Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Tasiilaq

(Encyclopedia)Tasiilaq ämäˈsälĭkˌ [key], settlement and trading post (1996 pop. 1,684), E Greenland, on the Denmark Strait just S of the Arctic Circle. It was founded in 1894. Its radio-meteorological station...

Cantor, Eddie

(Encyclopedia)Cantor, Eddie, 1892–1964, American entertainer, b. New York City, originally named Edward Israel Isskowitz. Cantor became one of the best-known theatrical figures of his day. His style was typified ...

Galle, Johann Gottfried

(Encyclopedia)Galle, Johann Gottfried yōˈhän gôtˈfrēt gäˈlə [key], 1812–1910, German astronomer. He is noted for his discovery of the planet Neptune, Sept. 23, 1846, by following the guidance of calculat...

planetary science

(Encyclopedia)planetary science or planetology, study of planets and planetary systems as a whole. Planetary science applies the theories and methods of traditional disciplines such as astronomy, geology, physics, ...

fireball

(Encyclopedia)fireball, very bright meteor leaving a trail in the sky that can remain visible for several minutes; often a distinct sound, perhaps caused by very low frequency radio waves, is associated with it. A ...

Gunnlaugsson, Sigmundur Davíð

(Encyclopedia)Gunnlaugsson, Sigmundur Davíð, 1975–, Icelandic political leader. He worked as a journalist and comedian for Iceland's national radio before he joined the conservative Progressive party and entere...

Grange, Red

(Encyclopedia)Grange, Red (Harold Edward Grange), 1903–91, American football player, b. Forksville, Pa. Grange was All-America halfback at the Univ. of Illinois (1923–25). After a spectacular college career in ...

Sarapul

(Encyclopedia)Sarapul səräˈpo͞ol [key], city (1989 pop. 110,000), E European Russia, in the Udmurt Republic, on the Kama River. It is a rail junction on the Moscow-Yekaterinburg line. Industries include food pr...

Crab Nebula

(Encyclopedia)Crab Nebula, diffuse gaseous nebula in the constellation Taurus; cataloged as NGC 1952 and M1, the first object recorded in Charles Messier's catalog of nonstellar objects (see Messier catalog). It is...

Cronkite, Walter

(Encyclopedia)Cronkite, Walter (Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr.) krŏngˈkīt, krŏnˈ– [key], 1916–2009, American news broadcaster, b. St. Joseph, Mo. He left (1935) the Univ. of Texas to write for the Houston Pre...

Browse by Subject