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astrophysics

 
Dictionary: as·tro·phys·ics   (ăs'trō-fĭz'ĭks) pronunciation
n. (used with a sing. verb)
The branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of stellar phenomena.

astrophysical as'tro·phys'i·cal adj.
astrophysicist as'tro·phys'i·cist (-fĭz'ĭ-sĭst) n.

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Branch of astronomy concerned mainly with the properties and structures of cosmic objects, including the universe as a whole. Starting in the 19th century, spectroscopy and photography were applied to astronomical research, making it possible to study the brightness, temperature, and chemical composition of cosmic objects. It was soon realized that the properties of these bodies could be fully understood only in terms of the physics of their atmospheres and interiors. X-ray astronomy, gamma-ray astronomy, infrared astronomy, ultraviolet astronomy, and radio and radar astronomy are all basically concerned with extending electromagnetic coverage beyond the visible spectrum to constrain the physical characteristics of astronomical objects.

For more information on astrophysics, visit Britannica.com.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: astrophysics
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astrophysics, application of the theories and methods of physics to the study of stellar structure, stellar evolution, the origin of the solar system, and related problems of cosmology. The distinction between astrophysics and modern astronomy is disappearing in scientific usage.


Science Dictionary: astrophysics
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The branch of astronomy devoted to the study of the physical characteristics and composition of objects in the sky. Typical concerns of astrophysics are how much light the stars give off and the size, mass, and temperature of planets and stars.

Translations: Astrophysics
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - astrofysik

Nederlands (Dutch)
astrofysica, leer der natuurlijke gesteldheid van hemellichamen

Français (French)
n. - astrophysique

Deutsch (German)
n. - Astrophysik

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (φυσ.) αστροφυσική (επιστήμη)

Italiano (Italian)
astrofisica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - astrofísica (f)

Русский (Russian)
астрофизика

Español (Spanish)
n. - astrofísica

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - astrofysik
n. pl. - astrofysik

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
天体物理学

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
n. pl. - 天體物理學
n. - 天體物理學

한국어 (Korean)
n. pl. - 천체 물리학
n. - 천체 물리

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 天体物理学

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الفيزيا الفلكيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮פיסיקה וכימיה של גופים שמיימיים, אסטרופיסיקה‬


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Read more
Science Dictionary. The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.  Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more