Orion Glossary

A vast assembly of dark matter and luminous matter, typically tens of thousands of light years in diameter and containing billions of stars, held together by the mutual gravitational attraction of its constituents. Our own galaxy, known as the Milky Way or simply the Galaxy, is a typical spiral galaxy with a mass about a hundred billion times that of the Sun.

A gathering of galaxies in a region of space typically 12 to 15 million light years across. Some clusters have many members ('rich' clusters) but sparse clusters, with fewer than 50 members, are termed 'groups'.

A planet considerably larger than the Earth, composed largely of hydrogen and helium. Also called giant planet (cf. terrestrial planet).

A planet considerably larger than the Earth, composed largely of hydrogen and helium. Also called gas giant (cf. terrestrial planet).

Globular clusters are compact, nearly spherical, groups of many thousands or millions of stars found within the galactic halo. The stars in globular clusters are among the oldest in the Galaxy, and so have very low amounts of elements other than hydrogen and helium.

A gathering of galaxies with fewer than 50 members, bound together by gravity (cf galaxy cluster).

The range of distances from a star within which an Earth-like planet would be habitable.

The process by which stars fuse three helium nuclei into one carbon nucleus via the triple alpha process.

A giant planet, with a mass close to or greater than that of Jupiter, and which orbits very close to its parent star.

The process by which stars on the main sequence release energy via the conversion of hydrogen into helium in their cores.