Term Index (W)

Astrophysics (Index)

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Term Index (W)

Astrophysical terms and names of things beginning with the letter W.

W0 W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 WA WB WC WD WE WF WG WH WI WJ WK WL WM WN WO WP WR WS WT WU WX WY WZ

W (Westerhout Radio Survey): 1950s radio survey of the galactic plane
W (watt): SI unit of power
W: see NIRSpec
W: see Wolf-Rayet star
W: see filter designator
w: see cosmological equation of state
w: see wCDM
- dark energy: energy theorized to accelerate the expansion of the universe
W 51 (W51): cloud complex radio source
W boson: see weak interaction
- particle: very small thing
- standard model: model of elementary particles including quarks
- supersymmetry: extension to standard model of particle physics
W decay: see weak interaction
W Ursae Majoris contact system: see contact binary
W Ursae Majoris variable: see contact binary
W Ursae Majoris variable: see variable star
W Virginis variable: see variable star
- pulsating star: variable star that varies through energy pulses
W-class: see Wolf-Rayet star
W-type: see Wolf-Rayet star
W0855 (WISE 0855-0714): nearby brown dwarf
w1: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
w2: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
w3: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
w4: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
W51: cloud complex radio source
W51 A: see W51
W51 B: see W51
W51 C: see W51
W61: see rare designator prefixes
W78 (Cygnus Loop): supernova remnant in Cygnus
W₀: see Wilson-Bappu effect
w₀: see wCDM
w₀w_aCDM: see wCDM
w_a: see wCDM
W⁺: see weak interaction
W^-: see weak interaction
Wack: see rare designator prefixes
WAE: see Mars Pathfinder
Walker: see rare designator prefixes
WALLABY: see Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
WAM: see MMX
wandering planet (free-floating planet): planet that is not orbiting a star
warm dark matter: see dark matter
- cold dark matter: one of three classes of "particle dark matter" theory
- core-cusp problem: theories and observation show different dwarf galaxy rotation curves
- fuzzy dark matter: concept of extremely light dark matter particles
- sub-GeV dark matter: a more-massive type of CDM
Warm Infrared Echelle Spectrograph (WINERED): near-infrared non-cryogenic spectrograph
warm intercloud medium: see interstellar medium
warm ionized medium: see interstellar medium
warm neutral medium: see interstellar medium
warm pixel: see hot pixel
warp: bend in the otherwise-flat disk of a galaxy
warped geometry

Randall-Sundrum model: particular 5-dimensional cosmological model

Was: see rare designator prefixes
Washington Double Star Catalog: modern database of double stars
Washington Naval Observatory: see USNO
WASP: multi-university initiative to locate transiting planets
- WASP-12b: retrograde hot Jupiter discovered in 2008
- WASP-33b: hot Jupiter discovered in 2010
- WASP-67b: hot Jupiter discovered in 2011
WaSP: see Hale Telescope
WASP-12b: retrograde hot Jupiter discovered in 2008
WASP-33

WASP-33b: hot Jupiter discovered in 2010

WASP-33b: hot Jupiter discovered in 2010
WASP-43

WASP-43b: hot Jupiter with especially small orbit

WASP-43b: hot Jupiter with especially small orbit
WASP-67b: hot Jupiter discovered in 2011
WASP-South

WASP-67b: hot Jupiter discovered in 2011

WATCH: see EURECA
WATCH: see GRANAT
- GRS 1915+105: stellar-mass black hole microquasar
water: compound of oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms
- autoconversion rate: rate at which water changes from cloud droplets to new raindrops
- bathymetry: study and measurement of sea depths
- carbonate system: system governing water and CO2 in the presence of each other
- habitability: ability of a planet to support life
- habitable zone: zone where conditions are favorable for life
- humidity: amount of water vapor in a portion of the atmosphere
- hydrology: study of the movement of water
- ice: solid state of water
- lunar water: water on the moon
- maser: electromagnetic radiation amplified by stimulated emission
- precipitable water vapor: depth of liquid water equivalent to the atmosphere's water vapor
- snow line: distance from protostar so cool that water condenses
- supercooling: cooling water below freezing point without it freezing
- superionic ice: odd state of water at high temperature and pressure
- tide: effect of Moon's gravity on Earth's seas, etc.
- water lines: spectral lines specific to water
- water vapor planet: planet showing water vapor in its atmosphere
- water-ice planet: planet made entirely of water ice
water activity: measure of partial vapor pressure of water
water cycle: see hydrology
water hole: see atmospheric window
water hole: see water
water ice: see ice
water line (snow line): distance from protostar so cool that water condenses
water lines: spectral lines specific to water
water maser: see maser
water planet (water world): planet with substantial liquid water
- hydrology: study of the movement of water
water vapor: see water
- earthshine: reflected and emitted electromagnetic radiation from Earth
water vapor planet: planet showing water vapor in its atmosphere
water world: planet with substantial liquid water
water-ice planet: planet made entirely of water ice
Waterloo: see rare designator prefixes
watt: SI unit of power
- energy: physical state needed to do something
- jansky: unit of measurement of spectral flux density
- joule: SI unit of energy
- luminosity: measure of brightness
wave

Alfvén wave: a type of transverse wave along magnetic field lines in plasma
blastwave: spherical shock wave from a small volume
bow shock: shock wave of a magnetosphere through the surrounding medium
continuous gravitational wave: long-lasting repeating GWs such as from orbits
de Broglie wavelength: wavelength of a particle's matter wave
expansion fan: the "sound" of a supersonic flow flowing around a convex corner
gravitational wave: ripples in the curvature of spacetime propagating as a wave
gravitational wave background: combination of weak gravitational waves such as from distant sources
gravity wave: wave in fluid where restoring force is gravity
inertial wave: type of wave in a rotating fluid
internal gravity wave: ripples in a change in density in a fluid
Kelvin waves: pressure and gravity waves formed by Coriolis force and a barrier
magnetosonic wave: a type of sonic wave in a plasma
Moreton wave: type of wave moving across the chromosphere
plasma wave: wave incorporating the EM forces within plasma
primordial gravitational waves: gravitational waves formed in the early universe
Rossby waves: meandering shifts in the trajectory of high-altitude winds
shock wave: abrupt propagating disturbance in a fluid
wavelength: distance over which a repeating wave repeats

wave cloud

internal gravity wave: ripples in a change in density in a fluid

wave dark matter (fuzzy dark matter): concept of extremely light dark matter particles
wave equation

Majorana particle: theoretical particle that is its own antiparticle
Schrödinger equation: quantum-mechanical wave-equation-like equation
Schrödinger-Poisson equation: Schrödinger equation including a term for gravity

wave front error (wavefront error): measure of a class of telescope distortion
wave function: see Schrödinger equation
wave interference (interference): result of interaction of waves
wave mechanics: see Schrödinger equation
- amplitude: the height of a wave
wave period: see frequency
- wavenumber: reciprocal of wavelength
wave-particle duality: at atomic scale, things act like both particles and waves
wavefront error: measure of a class of telescope distortion
- aberration: types of flaws in telescope images
wavefront sensor: instrument for determining a wave's deformation
waveguide

quad-ridge flared horn: type of horn that can be incorporated in radio telescope feeds

wavelength: distance over which a repeating wave repeats
- frequency: number of cycles per unit of time, such as waves per second
- photon energy: the energy carried by a single photon
- refraction: redirection of light passing from one medium to another
- refractive index: measure of how much a material slows down light
- sensitivity function: function of wavelength giving the sensitivity of an instrument
- spectral flux density: flux or power of radiation per unit area per unit wavelength
- spectral power distribution: function of power versus wavelength or frequency
- wavenumber: reciprocal of wavelength
- Wien's displacement law: relates temperature to wavelength of maximum emission
wavenumber: reciprocal of wavelength
- Kolmogorov spectrum: energy spectrum of the eddies of different sizes in a turbulent fluid
waveplate: type of optical device that alters polarization
Waves: see Juno
waves

amplitude: the height of a wave
beat frequency: frequency emerging from two other frequencies
Doppler shift: wave frequency difference due to relative velocity difference with source
frequency: number of cycles per unit of time, such as waves per second
interference: result of interaction of waves
Landau damping: type of damping of waves that occurs in thin plasma
photon energy: the energy carried by a single photon
plane wave: simplified wave concept useful for modeling
polarization: property of waves that oscillate in a particular direction
polarization modes: curl- and divergent-like components of CMB polarization patterns
wave-particle duality: at atomic scale, things act like both particles and waves
wavefront sensor: instrument for determining a wave's deformation
wavelength: distance over which a repeating wave repeats
wavenumber: reciprocal of wavelength

WB (wide binaries): binary stars thousands of AU apart
WB: see rare designator prefixes
Wb: see magnetic flux
WB89: see rare designator prefixes
WBL: see rare designator prefixes
WBR (Wilson-Bappu effect): a relation between a star's spectral line and luminosity
WBS: see Yohkoh
WC: see Wolf-Rayet star
wCDM: Big-Bang cosmological model with constant cosmological equation of state
WD (white dwarf): stellar remnant largely of electron degenerate matter
WD: see Villanova White Dwarf Catalog
- Type Ia supernova problem: lack of fully-convincing Type Ia supernovae triggering model
WD J0651+2844: binary pair of closely-orbiting white dwarfs
WDM: see dark matter
- cold dark matter: one of three classes of "particle dark matter" theory
- core-cusp problem: theories and observation show different dwarf galaxy rotation curves
- fuzzy dark matter: concept of extremely light dark matter particles
- sub-GeV dark matter: a more-massive type of CDM
WDS (Washington Double Star Catalog): modern database of double stars
We: see rare designator prefixes
weak cosmic censorship: see law of cosmic censorship
weak encounter: see stellar dynamics
weak encounter: see stellar encounter
weak force: see weak interaction
- electroweak: single conception including both electromagnetic and weak forces
- physical field: physical property of some volume of space
- symmetry breaking: loss of symmetry, such as due to loss of stability in a regime change
- Theory of Everything: single law explaining the four forces of nature
- topological defect: defect in space that could arise in the early universe
weak gravitational encounter: see stellar dynamics
weak gravitational interaction

globular cluster: spherical group of stars orbiting a galaxy

weak gravitational lens: see gravitational lensing
weak gravitational lensing (weak lensing): slight lensing detected in random patterns of distant objects
weak interaction: interaction of weak bosons with other atomic particles
weak interaction: see N-body problem
weak lensing: slight lensing detected in random patterns of distant objects
weak lensing: see gravitational lensing
weak r-process: see r-process
weak radio galaxy: see radio galaxy
weak scattering: see scintillometry
weak scintillation: see scintillometry
weak stellar encounter: see stellar encounter
weak-line star: star with faint spectral lines compared to its spectral class
weak-line T-Tauri star: see T-Tauri star
weakened magnetic braking: see gyrochronology
weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP): proposed particle comprising dark matter
weakly interacting slim particle: see WIMP
weakly-coupled QFT: see quantum field theory
weakly-coupled quantum field theory: see quantum field theory
weather

baroclinicity: measure of misalignment of fluid density and pressure
beta drift: tendency for a cyclone to drift poleward and westward
Hadley cell: circulation pattern of up at the equator, poleward, down, and back
intertropical convergence zone: circulation pattern near equator where north and south Hadley cells meet
Kelvin waves: pressure and gravity waves formed by Coriolis force and a barrier
plane-parallel atmosphere: simplified atmosphere model ignoring its curvature around the body
polar cyclone: storm centered on the pole
Rossby radius of deformation: length scale where rotation effects are significant
Rossby waves: meandering shifts in the trajectory of high-altitude winds
superrotating wind: wind traveling in the same direction as the planet is rotating
SWMF: software package of tools for modeling space weather
synoptic: general, covering everything
thermal wind: type of wind due to temperature gradients that vary by altitude
WSA-Enlil: computer model of heliosphere for space weather prediction
zonal flow: east-west air circulation
zone: apparent "horizontal" band in an atmosphere

weathering: changes in surface due to contact with atmosphere
weathering-limited: see weathering
WEAVE: multi-object spectrograph on the WHT
WEAVE: see William Herschel Telescope
WEB: see double star designation
Web Interface for Searching Archival Research Data (WISARD): early Internet-based interface to NASA data
Webb (James Webb Space Telescope): 6.5-meter infrared space telescope at L2
- NIRCam: near infrared imager on JWST
- NIRSpec: near infrared spectrograph on JWST
weber: see magnetic flux
- tesla: unit of magnetic flux density
WEBT (Whole Earth Blazer Telescope): international initiative to gather blazar lightcurves
Wee: see rare designator prefixes
WEI: see double star designation
weighted principal component analysis: see PCA analysis
Weizmann Institute

WISeREP: interactive catalog of supernovae

Weizmann Interactive Supernova Data Repository (WISeREP): interactive catalog of supernovae
Wendelstein: see Wendelstein Observatory
Wendelstein Observatory: German observatory on Mount Wendelstein
WENSS

USS Sources: catalog of sources with steep spectral index

Werner band: see Lyman-Werner photon
WeSa: see rare designator prefixes
Wesenheit function: function of magnitudes approximating absolute visual magnitude
Wesenheit magnitude: see Wesenheit function
West Virginia

Green Bank 140 Foot Telescope: West Virginia radio telescope
Green Bank 300ft Telescope: former large radio telescope at Green Bank
Green Bank Observatory: radio observatory in West Virginia including GBT
Green Bank Telescope: West Virginia large radio telescope

Westerbork Hydrogen Accretion in Local Galaxies Survey (Hydrogen Accretion in Local Galaxies Survey): radio survey looking for HI in galaxy halos
Westerbork Northern Sky Survey

USS Sources: catalog of sources with steep spectral index

Westerbork Observations of Neutral Hydrogen in Irregular and Spiral Galaxies (WHISP): 1990s/2000s radio survey mapping HI density and velocity
Westerbork Radio Telescope (Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope): radio telescope array of 14 dishes in Netherlands
Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope: radio telescope array of 14 dishes in Netherlands
- Hydrogen Accretion in Local Galaxies Survey: radio survey looking for HI in galaxy halos
- WHISP: 1990s/2000s radio survey mapping HI density and velocity
Westerhout: see Westerhout Radio Survey
Westerhout 51 (W51): cloud complex radio source
Westerhout Radio Survey: 1950s radio survey of the galactic plane
westerlies

Hadley cell: circulation pattern of up at the equator, poleward, down, and back
superrotating wind: wind traveling in the same direction as the planet is rotating
zonal flow: east-west air circulation

Westerlund: see rare designator prefixes
Westphal: see rare designator prefixes
WET (Whole Earth Telescope): international initiative to gather variable star lightcurves
WF/PC: see Hubble Space Telescope
- Medium Deep Survey: survey to find galaxies in HST WFPC2 images
WF/PC2: see Hubble Space Telescope
WFC: see BeppoSAX
WFC: see Isaac Newton Telescope
WFC: see ROSAT
- field of view: angular measure of how much an optical instrument can view
- Giant Stellar Stream: extensive stellar stream in M31
- IPHAS: H-alpha survey
- Millennium Galaxy Catalogue: 2000s catalog of 10,000 galaxies
WFC3: general purpose camera/spectroscope on HST
WFC3: see Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3: see PHAT
- Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey: early-universe survey by HST
- Faint Infrared Grism Survey: survey to identify redshift of distant galaxies
- grism: combination of a grating and a prism
- PanCET: HST UV/optical/NIR survey of selected exoplanets
- SH0ES: survey to increase the accuracy of the cosmic distance ladder
- STARSMOG: survey of dust in galaxies
- Ultraviolet Hubble Ultra-deep Field: ultraviolet data covering the Hubble Ultra Deep Field region of the sky
- UVCANDELS: UV survey of CANDELS fields
WFCAM: see United Kingdom Infrared Telescope
- WFCAM Transit Survey: 2000s survey for exoplanet transits using UKIRT
WFCAM Transit Survey: 2000s survey for exoplanet transits using UKIRT
WFE (wavefront error): measure of a class of telescope distortion
WFI: see ATHENA
WFI: see PUNCH
WFI: see Roman Space Telescope
- Pre-OmegaTranS: transit search using MPG/ESO Telescope
WFIRST (Roman Space Telescope): proposed near-infrared space observatory
WFIRST CGI: see Roman Space Telescope
WFIRST WFI: see Roman Space Telescope
WFIRST-AFTA

Roman Space Telescope: proposed near-infrared space observatory

WFM: see STROBE-X
WFM: see eXTP
WFMOS (Wide-field Multi-object Spectrograph): proposed instrument to detect baryon acoustic oscillations
WFOS: see Thirty Meter Telescope
WFPC2

Medium Deep Survey: survey to find galaxies in HST WFPC2 images
WFC3: general purpose camera/spectroscope on HST

WFS (wavefront sensor): instrument for determining a wave's deformation
WFSS: see James Webb Space Telescope
WG: see double star designation
WGA: see rare designator prefixes
WGAD (Working Group on Accessibility and Disability): AAS working group
WGPSN (Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature): IAU group on terminology regarding planetary systems
Wheeler's demon: see Geroch-Bekenstein engine
WHIRC: see WIYN 3.5m Telescope
Whirlpool Galaxy: easily-observed spiral galaxy
WHISP: 1990s/2000s radio survey mapping HI density and velocity
white dwarf: stellar remnant largely of electron degenerate matter
- Giclas 29-38: white dwarf variable star of interest
- J1713+0747: binary system with millisecond pulsar and white dwarf
- T Pyxidis: well-known recurrent nova
- WD J0651+2844: binary pair of closely-orbiting white dwarfs
- ZTF J1539+5027: binary star of two white dwarfs with tight orbit
White Dwarf Catalog (Villanova White Dwarf Catalog): ongoing catalog of white dwarfs
white dwarfs

Chandrasekhar limit: maximum mass of a white dwarf
compact object: dense astronomical body such as white dwarf or denser
electron degenerate matter: dense matter such as that in white dwarf
ELM Survey: survey of extremely-low-mass white dwarfs
Type Ia supernova problem: lack of fully-convincing Type Ia supernovae triggering model
Urca process: neutrino-emitting process
Villanova White Dwarf Catalog: ongoing catalog of white dwarfs

white giant: see giant star
white hole: the inverse of a black hole, into which matter cannot enter
white noise: see red noise
white paper: paper giving a general explanation of an issue or proposal
white paper: see decadal survey
WHL: see rare designator prefixes
Whole Earth Blazer Telescope: international initiative to gather blazar lightcurves
Whole Earth Telescope: international initiative to gather variable star lightcurves
WHSF: see Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment
WHT (William Herschel Telescope): 4.2-meter telescope in the Canary Islands
- Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes: three telescopes in Canary Islands
- Roque de los Muchachos Observatory: observatory at La Palma in the Canary Islands
WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE): multi-object spectrograph on the WHT
WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer: see William Herschel Telescope
Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP): multi-university initiative to locate transiting planets
Wide Area Search for Planets (WASP): multi-university initiative to locate transiting planets
wide band: see passband
wide binaries: binary stars thousands of AU apart
wide field: see field of view
wide field: see survey field
Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3): general purpose camera/spectroscope on HST
Wide Field Imager

Pre-OmegaTranS: transit search using MPG/ESO Telescope

Wide Field Infrared Explorer: partly-failed 1999 infrared satellite
Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (Roman Space Telescope): proposed near-infrared space observatory
Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer: infrared space telescope aimed at an all-sky survey
Wide-field Multi-object Spectrograph: proposed instrument to detect baryon acoustic oscillations
Wide-field Nearby Galaxy-cluster Survey (WINGS): all-sky survey investigating known galaxy clusters
wide-field slitless spectroscopy: see James Webb Space Telescope
Wide-field X-ray Telescope

Satech-01: Chinese experimental spacecraft

wideband: see bandwidth
Widefield ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky Blind Survey: see Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
Wien approximation: yields approximation of black body curve useful at short wavelengths
- Rayleigh-Jeans law: yields approximation of black-body curve useful at low frequencies
Wien's displacement constant: see Wien's displacement law
- stellar temperature determination: methods by which the temperature of a star is determined
Wien's displacement law: relates temperature to wavelength of maximum emission
- stellar temperature determination: methods by which the temperature of a star is determined
Wien's law (Wien's displacement law): relates temperature to wavelength of maximum emission
- stellar temperature determination: methods by which the temperature of a star is determined
WiFSIP: see STELLA
WiggleZ: survey aimed at mapping dark energy
Wigner crystal: crystalline phase of matter formed without specific bonds
Wild 2

Stardust: space mission that collected and returned comet coma dust

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe: spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation
William Herschel Telescope: 4.2-meter telescope in the Canary Islands
- Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes: three telescopes in Canary Islands
- Roque de los Muchachos Observatory: observatory at La Palma in the Canary Islands
Willman: see rare designator prefixes
Willman 1

Milky Way subgroup: the Milky Way and its satellites

Wilson-Bappu effect: a relation between a star's spectral line and luminosity
Wilson-Bappu relation (Wilson-Bappu effect): a relation between a star's spectral line and luminosity
WIM: see interstellar medium
WIMP: proposed particle comprising dark matter
- Cryogenic Dark Matter Search: a search for a candidate dark matter particle
- Cryogenic Rare Event Search with Superconducting Thermometers: a search for a candidate dark matter particle
- dark matter: matter in galaxies and galaxy clusters suggested by their gravity
- Lee-Weinberg bound: lower limit on mass of heavy lepton
- LUX: experiment to identify WIMPs with a tank of xenon
- MACHO: proposed astronomical objects comprising dark matter
- PICO experiment: a search for a candidate dark matter particle
- ZEPLIN: experiment to identify WIMPs with a tank of xenon
WIMP decoupling: see decoupling
WIMP miracle: see Lee-Weinberg bound
- neutralino: proposed type of particle that might include WIMPs
- WIMP: proposed particle comprising dark matter
Wind: spacecraft measuring solar wind
- Konus-Wind catalog: catalog of GRBs from the Wind spacecraft
wind

ultra-fast outflow: characteristic of some AGNs

wind braking: see magnetic dipole braking
wind shear: see planet formation
wind-momentum luminosity relationship: method of determining luminosity of distant stars
WINDII: see Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite
winding problem: see spiral galaxy
window (atmospheric window): frequency bands within which the atmosphere passes EMR
window function: function with a zero value outside some specific range
windowing function (window function): function with a zero value outside some specific range
Winer Observatory

KELT: pair of telescopes that searched for transients

WINERED: near-infrared non-cryogenic spectrograph
winged radio galaxy: see radio galaxy
WINGS: all-sky survey investigating known galaxy clusters
wino: see supersymmetry
winter solstice: see solstice
WIRC: see Hale Telescope
WIRCam: see Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
WIRE (Wide Field Infrared Explorer): partly-failed 1999 infrared satellite
WISARD: early Internet-based interface to NASA data
Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-polarimeter Experiment: 1990s ultraviolet space telescope used on two Shuttle Shuttle missions
WISDOM: see Rosalind Franklin
WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer): infrared space telescope aimed at an all-sky survey
- NEO Surveyor: planned space observatory to detect and monitor NEOs
WISE 0720-0846 (Scholz's Star): nearby binary star with red dwarf and brown dwarf
WISE 0855-0714: nearby brown dwarf
WISE 1049-5319 (Luhman 16): nearby binary brown dwarf
WISE 1506+7027: nearby brown dwarf
WISE 1534-1043: nearby brown dwarf with high proper motion
WISE J072003.20-084651.2 (Scholz's Star): nearby binary star with red dwarf and brown dwarf
WISE J085510.83-071442.5 (WISE 0855-0714): nearby brown dwarf
WISE J104915.57-531906.1 (Luhman 16): nearby binary brown dwarf
WISE J1147-2040: see TW Hydrae association
WISE J150649.97+702736.1 (WISE 1506+7027): nearby brown dwarf
WISE x SuperCOSMOS photometric redshift catalog: catalog of distant galaxies in WISE and SuperCOSMOS
WISEA: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
WISEA J153429.75-104303.3 (WISE 1534-1043): nearby brown dwarf with high proper motion
WISENF: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
WISEP: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
WISEPA: see Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer
WISEPA J075108.79-763449.6

COCONUTS: survey to image companions of stars

WISeREP: interactive catalog of supernovae
WISExSCOSPZ (WISE x SuperCOSMOS photometric redshift catalog): catalog of distant galaxies in WISE and SuperCOSMOS
WISH: see planet formation
WISP: see WIMP
WISPR: see Parker Solar Probe
WISS: see scintillometry
WIT: "what is it" for an unexplainable object
WIYN: Wisconsin-Indiana-Yale-NOAO
- WIYN 3.5m Telescope: Kitt Peak telescope run by university collaboration and NOIRLab
WIYN 0.9m Telescope: see WIYN 3.5m Telescope
WIYN 3.5m Telescope: Kitt Peak telescope run by university collaboration and NOIRLab
- Kitt Peak National Observatory: NOIRLab observatory in Arizona with Mayall telescope
- WIYN Open Cluster Study: study begun in 2000 using the WIYN 3.5m Telescope
WIYN Consortium: see WIYN 3.5m Telescope
WIYN Open Cluster Study: study begun in 2000 using the WIYN 3.5m Telescope
WJN: see rare designator prefixes
WKB approximation (WKB method): method of numerically solving certain differential equations
WKB method: method of numerically solving certain differential equations
WKBJ approximation (WKB method): method of numerically solving certain differential equations
WKBJ method (WKB method): method of numerically solving certain differential equations
WL (weak lensing): slight lensing detected in random patterns of distant objects
WL: see rare designator prefixes
WLM (Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte): irregular galaxy at edge of Local Group
WLR (wind-momentum luminosity relationship): method of determining luminosity of distant stars
WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe): spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation
WMAP cold spot (cold spot): unusually colder spot in the CMB
WMAP1

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe: spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation

WMAP3

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe: spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation

WMAP5

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe: spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation

WMAP7

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe: spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation

WMAP9

Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe: spacecraft that measured variations in the cosmic background radiation

WMB: see gyrochronology
WN: see USS Sources
WN: see Wolf-Rayet star
WNC: see double star designation
WNE: see Wolf-Rayet star
WNL: see Wolf-Rayet star
WNM: see interstellar medium
WNO: see USNO
WNO: see double star designation
WO: see Wolf-Rayet star
Wo: see rare designator prefixes
wobble method (radial velocity method): method of detecting exoplanets and binary companions
WOCS (WIYN Open Cluster Study): study begun in 2000 using the WIYN 3.5m Telescope
WOCS Consortium

WIYN Open Cluster Study: study begun in 2000 using the WIYN 3.5m Telescope

WOH: see rare designator prefixes
Wolf (Max Wolf's catalog of stars with proper motion): early 20th century catalog of 1500 stars
Wolf 359: nearby red dwarf
Wolf number: see sunspot
Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte: irregular galaxy at edge of Local Group
Wolf-Rayet galaxy: galaxy with a lot of Wolf-Rayet stars
Wolf-Rayet star: type of star with broad emission bands
- WR 104: Wolf-Rayet star surrounded by spiral nebula
- WR 140: Wolf-Rayet star that produces much dust
Wolf-Rayet supernova: identified by rapidly expanding carbon, oxygen and neon
Wollaston prism: see spectropolarimetry
Wolter telescope: reflector telescope using only shallow-angle reflections
- NuSTAR: space telescope for high-energy X-rays
WOR: see rare designator prefixes
work: see energy
work function: see ionization potential
Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature: IAU group on terminology regarding planetary systems
Working Group on Accessibility and Disability: AAS working group
world cooling

dynamo: mechanism for generating magnetic fields around astronomical bodies

world line (worldline): path of an object through space and time
worldline: path of an object through space and time
- spacetime diagram: graph of simplified spacetime, with fewer space dimensions
wormhole: connection between two regions in a curved space
WP (white paper): paper giving a general explanation of an issue or proposal
WPCA: see PCA analysis
WPVS: see rare designator prefixes
WR (Wolf-Rayet star): type of star with broad emission bands
WR 104: Wolf-Rayet star surrounded by spiral nebula
WR 140: Wolf-Rayet star that produces much dust
WR galaxy (Wolf-Rayet galaxy): galaxy with a lot of Wolf-Rayet stars
WR star (Wolf-Rayet star): type of star with broad emission bands
WRA: see rare designator prefixes
Wray: see rare designator prefixes
WRD: see double star designation
WRF: see MarsWRF
WRG: see radio galaxy
WRH: see double star designation
wrt: "with respect to"
WS: see rare designator prefixes
WSA

WSA-Enlil: computer model of heliosphere for space weather prediction

WSA-Enlil: computer model of heliosphere for space weather prediction
WSRT (Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope): radio telescope array of 14 dishes in Netherlands
- European Pulsar Timing Array: European collaboration of radio telescopes
- European VLBI Network: consortium of radio telescopes to coordinate VLBI efforts
- Hydrogen Accretion in Local Galaxies Survey: radio survey looking for HI in galaxy halos
- WHISP: 1990s/2000s radio survey mapping HI density and velocity
WSTB: see Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope
WT: see rare designator prefixes
WTF Star (KIC 8462852): star with unusual variations
WTS (WFCAM Transit Survey): 2000s survey for exoplanet transits using UKIRT
WTTS: see T-Tauri star
WUPPE (Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-polarimeter Experiment): 1990s ultraviolet space telescope used on two Shuttle Shuttle missions
WXM: see High Energy Transient Explorer
WXT: see Einstein Probe
- Satech-01: Chinese experimental spacecraft
WYFFOS: see William Herschel Telescope
WZ: see double star designation

Index