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






2. 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






3. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






6. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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


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






9. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






13. The study of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






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






20. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






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






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






25. The two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. A contracting cloud of gas and dust with enough mass to form a star






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






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






36. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






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






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






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






43. 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






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






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






46. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






48. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






49. 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






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