|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Gaia
Gaia An ESA astrometry satellite which will measure the distances and motions of over a billion stars down to 20th magnitude, building up a three-dimensional picture of our Galaxy. Gaia contains two identical telescopes with rectangular mirrors 1.45 by 0.5 m, pointing in two directions 106°.5 apart. They focus light to a common focal plane where arrays of CCDs will measure positions, proper motions, and parallaxes. Other detectors will perform multicolour photometry of the same stars and measure radial velocities down to 17th magnitude. Distances will be accurate to 10% as far away as the galactic centre. In addition, Gaia is expected to discover large numbers of asteroids, extrasolar planets, brown dwarfs, variable stars, and supernovae. Gaia is a successor to ESA's Hipparcos mission and is planned for launch in 2011 or 2012. It will be stationed at the L2Lagrangian point of the Sun–Earth system, 1.5 million km from the Earth in the direction away from the Sun. The name originated as an acronym of Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics. Although Gaia is no longer an interferometer, the name has been retained. http://gaia.esa.int/
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Gaia." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Gaia." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Gaia.html "Gaia." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Gaia.html |
|
Gaia
GaiaIn Greek mythology, the goddess Gaia represented the earth. Also called Gaea or Ge by the Greeks and Terra or Tellus by the Romans, she was a maternal figure who gave birth to many other creatures and deities. Gaia was the child of Chaos, an early deity who produced the gods of the underworld, night, darkness, and love. Gaia gave birth to Uranus, who represented the sky; Pontus, the sea; and Oure, the mountains. Gaia had numerous other children who appear in a variety of myths. She mated with her son Uranus to create gods, including the Titans, and giants such as the Cyclopes. She was also the mother of Aphrodite*, Echo, the Furies, and the serpent that guarded the Golden Fleece. When Gaia's son, the Titan Cronus*, had children, Gaia and Uranus warned him that one of his offspring would challenge and defeat him. Cronus therefore swallowed each child at birth. However, his wife, Rhea, managed to trick him and save the youngest one, Zeus*. Gaia is mentioned in Virgil's Aeneid * and the Theogony * by the Greek poet Hesiod. She was widely worshiped at temples in Greece, including the shrine of the oracle at Delphi*. The Greeks also took oaths in Gaia's name and believed that she would punish them if they failed to keep their word. See also Aeneid, the; Cyclopes; Delphi; Echo; Furies; Golden Fleece; Titans; Uranus; Venus; Zeus. deity god or goddess underworld land of the dead xTitan one of a family of giants who ruled the earth until overthrown by the Greek gods of Olympus oracle priest or priestess or other creature through whom a god is believed to speak; also the location (such as a shrine) where such words are spoken |
|
|
Cite this article
"Gaia." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Gaia." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900202.html "Gaia." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900202.html |
|
Gaea
Gaea , in Greek religion and mythology, the earth, daughter of Chaos, both mother and wife of Uranus (the sky) and Pontus (the sea). Among Gaea's offspring by Uranus were the Cyclopes, the Hundred-handed Ones (the Hecatoncheires), and the Titans. To Pontus she bore five sea deities. Because Uranus had imprisoned her sons she helped bring about his overthrow by the Titans, who were led by Kronos. She was worshiped as the primal goddess, the mother and nourisher of all things. The Romans identified her with Tellus. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Gaea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Gaea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Gaea.html "Gaea." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Gaea.html |
|
Gaia
Gaia ♀ From the name (a derivative of Greek gē ‘earth’) borne in classical mythology by the primeval goddess of the earth, who gave birth to Ouranos (‘sky’) and had children by him: Okeanos (‘sea’), Kronos (‘time’), and the Titans. It has been used as a modern first name since the popularization of James Lovelock's conception of the whole earthly ecosystem as a living self-regulating entity under this name.
|
|
|
Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Gaia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Gaia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Gaia.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Gaia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Gaia.html |
|
Gaia
Gaia in Greek mythology, the Earth personified as a goddess, daughter of Chaos. She was the mother and wife of Uranus (Heaven); their offspring included the Titans and the Cyclops.
Gaia hypothesis the theory, put forward by the English scientist James Lovelock (1919– ) in 1969, that living matter on the earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Gaia." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Gaia." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Gaia.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Gaia." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Gaia.html |
|
Gaia
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Gaia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Gaia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Gaia.html "Gaia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Gaia.html |
|
Gaia
Gaia
•acquire, admire, afire, applier, aspire, attire, ayah, backfire, barbwire, bemire, briar, buyer, byre, choir, conspire, crier, cryer, defier, denier, desire, dire, drier, dryer, dyer, enquire, entire, esquire, expire, fire, flyer, friar, fryer, Gaia, gyre, hellfire, hire, hiya, ire, Isaiah, jambalaya, Jeremiah, Josiah, Kintyre, latria, liar, lyre, Maia, Maya, Mayer, messiah, mire, misfire, Nehemiah, Obadiah, papaya, pariah, peripeteia, perspire, playa, Praia, prior, pyre, quire, replier, scryer, shire, shyer, sire, skyer, Sophia, spire, squire, supplier, Surabaya, suspire, tier, tire, transpire, trier, tumble-dryer, tyre, Uriah, via, wire, Zechariah, Zedekiah, Zephaniah
•homebuyer
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Gaia." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Gaia." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Gaia.html "Gaia." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Gaia.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
