SSA Space Science Review

The points labeled on the chart below represent the approximate size of Earth, the Milky Way, the Moon, and the Sun. The approximate size of the Solar System is also shown.

Which point on the chart best represents the approximate size of the Sun?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Which star would appear the dimmest from Earth's surface?

• Star A

• Star B

• Star C

• Star D

Which of the following statements best relates a star's color to its surface temperature?

• A blue star has a relatively low temperature.

• A red star has a relatively high temperature.

• A blue-white star has a relatively low temperature.

• A yellow star has a relatively low temperature.

Which statement is true regarding measuring distances in space?

• An astronomical unit (AU) is larger than a light year.

• The time taken for light to travel through our Solar System is longer than that for light to travel through the Milky Way.

• The Earth is one astronomical unit (AU) from the Sun.

• All of the terrestrial planets are more than one astronomical unit (AU) from the Sun.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What is the name of our galaxy?

• Andromeda

• Milky Way

• Whirlpool

• Sombrero

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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

Gloria is at the observatory and is examining a newly discovered star through a powerful telescope. She wants to find out how bright the star actually is. What information does she need to calculate the absolute magnitude of a star?

• Color and temperature of the star

• Color and composition of the star

• Apparent magnitude and distance from Earth of the star

• Color and distance from Earth of the star

The diameter of Saturn is nearly ten times that of Earth. However, the density of Saturn is much less than that of Earth. What is the reason for this?

• Earth is father from the sun than Saturn.

• Saturn has a ring system.

• Earth is hotter than Saturn.

• Saturn is a gaseous planet.

Jill is creating a scale model of the Solar System. She uses a basketball to represent the Sun. Which of the following should she use to most accurately represent the size of Earth?

• Tennis ball

• Ping pong ball

• Marble

• Grain of sand

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

In 1995, the Hubble Space Telescope photographed a tiny spot in the sky for a period of ten days; 342 exposures were placed together to create an image known as the Hubble Deep Field. Although the sample is tiny, it is representative of the universe, which looks similar in all directions. The image below shows a collection of billions of stars. The Hubble Deep Field shows at least 3,000 groups of these stars.

• Moon

• Galaxy

• Universe

• Solar system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2