UNIT 37  COSMIC CLOSE-UPS

GLOSSARY
astronaut  n. a person who travels through space in a space vehicle 宇航员
astrophysics  n. the scientific study of the chemical nature of the stars and the natural  forces that influence them 天体物理学
billow  v. rise and roll in waves （波浪似地）翻腾
breathtaking  a. very exciting 激动人心地
capture  v. hold the interest of; captivate 引起（注意）；迷住
cataclysm  n. a violent and sudden change or event  灾变，大变动
churn  v. (cause to) more about violently 剧烈搅动
collaborate  v. work together or with someone else   协作，合作
collision  n. the action of meeting and striking (together) violently 碰撞，冲突
cosmic  a. of or related to the whole universe 宇宙的
cosmos  n. the whole universe 宇宙
crucial  a. of deciding importance 决定性的，关键的
devastate  v. destroy completely 彻底破坏
dimension  n. a measurement in any one direction 尺寸，尺度，维
distract  v. take (a person or a person’s mind) off sth. 分散，分心
domesticate  v. make…able to live with and serve man 驯化，使归化
elliptical  a. having the shape of oval 椭圆型的
exquisite  a. very finely made or done; sensitive and delicate 优美的，精巧的，敏锐的
fragment  n. a small broken piece 碎块，断片
galaxy  n. any of the large groups of stars which make up the universe 星系
gigantic  a. unusually large in amount or size 巨人似的，庞大的
gravitation  n. the act of drawing down 地心引力，吸引力
horizon  n. line at which earth and sky meet 地平线
illuminate v. give light to 照亮，照明
intricate  a. containing many detailed parts and thus difficult to understand  复杂的，难懂的
melancholy  n. sadness, esp. over a period of time and not for any particular reason 伤感，忧郁
mission  n. the duty or purpose for which a certain group of people are sent 使命，任务
momentous  a. extremely important 重大的，重要的
mothball  v. be in storage 　封存
obscure  a. hard to understand; not clear 　昏暗的，模糊不清的
observatory  n. a place from which scientists watch the stars and other heavenly bodies 天文台
opaque  a. lasting for ever or for a long time 永恒的，不断的
perspective  n. a view, esp. one stretching far into the distance 　前景，展望
plausible  a. seeming to be true or reasonable 似合理的
potential  a. existing in possibility 　潜在的，有可能性的
precision  n. great exactness 精确，精密
profound  a. having, showing or suing thorough knowledge and deep understanding 深刻的，渊博的
radiate  v. send out (light or heat)　发射，散发（光，热等）
redeem  v. make a mends for 修复
remarkable  a. unusual, noticeable 　非凡的，显著的
satellite  n. a heavenly body moving around a larger one (a planet) 卫星
scramble  v. move or clime quickly, esp. over a rough or steep surface 攀爬，攀登
sear  v. burn with a sudden powerful heat  烧焦，烧灼
shroud  v. cover and hide 覆盖，掩蔽
smudge  v. make or become dirty with a mark of rubbing 弄脏，涂污
spectacular  a. grandly out of the ordinary; attracting excited notice 壮观的，引人注意的
spew  v. come out in a rush or flood, gush 涌出，喷
startling  a. caused to jump or be quickly surprised 令人吃惊的
stun  v. cause to lose the senses or sense of balance 使晕眩unravel  v. make clear 阐明，澄清
vista  n. a distant view, to which the eye is directed between narrow limits, as by rows of trees 远景，深景
comet 　n. 慧星
multimegaton  n. 数百尤吨级
quasar  n. 类星体
ultraviolet  n. 紫外线