Final answer:
Big Data refers to large, complex datasets that traditional database methods cannot process, requiring advanced computing to analyze. It is prevalent in fields like astronomy, where significant volumes and rapid data generation occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
The collection of large, complex datasets that cannot be analyzed using traditional database methods and tools is known as Big Data. This term describes the vast volumes of information that are generated every second from numerous sources such as social media, sensors, digital images, and videos, which require advanced analytics and powerful computing resources to process. For instance, in the realm of astronomy, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey produced over 15 terabytes of data, a quantity comparable to the information in the Library of Congress, necessitating the use of supercomputers and sophisticated algorithms to efficiently manage this Big Data.
Analyzing and interpreting Big Data involves utilizing various techniques to understand patterns, uncover trends, and extract actionable insights. These techniques include data mining, which involves sorting through data sets to identify patterns and establish relationships, and data analytics, which refers to the application of statistical analysis and technologies on data to solve complex problems. Meanwhile, data warehousing is related to the central storage of data from multiple sources.