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NASA's Beyond Einstein Program An Architecture for Implementation (2007) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix H: Glossary
Pages 158-167

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From page 158...
... The distribution of galaxies in space is not uniform, whereas the intensity of the cosmic background radiation from the big bang is highly uniform in all directions -- that is, it is almost isotropic. Astronomers are using sensitive telescopes to study the small anisotropies in the cosmic background radiation that led to the present nonuniform distribution of galaxies.
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From page 159...
... : A single research instrument composed of up to 80 high-precision antennas that will enable research into optically dark regions by probing the millimeter portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, where the cold universe shines brightly. ALMA is designed to probe the first stars and galaxies and directly image the formation of planets.
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From page 160...
... Its mission is to study the high-energy universe, including solar flares, gamma-ray bursts, pulsars, nova and supernova explosions, accreting black holes of stellar mass, quasar emission, and interactions of cosmic rays with the interstellar medium. Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE)
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From page 161...
... : A subcommittee of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee chartered to advise NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy on the future of dark energy research. dark matter: Matter that does not emit enough light or other electromagnetic radiation to be observed directly.
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From page 162...
... Great Observatories: A NASA program to launch four major observatories to cover the optical (Hubble Space Telescope) , gamma-ray (Compton Gamma Ray Observatory)
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From page 163...
... : A proposed ground-based telescope that will provide digital imaging of faint astronomical objects. It will track objects that change or move on rapid time scales, and it will also investigate dark matter and dark energy.
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From page 164...
... Phase B: NASA terminology for the preliminary design phase. Phase C/D: NASA terminology for the full-scale development and production phase.
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From page 165...
... ringdown waves: Waves emitted by a distorted final black hole as it settles down to a stationary state. Röntgen satellite (ROSAT)
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From page 166...
... Supermassive black holes with masses exceeding a million solar masses are found in the nuclei of most galaxies. supernova remnant (SNR)
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From page 167...
... It is a permanent spaceborne x-ray observatory whose goals are to probe dark matter and dark energy, to study massive blackholes at z ~ 10, to observe the structure of the galaxies near black holes, and to study matter under extreme conditions and the structure of highly collapsed stars. X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission-Newton (XMM-Newton)
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Key Terms

  • dark matter
  • black holes
  • european space
  • cosmic background
  • space telescope

  • black hole
  • microwave background
  • cosmic microwave
  • background radiation
  • space agency

  • laser interferometer
  • interferometer space
  • space antenna
  • massive black
  • active galactic

  • big bang
  • gravitational energy
  • space observatory
  • supermassive black
  • cold dark

  • infrared radiation
  • hubble space
  • cosmic rays
  • design phase
  • nasa terminology

  • gravitational pull
  • electromagnetic radiation
  • missile defense
  • baryon acoustic
  • compton gamma


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