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 M 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 |
|---|---|
| M-type Star | A classification of stars with characteristics different from the Sun, often cooler and less luminous. |
| MACHO Project | A search for dark matter using gravitational microlensing observations of stars in the Milky Way. |
| Magellan Telescopes | A pair of optical telescopes located at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, part of the Carnegie Institution for Science. |
| Magellanic Clouds | Two irregular galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud, visible from the Southern Hemisphere. |
| Magellanic Stream | A stream of neutral hydrogen gas extending from the Magellanic Clouds, likely the result of interactions between galaxies. |
| Magnetar | A type of neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field, capable of producing intense bursts of X-rays and gamma rays. |
| Magnetic Reconnection | A process in which magnetic fields interact and release energy, often leading to phenomena like solar flares and auroras. |
| Magnetopause | The boundary that separates a planet’s magnetosphere from the surrounding solar wind. |
| Magnetosphere | The region surrounding a planet where its magnetic field interacts with the solar wind. |
| Main Sequence | The phase in a star’s life cycle during which it fuses hydrogen into helium in its core, maintaining a stable balance. |
| Makarian Chain | A stretch of galaxies located in the Virgo Cluster, visible in the Virgo constellation. |
| Makemake | A dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. |
| Mare Orientale | A large impact basin on the Moon, located on the western limb and partially obscured from view. |
| Mars | The fourth planet from the Sun, often referred to as the “Red Planet.” |
| Massive Black Hole | A type of black hole with a mass millions to billions of times that of the Sun, found at the centers of galaxies. |
| Mercury | The smallest planet in our Solar System, closest to the Sun. |
| Meridian | The north-south line in the sky passing through the zenith and the celestial poles, used as a reference point in astronomy. |
| Merope | One of the Pleiades star cluster (Seven Sisters) in Taurus constellation. |
| Mesosphere | The layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, characterized by decreasing temperature with altitude. |
| Messier Catalog | A catalog of various astronomical objects, including galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae, compiled by Charles Messier. |
| Messier Objects | A list of 110 astronomical objects cataloged by Charles Messier, including galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. |
| Meteor | A bright streak of light produced by a meteoroid entering Earth’s atmosphere; commonly called a “shooting star.” |
| Meteor Shower | A celestial event in which a large number of meteors appear to radiate from a single point in the sky. |
| Meteorite | A meteoroid that survives its journey through Earth’s atmosphere and lands on the surface. |
| Meteoroid | A small rocky or metallic body in space, smaller than an asteroid, that can produce meteors when it enters Earth’s atmosphere. |
| Microgravity | A condition in which objects appear to be weightless and experience very weak gravitational forces. |
| Microlensing | A phenomenon caused by the gravitational lensing effect of a massive object, which magnifies the light of a more distant object. |
| Milky Way | The galaxy in which our Solar System is located; a vast, luminous band of stars visible in the night sky. |
| Minor Planet | An object in our Solar System that orbits the Sun but is not classified as a planet or a comet. |
| Mira | The prototype star of Mira variables, known for its pulsations and varying brightness. |
| Mira Variable | A type of pulsating variable star that exhibits variations in brightness over a period of several months. |
| Mizar | A bright star in the handle of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) constellation. |
| Molecular Cloud | A cold, dense region of space containing a high concentration of gas and dust from which stars and planets can form. |
| Moon | The natural satellite of Earth; also known as Luna. |
| Moon Phases | The changing appearances of the Moon as observed from Earth due to its varying position relative to the Sun. |
| Moonquakes | Seismic vibrations of the Moon’s surface, caused by the gravitational interactions with Earth and the cooling of the Moon’s interior. |
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