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






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






3. A model of the solar system in which Earth and the other planets revolve around the sun






4. 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






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






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






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






8. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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






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






13. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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






18. The study of the universe






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


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






21. 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.






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






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






24. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






27. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






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






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






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






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






34. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






35. The study of the universe






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






37. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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


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






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






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






48. 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






49. Any natural satellite of a planet






50. 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