Science [N-Z]
OSSE
(Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment) One of four experiments on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.
Parabolic Flight Path
The flight path followed by airplanes in creating a microgravity environment (the shape of a parabola).
Peak Flux
A measure of a burst's intensity, this quantity has units of energy per unit area per unit time.
pH
(Potential of Hydrogen) In chemistry, a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution, numerically equal to 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity and decreasing with increasing acidity.
Photon
The quantum of of electromagnetic energy, generally regarded as a discrete particle having zero mass, no electric charge, and an indefinitely long lifetime. See Electromagnetic Spectrum.
Polymer
(Chemistry) Any of numerous natural and synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight consisting of up to millions of repeated linked units, each a relatively light and simple molecule.
Pulsar
A neutron star with a very fast rotational component and strong magnetic field, which constrains emitting radiation to a cone. To be visible from Earth, a pulsar must be oriented such that the cone of emitted radiation intersects Earth.
Quasar
abbreviation of "quasi-stellar object". Quasars are unusually energetic objects which emit up to 1,000 times as much energy as an entire galaxy, but from a volume about the size of our solar system.
Rayleigh
A rayleigh = 106 photons emitted in all directions per cm2 vertical column per second. Rayleighs are used to measure the luminous intensity of the aurora.
SIRTF
Space Infrared Telescope Facility
Skylab
NASA's first orbital laboratory that was operated in 1973 and 1974.
Soft Gamma Repeaters
Objects believed to be related to a particular type of supernova remnant and/or its associated neutron star which emit soft "pops" of gamma-ray energy in short intense bursts. Detectable by BATSE, but different from the "classical" gamma-ray burst.
Solar Radius
697,000 kilometers (436322 miles)
Spacelab
A scientific laboratory developed by the European Space Agency that is carried into Earth orbit in the Space Shuttle's payload bay.
International Space Station
planned for operation in the 1990's.
Stratosphere
The portion of the Earth's atmosphere ranging from approximately 14 km to 22 km (8 to 12 miles).
Super materials
Super materials include crystals, semiconductors, nanotechnology, superalloys and metals, high performance glasses, gels, polymer thin films, and superconductors processed and produced using innovative techniques. The scientific study of super materials incorporates parts of traditional materials science disciplines with biotechnology, physics and chemistry. Primary uses include lasers, medical imaging, and pharmaceuticals.
Supernova
A supermassive star may undergo a cataclysmic explosion at some point after it has exhausted its internal hydrogen used for fuel. The famous crab nebula is a beautiful example of the still-expanding gases surrounding a supernova explosion that occurred in the year 1054.
TIROS
Television and Infrared Observation Satellite
Troposphere
The portion of the Earth's atmosphere ranging from the Earth's surface to approximately 14 km (0 to 8 miles).
Velocity
Distance travelled per unit time. E.g. miles per hour, feet per second, etc.
Visible Light
That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which is detectable by the human eye. The sun emits "white" light, which is all visible colors, but which is only a small part of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light is energy in the range of approximately 7800 to 3900 Angstroms, where one Angstrom is 0.0000000001 meters. The visible spectrum is most obvious in a rainbow, when the sun's different colors of light are bent (refracted) by the earth's atmosphere during a rainstorm.
Watt
A unit of power, equivalent to one joule of energy per second.
Wavelength
The distance between successive crests or troughs in a wave.
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