An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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The observed absence of helium white dwarfs with temperatures between 45,000 and 27,000 K. A possible explanation lies in the chemical evolution of white dwarfs. Four processes can change the structure of a white dwarf: gravitational settling, interstellar medium accretion, mass loss, and subsurface convective mixing.

→ DB white dwarf; → gap.

A region of decreased brightness within the A ring of Saturn.

In honor of Johann Franz Encke, → Encke's comet. Gap, from O.N. gap "chasm," related to gapa "to gape."

Gâf, variant kâf "split, slit," stem of kâftan, kâvidan "to split; to dig," Mid./Mod.Pers. škâf- škâftan "to split, burst," Proto-Iranian *kap-, *kaf- "to split;" cf. Gk. skaptein "to dig;" L. scabere "to scratch, scrape," P.Gmc. *skabanan (Goth. skaban; Ger. schaben; E. shave). PIE base *(s)kep- "to cut, to scrape, to hack."

An empty space or interval; interruption in continuity; a break or opening, as in a fence, wall. → Encke gap.

Gap, from O.N. gap "chasm," related to gapa "to gape."

Gâf, variant kâf "split, slit," stem of kâftan, kâvidan "to split; to dig," Mid./Mod.Pers. škâf- škâftan "to split, burst," Proto-Iranian *kap-, *kaf- "to split;" cf. Gk. skaptein "to dig;" L. cabere "to scratch, scrape," P.Gmc. *skabanan (Goth. skaban; Ger. schaben; E. shave). PIE base *(s)kep- "to cut, to scrape, to hack."

A region of the → Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, between the → main sequence and the → giant branch, occupied by very few stars. It corresponds to a very short period in stellar evolution.

Named after the Danish astronomer Ejnar Hertzsprung (1873-1967), who first noticed this phenomenon; → gap

In the system of → Saturn's rings, the gap near the outer edge of the → A ring. It has a width of 35 km and lies at a distance of 136,530 km from the center of → Saturn.

After James A. Keeler (1857-1908); → gap.

Regions in the asteroid belt within which few asteroids are found. The Kirkwood gaps are due to the perturbing effects of Jupiter through resonances with Jupiter's orbital period.

Named for the American astronomer Daniel Kirkwood (1814-1895), who Discovered them in 1866; → gap.

A division in Saturn's ring in the outer part of the C ring. It is about 87500 km from Saturn's center and is 500 km wide. The gap was discovered in 1980 by Voyager 1.

Not discovered by J. C. Maxwell, but named in his honor; → maxwell; → gap.

A unit of distance equal to a million → parsec (pc)s, or 3.26 million → light-years.

→ mega-; → parsec.

A device consisting of two electrodes separated by a small gap that is filled by a gas, usually air. A high → potential difference applied to the electrodes ionizes the gas and current flows across it for a brief time causing a spark across the gap. Spark gaps have a wide application. As spark plugs, they are used to ignite a mixture of fuel and air in the piston cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The electricity is provided by the battery and ignition coil, and the spark timing is controlled by the distributor. Spark gaps are also used as safety devices on equipment to prevent damage from voltage surges.

→ spark; → gap.