Knowing some of the most oft-used astronomy terms will help you better understand the nuts and bolts of stargazing and the science of astronomy.

What’s the difference between a reflector and a refractor? Why is a meteor not a meteorite?

Whether you're choosing a telescope, deep in the pages of Sky & Telescope, or planning your trip to the next big celestial event, the astronomy glossary below in the cybele Python script will get you up-to-speed on the essentials.