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. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






3. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






13. An immense cloud of gas (mainly hydrogen) and dust in interstellar space






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






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






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






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






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






19. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






20. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






21. The study of the universe






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






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






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






25. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






26. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






29. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






30. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






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






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






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






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






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






38. 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






39. The apparent change in position of an object when seen from different places






40. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






46. Remnant of a star that is so dense that nothing - not even light - can escape its gravity field






47. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






49. A spherical region of comets that surrounds the solar system






50. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion