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 W 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 |
|---|---|
| W5 Nebula | A star-forming region in the Cassiopeia constellation. |
| WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) | A type of hypothetical dark matter particle. |
| WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe) | A satellite used to study the cosmic microwave background radiation. |
| Wake Shield Facility | A spacecraft used for scientific experiments in a vacuum. |
| War and Peace Nebula | A region of ionized gas and dust in the constellation Cepheus. |
| Warm Dark Matter | A hypothetical type of dark matter particle that moves slowly. |
| Warp Drive | A speculative concept for faster-than-light travel. |
| Wasat (Delta Geminorum) | A binary star system in the Gemini constellation. |
| Wavelength Spectrum | The range of wavelengths in electromagnetic radiation. |
| Weak Force | One of the four fundamental forces of nature, responsible for radioactive decay. |
| Weissman Score | A metric used to assess the potential impact hazard of near-Earth objects. |
| Wells | A crater on Mars, named after H.G. Wells. |
| Whirlpool Galaxy | A famous interacting galaxy pair, also known as M51. |
| White Dwarf | A small, dense, and cooling star remnant. |
| White Hole | A hypothetical region from which matter and light can only escape. |
| Whole Earth Telescope | A network of observatories working together to study stars. |
| Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) | A space telescope used for infrared astronomy. |
| Wild Duck Cluster | An open star cluster in the Scutum constellation. |
| Wilson-Hubble Law | An earlier version of the Hubble’s Law describing the expansion of the universe. |
| Winter Circle | A prominent circle of stars visible in the winter sky. |
| Wishing Well Cluster | An open star cluster in the Carina constellation. |
| Witch Head Nebula | A faint reflection nebula in the Eridanus constellation. |
| Wolf Number | A measure of solar activity related to sunspots. |
| Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte Galaxy | An irregular galaxy in the constellation Cetus. |
| Wolf-Rayet Star | A hot, massive star characterized by strong stellar winds. |
| Wormhole | A hypothetical tunnel-like passage through spacetime. |
| Wrubel | A crater on Venus, named after Aron Wrubel. |
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