- Industry: Astronomy
- Number of terms: 6727
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Planetary Science Research Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research by NASA-sponsored scientists on meteorites, asteroids, planets, moons, and other materials in our Solar System. The website is supported by the Cosmochemistry Program of NASA's Science Mission ...
A unit of astronomical distance equal to 3. 26 light years, or 206265 AU, which equals 3. 08 x 10<sup>13</sup> kilometers.
Industry:Astronomy
Chemical elements that vaporize (that is, boil) at relatively low temperatures. Examples are water (H<sub>2</sub>O), carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH<sub>4</sub>), ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and lead (Pb). The opposite of volatile is refractory.
Industry:Astronomy
Instrument that produces and measures, usually by electrical means, a mass spectrum. It separates ions according to the ratio of their mass to charge, allowing scientists to determine the abundances of each isotope.
Industry:Astronomy
An element with atomic number 12; symbol: Mg. Magnesium is contained in the minerals olivine and pyroxene, and is very abundant in the mantles of the inner planets.
Industry:Astronomy
Common rock-forming mineral containing the carbonate ion, CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2-</sup>. Common carbonate minerals are calcite, CaCO<sub>3</sub>; siderite, FeCaCO<sub><sub>3</sub></sub>; magnesite, MgCO<sub>3</sub>; dolomite, CaMg(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>; and ankerite, Ca(Fe,Mg,Mn)(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>.
Industry:Astronomy
The study of spectra. Every atom can only emit or absorb certain energies or wavelengths. Scientists use instruments called spectrometers to study the location and spacing of reflectance, emission, and absorption (spectral) lines in specific wavelengths to detect any atoms or molecules that may be present in a target material (such as minerals on the surface of the Moon or a planet).
Industry:Astronomy
The standard unit of pressure is the pascal, abbreviated Pa, which is equivalent to 1 kg/m<sup>2</sup>. The pressure at the surface of the Earth is 100,000 Pa. Pressures inside planets are very large numbers, usually expressed as GPa (giga means billion).
Industry:Astronomy
A black, strongly magnetic iron-oxide mineral; Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>.
Industry:Astronomy
Two or more varieties of the same chemical element. Isotopes have different masses because they have different numbers of neutrons (for example <sup>18</sup>O and <sup>16</sup>O), thus they have different physical and chemical properties. Unstable isotopes undergo radioactive decay.
Industry:Astronomy
Mountain formed from the eruption of igneous matter through a source vent.
Industry:Astronomy
