Cosmos Vocabulary

5. A Galaxy shaped with arms spiraling outward from the center.
6. → A rapidly spinning neutron star that emits beams of radiation.
8. → A planet orbiting a star outside our solar system.
9. → A small, hot, dense remnant of a low-mass star after it sheds outer layers.
11. A galaxy with no defined shape, often distorted by gravity.
14. A Cluster with a loose group of younger stars, often found in spiral arms.
15. → A region of gas and dust where new stars form.
16. A System where Two stars orbiting around their common center of mass.
17. → A region where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape.
19. → A dense, spherical group of very old stars bound by gravity.
20. A gigantic black hole at the center of most galaxies.
21. Star → An incredibly dense remnant made mostly of neutrons after a supernova.
22. Microwave Background → The faint glow left over from the Big Bang, filling the universe.
23. A type of star whose brightness changes in a predictable cycle, useful for measuring distance.
24. / Meteorite → A space rock that enters Earth’s atmosphere (meteor) and reaches the ground (meteorite).

1. A round, smooth galaxy with little gas, dust, or star formation.
2. → A “failed star” not massive enough for hydrogen fusion.
3. → An extremely bright, energetic object powered by a black hole at a galaxy’s center.
4. → The glowing shell of gas ejected from a dying medium star.
7. → A late stage in a medium star’s life when it expands and cools.
10. A contracting cloud of gas and dust that marks the birth of a star.
12. → A massive star explosion that scatters heavy elements into space.
13. A stable star fusing hydrogen into helium; includes stars like our Sun.
18. → A rocky body orbiting the Sun, mostly between Mars and Jupiter.
23. → An icy body with a glowing coma and tail when near the Sun.