COSMIC LEXICON

What is a syzygy? Impress your friends with these astronomical terms

Image: Guillermo Ferla

Have you ever dreamed of traveling to space? Just imagine the variety of peculiar objects, scenarios, and environments awaiting there, some of them being completely unimaginable here on Earth.

While we are all familiar with stars, planets, moons, comets, and eclipses, there is a fascinating lexicon of lesser-known astronomical terms you have probably never heard of. Today we'll unveil 10 of these terms, each of which names amazing phenomena that will leave you speechless!

Image: Bryan Goff

Isn't it amazing to look up and see the beautiful stars that light up our night sky? But wait, because you haven't heard of magnetars yet!

A magnetar is a star, but not just any star. It's a type of neutron star born from the remnants of a huge supernova explosion. A magnetar differs from other celestial bodies due to its exceptionally potent magnetic field beating that of Earth by trillions of times. This immense magnetic capacity enables it to emit electromagnetic radiation, including X-rays and gamma rays, and also initiate intense seismic events known as starquakes.

Image: Viktor Forgacs™️

Yes, this word might sound like a delicacy from French cuisine or the name of a precious gem, but that is not what's going on here.

Short for "quasi-stellar radio source," a quasar is an incredibly luminous and energetic object that stands out at the center of some galaxies, powered by huge black holes. With its intense energy and luminosity, a quasar becomes a cosmic force that emits stunning amounts of electromagnetic radiation.

Nowadays, quasars are observed in distant parts of the universe, far away from Earth, offering scientists precious data about black holes and the early stages of galaxy formation.

Image: Doug Walters

Are you a winter or a summer person? Well, regardless of your preference, Absolute Zero would freeze the bravest of winter lovers.

Absolute Zero represents the theoretical lowest possible temperature. This concept plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of matter in extreme environments, such as those of outer space.

So, do you want to know what the coldest possible temperature is? It is an incredible -460 degrees Fahrenheit (or -273.15 degrees Celsius), also called 0 Kelvin, which results in particles reaching a state of minimal motion. You can be sure that weird things happen at such temperatures!

Image: NASA

While it may look like we accidentally dropped something on the keyboard, that is not the case. "Syzygy" is a real astronomical term that refers to the phenomenon of alignment of 3 celestial bodies.

It might not sound like the kind of word you'd expect to hear from a scientist, but this funny term is often used to describe the alignment of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. When these three align perfectly in a straight line, astronomers describe them as being "in syzygy."

If you stay updated on this month's astronomical events, you might "casually" drop this word into conversation with friends!

Image: OLHA ZAIKA

You may be familiar with meteorites, but have you ever heard of achondrites?

Achondrites are the lesser-known members of the meteorite family, distinguished by a specific characteristic: the absence of chondrules, which are small spherical grains found in other types of meteorites, a feature that makes them special and rare.

Achondrites are thought to originate from celestial bodies like planets or moons. Therefore, they could contain key information about those 'parent' celestial bodies and the events that shaped them.

Image: NASA

As you probably already know, Earth's orbit around the Sun isn't perfectly circular. At certain points, we are closer to the radiant star, while at others, we travel to more distant places. The term "aphelion" denotes the specific moment of a celestial body's orbit at which it reaches its greatest distance from the Sun.

Want to know how far away from our beloved Sun we can be? When Earth reaches its aphelion, something typically occurring in July, it's positioned an average of 94,506,364 miles from the Sun, although this distance may fluctuate due to various factors. In any case, don't forget to wear sunscreen!

Image: Melissa van Niekerk

Of course, celestial bodies' orbits not only have a point farthest from the Sun but also a point closest to it. The "perihelion" marks the opposite of the aphelion. That means it's the point where a celestial body is nearest to the Sun.

When Earth is at its perihelion, it is approximately 91,404,095 miles from the Sun, which occurs in the month of January. While it might not appear significant at first glance, the variance in Earth's distance from the Sun between aphelion and perihelion is around 3 million miles! You know, in the expanse of space, distances aren't exactly just around the corner.

Image: NASA

We have already identified the farthest and closest points to the Sun, so why not find the average? That's precisely what's been done, resulting in a measurement known as the Astronomical Unit.

So, the Astronomical Unit represents the average distance between the centers of Earth and the Sun, translating to about 92,955,807 miles.

Now, let's do some math (don't worry if numbers aren't your thing, we've got it covered). Based on the provided information, when Earth is at its perihelion, it's approximately 0.983 Astronomical Units (AU) from the Sun. In comparison, at aphelion, it's about 1.017 AU from the yellow dwarf.

Image: Braňo

Have you had the chance to take a look at NASA's photos of the Sun? Of course, these images have the power to astonish anyone as they show the glorious beauty of our nearest star. But if you take a closer look at those pictures, you'll notice lighter and brighter spots present in the photosphere (the visible "surface" of the Sun, a layer about 250 miles thick). Each one of these marks is called a facula.

In addition to their luminosity, these spots shine with intense heat, quite warmer than the surrounding areas, and they are found in regions with extremely powerful magnetic fields.

Image: NASA

As you can infer from the end of the word, planetoids are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, similar to planets but smaller. We can think of them as the little babies in the cosmic family.

That's right, it's another name for minor planets or dwarf planets, such as the well-known Ceres and Pluto. And don't forget, asteroids are part of this category, too.

Planetoids differ from planets in several key aspects: they have a less structured composition and also have more irregular orbits. In addition, because of their smaller size (which can vary from just a few yards to several hundred miles in diameter), planetoids also possess less gravitational pull.

Literary friends

Go back to your childhood with these 10 endearing book characters!

Image: Picsea

Let’s travel back in time, all the way to our childhoods. Can you remember that magical time when playtime was the only thing that mattered? Those wonderful, countless hours spent playing and daydreaming with our friends? Still, we’d like to focus on a different type of memory: those unforgettable bedtime stories our loved ones used to read to us. With that in mind, we’ve decided to pay tribute to 10 of our favorite characters from children's books. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to reconnect with your inner child and thank your favorite characters for all the fun times shared. Enjoy!

Image: Gilbert Ng

In the 1920s, English author A. A. Milne took inspiration from his son Christopher Robin’s toys to create what is perhaps the world’s most famous teddy bear. Pooh first appeared in the 1926 book aptly titled Winnie-the-Pooh, which was followed in 1928 by The House at Pooh Corner.

What’s perhaps most endearing about Pooh and his friends is that they truly felt like teddy bears come to life: not only were they cuddly and adorable, but they also got into all sorts of adventures with the fictionalized version of Christopher Robin.

Image: Anita Jankovic

Leave it to Dr. Seuss to create such a wonderfully strange character! The Cat in the Hat, first featured in the 1957 book of the same name, is not what you would call a reliable companion. After all, he wreaks havoc in the protagonists' house, to the dismay of their tidy and orderly goldfish.

However, when you think about it, the Cat shows up at the exact moment: on a cold and rainy day, when the children are bored and alone. In that sense, this wacky character manages to both entertain the children and us, the readers, at the same time.

Image: Nathan Dumlao

We wish we could focus only on pleasant characters, but unfortunately, it's time for the Grinch to show up! This green creature is probably Dr. Seuss’ most famous character, made iconic by a legendary 1966 Christmas special featuring the voice of Boris Karloff. While the Grinch is definitively not a nice guy at the start of the story, he (literally) has a change of heart by the end and becomes the lovely character he was always meant to be.

By the way, did you know how the Grinch got his famous green fur? In the original Dr. Seuss story, the character was depicted as white, but by the time the TV special was being produced, the animators needed to give the Grinch a color. Director Chuck Jones chose this shade of green from a (rather ugly) car he was renting at the time.

Image: Josh Applegate

Like many books in this article, it might be a tad demeaning to consider Anne of Green Gables merely a children’s book. Published in 1908, this novel is suitable for readers of all ages. That said, entire generations of children and teenagers have cherished the adventures and dreams of Anne Shirley, the redheaded 11-year-old created by Lucy Maud Montgomery.

One of the most interesting aspects of this character is that she seemed to grow alongside her readers. Anne’s life is told from her childhood up to her final years throughout the series of novels. Regardless, she’ll always be that sweet, freckled girl in the eyes of her beloved readers.

Image: Krysten Merriman

Author Eric Carle proved that it doesn’t take much to create an endearing character: You just need a small caterpillar with a large appetite. Carle’s book tells the story of "a tiny and very hungry caterpillar," from its early days to its transformation into a butterfly.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is fondly remembered not only for its amazing illustrations but also for its simple yet catchy prose. Not only was it a huge bestseller at the time of its publication in the late '60s, but it is still recommended by bookstores all over the world.

Image: Oxana Lyashenko

Winnie the Pooh is not the only teddy bear to make it to this list! Written and illustrated by Don Freeman in 1968, Corduroy tells the delightful story of a small bear named Corduroy and the adventures he has in his search for his missing button. In the end, he finds something better: a friend named Lisa, who adopts Corduroy and takes him home.

Over 50 years after its publication, this book is still considered one of the best children's books of all time. Teachers highly recommend Corduroy since it teaches kids about friendship while also taking place in an everyday setting.

Image: julio andres rosario ortiz

Thanks to its legendary 1939 film adaptation, people tend to forget that The Wizard of Oz was first a groundbreaking children’s novel. In that sense, while Judy Garland will forever be the quintessential Dorothy Gale, we should take some time to honor the character behind such an iconic role.

In Frank L. Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is depicted as a sweet, caring, and brave girl determined to not only return home to Kansas but also help her friends navigate the fantastical yet daunting Land of Oz.

Image: Arleen wiese

Lions understandably have a royal aura: Not only have they been featured on the coats of arms of many royal families, but they have also been portrayed as kings in films and literature. However, few fictional lions have shown the warmth, nobility, and leadership of Aslan, the powerful King of Beasts from C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia series.

In all his book appearances, Aslan has been a guiding force and a symbol of good, usually leading the human characters toward a happy ending. Perhaps most famously, Aslan helps the Pevensie siblings fight the White Witch’s rule over Narnia in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Image: Karsten Winegeart

British author Roald Dahl had the genius idea of taking something as universally loved by children as candy and making it even more whimsical. The 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory took us on a tour through Willy Wonka’s delightfully weird factory, showing us all the amazing inventions that came from the mind of this eccentric chocolatier.

While definitely a trickster, Wonka is also an extremely warm and caring character, eventually passing on his love for candy to the young Charlie Bucket. We couldn’t end this entry without paying tribute to what’s perhaps the most endearing film adaptation of this character: Gene Wilder’s portrayal of Wonka in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

Image: Teo Zac

We’ll end this article with a book that managed to turn monsters into some of the most beloved characters in history. Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are tells the story of a mischievous young boy named Max, who finds himself on an island inhabited by monsters known as the "Wild Things."

Thanks to its incredible illustrations, this book taught both children and adults how to find beauty in things that were previously overlooked. While at times intimidating, Sendak’s Wild Things are still lovely creatures who have charmed generations of children in the 60 years since its publication.