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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






18. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






20. Galaxy with no particular shape - contains new & old stars






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






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






23. The most distant point in the orbit of the moon






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






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






26. The study of the universe






27. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






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






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






33. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






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






39. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






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






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






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






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






46. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






47. 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.






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






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






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