Contents: How to Use the Dictionary; Astronomy (21 chapters, 11 with subheadings); Astronautics (5 chapters, 2 with subheadings); General Words in Astronomy. 8 Appendixes. Index. Color illustrations throughout. Includes all the basic principles involved, and the definitions cover all aspects of celestial objects and the technology of space.

This authoritative reference volume features more than 2,200 terms and concepts covering a wide array of topics in astronomy and astronautics. This in-depth overview of important terms and concepts in the fields of astronomy and astronautics is designed to be an authoritative and easy-to-use reference book. With thousands of entries arranged alphabetically, it provides ready answers for students of space science as well as the curious reader. From “Aberration of Light” and “Abnormal Stars” to “Zodiacal Light” and “Zone Time”, this comprehensive volume provides a wealth of fascinating information.

"The launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 ushered in an exciting era of scientific and technological advancement. As television news anchors, radio hosts, and journalists reported the happenings of the American and the Soviet space programs to millions of captivated citizens, words that belonged to the worlds of science, aviation, and science fiction suddenly became part of the colloquial language. What's more, NASA used a litany of acronyms in much of its official correspondence in an effort to transmit as much information in as little time as possible. To translate this peculiar vocabulary, Paul Dickson has compiled the curious lingo and mystifying acronyms of NASA in an accessible dictionary of the names, words, and phrases of the Space Age." "This dictionary captures a broader foundation for the language of the Space Age based on the historical principles employed by the Oxford English Dictionary and Webster's Third New International Dictionary. Word histories for major terms are detailed in a conversational tone, and technical terms are deciphered for the interested student and lay reader. This is a must-own reference for space history buffs." --Book Jacket.

This lavishly illustrated new dictionary written by an experienced writer and consultant on astronomy provides an essential guide to the universe for amateur astronomers of all ages. Around 1300 carefully selected and cross-referenced entries are complemented by hundreds of beautiful colour illustrations, taken from space missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and other major observatories on Earth and in space. Distinguished stellar illustrator Wil Tirion has drawn 20 new star maps especially for inclusion here. A myriad of named astronomical objects, constellations, observatories and space missions are described in detail, as well as biographical sketches for 70 of the most luminous individuals in the history of astronomy and space science. Acronyms and specialist terms are clearly explained, making for the most thorough and carefully assembled reference resource that teachers and enthusiasts of astronomy will ever need.