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. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






11. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






14. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






23. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






25. 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






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






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






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






29. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






32. 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






33. 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.






34. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






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






40. A faint star of enormous density






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


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






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






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






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






46. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






47. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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