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






2. A star that ejects some of its material in the form of a cloud and become more luminous in the process






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






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






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






6. 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.






7. 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






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






9. A measure of the amount of light that a star actually emits






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






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






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






13. A group of stars that form a pattern in the sky






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






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






16. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






25. The study of the universe






26. Radiation left over from the beginning of the universe






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






28. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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






33. The study of the universe






34. Explained movement of planets with retrograde motion






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






46. A faint star of enormous density






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






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






49. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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