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






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






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






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






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






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






7. 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






8. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






10. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






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






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






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






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






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






17. 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.






18. The apparent change in position of an object when seen from different places






19. A faint star of enormous density






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






21. 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






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






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






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






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






26. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. Any natural satellite of a planet






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






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






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






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






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






39. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






40. A graph relating the temperature and brightness of stars






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






42. All of the frequencies or wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation






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






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






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


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






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






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






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






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