View source for Outline of space science

{{Short description|1=Overview of and topical guide to space science}}
<!--... Attention:  THIS IS AN OUTLINE.

        part of the set of 830+ outlines listed at
             Wikipedia:Contents/Outlines.

                 Wikipedia outlines are
              a special type of list article.
              They make up one of Wikipedia's
                content navigation systems

             See Wikipedia:Outlines and 
   Wikipedia:WikiProject Outlines for more details.
                   Further improvements
              to this outline are on the wa
...-->
[[File:Laser Towards Milky Ways Centre.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A laser-guided observation of the Milky Way Galaxy at the Paranal Observatory in Chile in 2010]]
The following [[Outline (list)|outline]] is provided as an overview and topical guide to space science:

'''[[Astronomy:Space science|Space science]]''' &ndash; field that encompasses all of the [[Branches of science|scientific disciplines]] that involve [[Astronomy:Space exploration|space exploration]] and study natural phenomena and [[Astronomy:Astronomical object|physical bodies]] occurring in [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]], such as [[Medicine:Space medicine|space medicine]] and [[Astronomy:Astrobiology|astrobiology]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/space+science|title=Space science – Define Space science|work=Dictionary.com}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/space+science|title=Space science – Definition of space science|encyclopedia=Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia}}</ref>


== Branches of space sciences ==

=== Astronomy ===
{{Main|Astronomy:Astronomy}}
[[File:The Celestial Zoo infographic wikimedia.png|thumb|right|350px|The diversity found in the different types and scales of astronomical objects make the field of study increasingly specialized.]]
[[File:CMB Timeline300 no WMAP.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A proposed timeline of the origin of space, from [[Astronomy:Physical cosmology|physical cosmology]]]]

See [[Astronomy:Astronomical object|astronomical object]] for a list of specific types of entities which scientists study.  See Earth's location in the universe for an orientation.

* Subfields of astronomy:
** [[Physics:Astrophysics|Astrophysics]] – branch of [[Astronomy:Astronomy|astronomy]] that deals with the [[Physics:Physics|physics]] of the [[Astronomy:Universe|universe]], including the physical properties of [[Astronomy:Astronomical object|celestial object]]s, as well as their interactions and behavior.<ref>{{cite web | title=astrophysics | publisher=Merriam-Webster, Incorporated | url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astrophysics | access-date=2011-05-22 }}</ref> Among the objects studied are [[Astronomy:Galaxy|galaxies]], [[Astronomy:Star|star]]s, [[Astronomy:Planet|planet]]s, [[Astronomy:Exoplanet|exoplanet]]s, the [[Astronomy:Interstellar medium|interstellar medium]] and the [[Astronomy:Cosmic microwave background|cosmic microwave background]]; and the properties examined include [[Astronomy:Luminosity|luminosity]], [[Physics:Density|density]], [[Physics:Temperature|temperature]], and [[Chemistry:Chemistry|chemical]] composition. The subdisciplines of theoretical astrophysics are:
*** [[Physics:Computational astrophysics|Computational astrophysics]] – The study of astrophysics using computational methods and tools to develop computational models.
*** Plasma astrophysics – studies properties of [[Physics:Plasma|plasma]] in outer space.
*** [[Physics:Space physics|Space physics]] – study of plasmas as they occur naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere (aeronomy) and within the Solar System.
*** [[Physics:Solar physics|Solar physics]] – Sun and its interaction with the remainder of the Solar System and interstellar space.
*** [[Astronomy:Astronomy#Stellar astronomy|Stellar astronomy]] – concerned with [[Astronomy:Star formation|Star formation]], physical properties, [[Astronomy:Main sequence|main sequence]] life span, [[Astronomy:Variable star|variability]], [[Astronomy:Stellar evolution|stellar evolution]] and extinction.
*** [[Astronomy:Galactic astronomy|Galactic astronomy]] – deals with the structure and components of our galaxy and of other galaxies.
*** [[Astronomy:Extragalactic astronomy|Extragalactic astronomy]] – study of objects (mainly galaxies) outside our galaxy, including [[Astronomy:Galaxy formation and evolution|Galaxy formation and evolution]].
** [[Astronomy:Cosmology|Cosmology]]
*** [[Astronomy:Physical cosmology|Physical cosmology]] – origin and evolution of the universe as a whole. The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at its largest scale.
*** [[Chemistry:Cosmochemistry|Chemical cosmology]] - study of the chemical composition of matter in the universe and the processes that led to those compositions.
*** [[Astronomy:Quantum cosmology|Quantum cosmology]] – the study of cosmology through the use of [[Physics:Quantum field theory|quantum field theory]] to explain phenomena [[Physics:General relativity|general relativity]] cannot due to limitations in its framework.
** Planetary Science – study of planets, moons, and planetary systems.
*** [[Physics:Atmospheric science|Atmospheric science]] – study of atmospheres and weather.
*** [[Earth:Planetary geology|Planetary geology]]
*** [[Astronomy:Planetary oceanography|Planetary oceanography]]
*** [[Astronomy:Exoplanetology|Exoplanetology]] – various planets outside of the Solar System
** [[Chemistry:Astrochemistry|Astrochemistry]] – studies the abundance and reactions of molecules in the Universe, and their interaction with radiation.

* Interdisciplinary studies of astronomy:
** [[Astronomy:Astrobiology|Astrobiology]] – studies the advent and [[Biology:Evolution|evolution]] of [[Biology:Biological system|biological system]]s in the universe.
** Space biology – studies to build a better understanding of how spaceflight affects living systems in spacecraft, or in ground-based experiments that mimic aspects of spaceflight<ref>{{cite web | url=https://science.nasa.gov/biological-physical/programs/space-biology | title=Space Biology Program &#124; Science Mission Directorate }}</ref>
** Space chemistry – Reactions of elements to form more complex compounds, such as amino acids, are key to the study of chemistry in space.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sta.ie/lesson/space-chemistry | title=Space chemistry &#124; Science & Technology in Action }}</ref>
*** [[Biology:Astrobotany|Astrobotany]] – Sub-discipline of botany that is the study of plants in space environments.
** [[Astronomy:Archaeoastronomy|Archaeoastronomy]] – studies ancient or traditional astronomies in their cultural context, utilizing archaeological and anthropological evidence.
** Space archaeology – the study of human artifacts in outer space
** [[Astronomy:Forensic astronomy|Forensic astronomy]] – the use of astronomy, the scientific study of celestial objects, to determine the appearance of the sky at specific times in the past.

* Techniques used in astronomical research:
** [[Physics:Theoretical astronomy|Theoretical astronomy]] – mathematical modelling of celestial entities and phenomena
** [[Astronomy:Astrometry|Astrometry]] – study of the position of objects in the sky and their changes of position. Defines the system of coordinates used and the [[Physics:Kinematics|kinematics]] of objects in our galaxy.
** [[Astronomy:Photometry|Photometry]] – study of how bright celestial objects are when passed through different filters
** [[Physics:Spectroscopy|Spectroscopy]] – study of the spectra of astronomical objects
** [[Astronomy:Observational astronomy|Observational astronomy]] – practice of observing celestial objects by using telescopes and other astronomical apparatus. [[Astronomy:Observatory|Observatories]] on the ground as well as space observatories take measurements of celestial entities and phenomena. It is concerned with recording data. The subdisciplines of [[Astronomy:Observational astronomy|observational astronomy]] are generally made by the specifications of the detectors: 
*** [[Astronomy:Radio astronomy|Radio astronomy]] –  >300&nbsp;µm
*** [[Astronomy:Submillimetre astronomy|Submillimetre astronomy]] – 200&nbsp;µm to 1&nbsp;mm
*** [[Astronomy:Infrared astronomy|Infrared astronomy]] – 0.7–350&nbsp;µm
*** Optical astronomy – 380–750&nbsp;nm
*** [[Astronomy:Ultraviolet astronomy|Ultraviolet astronomy]] – 10–320&nbsp;nm
*** [[Astronomy:High-energy astronomy|High-energy astronomy]]
**** [[Astronomy:X-ray astronomy|X-ray astronomy]] – 0.01–10&nbsp;nm
**** [[Astronomy:Gamma-ray astronomy|Gamma-ray astronomy]] – <0.01&nbsp;nm
**** [[Astronomy:Neutrino astronomy|Neutrino astronomy]] – [[Physics:Neutrino|Neutrino]]s
*** Gravitational wave astronomy – [[Physics:Graviton|Graviton]]s

=== Astronautics ===
{{Main article|Earth:Astronautics}}
{{further|Engineering:Aerospace engineering}}
[[File:Piers Sellers spacewalk.jpg|thumb|250px|Astronaut Piers Sellers during the third spacewalk of [[Engineering:STS-121|STS-121]], a demonstration of orbiter heat shield repair techniques]]
The science and engineering of [[Engineering:Spacefaring|spacefaring]] and [[Engineering:Spaceflight|spaceflight]], a subset of [[Engineering:Aerospace engineering|Aerospace engineering]] (which includes atmospheric flight)

* [[Engineering:Space technology|Space technology]] is technology for use in outer space, in travel or other activities beyond Earth's atmosphere, for purposes such as spaceflight, space exploration, and Earth observation.
**[[Engineering:Spaceflight|Spaceflight]]
*** [[Astronomy:Human spaceflight|Human spaceflight]]
*** [[Astronomy:Outline of space exploration|Outline of space exploration]]
** [[Engineering:Space architecture|Space architecture]]
*** [[Engineering:Life-support system|Life-support system]]
*** Space station
*** Space Habitation Module

* Life in space
** [[Astronomy:Bioastronautics|Bioastronautics]]
** Animals in space
** [[Astronomy:List of microorganisms tested in outer space|Microorganisms tested in outer space]]
** Plants in space
** [[Astronomy:Human presence in space|Humans in space]]
*** [[Astronomy:Women in space|Women in space]]
*** [[Astronomy:Effect of spaceflight on the human body|Effect of spaceflight on the human body]]
*** [[Astronomy:Sleep in space|Sleep in space]]
*** [[Astronomy:Space food|Food in space]]
*** [[Medicine:Space medicine|Medicine in space]]
*** [[Biology:Neuroscience in space|Neuroscience in space]]
*** [[Astronomy:Writing in space|Writing in space]]

==See also==
* {{Annotated link|Space Sciences Laboratory}} – University of California, Berkeley
* {{Annotated link|Space-based economy}}
* {{Annotated link|Commercial use of space}}
** {{Annotated link|Space manufacturing}}
** {{Annotated link|Space tourism}}
* {{Annotated link|Space warfare}}
** {{Annotated link|Alien invasion}}
* {{Annotated link|Asteroid-impact avoidance}}
* {{Annotated link|Space law}}
* {{Annotated link|Remote sensing}}
* {{Annotated link|Planetarium|fallback=A synthetic observatory, used for education and presentations}}
* {{Annotated link|Centennial Challenges}} NASA prize contests
* {{Annotated link|Space and survival}}
* {{Annotated link|Space colonization}}
* {{Annotated link|Space industry}}
* {{Annotated link|Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes}}
* {{Annotated link|Batteries in space}}
* {{Annotated link|Control engineering}}
* {{Annotated link|Corrosion in space}}
* {{Annotated link|Nuclear power in space}}
* {{Annotated link|Space observatory|Observatories in space}}
* {{Annotated link|Orbital mechanics}}
* {{Annotated link|Robotic spacecraft}}
* {{Annotated link|Space environment|fallback=study of conditions that affect the operation of spacecraft}}
* {{Annotated link|Space logistics}}
* {{Annotated link|Space technology}}
** {{Annotated link|Space-based radar}}
** {{Annotated link|Space-based solar power}}
** {{Annotated link|Spacecraft design|fallback=for [[Engineering:Launch vehicle|launch vehicle]]s and [[Astronomy:Satellite|satellite]]s}}
** {{Annotated link|Spacecraft propulsion}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ist.edu.pk/ Institute of Space Technology, Pakistan]
*[http://science.hq.nasa.gov/ Space Sciences @ NASA]
*[http://www.esa.int/export/esaSC/index.html Space Sciences @ ESA]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120124045909/http://www.iist.ac.in/ INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY]
*[http://www.spacescience.org Space Sciences Institute]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070418150218/http://www.spacescience.ir/ Space Science & Technology] {{in lang|fa}} – an Iranian nongovernmental group who writes scientific articles about Space Science & Technology

{{Natural science}}

[[Category:Outlines of sciences|space science]]
[[Category:Outlines|space science]]
[[Category:Space lists|space science]]
[[Category:Space science|*]]

{{Sourceattribution|Outline of space science}}