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

An international collaboration between Austria, Canada, and Poland, currently comprising five nano-satellites to investigate stellar structure and evolution of the brightest stars in the sky and their interaction with the local environment. BRITE is also used to study micropulsation, wind phenomena, and other forms of stellar variability. These nano-satellites aim to monitor stars brighter than V ~ 5 mag using two color pass-bands, over various observing campaigns. Each nano-satellite hosts a 3 cm telescope, providing a wide field of view (24° x 20°) to simultaneously observe up to a few dozen stars (Weiss et al. 2014).

BRITE, short for → BRIght Target Explorer; → bright; → target; → explorer.

A grouping of conspicuous stars that, when seen from Earth, form an apparent pattern. The sky is divided into 88 constellations. → asterism.

From O.Fr. constellation, from L.L. constellationem (nom. constellatus) "set with stars," from L. → com- "with" + p.p. of stellare "to shine," from stella, → star.

Hamaxtarân, from ham- "with, together" + axtar→ star + -ân suffix denoting group.