Top astronomers all over the world have had a working understanding for about a century that the universe is continually expanding. But recent discoveries have had astronomers double-checking their facts. This is because according to recent research, the current universe is expanding 9% faster than the early universe. This is faster than first predicted. And you can read about these findings in an article published by Astronomy Magazine.

These findings, which seem to be valid, have caused some controversy among scientists, though. This research, which was conducted from the Hubble Space Telescope, is in direct conflict with the European Space Agency’s Planck spacecraft studies of the early universe and how it would continue to expand. The European Space Agency’s Planck spacecraft studies suggest that as the universe expands in the future, it will follow the same pattern as it always has.

Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Dark matter and dark energy, which have been theorized about for some time now, seem to be one of the unpredictable variables that partially explain the accelerated expansion of the universe. However, most dark matter, which scientists have only caught glimpses of, is too small to reflect light and therefore cannot be seen, even with the Hubble Space Telescope. And the existence of dark energy has never actually been established for certain.

And while all of this new information is fascinating, this kind of science isn’t as easy to follow as television shows like “Star Trek” or the “Big Bang Theory.” In fact, even if you read the article in Astronomy Magazine (which is written for laymen), you may walk away scratching your head. This is because astronomers don’t use the words “Star,” “Planet,” and “Galaxy” so much as they use the words “Cepheid,”“Magellanic Cloud,” “Type Ia Supernova,” “Neutrinos,” and “Dark Radiation.”

So to fully appreciate even the simplest explanation of how the universe is expanding, you will need a glossary of astronomy. This is a book that is set up like a dictionary, with entries that define astronomy terms and also explain the concepts of astronomy, cosmology, and their sub-disciplines. An astronomy glossary can turn you from a stargazer into a person who has a concept of how the universe works.

One such glossary, Astroglossary: Revised Edition, compiled by the late G. Cyr, is one of the most comprehensive and easily understood astronomy reference books on the market today. It is an invaluable resource which includes all of the critical terms needed to understand modern astronomy, and at the same time gives any reader a deeper appreciation of the universe. 

In fact, using this glossary as a resource is the first step to fully comprehending new findings of the universe. Whether you are reading an article in a scientific magazine or watching a television program about how the universe is developing, you will be able to absorb much more information if you have the Astroglossary on hand.  Knowing critical terms while you educate yourself about the wonders of the universe will also help you better understand how infinitely beautiful, awesome, and ever-expanding it is.