Test your basic knowledge |

DSST Astronomy 2

Subjects : dsst, 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. Closet star to earth - and is a glowing ball of gas made up of 3/4 hydrogen and 1/4 helium - Produces heat by fusion - provides the gravitational pull that keeps our solar system together






2. Imaginary sphere surrounding Earth on which celestial bodies are projected.






3. 1. Mass-Energy Equivalence (when a body has a mass it has a certain energy even if not moving); 2. General Relativity (gravitational attraction between masses is a result of the nearby masses. gravity has waves.)






4. The universe originated 13.7 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small mass of matter at extremely high density and temperature helium was present - universe is expanding and cooling






5. Only one side






6. Thick distribution of warm gas and stars around the galactic center.






7. Caused by the TILT of the Earth. - Summer = Northern hemisphere tilted closer to sun Winter = Northern hemisphere tilted farther from sun.






8. Two days of the year on which neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the sun






9. Possible since carbon based planets are common - especially on Mars and Alpha Centauri






10. Occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth and casts a shadow over part of Earth






11. Example of a natural satellite - Earth's natural satellite






12. Twice-yearly point at which the Sun reaches its greatest distance north or south of the equator






13. Alpha Centauri - 4.37 light years away OR Proxima Centauri - 4.24 light years away






14. Imaginary great circle on the surface of the earth passing through the north and south poles at right angles to the equator






15. A galaxy that does not fit into any other category;






16. Phase that occurs when all of the Moon's surface facing Earth reflects light.






17. Earth is the center of the universe. Aristotelian.






18. Jets of hot gas that extend from the Sun to around 20 -000 kilometers beyond the photosphere.






19. Galaxy with a bulge in the middle and arms that extend outward in a pinwheel pattern






20. 3 laws of Planetary Motion: 1. orbits are elliptical 2. Planets revolve at varying speeds 3. Planets revolve in proportion to distance from Sun


21. The phase of the Moon when a decreasing amount of the Moon's near side is sunlit






22. Apparent line in the distance where the sky meets the sea or land






23. Almost directly over the North Pole - and does not seem to move at all. If the star rises perpendicular to the horizon - the observer is standing on the equator






24. Apparent motion of the planets when they appear to move backwards (westward) with respect to the stars from the direction that they move ordinarily.






25. Remnant radiation from the big bang - which we detect using radio telescopes






26. Cooler and not as bright as the surrounding areas and that is caused by the sun's magnetic feild






27. How long does it take for Earth to orbit the sun?






28. Point above the observer that is directly opposite the nadir on the imaginary sphere against which celestial bodies appear to be projected






29. Dense - fusion takes place here (15 -000 -000K)






30. Highest tidal range that occurs to the alignment of Earth - the moon - and the sun - East West pull






31. The phase of the moon in which only a curved edge of the moon's side that faced earth is illuminated






32. A cycle of rise and drop in the ocean; caused be the gravitational pull of the Earth - Sun - and Moon.






33. Earth's average distance from the Sun - which is approximately 150 million kilometers.






34. The phase of the moon in which three-fourths of the moon's side that faces earth is illuminated






35. 4.5 billion years






36. Galaxy with a very bright center that contains little dust and gas and is spherical to disklike in shape






37. New moon - (waxing or waning) crescent moon - quarter moon - (waxing or waning) gibbous moon - and full moon






38. 23.56 hours






39. The Milky way observed through a cross section - Our solar system is 27 -000 light years away from the Galactic bulge






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






41. A twice-monthly tide of minimal range that occurs when the Sun - Moon - and Earth are at right angles to each other - thus decreasing the total tidal force exerted on Earth causes North South pull






42. 29.5 days






43. Bright regions seen in the solar chromosphere






44. When the Sun becomes a Red Giant - 10 billion years - Then a White Dwarf - aproximately 12 billion years






45. A gathering of roughly 30 Galaxies in which the Milky way belongs






46. Sudden - violent eruption of electrically charged atomic particles from the sun's surface






47. The phase of the Moon when an increasing amount of the Moon's near side is sunlit






48. Sky as seen from wherever you happen to be standing; appears to be hemisphere or dome; only half of celestial sphere


49. The sun and stars move across the sky because of this - the stars rotate around Polaris - the North Star and make a complete circle around Polaris.






50. Moon phase that occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun - at which point the Moon cannot be seen because its lighted half is facing the Sun and its dark side faces Earth