nonterrestrial
Beyond our planet
Nonterrestrial means not of or from Earth.
The word appears in discussions of space exploration, astrobiology, and science fiction: nonterrestrial life forms, nonterrestrial origins.
It functions as both adjective and noun—a nonterrestrial is a being from somewhere other than Earth.
Extraterrestrial is more common but carries stronger associations with alien life; nonterrestrial is slightly more neutral and technical.
Non-native being
- martianNative of fourth planet
- lunarOf the moon
- jovianGas giant descriptor
- extragalacticBeyond any galaxy's bounds
interstellar · cosmic · starship · spacecraft · UFO · ufology · abduction · encounter
Supernatural or eerie
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
- celestialOf the sky above
heavenly · divine · mystical · sublime · spectral · preternatural · numinous · strange
Curved celestial path
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- cosmosOrderly totality of existence
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
asteroid · comet · meteor · celestial · starfield · supernova · quasar · void
Not yet investigated
- unchartedNot yet documented
- undiscoveredNot yet found
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
- enigmaticPuzzling and obscure
unfathomable · incomprehensible · cryptic · inscrutable · unimaginable · inconceivable · otherworldly · strange
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- biosignaturesDetectable signs of life
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
- exoplanetsWorlds orbiting other stars
alien
Non-native being
extragalactic · interstellar · cosmic · starship · spacecraft · UFO · ufology · abduction · encounter · xenobiology
unearthly
Supernatural or eerie
- etherealDelicate beyond earthly measure
- transcendentExceeding usual boundaries
- supernaturalBeyond natural explanation
celestial · heavenly · divine · mystical · sublime · spectral · preternatural · numinous · strange · uncanny
orbit
Curved celestial path
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
- cosmosOrderly totality of existence
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
nebula · asteroid · comet · meteor · celestial · starfield · supernova · quasar · void · spacewalk
unexplored
Not yet investigated
- unchartedNot yet documented
- undiscoveredNot yet found
- mysteriousBeyond easy comprehension
enigmatic · unfathomable · incomprehensible · cryptic · inscrutable · unimaginable · inconceivable · otherworldly · strange · unfamiliar
extremophiles
Organisms surviving extreme conditions
- biosignaturesDetectable signs of life
- habitabilitySuitability for dwelling
- panspermiaLife spreads via space rocks
exoplanets · xenobiology · SETI · technosignatures · exomoons
nonterrestrialterrestrial
Relating to land
earthly · earthbound · earthborn · planetary · worldly
terrestrial, extraterrestrial, terra, terrain, terrace, subterranean, Mediterranean, parterre, terrazzo