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 faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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


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






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






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






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






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






11. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






19. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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






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






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


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






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






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






28. The spinning of Earth on its axis






29. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






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






33. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






36. Any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances






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






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






39. The spinning of Earth on its axis






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






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






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






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






44. A faint star of enormous density






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






46. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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