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






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






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






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






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






6. A contracting cloud of gas and dust with enough mass to form a star






7. The study of the universe






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






9. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






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


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






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






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






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






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






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






19. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


20. A telescope that uses a curved mirror to collect and focus light






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






22. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






23. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






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






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






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






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






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






30. 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






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






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






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






34. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






35. A faint star of enormous density






36. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






38. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






41. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






45. Any natural satellite of a planet






46. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






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






49. 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






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