What is "physical astronomy"

Physical \Phys"ic*al\, a.

1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also, of or relating to natural or material things, or to the bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral, spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the physical part of man.

   Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in putting objects in motion.
   --J. S. Mill.

   A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.
   --Macaulay.

2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy; treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws. ``Physical philosophy.''
   --Pope.

3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.

4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [Obs.] ``Physical herbs.''
   --Sir T. North.

   Is Brutus sick? and is it physical To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors Of the dank morning?
   --Shak.

   Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that which treats of the motions resulting from universal gravitation.

   Physical education, training of the bodily organs and powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor.

   Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily condition of a person.

   Physical geography. See under Geography.

   Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a point conceived as being without extension, yet having physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a material point.

   Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily state afforded by a physical examination.

Astronomy \As*tron"o*my\, n. [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? astronomer; 'asth`r star + ? to distribute, regulate. See Star, and Nomad.]

1. Astrology. [Obs.]

   Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have astronomy.
   --Shak.

2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena.

3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science.

   Physical astronomy. See under Physical.