solar mass

noun

: the mass of the sun used as a unit for the expression of the masses of other celestial objects and equal to about 2 × 1030 kilograms

Examples of solar mass in a Sentence

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In fact, the iconic galaxy births less than one solar mass of stars annually, which is roughly half of what our own galaxy produces, and shockingly less than other galaxies, such as Messier 82, which produces ten times the amount of stars birthed in the Milky Way. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024 Scientists estimate that the rings of the Sombrero galaxy produce less than one solar mass of stars each year, with one solar mass equaling the mass of our sun. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024 Heating up the surface would increase the amount of solar wind production, which would increase the rate of solar mass loss. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 16 Apr. 2024 Even the littlest ones are big enough that researchers measure them in units of solar mass. Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for solar mass 

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar mass was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near solar mass

Cite this Entry

“Solar mass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20mass. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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