Asteroids, Comets, and Cosmic Impacts Quiz

What event is believed to have caused the extinction of megafauna 12,900 years ago?

• Climate change

• Comet impacts

• Volcanic eruptions

• Human hunting

Which planet is NOT considered a terrestrial planet?

• Jupiter

• Earth

• Venus

• Mars

What is the main factor that influences the organization of asteroids in the asteroid belt?

• Jupiter's gravitational pull

• The Sun's radiation

• The presence of comets

• The asteroid's size

What are the Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid belt associated with?

• The size of asteroids

• The distance from the Sun

• Orbital resonances with Jupiter

• The presence of comets

Where are Trojan asteroids located in relation to Jupiter?

• At the L4 and L5 Lagrange points

• In the asteroid belt

• Behind Saturn

• Directly in front of Jupiter

What is the primary composition of objects in the Kuiper belt?

• Ice and frozen gases

• Rock and metal

• Hydrogen and helium

• Liquid water

Which dwarf planet is known for its fast rotation and egg shape?

• Pluto

• Haumea

• Makemake

• Eris

What happens to a comet as it approaches the Sun?

• It becomes a planet

• It loses its tail

• It gains mass

• It vaporizes some of its material

What was the significance of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's collision with Jupiter?

• It caused a solar eclipse

• It increased Jupiter's mass

• It demonstrated the potential danger of cosmic collisions

• It created new moons for Jupiter

What is the purpose of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office?

• To explore new planets

• To study the Sun's activity

• To address the Near-Earth Object impact hazard

• To monitor space weather