Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Cancer, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Cancer [Lat.,=the crab], in astronomy, constellation lying on the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path through the heavens) between Gemini and Leo; it is a constellation of the zodiac. It contains the st...

cancer, in medicine

(Encyclopedia)cancer, in medicine, common term for neoplasms, or tumors, that are malignant. Like benign tumors, malignant tumors do not respond to body mechanisms that limit cell growth. Unlike benign tumors, mali...

Leo, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Leo [Lat.,=the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the z...

Larissa, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Larissa, in astronomy, one of the natural satellites, or moons, of Neptune. ...

Ariel, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Ariel ârˈēəl [key], in astronomy, one of the moons, or natural satellites, of Uranus. ...

Leda, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Leda lēˈdə [key], in astronomy, one of the 39 known moons, or natural satellites, of Jupiter. ...

Metis, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Metis mēˈtĭs [key], in astronomy, one of the 39 known moons, or natural satellites, of Jupiter. ...

Mimosa, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Mimosa or Beta Crucis bāˈtə kro͞oˈsĭs [key], bright star in the constellation Crux (Southern Cross); 1992 position R.A. 12h47.3m, Dec. −59°39′. It is sometimes called Becrux, from its Bayer...

Mercury, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Mercury, in astronomy, nearest planet to the sun, at a mean distance of 36 million mi (58 million km); its period of revolution is 88 days. Mercury passes through phases similar to those of the moon a...

Atlas, in astronomy

(Encyclopedia)Atlas, in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn XV (or S15), Atlas is a small, irregularly shaped (nonspherical) body measuring about 25 mi (40 km) ...