Hydrodynamics SPH Measurement made by reflecting a signal off an object Having to do with the simulation of a physical process Simulation via a large number of events having the right statistical properties Simulation using a large number of similar objects Study of the internal structure of an object by the interpretation of its frequency spectra Investigation of a large number of objects Having to do with theoretical interpretation of phenomena A random collection of standard definitions, aliases, and acronyms of potentially wide interest (place true names under "named") The study of life in space, combining aspects of astronomy, biology and geology The study of the chemical elements found in outer space Cosmic microwave background cosmology.cosmicBackground;ucd:em.radio CMB Coronal mass ejection physics.magneticField;process.mass-loss.ejection;process.corona CME Gamma-ray burst time.variation.burst;ucd:em.gamma GRB Heliocentric Julian Date time.Julian.date;location;named.Sun HJD Barycentric Julian Date time.Julian.date;location.barycentric;named.SolarSystem BJD Intracluster medium diffuse;location.intracluster ICM Intergalactic medium diffuse;location.intergalactic IGM Interstellar medium diffuse;location.interstellar ISM MAssive Compact Halo Object star;isElementOf;[;galaxy;morphology.halo;] MACHO Magnetohydrodynamics physics.magneticField;physics.hydrodynamics MHD Supernova remnant diffuse.remnant;star.supernova SNR Generic structure of object/source Elongated centered structure Diffuse or empty structure with a better defined outer surface/layer/region Geometric or property-weighted center of an object Tall structure with width << height Central, compact, physically distinct part of a larger object Circum-object disk with thickness H <<R and R_in << R_out disc Edge, sharp boundary, terminator Having to do with the outer part of something Highly elongated structure Grainy appearence of a surface Outer region of an object with a distinct core or nucleus coma envelope Having to do with the inner part of something Curved feature in space or extending out from a surface or point Generic central part of a larger object Circum-object ring with thickness H << R and R_in ~ R_out process.belt Radial structure with continously changing position angle Distinct physical region on an object with different properties A bright spot Distinct outer surface of a body A short connected region trailing behind the main body A long connected region trailing behind the main body Region of very low density w.r.t. some quantity Individual objects/concepts with commonly used names The Andromeda galaxy named;galaxy M31 Ceres named;planetary.dwarfPlanet Ceres The Earth named;planetary.planet Earth Gaia The Hubble Space Telescope named;device.telescope HST The planet Jupiter named;planetary.planet Jupiter Large Magellanic Cloud named;galaxy LMC The Local Group of galaxies near the Milky Way named;galaxy.group The planet Mars named;planetary.planet Mars The planet Mercury named;planetary.planet Mercury The Earth's Moon named;planetary.satellite Moon Our galaxy named;galaxy The planet Neptune named;planetary.planet Neptune Pluto named;planetary.dwarfPlanet Pluto The planet Saturn named;planetary.planet Saturn Small Magellanic Cloud named;galaxy SMC The Solar System around the Sun named;planetary.system SolarSystem The Sun named;star Sun Sol The planet Uranus named;planetary.planet Uranus The planet Venus named;planetary.planet Venus The ESO 8-m Very Large Telescopes named;device.telescope VLT Some object/concept with the name # Having to do with terms but not devices in geometric optics. Area or diameter of optical element Beam of or within an optical train. ucd:instr.beam Cassegrain optical systems Optical systems using both lenses and mirrors Maksutov-type optics Schmidt-type optics Schmidt-Cassegrain type optics Gregorian optical systems Field-of-view of an optical system ucd:instr.fov FOV Distance between the optical element and the focus Ratio between the diameter and the focal length of an optical element f-ratio Focus of an optical system Direct/primary focus of an optical system Newtonian optical systems Scale of an optical system in units of angle per length Point-spread function of an optical system ucd:instr.det.psf PSF Order of a dispersing element Angular region of an antenna's heightened sensitivity or power Central angular region of an antenna's heightened sensitivity or power Secondary angular region of an antenna's heightened sensitivity or power Having to do with fundamental physical processes. ucd:phys Generic absorption of wave or particle ucd:phys.absorption Having to do with the relative amounts of different chemical elements ucd:phys.abund Acceleration (e.g. of particles) ucd:phys.acceleration Albedo or reflectance ucd:phys.albedo Having to do with atoms Conduction Convection Diffusion Having to do with dynamics Generic emission of wave or particle Excitation, jump in a higher energy (bound) state ucd:phys.atmol.excitation The energy per time and area received from a source, often per frequency or wavelength interval Having to do with gravity, gravitation ucd:phys.gravity Generic gravitational lensing Spatially non-resolved gravitational lensing Large-scale weak lensing Having to do with effects due to gradients in gravitational fields Gravitational wave Having to do with hydrodynamics Having to do with kinematics Having to do with ionization. The energy/wavelength signature of an atomic/molecular transition (line/band) The energy output rate of an object (e.g. in Watts), usually bolometric Having to do with magnetic fields ucd:phys.magField Having to do with the physical properites of matter Extremely dense form of matter Mainly composed of neutral gas, not terrestrial Mainly composed of material in a liquid state Mainly composed of material in a hot liquid state Mainly composed of ionized gas Mainly composed of solid material terrestrial Mainly composed of solid material in a cold solid state Having to do with molecules Nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis Oscillation of a bodie's inclination relative to its rotation axis. Generic elementary particle Helium nucleus A sub-atomic particle made up of three quarks (and hence fermion) A baryon made up of 1x"up" and 2x"down" quarks A baryon made up of 2x"up" and 1x"down" quarks Force-carrying fundamental particles with whole-integer spin. Gluon Graviton Higgs boson Photon Fundamental particle with half-integer spin. Fundamental particle with half-integer spin that is not a quark. Electron particle ucd:phys.electron Positron particle (positive electron). Muon particle Neutrino particle ucd:phys.particle.neutrino Tau particle quark particle (up, down, strange, charm, bottom, top) Hypothetical weakly-interacting massive particles, candidates for Dark Matter Having to do with polarization of light ucd:phys.polarization Having to do with circular polarization of light ucd:phys.polarization.circular Having to do with linear polarization of light ucd:phys.polarization.linear Slow rotation about a non-aligned axis Having to do with radiation of e.m. waves Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal Radiation mechanisms: thermal Recombination, from unbound to bound energy state Having to do with effects due to the finite speed of light Relativistic effects in non-accelerated frames General relativistic effects, e.g. in accelerated frames Reflection/change of direction of a wave Refraction/change of direction of a wave due to the passage through a medium. Scattering of wave or particle Shock front/wave (HD, MHD, Ionization, etc.) Transition from a solid to a gaseous state Having to do with stochastic or chaotic flows Having to do with wave phenomena The linear strength of a wave The phase of a wave for a given frequency Having to do with non-stellar objects within a planetary system around a planetary object Interplanetary terrestrial body Asteroid co-orbiting at the L2/L3 points of a more massive planet-like body Kuiper-belt object, Trans-Neptunian object KBO TNO Near-Earth asteroid NEO Interplanetary body which sublimates when heated Dwarf planet; Near-spherical, dynamically subordinate celestial body orbiting a star Small asteroid which has survived the impact with another larger body Having to do with the cloud of asteroids and comets far away from the star they orbit Near-spherical celestial body orbiting a star Large planet in a close orbit around a star Non-planet body orbiting another non-stellar object Man-made satellite planetary.satellite;device.spacecraft A complete set of planetary objects around a star Having to do with astrophysically relevant but not physically fundamental phenomena, processes or features Mass-accretion Thin, gaseous outer layer Large, deep gorge in a flatter landscape Having to do with chaotic properties Transition region between an atmosphere and a corona Distinct region within an object of similar properties (see process.spot for a region with significantly different properties); not to be confused with diffuse.nebula! The process of merging into a single object Gravitational collapse Collision of two or more distinct objects Decrease in energy or temperature Hot, diffuse outer region of an object Flat depression left over after the impact of a small body on the surface of a large body Material left over after the end of a process/event Sudden release Unnormal change of properties Non-explosive destruction Minute solid particles, typically with diameters less than 500 microns process.grain Delayed reception of a short signal due to reflection off another body. Erosion Sudden brightening, outburst Slow change in properties Explosion Generic absorption of light Regular motion of a medium Having to do with the Formation or creation of an object Minute solid particles, typically with diameters less than 500 microns process.dust Increase in energy or temperature Generic instability Generic interaction between two or more distinct objects Maser Mass-loss ucd:phys.mass.loss Ejection, loss of a distinct body of mass Mass-loss through a collimated jet Mass-loss through a poorly collimated wind Merging of two or more distinct objects Generic motion in space or angle Large solid body extending beyond the surface of an object The region at which externally received light comes A magnetic gaseous loop extending from the surface of an object Pulsation Pulsation mode Non-radial pulsation Radial pulsation Redshift (as a process, not as a measured quantity) Rotation Starburst A state of unusual activity Propagation through a medium Surface feature or process created by thermal activity deep below the surface Having to do with definitions or phenomena relevant to an Earth-based astronomical observer Amount of atmosphere in a particular direction in units of that at the zenith ucd:obs.airMass Angle above the horizon. ucd:pos.az.alt Position angle on the horizon (usually 0=N,90=E,..) ucd:pos.az.azi The direction EAST E The direction NORTH N The direction NORTHEAST NE The direction NORTHWEST NW The direction SOUTH S The direction SOUTHEAST SE The direction SOUTHWEST SW The direction WEST W Position angle relative to the meridian Some defined region of the sky Pattern of stars in the sky Region of the sky identifiable as an official constellation Local horizon Local meridian The trail of a small rock entering an atmosphere at high speed Local nadir Diffuse light from the sky, light pollution Generic object in the sky An artificial satellite in the sky Local zenith Local zenith distance = 90 deg - altitude ucd:pos.az.zd Zodiacal light Gegenschein Having to do with observable astronomical objects ucd:src A source to be observed for calibration purposes ucd:src.calib Resolved source of angular size much larger than the resolution Angular motion of a source in the sky Angularly resolved source Spectral energy distribution (unspecified units!) in some spectral region of interest SED which increases to higher frequencies in the region of interest SED which is roughly constant in the region of interest SED which increases to lower frequencies in the region of interest Source with apparently superluminal implied motion in space Angularly unresolved source NOT;source.resolved Having to do with stellar objects Binary star Spectroscopic (e.g. short-period) binary star Algol-type star Beta Lyr-type star Close binary star Cataclysmic variable star CV CV with an erupting accretion disk star.variable.UGem-class CV with strongly magnetic primary star.variable.AMHer-class CV with strongly magnetic rotating primary star.variable.DQHer-class Classical nova star.variable.nova CV usually found in a state of high mass-accretion A binary system with high inclination, resulting in eclipses of one or more components. Symbiotic binary star W UMa-type star Visual (i.e. long-period) binary star Stellar black hole Blue straggler star Brown dwarf star Cluster of stars Globular cluster of stars Open cluster of stars Loose association of stars Flare star Main sequence star Post-main sequence star Pre-main sequence star PMS Giant star (type I-III) Asymptotic giant branch star AGB Horizontal giant branch star HB Post-asymptotic giant branch star post-AGB High-mass star Low-mass star Higher order multiple stars (3 or more) Neutron star NS Rapidly rotating magnetic neutron star Neutron star with an extremely large magnetic field An unusual stellar object Stellar content (e.g. of a cluster or galaxy) Population I star (metal-rich) PopI Population II star (metal poor) PopII Population III star (no/few metals) PopIII A star in the early stages of development protostar A star with a spectral type star;ucd:src.spType A B-star with emission lines. Pre-main sequence massive stars with emission lines. Carbon star Early-type star (early spectral type, i.e. hot) Late-type star (late spectral type, i.e. cold) Star of some other spectral type # (e.g. dM, G3, K5III) Sub-dwarf star (lunimosity class VI) Sub-giant star (luminosity class IV) Supergiant star (luminosity class I-II) Star which are or have undergone a supernova explosion SN Supernovae of Type Ia SNIa Supernovae of Type Ib SNIb Supernovae of Type Ic SNIc Supernovae of Type II SNII Generic variable star Variable star of type alpha2 CVn (magnetic B-A dwarf stars). Variable star of type alpha Cyg (nonradially pulsating B-A supergiants). Variable star of type AM Her star.binary.CV.polar Variable star of type beta Cep (pulsating O-B stars). Variable star of type BY Dra (rapidly rotating K-M dwarf stars). Classical Cepheid variable star star.variable.deltaCep-class Variable star of type delta Scuti (pulsating A-F stars) Variable star of type DQ Her star.binary.CV.intermediatePolar Variable star of type FK Com (rapidly rotating G-K giants). Variable star of type FU Ori (PMS with erupting accretion disks). Variable star of type gamma Cas (rapidly rotating B giants). Variable star of type gamma Dor (unusually long-period delta Sct stars). Variable star of type GW Vir (pulsating hot white dwarfs). PG1159 Irregularly varying star Variable star with a very long period LPV;star.variable.Mira-class Variable star of type omicron Ceti = Mira LPV;star.variable.omicronCet-class Nova eruption in a CV (thermonuclear eruption). Classical Nova Recurrant nova (short time between outbursts). Variable star of type omicron Ceti = Mira (pulsating red giants). star.variable.Mira-class Variable star of type Orion-variable Variable star of type R CrB (H-poor, C- and He-rich supergiants). Variable star of type RR Lyr (radially pulsating A-F horizontal branch stars). Variable star of type RS CVn (close binaries with enhanced chromospheric activity). Variable star of type RV Tau (radially pulsating F-G supergiants) Variable star of type S Dor (eruptive B-F stars) Variable star of the Semi-regular class CV star showing faint, short and frequest outbursts or less frequent, long superoutbursts Variable star of type SX Ari (high-temperature analogues of alpha2 CVn) Pre-main sequence star of type T Tauri TTS Pre-main sequence star of type classical T Tauri (substantial circumstellar disk). CTTS Pre-main sequence star of type weak-line T Tauri (weak or no disk). WTTS CV with an accretion disk and quasi-periodic outbursts star.binary.CV.dwarfNova Variable star of the UV Ceti class (K-M stars showing UV flares). Variable star of type W Vir (pulsating old disk stars related to delta Cep variables). DV of type Z Cam, showing dwarf nova-like behavior but with standstills Variable star of type ZZ Cet (non-radially pulsating white dwarfs). White dwarf star WD Wolf-Rayet star WR Young Stellar Object (see star.protostar) YSO Having to do with statistical properties of objects or concepts ucd:stat Being extreme in some sense. Being extreme in some sense. Being extremely large or high in some sense. Being extremely large or high in some sense. Having to do with the importance or urgentness of an object or concept. Important or urgent. Not very important or urgent. Of normal importance or urgency. A label indicating a possible association with some other object or concept The probability distribution of some quantity as a function of another An indication that the identity of an object or the validity of a concept is uncertain Having to do with astronomical time Time measured within the local civil time zone Time measured within the local civil time zone with a summer daylight savings correction Time measured on the Julian calendar Time measured on the Julian calendar in days since Jan. 1, 4713 BCE JD Time measured on the modified Julian calendar in days since ??? MJD Time measured on the Gregorian calendar Time measured on the Islamic calendar Siderial time ST Greenwich siderial time GST Local siderial time LST Universal Time UT Greenwich Mean Time, roughly equal to UT GMT Universal Time measured in the UT1 system UT1 Coordinated Universal Time UTC Change in some property with time, generic activity Appearance of something not previously visible Generic sudden increase and subsequent decrease with time Cyclic, periodic change with time Disappearance of something previously visible Eclipse of two physically related objects (see time.variation.occultation) Rapid change with time followed by a return to normalcy Sudden change of frequency Very luminous state of variable object, high-state Quiescent or low luminous state of variable object Abscence of (known) variation Occultation of two physically unrelated objects (see time.variation.eclipse) Semi-regular or quasi-periodic variation Temporary, non-periodic change SV grammar token: expression of a logical "AND" between the preceeding and following tokens or token groups SV grammar token: the preceeding token is a subset, member, or part of the following token SV grammar token: the following token is a subset, member, or part of the preceeding token SV grammar token: expression of a logical negation of the following token or token group SV grammar token: expression of a logical "OR" between the adjacent tokens SV grammar token: defines the beginning of a token group (used to separate tokens into hierarchical token entities). SV grammar token: defines the end of a token group.