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






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






3. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






11. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






19. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






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






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






25. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






26. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






35. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






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






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






40. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






42. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






45. The comet discovered in 1705 that repeats itself every 76 years and last appeared in 1986.


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






47. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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