Astronomy Acronyms

Alphabetical Listing of Astronomy Acronyms

• A&A — Astronomy And Astrophysics
• AACS — Attitude And Articulation Control Subsystem
• AAO — Anglo-Australian Observatory
• AAS — American Astronomical Society
• AAS — American Astronautical Society
• AAVSO — American Association of Variable Star Observers
• AC — Atlas Centaur
• ACE — Advanced Composition Explorer
• ACF — Automated Control Function
• ACR — Active Cavity Radiometer
• ACRIM — ACR Irradiance Monitor
• ACRV — Assured Crew Return Vehicle
• ACRV — Astronaut Crew Rescue Vehicle
• ACTS — Advanced Communications Technology Satellite
• ADEOS — Advanced Earth Observing Satellite
• ADFRF — Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility
• ADS — Astrophysical Data System (at Havard-Smithsonian CfA)
• ADS — Aitken Double Star Catalog
• AE — Arianespace SA
• AEPI — Atmospheric Emissions Photometric Imaging
• AF — Air Force
• AFETR — USAF’s ETR
• AFGWC — Air Force Global Weather Center
• AFP — Air Force Program
• AFPRO — Air Force Plan Representative Office
• AFRSI — Advanced FRSI
• AFWTR — USAF’s WTR
• AGB — Asymptotic Giant Branch
• AGE — Auxiliary Ground Equipment
• AGN — Active Galactic Nucleus
• AGU — American Geophysical Union
• AIAA — American Institute of Aeronautics And Astronautics
• AIPS — Astronomical Image Processing System
• AIRS — Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
• AJ — Astronomical Journal
• ALAE — Atmospheric Lyman-Alpha Emissions
• ALDP — Advanced Launch Development Program
• ALEXIS — Array of Low Energy X-ray Imaging Sensors
• ALPO — Association of Lunar And Planetary Observers
• ALS — Advanced Launch System
• AMOS — Air Force Maui Optical System
• AMSR — Advanced Microwave Sounding Radiometer
• ANSI — American National Standards Institute
• AOA — Abort Once Around (shuttle Abort Plan)
• AOA — Angle of Attack
• AOCS — Attitude And Orbit Control System
• APE — Auroral Photography Experiment
• APJ — Astrophysical Journal
• APL — Applied Physics Laboratory (at Johns Hopkins)
• APM — Attached Pressurized Module (a.k.a. Columbus)
• APM — Atmospheric Particle Monitor
• APT — Automatic Picture Transmission
• APT — Automatic Photoelectric Telescope
• APU — Auxiliary Power Unit
• ARC — Ames Research Center (NASA)
• ARC — Astrophysical Research Consortium
• ARISTOTELES — Applications And Research Involving Space Technologies Observing The Earth’s Field From Low Earth Orbiting Satellite
• ARRL — American Radio Relay League
• ARTEMIS — Advanced Relay TEchnology MISsion
• ASA — Astronomical Society of The Atlantic
• ASCO — Arab Satellite Communications Organization
• ASE — Advanced Space Engine
• ASEM — Assembly of Station By EVA Methods
• ASI — Agenzia Spaziale Italiano
• ASP — Astronomical Society of The Pacific
• ASRM — Advanced Solid Rocket Motor
• ASS — Antenna Support Structure
• ASTER — Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission And Reflection
• ASTRO — Space Astrophysics Laboratory
• ATAL — Alternate Transoceanic Abort Landing
• ATCS — Active Thermal Control System
• ATDRS — Advanced Tracking And Data Relay Satellite
• ATLAS — Atmospheric Laboratory For Applications And Science
• ATM — Amateur Telescope Maker
• ATM — Apollo Telescope Mount (on Skylab)
• ATMOS — Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy
• ATO — Abort To Orbit
• ATSR — Along Track Scanning Radiometer
• AU — Astronomical Unit
• AURA — Association of Universities For Research In Astronomy
• AVHRR — Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer
• AW&ST — Aviation Week And Space Technology
• AXAF — Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility
• BAE — British Aerospace
• BATSE — Burst And Transient Source Experiment
• BBXRT — Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope
• BC — Bolometric Correction
• BD — Bonner Durchmusterung (catalog)
• BDB — Big Dumb Booster
• BECO — Booster Engine Cutoff
• BEM — Bug-Eyed Monster
• BFC — Backup Flight Computer
• BFCS — Backup Flight Control System
• BFS — Backup Flight System
• BH — Black Hole
• BIMA — Berkeley Illinois Maryland Array
• BIMDA — Bioserve-Instrumentation Technology Associate Materials Dispersion Analysis
• BMDO — Ballistic Missile Defense Office
• BMFT — Bundesministerium Fuer Forschung Und Technologie
• BNSC — British National Space Centre