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In the popular TV show The Big Bang Theory Season 3, Episode 4, Sheldon Cooper said that astro means star and Raj said astro means space, I got a little confused here, various websites and others are going 50-50 on the subject. What does astro actually means?

Raj: No, no, no, no! That rate is much too low for what we’d expect from this collision. Do you understand that we’re talking about dark matter colliding in outer space?

Sheldon: Of course I understand. And who are you to tell me about outer space?

Raj: I’m the astrophysicist. Astro means space.

Sheldon: Astro means star.

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Tazpool
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  • Yeah but @user36296 I've mentioned that many are saying different things about it, I need complete proof about the meaning of the word, cause even google dictionary says astro means: relating to the stars or celestial objects. "astrodome" relating to outer space. "astrochemistry" – Tazpool Aug 22 '19 at 12:11
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    Why do you think it is an either or question? – samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz Aug 22 '19 at 12:18
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    Do you mean definitive in the sense of how it was used originally in Greek or what it is used for today? – called2voyage Aug 22 '19 at 14:44
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    This might be better on English Language, as it is not about astronomy but about the meaning of prefix in the Language. – James K Aug 22 '19 at 15:51
  • @JamesK That's what I was trying to get at. – called2voyage Aug 22 '19 at 15:53
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because the meaning can be easily found in a dictionary. – James K Aug 22 '19 at 18:12
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    I'm voting to leave this question open because definitions of astronomy terms is absolutely on topic, and we shouldn't just use "off-topic" to close for any reason we feel like using it for. We have a terminology tag, let it be used. – uhoh Aug 22 '19 at 23:09
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    That is my point. The question isn't asking about a technical term, but the meaning of a regular word/prefix in English. The answers below don't draw on any knowledge of astronomy or technical language, only dictionary definitions. There might be an ELU question on the use of the prefix. – James K Aug 23 '19 at 00:15
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    Please stop arguing. This is a typical example of a question that would be on-topic on multiple sites. –  Aug 23 '19 at 07:33
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    "Astro" means star in latinic, not space. Astrophysics is the physics or the stars, the vacuum, galaxies and so on. So both have right. – peterh Aug 23 '19 at 07:44
  • @peterh thank you very much – Tazpool Aug 23 '19 at 15:00
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    @uhoh I agree that questions of terms usage in astronomy is on topic, but it is not clear whether this is actually a question of that nature or merely a question about the general usage of an English term--or a question about the etymology of a term. I have changed the close reason to unclear. – called2voyage Aug 26 '19 at 13:19
  • You are both right. From the Oxford American Dictionary. Astro = relating to the stars, celestial objects, or outer space – Natsfan Mar 07 '20 at 21:51
  • So @jmh it doesn't means space, huh? – Tazpool Mar 08 '20 at 05:57
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    It does mean space! – Natsfan Mar 08 '20 at 14:00
  • Cosmos is the Greek word for universe. When the Soviets started putting humans in outer space (the cosmos) they called them cosmonauts - universe travelers. Because of political doctrinal differences (capitalism versus communism) during the space race, the Americans used the word astronaut (star traveler) for the humans they put into outer space. – Fred Mar 10 '20 at 05:31

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Astro comes from the greek άστρο which not only means star but has a more general meaning that includes any small dot in the night sky (see https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF#Greek for details)

In today's language it still has a quite broad meaning:

Oxford English dictionary (https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/12240?isAdvanced=false&result=2&rskey=LlaQB9&):

Forming terms relating to stars, other celestial objects, or outer space.

Merriam Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/astr-)

: star : heavens : outer space : astronomical

Conclusion: Sheldon and Raj are right

samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
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Astro definitely means star, hence astronomer, astrophysics,asteroid etc. Asteroid means star-like. Astronaut is a bit grandiose, as it means someone who journeys to the stars, which is something astronauts will never do. They have their work cut out to visit and explore some of the planets, asteroids and moons in our own solar system, and some of those will never be visited. No astronaut will ever land on Venus for example, though it is the nearest planet to us. To continue the star theme further, we also have asterisk, a star-like symbol, and aster, a kind of daisy, I'm sure there are more of them. The word comes from the Latin for star.

Michael Walsby
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    If it comes from Latin, then why do the Greeks knew astronomy? Latin did not exist at that time. You're wrong. – User123 Aug 26 '19 at 15:14