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






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






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






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






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






6. 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






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






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


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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






18. A large body in space that orbits a star and does not produce light of its own






19. A star that falls into the main sequence category on the H-are diagram






20. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






21. The brilliant explosion of a dying supergiant star






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






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






24. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






26. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






28. A star that falls into the main sequence category on the H-are diagram






29. Chunk of rock or dust in space






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






31. The rainbow effect when light is dispersed through lens






32. A rapidly spinning neutron star that produces radio waves






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






41. The brightness of a star when viewed from Earth






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






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






44. 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






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






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






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






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






49. 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.






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