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






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






3. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






4. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






5. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






7. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






12. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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


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






28. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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


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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






49. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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