Astronomy Concepts and Terminology

The sun is a _______.

• star
• planet
• satellite

As the earth rotates on its axis, the constellations and stars in them appear to _________.  

• move across the sky
• stand still in the sky
• move around each other
• rotate

What planet is 8th from the sun?

• Neptune

• Saturn

• Uranus

• Jupiter

What planet is 5th from the sun?

• Mars

• Planet X

• Saturn

• Jupiter

Which of the following best describes the solar system?

• nine planets and their moons revolving around the sun

• ten planets and other objects attracted by gravity to the sun

• eight planets, moons, asteroids, and comets revolving around the sun

• nine planets, including the earth, revolving around the moon

The Big Dipper is located in which constellation?

• Ursa Major

• Ursa Minor

• Orion

• Andromeda

What do comets, asteroids and meteors all have in common?

• They all are made of ice
• They all hit Earth's surface
• They all orbit the sun
• They have nothing in common

A constellation is a group of visible ____ that form a pattern when viewed from Earth.  

• planets
• stars
• patterns
• creatures

Huge glowing balls of gases made up of mostly hydrogen and helium are called ____________.

• hemisphere

• stars

• planets

• comets

What is the name of the closest planet to the sun?

• Venus

• Mars

• Earth

• Mercury