Astronomy Quiz

What is an asteroid?

• A solid rocky and/or metallic body that independently orbits the Sun.

• A gaseous body that orbits the Earth.

• A liquid body found in the ocean.

• A type of star in the galaxy.

What does the Big Bang Theory state?

• All matter and energy started out concentrated in a small area and, after a gigantic explosion, began to organize into subatomic particles and atoms.

• The universe has always existed in its current form.

• The Earth is the center of the universe.

• Stars are formed from the collision of planets.

What is a celestial object?

• Any object outside or above Earth's atmosphere.

• A type of cloud in the sky.

• A mountain on Earth.

• A river flowing on the surface.

How is a comet often described?

• A snowball made from snow found along a road that has just been sanded—a dirty snowball.

• A fiery ball of gas in the sky.

• A large body of water in space.

• A metallic object that orbits the Sun.

What is the Doppler Effect?

• The shifting of wavelengths; shifted to either the blue end (shorter and coming toward us) or red end (longer and moving away from us).

• The bending of light as it passes through a prism.

• The reflection of sound waves off a surface.

• The absorption of light by a black hole.

What does the term "Eccentricity" refer to?

• The degree of brightness of a star

• The degree of flattening or "ovalness" of an ellipse

• The distance between two planets

• The speed of a comet

What is an "Impact Event"?

• A solar eclipse

• A collision of galaxies

• Gravitational forces causing comets, asteroids, and meteoroids to collide with planets

• The formation of a black hole

Which of the following describes a "Jovian Planet"?

• A planet with a solid surface and high density

• A planet close to the sun with a rocky surface

• A gaseous planet far from the sun with large diameters and low densities

• A planet with rings and no atmosphere

What is a "Meteor"?

• A large asteroid in space

• A comet with a visible tail

• The name for when meteoroids burn up or vaporize, leaving a brief visual streak in Earth's atmosphere

• A planet's satellite

What is a "Meteoroid"?

• A large planet orbiting the sun

• A very small solid fragment that orbits the Sun

• A type of comet

• A star in the early stages of formation