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Webster 1913 Edition

Astronomy

As-tron′o-my

,
Noun.
[OE.
astronomie
, F.
astronomie
, L.
astronomia
, fr. Gr. [GREEK], fr. [GREEK] astronomer;
ἀστήρ
star + [GREEK] to distribute, regulate. See
Star
, and
Nomad
.]
1.
Astrology.
[Obs.]
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;
And yet methinks I have
astronomy
.
Shakespeare
2.
The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena.
3.
A treatise on, or text-book of, the science.
Physical astronomy
.
See under
Physical
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Astronomy

ASTRON'OMY

,
Noun.
[Gr. a star, and a law or rule.]
The science which teaches the knowledge of the celestial bodies, their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, aspects, eclipses, order, &c. This science depends on observations, made chiefly with instruments, and upon mathematical calculations.

Definition 2024

astronomy

astronomy

English

Wikiversity

Noun

astronomy ‎(usually uncountable, plural astronomies)

  1. The study of the physical universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere, including the process of mapping locations and properties of the matter and radiation in the universe.

Usage notes

  • The study of the physical processes which control matter and energy in the universe is commonly called astrophysics. The investigation of the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe itself is called cosmology.

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Etymology

Borrowing from Old French astronomie, from Latin astronomia, from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία ‎(astronomía), from ἄστρον ‎(ástron, “star”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr ‎(“star”) + νόμος ‎(nómos, “arranging, regulating”), related to νέμω ‎(némō, “I deal out”). Surface analysis astro- +‎ -nomy.

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