celestial body

noun

variants or less commonly celestial object

plural celestial bodies also celestial objects

: an aggregation of matter in the universe (such as a planet, star, or nebula) that can be considered as a single unit (as for astronomical study)

But many scientists began seriously rethinking their notions of the solar system in 1992, when we identified a small celestial body—just a few hundred kilometers across—sited farther from the sun than any of the known planets.

—Jane X. Luu et al.

As the observer looks at a star or other celestial body its light rays pass through a single point on the earth's surface.

—Dutton's Navigation and Piloting, 14th edition

A black hole forms when a star or other celestial object collapses under the pull of its own gravity.

—Mary Durack Miller

called also heavenly body

Examples of celestial body in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Recessed domes nod to the moon, light fixtures to celestial bodies, and a palette of purples, silvers, and blues to crepuscular horizons. —Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 15 Oct. 2024

This race isn't about planting flags on celestial bodies but about launching constellations of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that promise to revolutionize communication and unlock unprecedented economic potential. —Ed Fox, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

The success of such efforts almost certainly requires humans to harvest resources such as building materials, fuel, and water from other celestial bodies. —Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024

Not Oprah or the ladies on The View, but the celestial bodies that oversee the earth. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined above