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 study of the universe






2. The apparent westward motion of the planets with respect to the stars






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






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






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






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






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






8. A star that expands and cools once it runs out of hydrogen fuel






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






10. A system of two stars that revolve around each other under their mutual gravitation






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






12. The study of the spectra of stars by analyzing the spectral properties of the light they give off






13. A particle of electromagnetic radiation having zero mass and carrying a quantum of energy






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






15. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons

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






17. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons

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18. A region of the solar system that is just beyond the orbit of neptune and that contains small bodies made mostly of ice






19. A faint star of enormous density






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






21. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






23. 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






24. Brahe's assistant - German astronomer who first discovered the three laws of planetary motion (1571-1630)






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






26. A space telescope and camera named for a famous astronaut (Edward Hubble) used to study space elements






27. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






28. The theory that states that gravity will over come the expansion of the universe and bring everything together in an implosion






29. Planets with low densities and are huge gas giants. Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune






30. The theory that the universe originated 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small mass of matter at extremely high density and temperature






31. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






32. A spectrum of light in which there are no gaps - so that each region blends directly into the next






33. The formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases






34. A large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce light of its own






35. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






36. A shift toward the red end of the spectrum in the observed spectral lines of stars or galaxies showing objects are moving away and that the universe is expanding






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






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






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






40. A galaxy shaped like a flattened ball - containing only old stars






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






42. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






43. A faint star of enormous density






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






45. A telescope that uses a curved mirror to collect and focus light






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






47. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






49. Influenced by Copernicus; Built observatory and collected data on the locations of stars and planets for over 20 years






50. A telescope that uses a curved mirror to collect and focus light