The Astro Alphabet
Every letter holds a special story for those who marvel at the Universe.
“When I was having that alphabet soup, I never thought that it would pay off.” –Vanna White
Ever want an A-to-Z illustrated alphabet of some of the astronomical wonders of the Universe? Turns out that — unless you’re willing to write your own via Galaxy Zoo — there really isn’t a good way to get one.
So I thought it would be delightful to make a 26-letter journey through the Universe, in rhyming couplets, for everyone!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*S7bv7xcp2Hhm62k9Ruv_Rw.jpeg)
A is for Aurora, the Earth’s polar lights,
as the Sun’s hot electrons help color our nights.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*1aINebla-hfFJVPmhmsjHA.jpeg)
B is for Black Hole, a star’s collapsed heart,
if you cross its horizon, you’ll never depart.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*5cBHCdFhTLI4raLRt1tlhQ.jpeg)
C is for Comet, with tails, ice, and dust,
a trip near the Sun makes skywatching a must!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*S9dWSD5uZwwXATCN7Lx_tw.jpeg)
D is for Dark Matter, the great cosmic glue
that holds clusters together, but not me and you!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*tEkLgkSWNDD0LA-X8evCqg.jpeg)
E is for Eclipse, where the Moon, Earth and Sun
cast light-blocking shadows that can’t be outrun.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*4DLn1rUpDGh3N6KeFumk6Q.jpeg)
F is for Fusion, that powers the stars,
as nuclei join, their released light is ours!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*gV3pRYDEOFrZ4FGLrWEAjQ.jpeg)
G is for Galaxies, in groups and alone,
house billions of planets with lifeforms unknown.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*r66YNziN3GyrlWyOzLQV9A.jpeg)
H is for Hubble, for whom Earth’s no place;
a telescope like this belongs up in space.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*rt0m1Qh3o3xD74oO5jCVGA.jpeg)
I is for Ions, making nebulae glow;
as they find electrons, we capture the show.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*DZSyn3TYWoH9JEVHZfESwg.jpeg)
J is for Jets, from a galaxy’s core,
if you feed them right, they’ll be active once more!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*lHgPxN0oPFqGhDQ_iKazYw.gif)
K is for Kepler, whose great laws of motion
keep planets on course in the great cosmic ocean.
L is for Libration, which makes our Moon rock,
it’s a trick of the orbit; it’s tidally locked!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*OM46Pbj8Q-Vzqu3rK2mzrQ.jpeg)
M is for Meteors, which come in a shower,
if skies are just right, you’ll see hundreds an hour!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*wdHmTGe41SREHYKu1y-tsw.jpeg)
N is for Nebula, what forms when stars die,
this recycled fuel makes cosmic apple pie.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*Byy4PjtpGf4hQeyXQ7d_lQ.jpeg)
O is for Opaque, why the Milky Way’s dark,
these cosmic dust lanes make starlight appear stark!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*eCU38J9bJmJwnWOEo6y7Yg.jpeg)
P is for Pulsar, a spinning neutron star,
as the orbits tick by, we know just when we are.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*t-pOw0sltPqqPnSx_YiUEg.jpeg)
Q is for Quasar, a great radio source,
accelerating matter with little remorse.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*gftBqa1TxQfk9n3Ay2UZYQ.jpeg)
R is for Rings, all gas giants possess them,
even one found in another sun’s system!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*SaWdhH1on-rjqBUMEhLZVw.jpeg)
S is for Spacetime, which curves due to matter,
this Universe-fabric can bend but won’t shatter!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*16W68JOvzV_m98IEyf9piA.jpeg)
T is for Tides, caused by gravity’s tune,
our oceans bulge out from the Sun and the Moon.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*No3fAdP8tBOXw7ETnQaj5A.jpeg)
U is the Universe, our goal’s understanding,
with billions of galaxies, as spacetime’s expanding!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*_cLX9PnFR4_CZAS1_G2mdg.jpeg)
V is for Virgo, our nearest great cluster,
with thousands of galaxies, it’s a gut-buster!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*NQRoEjAl3e6pIMxPD3_OIQ.jpeg)
W is for Wavelength, the energies of light,
that tell us what atoms are in stars just from sight!
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*TvkNFc5N6o-XkwemB2SQ-A.jpeg)
X is for X-rays, high-energy light,
where bursts of new stars show an ionized might.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*M404RtJ-BiUgdd2o96cG3g.jpeg)
Y is the Year, where we orbit our Sun,
each planet’s is different; the Earth’s is just one.
![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*JGNHqjCExnXWMcSwGMnTpw.jpeg)
Z is for Zenith, so gaze up at the sky!
The Universe is here; let’s learn what, how and why.
Thanks for sharing this unique run through the alphabet with me. If you enjoyed it, leave a comment at the Starts With A Bang forum on Scienceblogs!