76 replies to this topic

[skD1amond]

List is great. Please update regularly. Being new I have had trouble understanding all the acronyms. I'd add

 

MCT - kind of telescope

PA - Polar Alignment

[WarmWeatherGuy]

Here is my latest list.

 

 cn.txt   12.55KB   112 downloads

[JohnBear]

Just had to figure out this from a post:  Meade's "ASU" = AutoStar updater

 

Did not find it in the acronym list links I have saved.

Edited by JohnBear, 20 August 2020 - 10:13 PM.

[boxcorner]

As an un-worthy update to the original masterpiece by Joe Cipriano (un-editable and locked in the archives), here is a list of ASTRONOMY-related abbreviations and terms frequently found on Cloudy Nights. Please feel free to add suggestions, which we can roll into the list over time. We do not, however, want to get too specialized - this is the Beginners' Forum after all. This thread will be linked from the pinned "Best of the Beginners' Forum & How-Tos" message. Thanks to all.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Achro - Achromatic Refractor, or Achromat
...
WO - William Optics

Thank you kindly.

Edited by boxcorner, 02 December 2020 - 02:53 PM.

[Starman1]

Recently seen in discussions of filters:

BW = bandwidth

FWHM = full width, half maximum--the figures that define bandwidth

OOBW or OOB = out of bandwidth = transmission in a filter at wavelengths not germane to its purpose, i.e. "noise", optically.

BB = broadband as in a broad FWHM bandwidth

NB = narrowband as in a narrower filter just for emission nebulae

and, because it has become as generic as "Kleenex" for tissue, 

UHC = Ultra High Contrast = NB filter.

[jokrausdu]

I've seen OP used a lot for the person who started a post. Is that short for Online Poster / Original Poster?

Edited by jokrausdu, 24 December 2021 - 12:50 AM.

[BFaucett]

I've seen OP used a lot for the person who started a post. Is that short for Online Poster / Original Poster?

 

OP - Original Post/Poster

 

https://www.cloudyni...-2#entry7648462

 

Cheers! Bob F.

Edited by BFaucett, 24 December 2021 - 02:17 AM.

[bladerunner6]

ER-Eye Relief 

[WillR]

Good list.

 

I didn't see the various DSO abbreviations though.

 

OC:- Open cluster

GC- Globular cluster

PN- Planetary nebula

Gx- Galaxy

DS- Double star

etc.

 

Also helpful would be a list of the three letter constellation abbreviations.

[WarmWeatherGuy]

The first 3 are in my list. See comment #52.

[Starman1]

Good list.

 

I didn't see the various DSO abbreviations though.

 

OC:- Open cluster

GC- Globular cluster

PN- Planetary nebula

Gx- Galaxy

DS- Double star

etc.

 

Also helpful would be a list of the three letter constellation abbreviations.

Constellation abbreviations with pronunciations!

https://skyandtelesc...-abbreviations/

Note: the pronunciations are anglicized.  They are not Latin, nor Italian.

One small example:

In almost every language except English, Draco is "Drah'-Koh".  In English, it is "Dray'-koh"

In those other languages, it would be pronounced Dray'-koh only if spelled Dreico or Dreco.

The constellation names are Latin, so we should probably use Latin pronunciations.

My scholarly friends would then ask, "Which Latin?  Classical, Liturgical, Italianate, etc.?"

Probably OK to use whatever pronunciation is popular among your observing buddies, I guess.

Edited by Starman1, 07 August 2022 - 05:38 PM.

[Mossonarock]

MCT = maksutov cassegrain telescope

MNT = maksutov newtonian telescope.

SNT = schmidt newtonian telescope

Edited by Mossonarock, 08 August 2022 - 08:14 AM.

[Wolfram Kiparski]

Can someone please pin this topic?

[Tony Flanders]

Constellation abbreviations with pronunciations!

https://skyandtelesc...-abbreviations/

Note: the pronunciations are anglicized.  They are not Latin, nor Italian.

One small example:

In almost every language except English, Draco is "Drah'-Koh".  In English, it is "Dray'-koh"

In those other languages, it would be pronounced Dray'-koh only if spelled Dreico or Dreco.

The constellation names are Latin, so we should probably use Latin pronunciations.

My scholarly friends would then ask, "Which Latin?  Classical, Liturgical, Italianate, etc.?"

Probably OK to use whatever pronunciation is popular among your observing buddies, I guess.

Dray-co is English Latin, as used in the Church of England since said C. of E. was established by Henry the Eighth. And no doubt used in Catholic churches in England during the Middle Ages.

[jrkorman]

ATMT  Advanced Telescope Making Techniques (the books)

 

Because I had to ask and from comments I hadn't been the only one.

Edited by jrkorman, 06 January 2024 - 01:38 AM.

[Rich V.]

ER-Eye Relief 

This one is a really important spec and affects most of us one way or another.  I'm surprised it took 58 posts to be brought up.  

[truckerfromaustin]

FSS= Freaking Starlink Satellites
DICSA= Dang It, Cloudy Skies Again
WIM23mmE= Where Is My 23mm Eyepiece?
SGWIWA= Stinking Google Weather Is Wrong Again
WIMCRB? Where Is My Crown Royal Bag? (Dob owners will understand this.)

Clear Skies

[Marcus1]

As a physician I am well aware of abbrev and acrony ‘ s they were widely used in the medical field until it was realized that they were a barrier to communication and were implicated in many medical errors. Use of abbreviations in medical communication is now frowned upon for that very reason.
Having to publish lists of abbreviations proves my point that it puts an additional barrier between newbie’s and the hardcore. Is that what you want?

[AlamoBob]

TLKT4MSV - you know, that Twisty Little Knobby Thing for Making Stuff Visible, or the focuser.

[Starman1]

One complaint about commonly used acronyms: they are often used for different things.

Examples:

EP = Eyepiece in one context, and Exit Pupil in another.

FL = focal length of eyepiece or focal length of telescope.

[KBHornblower]

I consider it common courtesy to spell out the word or expression when used the first time in a post, with the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses after it.  That saves the reader the trouble of deciphering it or looking it up.  The abbreviation then serves well in subsequent occurrences in a long post.

[KBHornblower]

I consider it common courtesy to spell out the word or expression when used the first time in a post, with the abbreviation or acronym in parentheses after it.  That saves the reader the trouble of deciphering it or looking it up.  The abbreviation then serves well in subsequent occurrences in a long post.

Addendum:  A related pet peeve of mine is asking a question about whatever make and model telescope without saying what type of telescope it is.  I hate having to break away from the post to search for information on it.

[Freezout]

In topics in the beginner section I try to never use any acronym.

[Martinbruce]

An acronym can be made for just about any turn of phrase or as an abbreviation. If the acronym is not in common usage amongst the large majority of readers on CN it should not be used, especially in the Beginners forums. Marcus1 above express my thoughts on this matter. Perhaps they can be frowned upon in the Beginners forum guidelines? 

[WarmWeatherGuy]

EAF is electronic auto focuser or electronically assisted astronomy.

 

See comment #52.