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. 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






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






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






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






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






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






7. 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






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






9. Galaxy with no particular shape - contains new & old stars






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






17. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






21. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






22. The study of the universe






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






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






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






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






27. 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






28. An elongated circle - or oval shape - the shape of the planets orbit






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






30. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






32. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






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






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






37. A very small star with low temperature - reddish in color






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






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






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






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






42. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






44. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






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






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






49. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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