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






2. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






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






8. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






25. A faint star of enormous density






26. The study of the universe






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






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






29. 23.5° - the reason we have seasons


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






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






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






33. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






34. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






49. 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






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