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. Change in the apparent frequency of a wave as observer and source move toward or away from each other






2. Spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a self-luminous source






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






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






5. Point in orbit that is closest to the sun - planet moves faster






6. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






7. A system of galaxies containing from several to thousands of member galaxies






8. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






11. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






13. A model of the universe based on the assumption that the sun - moon - and planets all orbit Earth






14. A measure of the amount of light that a star actually emits






15. Planet with a solid - rocky crust; more dense; Inner planet. Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars






16. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






18. 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






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






20. A model of the solar system in which Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun






21. A measure of the amount of light that a star actually emits






22. Italian astronomer - mathematician - and physicist. His telescopes proved the sun is the center of the solar system and that the planets/moon move. He was persecuted for supporting Copernicus' ideas.






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






24. 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






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






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






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






28. The study of the universe






29. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






32. Polish astronomer who produced a workable model of the solar system with the sun in the center (1473-1543)






33. Spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a self-luminous source






34. Stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surface






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






36. The two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun






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






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






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






40. Stony or metallic object that is the remains of a meteoroid that has reached the earth's surface






41. A faint star of enormous density






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






43. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






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






47. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






48. Polish astronomer who produced a workable model of the solar system with the sun in the center (1473-1543)






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






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