An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

1) Exposure to injury, loss, or destruction; grave risk; jeopardy; danger.
2) Something that causes or may cause injury, loss, or destruction (Dictionary.com).

M.E., from O.Fr. peril "danger, risk," from L. periculum "an attempt, trial; risk, danger," related to experiri "to try," cognate with Gk. peria "trial, attempt," empeiros "experienced;" O.Ir. aire "vigilance;" Goth. ferja "watcher;" O.E. fær "danger; fear."

Sij "trouble;" Mid.Pers. sêj "danger, trouble," sêjômand "dangerous;" Av. iθyejah- "trouble, danger," iθyejahvant- "full of danger, hazardous;" cf. Skt. tyajas- "difficulty, danger."

The point in a lunar orbit that is nearest to the moon. Same as → pericynthion.

From → peri- + lune, from L. luna "moon;" → lunar.

Pirâmâh, → apocynthion.

The total outer boundary of a two-dimensional figure.

→ peri- + → -meter.

Physics: The duration of one complete cycle of an oscillation; the reciprocal of the frequency.
Astro.: The amount of time an astronomical body takes to complete an orbit.

From M.E. periode, from M.Fr., from M.L. periodus "recurring portion, cycle," from L. periodus "a complete sentence," from Gk. periodos "rounded sentence, cycle, circuit, period of time," literally "going around," from → peri- "around" + hodos "way, journey;" cognate with L. cedere "to go, yield."

Dowré, from dowr, from Ar. daur "age, time; revolution."

The rate at which the rotation period of a → pulsar changes over time. This quantity, dP/dT, can range from as small as 0.05 picoseconds per year (1.5 x 10^-21 seconds per second) to as large as about 10 milliseconds per year (4.2 x 10^-10 seconds per second). For the → Crab pulsar, the period derivative is 4.2 x 10^-13 s s^-1, implying a decrease in the star's → rotation energy of about 4.5 x 10³⁸ erg s^-1. Period derivative is a very important parameter for the determination of the pulsar age.

→ period; → derivative.

A → correlation between the periods and luminosities of → Cepheid variable stars: Cepheids with longer periods are intrinsically more luminous than those with shorter periods. The relation was discovered by Henrietta Leavitt in 1912 when studying Cepheids in the → Small Magellanic Cloud. Once the period of a Cepheid variable is determined from observations, the period-luminosity relation can be used to derive its luminosity. Since luminosity is a function of → distance, the distance can then be calculated with the luminosity. The period-luminosity relation is an invaluable tool for the measurements of distances out to the nearest galaxies and thus for studying the structure of our own Galaxy and of the Universe.

→ period; → luminosity; → relation.

A relation that gives a rough estimate of the oscillation period of a → pulsating star as a function of its mean density. This relation is obtained by considering how long it would take a sound wave to travel across the diameter of a model star: Π ≅ (3π/2γGρ)^1/2, where ρ is the mean density, γ the ratio of → specific heats (C_p/C_v), and G the → gravitational constant. This relation shows that the pulsation period of a star is inversely proportional to the square root of its mean density. And this is the reason why the pulsation periods decrease along the → instability strip from the luminous, very tenuous → supergiants to the faint, very dense → white dwarfs.

→ period; → mean; → density; → relation.

Recurring at regular intervals of time.

Adjective of → period.

A comet with a period of less than 200 years. Also called short-period comet.

→ periodic; → comet.

A function f(x) if for all x, f(x + P) = f(x), where P is a positive constant. The least value of P > 0 is called the period of f(x).

→ periodic; → function.

Any motion that recurs in identical forms at equal intervals of time.

→ periodic; → motion.

Arrangement of the → chemical elements in the → periodic table.

→ periodic; → system.

An arrangement of the → chemical elements in order of their → atomic numbers in such a way as to demonstrate periodic similarities and trends in physical and chemical properties. Elements with similar properties are arranged in the same column (called a group), and elements with the same number of → valence electrons, or number of electrons in the outer shell, are arranged in the same row (called a period). Under the latest recommendations from IUPAC (the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), the groups are labelled 1 to 18 from left to right (1988, Pure and Applied Chemistry 60, 431). Also called Mendeleev's table.
The periodic table was introduced by Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev (1834-1907) in 1869, who originally arranged them in order of their → atomic weights. Using the table, it was possible for Mendeleev to correct some of the atomic weights (e.g. that of beryllium) and to predict the properties of a number of elements yet to be discovered (e.g. gallium, scandium, and germanium). The British physicist Frederick Soddy (1877-1956) showed that the loss of an → alpha particle reduces the nuclear charge by two and hence lowers the atomic number by two and the position of the element in the periodic table by two groups.

→ periodic; → table.

In perturbation theory used in celestial mechanics, a term that indicates a bounded disturbance which recurs regularly. → secular term.

→ periodic; → term.

An oscillatory motion in which each point is repeatedly displaced at equal time intervals.

→ periodic + → wave.

Same as → periodic.

→ periodic; → -al.

A variable → supergiant star with typical periods of the order of 10 to 100 days and amplitudes less than a few tenths of a magnitude. PVSGs are thought to be pulsating → g modes, caused by a density inversion, arising from an → opacity bump, most likely from Fe, H, and/or He.

→ periodical; → -ly; → variable; → supergiant.

A state or condition characterized by regular repetition in time or space.

→ periodic + → -ity.

A plot for examining frequency-domain data in an equi-spaced → time series. The periodogram is the → Fourier transform of the → autocovariance function. The periodogram method relies on the definition of the → power spectral density .

→ period; + euphonic infix -o-; → -gram.

Pertaining to, situated in, or constituting the periphery.

Adj. of → periphery.