An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A naturally occurring physical entity or association that lies beyond the Earth's atmosphere and can be studied observationally. In other words, a gravitationally bound structure that is associated with a position in space, but may consist of multiple independent astronomical objects. A list of astronomical objects includes → planets, → asteroids, → comets, → stars, → nebulae, galaxies (→ galaxy), → galaxy clusters, → pulsars, and → black holes. Note that → celestial body, → celestial object, and → heavenly body are less technical terms for these entities.

→ astronomical; → object.