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 brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






2. The name of our galaxy - a spiral galaxy that contains about 400 billion stars






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






10. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






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






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






16. 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






17. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






22. 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






23. The name of our galaxy - a spiral galaxy that contains about 400 billion stars






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






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






26. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. The spinning of Earth on its axis






35. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






39. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






41. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






43. 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






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






45. A faint star of enormous density






46. Any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances






47. 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






48. Any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere






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


50. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons