noun
uranography
A formal, somewhat dated term for the mapping and description of celestial bodies; in modern contexts often replaced by 天文学 (astronomy) or more specific terms.
彼は天体学の古い文献を研究している。
He is studying old texts on uranography.
天文学 is the standard modern term for astronomy as a whole, while 天体学 is a narrower, more historical term focused on mapping and describing celestial objects.
Compound of 天体 (celestial body) and 学 (study, -ology). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for academic disciplines.