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






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






3. 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.






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






5. 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






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






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






8. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






10. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






11. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






30. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






33. 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






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






35. A shift toward the red end of the spectrum in the observed spectral lines of stars or galaxies showing objects are moving away and that the universe is expanding






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






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






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






50. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe