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. The most distant point in the orbit of the moon






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






3. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






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






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






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






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






10. 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






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






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






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






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






15. 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






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






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






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






19. A faint star of enormous density






20. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






23. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






25. A faint star of enormous density






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






27. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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






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






33. 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






34. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






35. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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






39. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






40. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






41. A faint star of enormous density






42. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






43. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






44. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






47. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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