There are so many astronomical objects out there behaving in mysterious ways that astronomers are still trying to figure out. A brand new set of words and language has to be invented every time something is discovered and that is part of what makes the study of space so interesting. There’s so much out there that is waiting to be found.
The use of mythological and ancient names to name all the objects that are in space has also always given astronomy an air of mystery and wonder that attracts all kinds of people and incentivizes them to look at the sky every night.
There are so many space-related words and terms that it is hard to keep up.
This is why below, we have compiled a list of space words that start with C so you can learn more about the study of the universe. These are words that are related to astronomy and space, if what you are looking for is specifically for name ideas or the names of objects, check out our lists of star names, planets, or constellations. You will also find those sorted by letter.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CMB (Cosmic Microwave Background) | The faint radiation left over from the Big Bang |
| Cassini-Huygens | A mission to study Saturn and its moon Titan |
| Celestial | Relating to the sky or the universe |
| Celestial Equator | The projection of the Earth’s equator onto the celestial sphere |
| Celestial Mechanics | The study of the motion and behavior of celestial bodies |
| Celestial Navigation | Determining one’s position using celestial objects like stars |
| Celestial Object | Any object found in space, such as a planet, star, or galaxy |
| Celestial Sphere | Imaginary sphere with Earth at its center, used to map celestial objects |
| Centaur | A type of minor planet or asteroid that orbits between Jupiter and Neptune |
| Cepheid Variable | A type of star that pulsates in brightness with a well-defined period |
| Ceres | The largest object in the asteroid belt, classified as a dwarf planet |
| Chromatic Aberration | The distortion of light by a lens, causing colors to separate |
| Chromosphere | The layer of the Sun’s atmosphere above the photosphere |
| Circulation | The movement of matter within stars or planetary atmospheres |
| Circumpolar | Stars that appear to move in circles around the celestial poles |
| Circumstellar Disk | A rotating disk of gas and dust around a young star |
| Cluster | A group of stars, galaxies, or other celestial objects |
| Comet | A small icy body that orbits the Sun |
| Comet Nucleus | The solid core of a comet |
| Comet Tail | The glowing stream of gas and dust trailing a comet |
| Conjunction | The alignment of two or more celestial bodies in the sky |
| Constellation | A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern |
| Constellation Mythology | Cultural stories and legends associated with constellations |
| Convection Zone | A layer in a star’s interior where energy is transported by convection |
| Core | The central region of a planet or star |
| Corona | The outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere |
| Coronal Heating | The process responsible for the high temperature of the Sun’s corona |
| Coronal Loop | A stream of hot plasma following magnetic field lines on the Sun |
| Coronal Mass Ejection | A massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields from the Sun |
| Cosmic | Pertaining to the entire universe |
| Cosmic Dust | Tiny solid particles found throughout space |
| Cosmic Inflation | The rapid expansion of the universe in its early moments |
| Cosmic Ray | High-energy particles originating from space |
| Cosmology | The study of the origins and structure of the universe |
| Cosmonaut | A Russian or Soviet astronaut |
| Crater | A bowl-shaped depression on a celestial body, usually a planet or moon |
| Crust | The outermost layer of a planet or moon |
| Cydonia | A region on Mars known for its distinctive surface features |
| Cygnus | A constellation in the northern hemisphere |
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