Term Index (V)

Astrophysics (Index)

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Term Index (V)

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

V1 V3 V5 VA VB VC VD VE VF VH VI VL VM VO VP VR VS VT VU VV VY

V: photometric filter for visible light
V (main sequence star): star burning hydrogen into helium in its center
V: see Stokes parameters
V: see Vela
- titanium: metal, Ti, atomic number 22
- UVJ diagram: diagram to identify star formation in distant galaxies
v: see u-v plane
V band (V): photometric filter for visible light
V filter: see V
V Zw: see Catalog of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies
Víctor M. Blanco Telescope: 4 meter reflector telescope in Chile
- National Optical Astronomy Observatory: previous name of US optical astronomy organization
V-band: see Hubble Ultra-Deep Field
V1032 Centauri (PDS 70): T-Tauri star with protoplanetary disk and protoplanet
V1216 Sagittarii (Ross 154): nearby red dwarf
V1216 Sgr (Ross 154): nearby red dwarf
V1400 Centauri (J1407): star eclipsed by a body with a ring system
V1687 Cyg (WR 140): Wolf-Rayet star that produces much dust
V339 Del (V339 Delphini): 2013 nova showing lithium synthesis
V339 Delphini: 2013 nova showing lithium synthesis
V509 Cassiopeiae

hypergiant: extremely bright stars

V_e (escape velocity): minimal velocity that allows something to overcome a body's gravity
V_max: see volume weighting
VA: see rare designator prefixes
vacuum: see false vacuum
vacuum decay: see Big Crunch
vacuum energy: see ground state
- dark energy: energy theorized to accelerate the expansion of the universe
Vainu Bappu Observatory: observatory in southern India
Vainu Bappu Telescope: see Vainu Bappu Observatory
valley of beta stability: set of isotopes not prone to beta decay
valley of stability (valley of beta stability): set of isotopes not prone to beta decay
VAMPIRES: see Subaru Telescope
Van Allen belts: regions of energetic charged particles surrounding Earth
- aurora: light produced by atmosphere and solar wind
- radiation belt: regions of energetic charged particles surrounding a planet
Van Allen radiation belts (Van Allen belts): regions of energetic charged particles surrounding Earth
Van Biesbroeck: see rare designator prefixes
van Bueren: see rare designator prefixes
van Cittert-Zernike theorem: interferometer-visibilities equal the Fourier transform of the source
- u-v plane: plane for displaying Fourier transforms of signal from the sky
- visibility: mathematical representation of interferometer's view
van den Bergh: see Van Den Bergh Reflection Nebula Catalog
van den Bergh galaxy classification: galaxy classification variant including luminosity
- David Dunlap Observatory Catalog: catalog of dwarf galaxies
- galaxy classification: morphological classification of galaxies
van den Bergh luminosity classification: see van den Bergh galaxy classification
Van Den Bergh Reflection Nebula Catalog: catalog of reflection nebulae found in POSS plates
Van den Bergh-Hagen: see rare designator prefixes
van der Waals force

adsorption: adhesion to a surface

vanadium

titanium: metal, Ti, atomic number 22

vanadium oxide

titanium: metal, Ti, atomic number 22

vapor pressure

water activity: measure of partial vapor pressure of water

Var: see luminous blue variable
Var: see rare designator prefixes
variable (variable star): star that varies in magnitude
- American Association of Variable Star Observers: organization of amateur observers of variable stars
- BA supergiant: very bright giant star
- Bibliographic Catalog of Variable Stars: listing of references to variable stars
- cataclysmic variable star: star whose magnitude is much brighter on occasion
- Cepheid variable: type of star that varies with a constant period
- ellipsoidal variable: binary star elongated by gravity
- Eta Carinae: variable star
- Frank Ross's Catalog: high-proper-motion and variable stars catalogued by Frank Ross
- FU Orionis star: type of variable pre-main-sequence star
- General Catalogue of Variable Stars: 20th/21st century catalog of 58000 variable stars
- Groupe Europáen Observations Stellaires: European organization of variable star observers.
- Information Bulletin on Variable Stars: former 1961-2019 publication on variable stars
- instability strip: region of H-R diagram where stars are unstable
- International Variable Star Index: variable star catalog by AAVSO
- J1407: star eclipsed by a body with a ring system
- Japan Amateur Photoelectric Observers Association: past amateur astronomy collaboration
- LaSilla-QUEST Variability Survey: survey for transients
- luminous blue variable: type of extremely bright variable stars
- MISAO project: search for variable stars and transients
- New Catalogue of Suspected Variable Stars: catalog from latter half of 20th century catalog
- pulsating star: variable star that varies through energy pulses
- RR Lyrae variable: star with periodic variation often in globular clusters
- T-Tauri star: type of variable pre-main-sequence star
- variable star designation: Bayer system variant for variable stars
- Whole Earth Telescope: international initiative to gather variable star lightcurves
variable star: star that varies in magnitude
- AB Pictoris: K-type star with possible planet
- Achernar: ninth-brightest star in the sky
- AD Leonis: active red dwarf
- Algol: a multiple-star system demonstrating effects of mass transfer
- AU Microscopii: nearby star with disk and planets
- Barnard's Star: nearby red dwarf
- Beta Centauri: second brightest star in Centaurus
- Betelgeuse: second brightest star in constellation Orion
- DM Tau: nearby T-Tauri star
- DQ Tau: young binary star system
- EF Eridani: binary star including a substellar object
- Elias 2-27: much-studied YSO
- Epsilon Eridani: third nearest visible star system in sky
- G239-25: nearby red dwarf with brown dwarf companion
- GG Tau: much-studied quadruple star system
- Giclas 29-38: white dwarf variable star of interest
- HL Tau: much-studied T-Tauri star
- HR 8799: star with four directly-imaged exoplanets
- Kapteyn's Star: nearby M dwarf
- KIC 8462852: star with unusual variations
- Lalande 21185: nearby red dwarf
- Luyten 726-8: nearby binary star system
- Rigel: brightest star in constellation Orion
- Ross 154: nearby red dwarf
- Ross 248: nearby red dwarf
- RS Ophiuchi: Milky Way recurrent nova
- SS 433: first microquasar discovered
- T Coronae Borealis: recurrent nova expected to erupt sometime within 2024-2026
- T Pyxidis: well-known recurrent nova
- T Tauri: variable star taken as example of young star
- TW Hydrae: nearest T-Tauri star
- V339 Delphini: 2013 nova showing lithium synthesis
- Vega: brightest star in constellation Lyra
- VY Canis Majoris: extremely large red hypergiant
- Wolf 359: nearby red dwarf
- WR 104: Wolf-Rayet star surrounded by spiral nebula
- WR 140: Wolf-Rayet star that produces much dust
variable star designation: Bayer system variant for variable stars
Variable Star Observers League in Japan: amateur variable star group
variable stars

CST: variable star type meaning it is currently thought non-variable
The Amateur Sky Survey: amateur comet and variable-star search survey
Variable Star Observers League in Japan: amateur variable star group

variable type

eclipsing binary: binary star system detected by variations in magnitude

Variables and Slow Transients: see Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
Varuna

Kuiper Belt: further part of solar system beyond Neptune

VAST: see Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope

Gregorian telescope: type of reflector telescope

VBO (Vainu Bappu Observatory): observatory in southern India
VBRC: see rare designator prefixes
VBSDC: see New Horizons
VBT: see Vainu Bappu Observatory
vC-Z theorem (van Cittert-Zernike theorem): interferometer-visibilities equal the Fourier transform of the source
VCC (Virgo Cluster Catalog): 1980s catalog of 2000 galaxies
VCF: see Local Group
VCV: see rare designator prefixes
VD: see rare designator prefixes
vdB (Van Den Bergh Reflection Nebula Catalog): catalog of reflection nebulae found in POSS plates
vdB 130

Van Den Bergh Reflection Nebula Catalog: catalog of reflection nebulae found in POSS plates

VdB-H: see rare designator prefixes
vdB-Ha: see rare designator prefixes
vdBH: see rare designator prefixes
VdS (Vereinigung der Sternfreunde): German amateur astronomy association
Ve: see rare designator prefixes
vector analysis

analytical methods: using solved equations rather than a lot of arithmetic
vortex: fluid region where the flow is spinning

vector calculus: see mathematical field
- analytical methods: using solved equations rather than a lot of arithmetic
vector field: see mathematical field
VEEGA (Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist): interplanetary method of Galileo spacecraft
VEGA: see CHARA
Vega: brightest star in constellation Lyra
Vega magnitude system (Vega system): magnitude calibration such that Vega has zero magnitude
Vega system: magnitude calibration such that Vega has zero magnitude
VEGAS: see Green Bank Telescope
vegetation red edge: wavelength cut-off point in the reflectivity of typical plants
vegetation signature: see biosignature
Vela: 1960s military satellites to detect nuclear tests
Vela Supercluster

Great Attractor: gravity anomaly at the center of our supercluster

Vela supernova remnant: nearby supernova remnant
VELC: see Aditya-L1
Velikhov-Chandrasekhar Instability (magnetorotational instability): instability in the fluid of a disk from MHD effects
VeLLO (very low luminosity object): term sometimes used for protostars with luminosity less than 0.1 solar
Veloce: see Anglo-Australian Telescope
velocimetry: see radial velocity
velocity dispersion: statistical dispersion of velocities of a group of objects
velocity field

vortensity: ratio of vorticity to surface mass-density
vortex: fluid region where the flow is spinning

velocity kick: substantial acceleration from a supernova
velocity orientation-space: space with one dimension of RV and two dimensions of orientation
velocity-metallicity relation: higher stellar velocity correlates with lower metallicity
VenSAR: see EnVision
VenSpec-H: see EnVision
VenSpec-M: see EnVision
VenSpec-U: see EnVision
Venus: second inner-most planet in the solar system
- DAVINCI: planned NASA Venus orbiter
- EnVision: planned 2030s ESA Venus orbiter
- Magellan: 1980s/1990s Venus probe
- Pioneer Venus Orbiter: NASA Venus probe launched 1978
- solar system object: the Sun, solar system planets, minor planets, comets, and moons
- Venus Express: Venus probe launched by ESA in 2005
- Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar: 1980s plan for Venus probe to map the surface
- VERITAS: planned NASA Venus orbiter
Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy (VERITAS): planned NASA Venus orbiter
Venus Express: Venus probe launched by ESA in 2005
Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar: 1980s plan for Venus probe to map the surface
Venus Radar Mapper (Magellan): 1980s/1990s Venus probe
Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist: interplanetary method of Galileo spacecraft
VER: see VERITAS
VERA: VLBI project to map the Milky Way
- very-long-baseline interferometry: interferometry based upon storing timing data at each telescope
VeRa: see Venus Express
Veray C. Rubin Observatory (Rubin Observatory): 8-meter survey reflector telescope under construction in Chile
Vereinigung der Sternfreunde: German amateur astronomy association
verification by multiplicity: see Kepler Telescope
VERITAS: ground gamma ray telescope array in Arizona
VERITAS: planned NASA Venus orbiter
- Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory: observatory near Amado, Arizona
vernal equinox: see equinox
- celestial coordinate system: system for specifying position of celestial objects
- ecliptic coordinate system: celestial coordinate system system based upon Earth's orbital plane
- J2000.0 equinox: equinox as of the J2000.0 epoch used as a positional reference
- right ascension: direction coordinate along celestial equator
vernal point: see equinox
vertical epicyclic frequency: see epicyclic frequency
vertical gradient: see gradient
vertical metallicity gradient: see metallicity gradient
vertical optical depth: see optical depth
vertical oscillation frequency: see spiral galaxy
vertical scale height: see scale height
vertical temperature profile (atmospheric temperature profile): the atmosphere's temperature by altitude
Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS): ground gamma ray telescope array in Arizona
very high energy

very-high-energy gamma rays: energetic gamma rays with 100 GeV to 100 TeV photon energy

very high frequency

high frequency: electromagnetic radiation, frequency 3-30 MHz

Very Large Array: radio telescope in New Mexico
- FIRST: 1990s radio survey
- NRAO VLA Sky Survey: 1990s microwave survey of 82% of the sky
- VLASS: ongoing all-sky radio survey
Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS): ongoing all-sky radio survey
Very Large Telescope (European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope): four 8.2-meter optical telescopes in Chile that can act together
- California Extremely Large Telescope: concept for an extremely large telescope
- Multi-object Optical and Near-IR Spectrograph: advanced spectrograph under development for VLT
Very Large Telescope Interferometer: see European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope
very late thermal pulse: see thermal pulse
- post-AGB star: stellar-evolution phase between AGB and white dwarf
very light dark matter: see sub-GeV dark matter
Very Long Baseline Array: radio interferometer stretching 8000 km
- very-long-baseline interferometry: interferometry based upon storing timing data at each telescope
very low frequency: electromagnetic radiation, frequency 3-30 kHz
- high frequency: electromagnetic radiation, frequency 3-30 MHz
very low luminosity object: term sometimes used for protostars with luminosity less than 0.1 solar
very low mass: abbreviation
very low mass star: see low mass star
Very Small Array: radio interferometer in Canary Islands
- Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory: radio observatory near Cambridge, UK
- Teide Observatory: observatory on Mount Teide in the Canary Islands
very small grains: dust grains of just a few molecules
very-high energy cosmic rays: see cosmic rays
very-high-energy (VHE): 100 GeV or more
very-high-energy gamma ray

VHE: 100 GeV or more

very-high-energy gamma rays: energetic gamma rays with 100 GeV to 100 TeV photon energy
very-long-baseline interferometry: interferometry based upon storing timing data at each telescope
VES: see rare designator prefixes
Vesta: see asteroid
- asteroid family: set of asteroids based on similar orbits
- Dawn: explorer spacecraft sent to asteroids Vesta and Ceres
- protoplanet: simplest, least-developed object classified as a planet
Vetenskapsrådet: Swedish research council
- Astronet: European astronomy consortium
Vetesnik: see rare designator prefixes
VFTS (VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey): VLT spectroscopic survey of massive stars
VHE: 100 GeV or more
- very-high-energy gamma rays: energetic gamma rays with 100 GeV to 100 TeV photon energy
VHE cosmic rays: see cosmic rays
VHE gamma ray

VHE: 100 GeV or more

VHECR: see cosmic rays
VHEGR (very-high-energy gamma rays): energetic gamma rays with 100 GeV to 100 TeV photon energy
- VHE: 100 GeV or more
VHF

high frequency: electromagnetic radiation, frequency 3-30 MHz

VHM: see Ulysses
VHS: see VISTA
VI (subdwarf): star less bright than the main sequence given its spectral class
VI Zw: see Catalog of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies
Victor M. Blanco Telescope

Dark Energy Survey: survey aimed at mapping the universe's expansion
DECaLS: survey imaging part of SDSS footprint with DECam

VIDEO: see VISTA
VII Zw: see Catalog of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies
VIII Zw: see Catalog of Galaxies and Clusters of Galaxies
VIK: see VISTA
VIKING: see VISTA
Viking

Mars: well-explored planet in the solar system

Villanova White Dwarf Catalog: ongoing catalog of white dwarfs
VIMOS: see European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope
- Cosmic Evolution Survey: investigation of dark matter and the universe's large scale structure
- multi-object spectrograph: device to record the spectrum of multiple targets simultaneously
- VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey: spectrographic redshift survey of 80,000 galaxies
- VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey: spectroscopic survey of 100,000 high-redshift galaxies
VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey: spectrographic redshift survey of 80,000 galaxies
VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey: spectroscopic survey of 100,000 high-redshift galaxies
VIMS: see Cassini
VINCI: see European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope
violent migration: see planetary migration
violet noise: see red noise
Viper: see ACBAR
- South Pole Station: science station at the South Pole
VIPERS (VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey): spectrographic redshift survey of 80,000 galaxies
VIR: see Dawn
VIRCAM: see VISTA
- UltraVISTA: near infrared survey using VISTA telescope
VIRGO: see Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
Virgo: ground-based gravitational-wave detector in Italy
- European Gravitational Observatory: gravitational wave observatory in Italy
Virgo A (M87): supergiant elliptical galaxy in local universe
Virgo Cluster: nearby large galaxy cluster
- galaxy cluster: large group of galaxies gravitationally-bound to the group
- supergalactic coordinate system: celestial coordinate system system based upon the supergalactic plane
- Virgo Cluster Catalog: 1980s catalog of 2000 galaxies
- Virgo Supercluster: supercluster including the Local Group
Virgo Cluster Catalog: 1980s catalog of 2000 galaxies
Virgo Detector (Virgo): ground-based gravitational-wave detector in Italy
Virgo I

Milky Way subgroup: the Milky Way and its satellites

Virgo SC (Virgo Supercluster): supercluster including the Local Group
Virgo Stellar Stream: stellar stream wrapping around the Milky Way
Virgo Stream (Virgo Stellar Stream): stellar stream wrapping around the Milky Way
Virgo Supercluster: supercluster including the Local Group
Virgo X-1 (M87): supergiant elliptical galaxy in local universe
Virgocentric flow: see Local Group
Virgocentric peculiar velocity: see Local Group
virial length: see virial theorem
virial mass: see virial theorem
virial parameter: calculated quantity showing whether a cloud is gravitationally bound
virial radius: see virial theorem
- circumgalactic medium: gas surrounding a galaxy
virial scale: see virial theorem
virial temperature: see virial theorem
virial theorem: average kinetic energy equals half the average negative potential energy
VIRMOS: see European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope
- VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey: spectroscopic survey of 100,000 high-redshift galaxies
VIRMOS-VLT Deep Survey (VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey): spectroscopic survey of 100,000 high-redshift galaxies
VIRTIS: see Rosetta
VIRTIS: see Venus Express
virtual black hole: see black hole
virtual image: see real image
Virtual Meteor Observatory: online database of meteors
virtual observatory: online database of astronomical data
virtual particle: see quantum fluctuations
- Hawking radiation: EMR theorized to be emitted by black holes, powered by their mass
VIRUS: see Hobby-Eberly Telescope
VIS: see Big Bear Solar Observatory
VIS: see Euclid
viscosity: see viscous dissipation
- superfluid: fluid with no viscosity
viscous dissipation: fluid KE converted to heat due to viscosity
viscous forces

Reynolds number: measure reflecting a fluid system's propensity to turbulence

visibility: mathematical representation of interferometer's view
- u-v plane: plane for displaying Fourier transforms of signal from the sky
- van Cittert-Zernike theorem: interferometer-visibilities equal the Fourier transform of the source
Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA): 4.1 meter telescope in Paranal Observatory in Chile
visible jet: see jet
visible light: electromagnetic radiation that our eyes can sense
- aperture: opening through which light passes
- B: photometric filter for blue light
- BASS: survey of AGNs found by the Swift BAT
- BlackGEM: telescope array to follow up gravitational wave signals
- Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory: on Bohyeon Mountain, Korea
- California Extremely Large Telescope: concept for an extremely large telescope
- Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope: 3.6-meter optical/infrared telescope in Hawaii
- Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference: IAU initiative to address the issue of satellite constellations
- Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory: NOIRLab observatory in Chile with Blanco telescope
- CHARA: optical interferometer on Mount Wilson
- COAST: optical interferometer in England
- COLD GASS: survey of CO in nearby large galaxies
- Colossus Telescope: concept for a 50-meter telescope using interferometry
- cosmic optical background: widespread optical radiation not associated with known sources
- dark sky: sky with limited light pollution
- Deep Multicolor Survey: 1990s optical and infrared deep survey
- DEVILS: visible-light spectrographic survey of 56k distant galaxies
- Dominion Astrophysical Observatory: long-standing observatory in British Columbia
- electromagnetic spectrum: spectrum of EMR
- ESO 3.6m Telescope: reflector telescope at La Silla
- ESO Schmidt Telescope: 1 meter telescope in Chile with a wide field-of-view
- ESPEX: concept for a small near-UV/optical space observatory
- Euclid: survey observatory-satellite to measure dark energy
- European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope: four 8.2-meter optical telescopes in Chile that can act together
- fast blue optical transient: optical transient with rise time under five days
- Fast On-orbit Rapit Recording of Transient Events: satellite viewing radio and optical transients on Earth
- Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory: observatory near Amado, Arizona
- G band: band of visible light around 5100 angstroms
- Gaia: astrometry survey satellite launched in 2013
- GaiaNIR: concept for a Gaia follow-on including NIR astrometry
- Gemini Observatory: pair of telescopes in Hawaii and Chile
- GI2T: optical interferometer in France
- Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope: concept for an extremely large telescope
- GOTO: telescope array to follow up gravitational wave signals
- Gran Telescopio Canarias: 10.4 meter telescope in the Canary Islands
- Group Evolution Multiwavelength Study: survey of galaxy groups
- HabEx: proposed space mission to directly image exoplanets
- HARMONI: spectrograph planned for E-ELT
- High Definition Space Telescope: proposed 12-meter space telescope
- Hubble Space Telescope: observatory-satellite with 2.4-meter reflective telescope
- International Liquid Mirror Telescope: 4-meter liquid mirror telescope under construction in India
- Keck Observatory: observatory in Hawaii with two 10-meter reflectors
- Kitt Peak National Observatory: NOIRLab observatory in Arizona with Mayall telescope
- Large Binocular Telescope: dual 8.4 meter telescope in Arizona
- Large Zenith Telescope: 6 meter liquid mirror telescope in British Columbia
- Lick Observatory: California observatory of long standing
- light echo: reflected light from an astronomical event arriving later
- light pollution: light from cities that interferes with astronomical observation
- Livermore Optical Transient Imaging System: automated telescope aiming to catch GRB optical counterparts
- Liverpool Telescope: 2-meter robotic telescope in Spain
- Lowell Discovery Telescope: 4.3 m telescope at Lowell Observatory, Arizona
- Lowell Observatory: Arizona observatory of long standing
- LUVOIR: plan for a space-based telescope
- Magellan Telescopes: pair of 6.5 m optical telescopes in Chile
- MeerLICHT: South African telescope coordinated with MeerKAT
- MICADO: camera planned for E-ELT
- Mount Wilson Observatory: Los Angeles observatory with Hooker telescope
- MRO Interferometer: optical interferometer in New Mexico
- Multi-object Optical and Near-IR Spectrograph: advanced spectrograph under development for VLT
- Multiwavelength Survey by Yale-Chile: optical/NIR survey of four deep fields
- National Optical Astronomy Observatory: previous name of US optical astronomy organization
- Navy Precision Optical Interferometer: optical interferometer in Arizona
- New Technology Telescope: 3.58-meter reflector telescope in Chile
- NOIRLab: US optical/infrared astronomy organization
- OIR: "band name" that means both visible light and infrared
- optical interferometer: interferometer of visible light
- optical transient: transient evident from visible light observation
- optics: science and technology regarding visible light
- Palomar 48 Inch Telescope: 48 inch Schmidt telescope at Palomar Observatory
- Palomar 60-inch Telescope: 60 inch telescope at Palomar Observatory
- Palomar Observatory: California observatory with Hale telescope
- Palomar-Green Survey: list of objects with excess ultraviolet light
- photometer: instrument measuring brightness
- Siding Spring Observatory: observatory in New South Wales, Australia
- SkyMapper: automated 1.35 m optical telescope in Australia
- Sloan 2.5m Telescope: telescope for SDSS in New Mexico
- Solar Maximum Mission: 1980s satellite to study the Sun during solar maximum
- South African Astronomical Observatory: South African observatory with SALT telescope
- Southern African Large Telescope: 10-meter telescope in South Africa
- SPECULOOS: search for Earth-like exoplanets orbiting nearby dim stars
- stray light: unintended light reaching a telescope's sensors
- Subaru Telescope: 8.2-meter telescope in Hawaii
- SuperBIT: balloon-borne 0.5-m telescope
- SUSI: optical interferometer in Australia
- Swift: satellite for studying gamma-ray bursts
- Telescopio Nazionale Galileo: 3.58 m telescope in Canary Islands
- TRACE: former solar observing satellite
- UVOIR: a spectral "band name" covering UV, visible light, and IR
- V: photometric filter for visible light
- VISTA: 4.1 meter telescope in Paranal Observatory in Chile
- VLT Survey Telescope: survey telescope located at the VLT site
- William Herschel Telescope: 4.2-meter telescope in the Canary Islands
- WIYN 3.5m Telescope: Kitt Peak telescope run by university collaboration and NOIRLab
- zodiacal light: sunlight reflected off interplanetary dust
visible universe: see observable universe
visible window: see atmospheric window
VisieR: online astronomical catalog contents/data
VISIR: see European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope
VISTA: 4.1 meter telescope in Paranal Observatory in Chile
- European Southern Observatory: organization operating telescopes in the southern hemisphere
- Paranal Observatory: ESO Atacama observatory with ESO VLT
- UltraVISTA: near infrared survey using VISTA telescope
VISTA Deep Extragalactic Observations Survey: see VISTA
VISTA Hemispheric Survey: see VISTA
VISTA Kilodegree Infrared Galaxy Survey: see VISTA
VISTA Magellanic Survey: see VISTA
VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea Survey: see VISTA
visual

V: photometric filter for visible light

visual binary: binary star system in which both stars can be seen
visual double (double star): two stars close together in the sky
visual grouping: see asterism
visual magnitude: see magnitude
visualization

corner.py: Python library for scatter plot matrices
Glue: visualization software good for astrophysical data
Image Reduction and Analysis Facility: NOAO-developed image manipulation/viewing software
Matplotlib: Python library for plotting
OpenSpace: visualization software aimed at astrophysical data
Partiview: visualization software aimed at 4D data
Uniview: planetarium software

VLA (Very Large Array): radio telescope in New Mexico
- FIRST: 1990s radio survey
- Millimeter-wave Intensity Mapping Experiment: project to map CO and [CII]
- NANOGrav: effort to detect gravitational waves through pulsar timing
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory: US radio astronomy organization
- NRAO VLA Sky Survey: 1990s microwave survey of 82% of the sky
- VLASS: ongoing all-sky radio survey
VLA jet: see jet
Vlasov equation: see Vlasov-Poisson equation
Vlasov simulation: see Vlasov-Poisson equation
Vlasov solver: see Vlasov-Poisson equation
Vlasov-Maxwell equation: see Vlasov-Poisson equation
Vlasov-Poisson equation: equation describing plasma ignoring the magnetic field
Vlasov-Poisson system: see Vlasov-Poisson equation
VLASS: ongoing all-sky radio survey
VLBA (Very Long Baseline Array): radio interferometer stretching 8000 km
- Gould's Belt Distances Survey: survey of parallax distances to Gould's Belt YSOs
- MOJAVE: program to monitor AGN jet radio brightness and polarization
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory: US radio astronomy organization
- very-long-baseline interferometry: interferometry based upon storing timing data at each telescope
VLBA MK

Mauna Kea: Hawaiian mountain, the site of observatories
Mauna Kea Observatories: observatories on Mauna Kea in Hawaii

VLBI (very-long-baseline interferometry): interferometry based upon storing timing data at each telescope
- correlator: unit that interferes wave signals for interferometry
- Earth-sized VLBI: ground-based VLBI with near-maximal baseline
- electronic very-long-baseline interferometry: real-time VLBI using electronic links
- European VLBI Network: consortium of radio telescopes to coordinate VLBI efforts
- Event Horizon Telescope: growing VLBI network
- Gould's Belt Distances Survey: survey of parallax distances to Gould's Belt YSOs
- Green Bank 140 Foot Telescope: West Virginia radio telescope
- Joint Institute for VLBI ERIC: central EVN facility
- Long Baseline Array: radio interferometer using Australian telescopes
- Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy: Bonn research institute
- MERLIN: VLBI array spread across England
- Spektr-R: 10 m space radio telescope
- VERA: VLBI project to map the Milky Way
- Very Long Baseline Array: radio interferometer stretching 8000 km
VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA): VLBI project to map the Milky Way
- very-long-baseline interferometry: interferometry based upon storing timing data at each telescope
VLBI jet: see jet
VLBI Space Observatory Program: see HALCA
VLF (very low frequency): electromagnetic radiation, frequency 3-30 kHz
- high frequency: electromagnetic radiation, frequency 3-30 MHz
VLM (very low mass): abbreviation
VLOT

California Extremely Large Telescope: concept for an extremely large telescope

VLT (European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope): four 8.2-meter optical telescopes in Chile that can act together
- Beta Pictoris b: super-Jupiter discovered in 2008
- European Southern Observatory: organization operating telescopes in the southern hemisphere
- Multi-object Optical and Near-IR Spectrograph: advanced spectrograph under development for VLT
- VIMOS Public Extragalactic Redshift Survey: spectrographic redshift survey of 80,000 galaxies
- VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey: spectroscopic survey of 100,000 high-redshift galaxies
- VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey: VLT spectroscopic survey of massive stars
- X-SHOOTER Lyman α survey at z = 2: survey of Lyman-α sources
VLT Survey Telescope: survey telescope located at the VLT site
VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey: VLT spectroscopic survey of massive stars
VLT-SPHERE (SPHERE): VLT instrument for imaging exoplanets
VLTI: see European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope
VLTP: see thermal pulse
- post-AGB star: stellar-evolution phase between AGB and white dwarf
VMC: see Mars Express
VMC: see VISTA
VMC: see Venus Express
VMO (Virtual Meteor Observatory): online database of meteors
VMR: see rare designator prefixes
VO (virtual observatory): online database of astronomical data
- titanium: metal, Ti, atomic number 22
Vogt-Russell theorem: proposition that a star's structure depends on its mass and makeup
void: empty spaces between large scale structures
- Local Hole: void containing the Local Group
- Local Void: void next to the Local Group
void filament: see void galaxy
void fraction (porosity): fraction of the volume of solid material that is open or void
void galaxy: galaxy within a void
voids

void galaxy: galaxy within a void

Voigt function

convolution: type of product function of two functions
Voigt profile: mathematical shape that models spectral lines

Voigt profile: mathematical shape that models spectral lines
- line shape function: function describing the shape of a spectral line
VOIR (Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar): 1980s plan for Venus probe to map the surface
volatile (volatile material): material with low condensation temperature
- refractory material: material with high condensation temperature
volatile compound: see volatile material
- refractory material: material with high condensation temperature
volatile element: see volatile material
- refractory material: material with high condensation temperature
volatile material: material with low condensation temperature
- ice giant: planet denser than gas planets and less than rocky planets
- refractory material: material with high condensation temperature
volt

electromotive force: force that drives an electric current
electron volt: very small unit of energy
siemens: SI unit of electrical conductance

voltage

electromotive force: force that drives an electric current
siemens: SI unit of electrical conductance

volume phase holographic grating: see grating
volume pixel: see data cube
volume pixel: see spaxel
volume weighting: method of accommodating the Malmquist bias
volumetric analysis (titration): analyzing a chemical solution by color change
von Zeipel: see rare designator prefixes
Vorontsov-Velyaminov planetary nebula type: see planetary nebula
vortensity: ratio of vorticity to surface mass-density
vortex: fluid region where the flow is spinning
vorticity: see vortex
- vortensity: ratio of vorticity to surface mass-density
VOU: see double star designation
voxel: see data cube
voxel: see spaxel
Voyager: space probes to observe planets and the edge of the solar system
- Ganymede: well-known Jupiter moon
- heliopause: boundary between solar wind and the interstellar medium
- Io: well-known Jupiter moon
- Saturn: second largest planet in the solar system
Voyager 1: see Voyager
- heliosheath: outer layer of the heliosphere beyond its termination shock
Voyager 2: see Voyager
- Neptune: outer-most solar system planet
- Uranus: second outer-most solar system planet
VPH grating: see grating
VPHAS+

VLT Survey Telescope: survey telescope located at the VLT site

VR theorem (Vogt-Russell theorem): proposition that a star's structure depends on its mass and makeup
VRAD: see SELENE
VRE (vegetation red edge): wavelength cut-off point in the reflectivity of typical plants
VRM (Magellan): 1980s/1990s Venus probe
VRMF: see rare designator prefixes
VRO (Rubin Observatory): 8-meter survey reflector telescope under construction in Chile
VRO: see rare designator prefixes
VSA (Very Small Array): radio interferometer in Canary Islands
- Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory: radio observatory near Cambridge, UK
- Teide Observatory: observatory on Mount Teide in the Canary Islands
VSG (very small grains): dust grains of just a few molecules
VSOLJ (Variable Star Observers League in Japan): amateur variable star group
VSOP (HALCA): Japanese space radio telescope operating 1997-2005
VSOP: see HALCA
VSOP 2: see HALCA
VSOP B: see HALCA
VSS: see rare designator prefixes
VSSG: see rare designator prefixes
VST (VLT Survey Telescope): survey telescope located at the VLT site
- Atacama Desert: Chilean high-altitude, dry plateau with numerous observatories
- European Southern Observatory: organization operating telescopes in the southern hemisphere
- Paranal Observatory: ESO Atacama observatory with ESO VLT
VST ATLAS

VLT Survey Telescope: survey telescope located at the VLT site

VST Photometric Hα Survey of the Southern Galactic Plane

VLT Survey Telescope: survey telescope located at the VLT site

VSX (International Variable Star Index): variable star catalog by AAVSO
VT: see VLASS
Vulcanoid: see asteroid
vulcanoid: theoretical asteroid orbiting within Mercury's orbit
VV (Catalogue of Interacting Galaxies): begun in the 1950s
VV: see rare designator prefixes
VV Cephei

binary star: system of two stars co-orbiting

VV Cephei system: see binary star
VV2000c: see rare designator prefixes
VVDS (VIMOS-VLT Deep Survey): spectroscopic survey of 100,000 high-redshift galaxies
VVO: see rare designator prefixes
VVV: see VISTA
VVV BD: see VISTA
VVV CL: see VISTA
VVV-WIT: see VISTA
Vy: see rare designator prefixes
VY Canis Majoris: extremely large red hypergiant
VY CMa (VY Canis Majoris): extremely large red hypergiant
Vys: see rare designator prefixes

Index