| PTOLEMAIC | The ___ system, a model of the universe with Earth at its centre, is named after the Alexandrian astronomer who formulated it (9) |
| MATTER | A gas, liquid, solid or other basic structural component of the universe with a mass and volume; the subject of speech, thought, writing etc; a thing of consequence; or, a concern (6) |
| DANAE | ___ racemosa is an evergreen shrub, also known as the Alexandrian laurel (5) |
| EQUATOR | Imaginary line around the earth at its greatest diameter (7) |
| RHONE | Strand, the same after its centre is out of reach |
| OPORTO | City in Portugal (pop about 230,000). Its centre is a World Heritage Site (1996 (6) |
| METRIC | ___ system, a decimal one of weights and measures (6) |
| DANTE | El Paso teen who "discovers the secrets of the universe" with 11-Across in a new Aitch Alberto film |
| QUASAR | Its center is a black hole |
| NOWHERE | Currently in this place, though its middle is very remote! (7) |
| SEA | Its center is far away from land |
| COPERNICUS | Polish mathematician and astronomer, 1473-1543, who formed a model of the solar system with the sun as the centre (10) |
| ARMILLA | Latin word for a bracelet from which a type of spherical astrolabe-like model of the universe derives its name (7) |
| WHEEL | A disc or truckle of cheese; or, a structure with a hub at its centre (5) |
| PTOLEMY | Astronomer for whom a geocentric model of the universe is named |
| NATURE | A turner wrecked the universe with all its phenomena |
| NEBULA | Lemon slice, butterfly, lagoon, cat's eye, rosette a cloud of interstellar cosmic dust and gas such as M16 with the Pillars of Creation at its centre (6) |
| EGYPT | Country whose flag bears a depiction of the eagle of Saladin at its centre (5) |
| MILKYWAY | With the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at its centre, galaxy containing some 200 billion stars including the Sun (5,3) |
| ISRAELIS | Citizens of a country whose national flag contains at its centre the Star of David (8) |
