#astronomy terms

• Aerolitic — Relating to aerolites, concerning aerolites (stony meteorites); originating from an aerolite or exhibiting compositional and structural characteristics specific to silicate rocks of extraterrestrial nature that have fallen to Earth.
• Alcyoneus — In Greek mythology, the eldest and most powerful of the Giants born to Gaia, famous for his immortality as long as he fought on his native soil. In astronomy, the name designates a recently discovered giant radio galaxy, considered one of the largest structures of galactic origin identified in the universe, spanning approximately 5 megaparsecs.
• Apsidal — Pertaining to an apse, relating to an apse, or having the shape of an apsidal structure; a vaulted or semicircular architectural element specific to the altar of Christian churches. In structurally applied astronomy, the term describes the imaginary line connecting the farthest or closest points to the center of attraction in the elliptical trajectory of a celestial body.
• Arsinoe — A proper name of ancient Greek origin, historically borne by several famous queens and princesses of the Ptolemaic dynasty of ancient Egypt, notably Arsinoe II and Arsinoe IV (the sister of Cleopatra). In geography, the name designated various ancient cities in the Mediterranean basin renamed in honor of these sovereigns, while in modern science, the term identifies asteroid 404 Arsinoe from the main belt and a genus of fossil mammals from the Embrithopoda order (Arsinoitherium).
• Celestial body — A natural and independent celestial body of spherical or quasi-spherical shape (such as a star, planet, natural satellite, asteroid, or comet), visible in the sky during the night or day. In a restricted and poetic sense, the term often refers to the Sun or the Moon, serving as the lexical root for most space science neologisms.