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






2. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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






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






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






8. 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






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






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






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


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






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






14. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






16. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






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






21. The study of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






38. One of the small asteroid-like bodies that formed the building blocks of the planets






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






40. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






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






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






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






45. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






48. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






50. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens