Zodiac

a zone within the CELESTIAL SPHERE which contains the paths of the planet, the Moon and the Sun. It is divided into the signs of the zodiac, named after the constellations.

Taken from Dictionary of Science

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In astronomy, the zodiac is the ring of constellations that lines the ecliptic, which is the apparent path of the Sun across the sky over the course of the year. The Moon and planets also lie within the ecliptic, and so are also within the constellations of the zodiac. In astrology, the zodiac denotes those signs that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. As such, the zodiac is a celestial coordinate system, to be more precise, an ecliptic coordinate system, taking the ecliptic as the origin of latitude, and the position of the sun at vernal equinox as the origin of longitude.

It is known to have been in use by the Roman era, based on concepts inherited by Hellenistic astronomy from Babylonian astronomy of the Chaldean period (mid-1st millennium BC), which, in turn, derived from an earlier system of lists of stars along the ecliptic. The construction of the zodiac is described in Ptolemy's Almagest (2nd century AD). It was originally described in Rigveda. The term zodiac may also refer to the region of the celestial sphere encompassing the paths of the Moon and the planets corresponding to the band of about eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic. The zodiac of a given planet is the band that contains the path of that particular body; e.g., the "zodiac of the Moon" is the band of five degrees above and below the ecliptic. By extension, the "zodiac of the comets" may refer to the band encompassing most short-period comets.

The term zodiac derives from Latin zōdiacus, in turn from the Greek ζωδιακός κύκλος (zōdiakos kuklos), meaning circle of animals, derived from ζώδιον (zōdion), the diminutive of ζῶον (zōon) animal. The name is motivated by the fact that half of the signs of the classical Greek zodiac are represented as animals as well as two mythological hybrids.

Although the zodiac remains the basis of the ecliptic coordinate system in use in astronomy besides the equatorial one, the term and the names of the twelve signs are today mostly associated with horoscopic astrology.

Taken from Wikipedia

Naphtha

a mixture of HYDROCARBONS obtained from several sources including COAL TAR and PETROLEUM. Naphtha from coal tar contains mainly AROMATIC hydrocarbons whereas petroleum naphtha hydrocarbons are predominantly ALIPHATIC.

Taken from Dictionary of Science

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Naphtha (pronounced /ˈnæfθə/ or /ˈnæpθə/) normally refers to a number of different flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons, i.e. a distillation product from petroleum or coal tar boiling in a certain range and containing certain hydrocarbons, a broad term encompassing any volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixture.

Naphtha is used primarily as feedstock for producing a high octane gasoline component (via the catalytic reforming process). It is also used in the petrochemical industry for producing olefins in steam crackers and in the chemical industry for solvent (cleaning) applications.

Taken from Wikipedia

Ultrabasic Rock

an IGNEOUS ROCK that contains many silicate minerals of iron and magnesium such as AMPHIBOLES and PYROXENES, and with SILICA occurring as quartz.

Taken from Dictionary of Science

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An igneous rock with a very low silica content and rich in minerals such as hypersthene, augite and olivine. These rocks are also known as ultramafic rocks.

Taken from Geology.com

Galactic Halo

a collection of stars, gas and dust, nearly spherical in shape, which has the same center as the galaxy. It contains population II stars and creates a lot of the background radio emissions.

Taken from Dictionary of Science
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The term galactic halo is used to denote an extended, roughly spherical component of a galaxy, which extends beyond the main, visible component. It can refer to any of several distinct components which share these properties:

• the galactic spheroid (stars)

• the galactic corona (hot gas, i.e. a plasma)

• the dark matter halo

The distinction between the halo and the main body of the galaxy is clearest in spiral galaxies, where the spherical shape contrasts with the flat disc. In an elliptical galaxy, there is no sharp transition between the body of the galaxy and the halo.

Taken from Wikipedia

TRENDS TO TALK ABOUT

Wine Coolers Aren't Soft Drinks. One 12-ounce (.35 liter) wine cooler contains the same amount of alcohol as a 12-ounce beer, a glass of wine or a shot of hard liquor.

Space Tomatoes. NASA is asking students to plant tomato seeds from space to see how they grow. The seeds were floating around in a satellite for five and half years. They don't think it will be another Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, but "Obviously, if a teacher... says they've got a 25-pound [11 kilogram] purple tomato, you bet we'll go look at it," a scientist told USA Today.

Because It's, Well, There. Can't get away to Yosemite to rock climb this afternoon? Why not try an indoor climbing wall? They're sprouting up all over the United States, and a Youth 90 reporter even found one in the highlands of Scotland. These rock climbing gyms often feature fiberglass walls made to feel like the real thing.

Elvis in Your Garden? A Cincinnati, Ohio, toy company makes a mold that you can put on vegetables while they're growing. After a few weeks your favorite veggies will have one of several faces, including Elvis Presley (not licensed yet) or a "pickle puss" for cucumbers that will be pickled. You can even have a mold of your own face--for $2,500.

Taken from Youth 90 magazine