Exoplanet Quiz

What is an exoplanet?

• A moon orbiting a star

• A planet outside our solar system

• A dwarf planet within our solar system

• A planet with extreme weather conditions

How many confirmed exoplanets have scientists discovered as of the latest count?

• Over 1,000

• Over 3,000

• Over 4,000

• Over 5,000

Which method is NOT commonly used to detect exoplanets?

• Transit method

• Radial velocity method

• Solar wind analysis

• Direct imaging

The transit method involves:

• Observing a star's brightness for periodic dimming

• Analyzing a star's spectrum for shifts in color

• Directly capturing images of exoplanets

• Measuring the gravitational influence of exoplanets on their host stars

What is the primary reason for the dimming of a star during the transit method?

• A decrease in the star's temperature

• The passing of an exoplanet in front of the star

• The star entering a phase of reduced luminosity

• The interference of cosmic dust in the line of sight

Which space telescope has been instrumental in discovering thousands of exoplanets through the transit method?

• Hubble Space Telescope

• Spitzer Space Telescope

• Kepler Space Telescope

• James Webb Space Telescope

What information does the radial velocity method provide about an exoplanet?

• Its size

• Its distance from the host star

• Its mass

• Its atmospheric composition

The term 'habitable zone' refers to:

• The region around a star where life is guaranteed to exist

• The distance from a star where liquid water could exist on the surface of an exoplanet

• A zone within an exoplanet's atmosphere suitable for human colonization

• The region where exoplanets are most likely to collide with each other

What is the main advantage of the direct imaging method in exoplanet detection?

• It can provide detailed information about an exoplanet's atmosphere

• It is the fastest method for discovering exoplanets

• It can detect smaller and cooler exoplanets

• It is not affected by the star's brightness variations

What is the primary goal of studying exoplanets?

• To find new homes for human colonization

• To understand the diversity of planetary systems

• To extract resources from distant planets

• To study the effects of space travel on living organisms