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. Any substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances






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






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






4. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






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






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






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






8. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






12. The theory that the universe originated 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small mass of matter at extremely high density and temperature






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






22. A very small star with low temperature - reddish in color






23. A region of the solar system that is just beyond the orbit of neptune and that contains small bodies made mostly of ice






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






25. A region of the solar system that is just beyond the orbit of neptune and that contains small bodies made mostly of ice






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






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






28. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






31. A galaxy with a bulge in the middle and arms that spiral outward in a pinwheel pattern






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






33. 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






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






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






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






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






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






39. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






40. The apparent westward motion of the planets with respect to the stars






41. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






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


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


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






47. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






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