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






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






3. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






5. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






12. One of the small asteroid-like bodies that formed the building blocks of the planets






13. 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.






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






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






16. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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






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






21. 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






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






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






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






25. A faint star of enormous density






26. A faint star of enormous density






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






28. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






33. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






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






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






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

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






41. Varying amounts of the lighted moon as seen from earth






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






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






44. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






47. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






49. Varying amounts of the lighted moon as seen from earth






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