Final answer:
The term astronaut comes from Greek words, translating to "star sailor" in English, reflecting their role in space exploration. Greek contributions to astronomy are prominent in the legacy of star names and cosmological terms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term astronaut comes from the Greek words "astro" meaning "star" and "nautes" which means "sailor." So, the translation of astronaut into English would be "star sailor". This etymology reflects the occupation of astronauts as explorers of the celestial realm, navigating through space much like sailors once navigated the seas using the stars. The early Greeks had a profound influence on astronomy and cosmology, evidenced by the way we still use Greek roots to name celestial phenomena and roles, such as cosmology, the study of the universe's structure and origin. The tradition of naming cosmic entities after ancient terms persists as new celestial bodies and phenomena are discovered and need to be named, a process overseen by the International Astronomical Union to maintain a multinational and dignified approach.
For example, when considering some of the brightest stars, their names also derive from ancient languages, with many from Greek and Arabic. Names such as Sirius, meaning "the scorched one," and Betelgeuse, meaning "right hand of the central one," are testament to the legacy of these ancient cosmologies and the descriptive nature of the names they chose based on direct observation of the heavens.