Measuring Distance in Space

Which unit of measurement is used to measure distances within our solar system?

• inches

• kilometers

• miles

• Astronomical units

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The distance light can travel in one year is ______________

• 15,000 kilometers

• 1 light-year

• 15 Astronomical Units

• 6,000 miles

What unit of measurement is used to calculate distance in our universe?

• astronomical units

• kilometers

• light years

• parsecs

What is a light year?

• It is the LUMINOSITY of the Sun compared to other stars.

• Like a regular year, only with less calories.

• It is the DISTANCE light travels in one year.

• It is the TIME it takes light from the Sun to get to the Earth.

Astronomers use the light-year to describe the relationship between objects in space. For example, the Andromeda galaxy is 2.5 million ly from Earth. Which of the following units is most similar to the light-year?

• gram

• second

• kilometer

• degrees Celsius

A light-year (ly) is the distance that light travels in one year. If a star is 3 ly from Earth, how long does it take light from that star to reach Earth?

• 3 min

• 3 h

• 3 y

• 3 ly

The sun is much larger than the moon. However, as viewed from Earth, the sun and moon appear to be the same size. Why do the sun and moon appear to be the same size when viewed from Earth?

• The moon is much hotter than the sun.

• The moon is much denser than the sun.

• The moon is much brighter than the sun.

• The moon is much closer to Earth than the sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which object is closest to Earth?

• Barnard’s Star

• Planet Neptune

• Andromeda galaxy

• Triangulum galaxy

An Astronomical Unit is the average distance between

• the Earth and the Moon.

• the Earth and the Sun.

• the Moon and the Sun.

• the Earth and Jupiter.

How many kilometers are in an Astronomical unit?

• 149,597,870.7 km

• 419,597,870.7 km

• 194,597,870.7 km

• 48,597,870.7 km

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3