astronomy
UK: əˈstrɒnəmi | US: əˈstrɑːnəmi
n. The scientific study of celestial objects (stars, planets, galaxies) and phenomena outside Earth's atmosphere.
astronomy = astro<star> + nomy<study of>
- astro: From Greek astron (star), now used in English to denote celestial objects (e.g., astronaut, astrophysics).
- nomy: From Greek nomos (law or system), here meaning "study of" (e.g., economy, taxonomy).
Etymology Origin:
The word astronomy traces back to ancient Greek astronomia, combining astron (star) and nomos (law/system). Originally, it described the "laws governing stars," reflecting early attempts to systematize celestial observations. Over time, it narrowed to its modern scientific sense, distinguishing itself from astrology (mythological interpretations).
Astronomy reveals the vastness of the universe through telescopes and satellites.
Ancient civilizations practiced astronomy to track seasons and navigate.
Modern astronomy explores black holes and dark matter.
She majored in astronomy to study planetary formation.
The astronomy club hosted a stargazing event last night.