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{{Short description|1=Overview of and topical guide to space science}}
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[[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:

'''Space science''' &ndash; field that encompasses all of the [[branches of science|scientific disciplines]] that involve [[space exploration]] and study [[natural phenomena]] and [[astronomical object|physical bodies]] occurring in [[outer space]], such as [[space medicine]] and [[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>

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== Branches of space sciences ==

=== Astronomy ===
{{Main|Astronomy}}
{{See also|Outline of 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 [[physical cosmology]]]]

See [[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:
** [[Astrophysics]] – branch of [[astronomy]] that deals with the [[physics]] of the [[universe]], including the physical properties of [[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 [[galaxy|galaxies]], [[star]]s, [[planet]]s, [[exoplanet]]s, the [[interstellar medium]] and the [[cosmic microwave background]]; and the properties examined include [[luminosity]], [[density]], [[temperature]], and [[chemistry|chemical]] composition. The subdisciplines of theoretical astrophysics are:
*** [[Computational astrophysics]] – The study of astrophysics using computational methods and tools to develop computational models.
*** [[Plasma astrophysics]] – studies properties of [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] in outer space.
*** [[Space physics]] – study of plasmas as they occur naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere (aeronomy) and within the Solar System.
*** [[Solar physics]] – Sun and its interaction with the remainder of the Solar System and interstellar space.
*** [[Astronomy#Stellar astronomy|Stellar astronomy]] – concerned with [[Star formation]], physical properties, [[main sequence]] life span, [[variable star|variability]], [[stellar evolution]] and extinction.
*** [[Galactic astronomy]] – deals with the structure and components of our galaxy and of other galaxies.
*** [[Extragalactic astronomy]] – study of objects (mainly galaxies) outside our galaxy, including [[Galaxy formation and evolution]].
** [[Cosmology]]
*** [[Physical cosmology]] – origin and evolution of the universe as a whole. The study of cosmology is theoretical astrophysics at its largest scale.
*** [[Cosmochemistry|Chemical cosmology]] - study of the chemical composition of matter in the universe and the processes that led to those compositions.
*** [[Quantum cosmology]] – the study of cosmology through the use of [[quantum field theory]] to explain phenomena [[general relativity]] cannot due to limitations in its framework.
** [[Planetary Science]] – study of planets, moons, and planetary systems.
*** [[Atmospheric science]] – study of atmospheres and weather.
*** [[Planetary geology]]
*** [[Planetary oceanography]]
*** [[Exoplanetology]] – various planets outside of the Solar System
** [[Astrochemistry]] – studies the abundance and reactions of molecules in the Universe, and their interaction with radiation.

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

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

* [[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.
**[[Spaceflight]]
*** [[Human spaceflight]]
*** [[Outline of space exploration]]
** [[Space architecture]]
*** [[Life-support system]]
*** [[Space station]]
*** [[Space Habitation Module]]

* Life in space
** [[Bioastronautics]]
** [[Animals in space]]
** [[List of microorganisms tested in outer space|Microorganisms tested in outer space]]
** [[Plants in space]]
** [[Human presence in space|Humans in space]]
*** [[Women in space]]
*** [[Effect of spaceflight on the human body]]
*** [[Sleep in space]]
*** [[Space food|Food in space]]
*** [[Space medicine|Medicine in space]]
*** [[Neuroscience 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 [[launch vehicle]]s and [[satellite]]s}}
** {{Annotated link|Spacecraft propulsion}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Space science}}
*[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}}
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