Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO), series of eight orbiting observatories (see observatory, orbiting) launched between 1962 and 1971 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study...

(Encyclopedia) Eames, Charles āmz [key], 1907–78, American designer, b. St. Louis, Mo. He opened his own architectural practice in 1930 and in the late 30s studied with Eliel Saarinen at the Cranbrook Academy, Bl...

(Encyclopedia) skiagraph: see X ray.

(Encyclopedia) radiography: see X ray.

(Encyclopedia) Wray, John: see Ray, John.

(Encyclopedia) Einstein Observatory: see X-ray astronomy. ...

(Encyclopedia) Grayson, David: see Baker, Ray Stannard. ...

(Encyclopedia) polarization of light, orientation of the vibration pattern of light waves in a singular plane. Unpolarized light can be converted into a single polarized beam by means of the Nicol prism, a device ...

(Encyclopedia) observatory, orbiting, research satellite designed to study solar radiation, electromagnetic radiation from distant stars, the earth's atmosphere, or the like. Because the atmosphere and other aspects...

(Encyclopedia) virtual observatory, a collection of integrated astronomical data archives and software tools that utilize computer networks to create an environment in which research can be conducted. Several countr...