Basic Details
Word: Astronomy
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The science that studies the stars, planets, moons, comets and everything else in space.
Word origin: From Greek astronomia, from astron, 'star', and nomos, 'law' or 'arrangement'.
How to Spell Astronomy
Syllables: as - tron - o - my
Tricky part: Both vowels after the r and the n are o: as-tron-o-my. Students often write astronamy because the second o is said quickly.
Watch out for: astronamy, astronomey, asstronomy
Memory tip: Astro means star, as in astronaut. Then think of the two o's as two round planets: astr-O-n-O-my.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Aryabhata wrote about astronomy and mathematics more than 1,500 years ago.
Example 2: The astronomy club meets on the school terrace on clear nights.
Example 3: Her interest in astronomy began with a cheap telescope from a fair.
Fun Fact
Astronomy is a science, while astrology is the belief that the positions of stars and planets shape people's lives; the two are often mixed up.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) astronamy
b) satellite
c) telescope
d) galaxy
Show answer
a) astronamy. The vowel after the n is o, just like the vowel after the r.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
monotsary
a) astronaut
b) anatomy
c) astronomy
d) astrology
Show answer
c) astronomy. Astronaut has a u, astrology has an l and a g, and anatomy has no s, so the word is astronomy.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
asstronomy
a) o
b) a
c) t
d) s
Show answer
d) s. Astro, meaning star, has just one s.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Someone who studies astronomy would most likely spend time ____.
a) looking at the night sky through a telescope
b) repairing cars
c) digging for old bones
d) studying ocean fish
Show answer
a) looking at the night sky through a telescope
2. Which question belongs to astronomy?
a) How far is Mars from the Sun?
b) How do we digest food?
c) Which plants grow in sand?
d) Who built the Red Fort?
Show answer
a) How far is Mars from the Sun?
