Descriptionary

photosphere the visible surface of the Sun.

plage a bright spot or granulation appearing in the chromosphere.

plasma an electrically-charged, gaslike substance emitted by the Sun.

prominence a cool jet, stream, or arch of gas that rises from the chromosphere and into the corona, vis­ible during an eclipse.

proton-proton chain the nuclear process by which energy is produced and hydrogen is converted into helium in the core of stars, including the Sun.

Ra Egyptian sun god.

sigmoid an S-shaped formation of plasma on the sur­face of the Sun that presages a coronal mass ejection.

Sol the Latin name for the Sun.

solar constant the total radiant energy put out by the Sun on a continuing basis, specifically 1,369 watts per square meter as measured above Earth's atmosphere.

solar cycle the 11-year cycle of sunspot and solar flare activity, known to cause, at its peak, increased magnetic storm effects on Earth. Also known as sun- spot cycle.

solar eclipse the obscuring of the Sun caused by the Moon passing in front of it.

solar flare a huge tongue of gases and particles extending suddenly from a catastrophic explosion on the Sun's surface to millions of miles out into space.

solar nebula the massive cloud of gas and dust that collapsed and contracted to form the Sun approxi­mately 5 billion years ago.

solar oscillation a pulsation of the Sun.

solar storm see coronal mass ejection.

solar wind particles and gases spewed from the Sun at speeds exceeding 1 million miles per hour.

spicule a thin jet of bright gas emitted from the sun. sun dog see mock sun.

sunspot a dark spot on the Sun's surface having a lower temperature than its surrounding area and strongly associated with intense magnetic fields.

sunspot cycle see solar cycle.

umbra the dark, central region of a sunspot.

variable star a star with varying luminosity; the Sun is variable but to only a slight degree.

s

PORTS

ARCHERY

American round a competitive round in which each contestant shoots 30 arrows at 60 yards, 30 at 50 yards, and 30 at 40 yards.

animal round a competitive round in which each contestants shoots at lifelike animal targets from 10 to 60 yards.

archer's paralysis a psychological problem in which the archer "chokes" under pressure, loses his aim, or becomes incapable of releasing when aligned on target.

arm guard an inner forearm covering made of leather or plastic; it protects the bow arm from the bow string.

barebow shooting without a sighting aid on a bow.

battle clouts a competition in which 36 broadhead arrows are shot 200 yards to a large target.

belly the side of the bow closest to the bow string.

blunt an arrow with a flat tip, used to stun small game.

bow the pliable wood and fiberglass apparatus that holds the bowstring.

bow hand when shooting, the hand that holds the bow.

bowsight a sight or aiming aid on the top half of the bow.

bowstring the synthetic or waxed linen string that is pulled back and released to protect an arrow.

bow weight a bow's draw weight.

broadhead a hunting arrow having a broad head or two or more blades.

bullseye the center of a target.

clout a 48-foot target with a 1%-foot center, used for long-distance shooting and scored the same as a standard-size target.

clout shooting shooting at a clout from 120 to 180 yards away.

crest a row of colored stripes around an arrow's shaft below the fletching; they are used as an identi­fication aid.

crossbow a bow held sideways and fired by a trig­ger mechanism from a special stock. Its short arrows are known as bolts.

draw to pull the bowstring back.

drawing hand the string hand.

draw weight the force required to pull a bow back one arrow length.

drift deviation of an arrow's flight due to wind.

feather any of the three stabilizing feathers on the shaft. See fletching.

field archery competition featuring various targets located outside in fields or woods to simulate hunting conditions.

fingerstalls thimblelike, protective covers worn on the string fingers.

fletching the feathers attached to an arrow shaft to stabilize its flight. Also known as flights.

flight shooting nontarget, distance shooting com­petition.

foot bow a bow held with the feet while the string is drawn back with both hands, used in distance shooting competition.

green an outdoor shooting range.

king's round a crossbow competition in which con­testants shoot six bolts each at a target 40 yards away.

longbow a straight, medieval-style bow.

loose to release the bowstring to project an arrow.

Mediterranean draw pulling the drawstring with three fingertips of the string hand.