Astrophysical Phenomena

noun a rocket engine that is used to slow down a spacecraft or missile

adjective describing something that is characteristic of a style, fashion, or design from the past

• The retro rocket on the spacecraft was designed to safely slow down its descent back to Earth.
• Check out the cool retro rocket on that vintage spaceship!
• I wish my car had a retro rocket to help me beat traffic!
• Using meditation as a retro rocket, she propelled herself into a state of deep relaxation.

adjective relating to or resembling a vortex; having a spiral or whirling motion

• The vortical motion of the water created a mesmerizing pattern in the lake.
• I felt dizzy watching the vortical swirls in the whirlpool.
• The vortical winds were so strong, they nearly knocked me over!
• The vortical nature of politics can make it difficult to predict outcomes.

noun a long, winding curve or line that resembles a spiral shape, often used to describe the structure of galaxies

• The Milky Way galaxy is made up of several spiral arms.
• I read that the Milky Way has these cool spiral arms.
• I love how the Milky Way looks with its spiral arms.
• Her thoughts were swirling around her mind like a spiral arm.

noun a form of energy that is hypothesized to permeate all of space and accelerate the expansion of the universe

adjective describing the type of energy as being dark or mysterious in nature

• Dark energy is a hypothetical form of energy that is proposed to permeate all of space, causing the universe to expand at an accelerating rate.
• Scientists are still trying to understand this mysterious dark energy that seems to be pushing the universe apart.
• I heard that dark energy is like the force in Star Wars, but in real life.
• The dark energy in the room was palpable, creating a tense and uneasy atmosphere.

noun a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, believed to contain many comets, asteroids, and other small bodies

• The Kuiper belt is a region of the outer Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune, where many small icy bodies are located.
• Scientists study the Kuiper belt to learn more about the objects that exist beyond Neptune.
• Check out the Kuiper belt, it's like a cosmic treasure trove of icy objects!
• The Kuiper belt is like the outer suburbs of our Solar System, where all the cool and mysterious stuff hangs out.

noun a natural satellite that orbits a planet outside of our solar system

• Scientists are studying the possibility of the existence of an exomoon orbiting a distant planet.
• Have you heard about that exomoon they discovered? It's pretty cool.
• That exomoon is out of this world!
• The exomoon shone brightly in the night sky, like a diamond in the rough.