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. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






3. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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


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






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






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






10. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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


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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






21. 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






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






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






24. 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






25. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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






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






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






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






32. 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






33. A faint star of enormous density






34. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






47. Every object in the universe was attracted to every other object w/ a force that is directly proportional to the masses and proportional to distance between them






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






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






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