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


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






3. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






5. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






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






9. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






25. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






27. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






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






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






33. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






34. A faint star of enormous density






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






36. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






40. 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.






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






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






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






44. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






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






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






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






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