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. 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. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






11. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






21. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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


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






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






28. A star that falls into the main sequence category on the H-are diagram






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


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






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






32. The blocking of sunlight to the moon that occurs when Earth is directly between the sun and the moon






33. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






36. Planet with a solid - rocky crust; more dense; Inner planet. Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars






37. Chunk of rock or dust in space






38. Large group of stars - dust - and gas held together by gravity; can be elliptical - spiral - or irregular






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






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






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






42. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






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






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






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






49. 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






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