Term Index (Z)

• Z:
  • atomic number (Z): number of protons in an atomic nucleus
  • element: class of atom based on its number of protons
  • mass fraction: measure of a constituent of a star, cloud, etc.
  • metallicity (Z): metal fraction of an object
  • partition function (Z): scale factor for Boltzmann factors
  • redshift (z): change to longer wavelengths due to Doppler effects
  • stellar population: grouping of stars according to metallicity
• Z Andromedae variable:
  • variable star: star that varies in magnitude
• Z Andromedae with eclipses:
  • variable star: star that varies in magnitude
• Z band:
  • infrared (IR): electromagnetic radiation, wavelength 0.74-300 micrometers
• Z boson:
  • standard model: model of elementary particles including quarks
  • supersymmetry (SUSY): extension to standard model of particle physics
• Zürich number:
  • sunspot: temporary darker region of the Sun's surface
• Z+: symbol for ion or ion charge
• z-band:
  • Hubble Ultra-Deep Field (HUDF): extremely detailed HST image of a small region of space
• Z-FOURGE:
  • FourStar Galaxy Evolution Survey (ZFOURGE,Z-FOURGE): infrared deep-survey to detect galaxies
• Z-Spec:
  • Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO): 10.4 meter submillimeter telescope in Hawaii
• z8:
  • rare designator prefixes: designator prefixes generally used for only a few objects
• z_abs:
  • redshift (z): change to longer wavelengths due to Doppler effects
• z_em:
  • redshift (z): change to longer wavelengths due to Doppler effects
• Z_p:
  • mass fraction: measure of a constituent of a star, cloud, etc.
• Z⁺:
  • Z+: symbol for ion or ion charge
• z=2.38 Filament:
  • galaxy filament: thread-like formations of galaxies, 50 to 80 megaparsecs
• ZAHB:
  • horizontal branch (HB): a second "giant" stage in the evolution of some main sequence stars
• ZAMO frame: a frame of reference that is not rotating
• ZAMS:
  • zero-age main sequence (ZAMS): describes stars that just began hydrogen fusion
• ZAND:
  • variable star: star that varies in magnitude
• ZANDE:
  • variable star: star that varies in magnitude
• zC-SINF:
  • SINS: near-infrared study of distant luminous galaxies
• zCOSMOS:
  • Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS): investigation of dark matter and the universe's large scale structure
  • SINS: near-infrared study of distant luminous galaxies
• ZDI:
  • Zeeman-Doppler imaging (ZDI): technique for imaging stellar magnetic fields
• Zeeman effect: magnetic field influence on spectral lines
  • molecular cloud: interstellar gas cloud that includes molecules
  • quadratic field strength: a measure of a star's varying magnetic field
  • Zeeman-Doppler imaging (ZDI): technique for imaging stellar magnetic fields
• Zeeman-Doppler imaging (ZDI): technique for imaging stellar magnetic fields
  • Zeeman effect: magnetic field influence on spectral lines
• Zel'dovich approximation: model of the formation of cosmological structure
• Zel'dovich pancake:
  • Zel'dovich approximation: model of the formation of cosmological structure
• zenith: spot on the sky directly above something
  • celestial meridian: celestial sphere's meridian passing overhead
  • horizontal coordinate system: celestial coordinate system based upon horizon and north
• zenith distance:
  • horizontal coordinate system: celestial coordinate system based upon horizon and north
• ZEPLIN: experiment to identify WIMPs with a tank of xenon
• ZEPLIN-III:
  • ZEPLIN: experiment to identify WIMPs with a tank of xenon
• zero angular momentum frame:
  • ZAMO frame: a frame of reference that is not rotating
• zero-age HB:
  • horizontal branch (HB): a second "giant" stage in the evolution of some main sequence stars
• zero-age main sequence (ZAMS): describes stars that just began hydrogen fusion
• zero-point energy:
  • dark energy: energy theorized to accelerate the expansion of the universe
  • ground state: lowest energy level
• Zeta Aurigae system:
  • binary star: system of two stars co-orbiting
• Zeta Tucanae:
  • F-type star (F): spectral class of star a bit hotter than then Sun
• ZEUS-2:
  • Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO): 10.4 meter submillimeter telescope in Hawaii
• ZF:
  • FourStar Galaxy Evolution Survey (ZFOURGE,Z-FOURGE): infrared deep-survey to detect galaxies
• ZFOURGE:
  • FourStar Galaxy Evolution Survey (ZFOURGE,Z-FOURGE): infrared deep-survey to detect galaxies
• Zhao profile:
  • Navarro-Frenk-White profile (NFW profile): a dark matter spatial mass distribution function
• zinc:
  • Am star: A-type star with metallic lines
• zino:
  • supersymmetry (SUSY): extension to standard model of particle physics
• Zipf's law: particular discrete probability distribution discovered in linguistics
• Zipfian distribution:
  • Zipf's law: particular discrete probability distribution discovered in linguistics
• zirconium:
  • Am star: A-type star with metallic lines
• ZOA:
  • zone of avoidance (ZOA): region of sky obscured by Milky Way
• ZOAG:
  • zone of avoidance (ZOA): region of sky obscured by Milky Way
• zodiac:
  • zodiacal light: sunlight reflected off interplanetary dust
• zodiacal light: sunlight reflected off interplanetary dust
• zonal flow: east-west air circulation
• zonal harmonic gravity model:
  • J₂: geopotential coefficient regarding a planet's oblateness
• zonal wind:
  • zonal flow: east-west air circulation
• zone: apparent "horizontal" band in an atmosphere
  • superrotating wind: wind traveling in the same direction as the planet is rotating
• zone of avoidance (ZOA): region of sky obscured by Milky Way
• zone of full illumination:
  • illumination: measure of light energy producing a telescope's image
• zone of mixing:
  • Hadley cell: circulation pattern of up at the equator, poleward, down, and back
• Zoned Proportional Scintillation in Liquid Noble Gases:
  • ZEPLIN: experiment to identify WIMPs with a tank of xenon
• ZPE:
  • ground state: lowest energy level
• ZTF:
  • Palomar Transient Factory (PTF): survey designed to find transients
• Zw:
  • Catalog of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies (CGCG): list of galaxies/clusters assembled in 1960s
• Zw 3146:
  • Zwicky 3146 (Zw 3146,ZwCl 1021.0+0426): nearby large galaxy cluster
• Zw I 18:
  • I Zwicky 18 (I Zw 18,Zw I 18): blue compact galaxy with low metallicity
• ZwCl 1021.0+0426:
  • Zwicky 3146 (Zw 3146,ZwCl 1021.0+0426): nearby large galaxy cluster
• Zwicky 3146 (Zw 3146,ZwCl 1021.0+0426): nearby large galaxy cluster
• Zwicky Catalog:
  • Catalog of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies (CGCG): list of galaxies/clusters assembled in 1960s
• Zwicky Transient Facility:
  • Palomar Transient Factory (PTF): survey designed to find transients
• ZZ Ceti variable:
  • pulsating star: variable star that varies through energy pulses