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 Y 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 |
|---|---|
| Y-type Star | A spectral class of very cool and dim stars |
| YSO (Young Stellar Object) | A newly forming star |
| Yakovlev Symbols | Notations used to classify stars’ evolutionary stages |
| Yarkovsky Effect | A force that can alter an asteroid’s orbit |
| Yarkovsky-Rubincam Effect | A variant of the Yarkovsky effect |
| Yarkovsky-Schevchenko Effect | A combination of the Yarkovsky and Schevchenko effects |
| Yed Prior (Delta Ophiuchi) | Bright star in the constellation Ophiuchus |
| Yeda | A main-belt asteroid |
| Yellow Dwarf | A main sequence star, like the Sun, in its prime |
| Yellow Hypergiant | A rare, massive, and luminous type of star |
| Yerkes Observatory | A historic observatory in Wisconsin, USA |
| Yildun (Delta Ursae Minoris) | Star in the constellation Ursa Minor |
| Ymir | One of Saturn’s moons |
| Yohkoh | A Japanese satellite for solar observations |
| Young Moon | The phase of the Moon when it’s a thin crescent |
| Yutu (rover) | Chinese lunar rover |
Find more space words that start with other letters: