Test your basic knowledge |

Astronomy Basics

Subject : science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The apparent westward motion of the planets with respect to the stars






2. The comet discovered in 1705 that repeats itself every 76 years and last appeared in 1986.


3. A galaxy with a bulge in the middle and arms that spiral outward in a pinwheel pattern






4. When the moon passes between earth and the sun - blocking the sunlight from reaching earth






5. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






6. An enormously bright - distant galaxy with a giant black hole at its center






7. A star that falls into the main sequence category on the H-are diagram






8. A contracting cloud of gas and dust with enough mass to form a star






9. A faint star of enormous density






10. A variable star that brightens and dims regularly - or pulses - and whose distance can be determined from its period of pulsation






11. Any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)






12. The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that has passed through a medium that absorbed radiation of certain wavelengths






13. Astronomical telescope that picks up electromagnetic radiations in the radio-frequency range from extra-terrestrial sources






14. A group of stars that form a pattern in the sky






15. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






16. The luminous cloud of particles surrounding the frozen nucleus of a comet






17. The blocking of sunlight to the moon that occurs when Earth is directly between the sun and the moon






18. The decrease in wavelength of light due to an object moving away from the oberver






19. The place in the orbit of a planet where the planet is farthest from the sun






20. When the northern or southern most point on earth receives the most sun because the earth is tilted toward the sun






21. The small - dense remains of a high-mass star after a supernova






22. The distance between crests of waves - such as those of the electromagnetic spectrum






23. A star that falls into the main sequence category on the H-are diagram






24. The average distance between the Earth and the sun - or approximately 150000000 km






25. The increase in wavelength of light due to an object moving away from the observer






26. Optical telescope that has a large convex lens that produces an image that is viewed through the eyepiece






27. Massive clouds of dust and gases where stars are born






28. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


29. A star that ejects some of its material in the form of a cloud and become more luminous in the process






30. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






31. Space object made of dust and rock particles mixed with frozen water - methane - and ammonia that forms a bright coma as it approaches the Sun






32. Large group of stars - dust - and gas held together by gravity; can be elliptical - spiral - or irregular






33. Light distance travels in one year (9.5 trillion km)






34. An extremely bright star of very large diameter and low density






35. The decrease in wavelength of light due to an object moving away from the oberver






36. A faint star of enormous density






37. The farther away a galaxy is - the faster it is moving away


38. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






39. Point of moon's orbit when it is nearest the earth






40. A large cloud of dust and gas that can break apart into smaller pieces and form stars






41. English mathematician and physicist - discovered the law of universal gravitation






42. A variable star that brightens and dims regularly - or pulses - and whose distance can be determined from its period of pulsation






43. Any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)






44. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






45. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






46. The elliptical motion of a body as it orbits another body in space






47. The study of the universe






48. Every object in the universe was attracted to every other object w/ a force that is directly proportional to the masses and proportional to distance between them






49. The motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone






50. A group of about 30 galaxies that includes the Milky Way