Astronomy Quiz

Which of the following features are found in the Orion constellation? Tick any that apply.

• Betelgeuse
• Rigel
• Saiph
• Sirius
• Lyra

Which direction would you find Orion on an early Winter evening?

• South East
• North
• North East
• East
• South

Which of the following describes the depiction of a meteor?

• A suddenly bright star
• A bright, moving star with a long trail
• A moving star with red and green lights
• A streak of light across the sky

Formalhaut is found using which common asterism?

• Orion
• Cygnus
• Square of Pegasus
• Southern Cross
• Canis Major

Which group of planets are closer to the sun?

• Inferior planets

• Superior planets

• Solar system planets

Sometimes planets such as Mars appear to stray from their usual path. This is known as what?

• Epicycles

• Procession

• Retrograde motion

• Epistemological movement

Retrograde is what motion?

• L’opposition

• Looping across the sky

• Going back on itself

• Stopping and starting repeatedly

What is opposition?

• When a meteor passes through earth’s orbit

• When the Earth comes between the sun and another planet

• When the moon passes between the Earth and the sun

• When an object passes on the other side of Earth

What causes meteor showers?

• The debris from comets

• Planets getting to close to each other

• Coincidence

• Meteors getting to close to the sun

What is the radiant?

• A star cluster

• The centre of a circle

• The path a meteor takes in the sky

• The midpoint of a meteor shower