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






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






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






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






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






6. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






17. 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






18. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






19. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






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






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






25. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






28. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






31. Planets with low densities and are huge gas giants. Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune






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






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






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






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






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






37. Light distance travels in one year (9.5 trillion km)






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






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






40. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






42. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






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






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






47. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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


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






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