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






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. Any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances






4. A galaxy shaped like a flattened ball - containing only old stars






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






6. 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.






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






8. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






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






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






14. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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






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






19. A faint star of enormous density






20. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






27. 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






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






29. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






32. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






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






38. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






40. Any natural satellite of a planet






41. 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






42. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






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






46. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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