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






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






3. 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






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






5. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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

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7. The motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone






8. 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






9. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






10. A system of galaxies containing from several to thousands of member galaxies






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






20. The motion of a spinning body (as a top) in which it wobbles so that the axis of rotation sweeps out a cone






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






22. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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






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






27. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






30. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






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






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






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






36. One of the small asteroid-like bodies that formed the building blocks of the planets






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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