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






2. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






3. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






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






9. The study of the universe






10. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






19. The two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun






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






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






22. The spinning of Earth on its axis






23. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






27. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






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






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






32. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






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






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






38. Polish astronomer who produced a workable model of the solar system with the sun in the center (1473-1543)






39. 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






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






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






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






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






44. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






48. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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