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 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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

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14. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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






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






20. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






29. 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






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






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






32. The study of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. Any of numerous small celestial bodies composed of rock and metal that move around the sun (mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter)






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






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






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






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






47. 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






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






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






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