Do You Know About Astronomy?

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  • 1/15 Questions

    Which planet in our solar system has the highest average surface temperature?

    • Mercury
    • Mars
    • Earth
    • Venus
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About This Quiz

How well do you know Astronomy? Let’s find out

Astronomy Quizzes & Trivia

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  • 2. 

    Where is the Sun plotted on the Hertzprung-Russell diagram?

    • Main Sequence

    • Red Dwarf

    • Red Giant

    • White Dwarf

    Correct Answer
    A. Main Sequence
    Explanation
    The Sun is plotted on the Main Sequence of the Hertzprung-Russell diagram. The Main Sequence is a diagonal band that represents the majority of stars, including the Sun, in the diagram. It shows the relationship between a star's luminosity (brightness) and its surface temperature. The Sun falls within this band because it is a medium-sized, main sequence star, with a relatively stable fusion of hydrogen into helium occurring in its core.

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  • 3. 

    Who was the first woman in space?

    • Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova

    • Dr. Sally Ride

    • Ludmilla Kharishina Pushkin

    • Jackie Cochran

    Correct Answer
    A. Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova
    Explanation
    Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was the first woman in space. She made history on June 16, 1963, when she became the first woman to travel into space aboard the Vostok 6 spacecraft. This achievement was a significant milestone in space exploration and paved the way for future women astronauts.

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  • 4. 

    What kind of star system is Algol?

    • Quintuple Star System

    • Singular System

    • Binary Star System

    • Quadruple Star System

    Correct Answer
    A. Binary Star System
    Explanation
    Algol is classified as a binary star system because it consists of two stars that orbit around a common center of mass. These stars are named Algol A and Algol B. Algol is a well-known example of an eclipsing binary system, where the stars periodically eclipse each other from our viewpoint on Earth, causing variations in brightness. The name Algol itself means "demon star" in Arabic, reflecting the ancient belief that it was an evil, variable star.

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  • 5. 

    What constellation is the star Betelgeuse in?

    • Taurus

    • Orion

    • Medusa

    • Sagittarius

    Correct Answer
    A. Orion
    Explanation
    Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star located in the constellation of Orion. It is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is easily visible to the naked eye. Orion is a well-known constellation and is often referred to as "The Hunter" due to its distinctive shape resembling a hunter holding a bow and arrow. Therefore, the correct answer is Orion.

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  • 6. 

    How many days in a Mercurian year?

    • 88 Days

    • 105 Days

    • 220 Days

    • 73 Days

    Correct Answer
    A. 88 Days
    Explanation
    A Mercurian year refers to the time it takes for the planet Mercury to complete one orbit around the Sun. In this case, the correct answer is 88 days. This means that it takes approximately 88 Earth days for Mercury to complete one full revolution around the Sun. This is due to Mercury's close proximity to the Sun, resulting in a shorter orbital period compared to Earth.

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  • 7. 

    What is the name for the Sun's outer-most atmosphere?

    • Magnetosphere

    • Photosphere

    • Mesosphere

    • Corona

    Correct Answer
    A. Corona
    Explanation
    The Sun's outer-most atmosphere is called the corona. It is a region of plasma that surrounds the Sun and extends millions of kilometers into space. The corona is only visible during a total solar eclipse or with specialized telescopes that can block out the Sun's bright light. It is much hotter than the Sun's surface, with temperatures reaching millions of degrees Celsius. The corona is also responsible for the solar wind, a stream of charged particles that flows outwards from the Sun and affects the Earth's magnetosphere.

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  • 8. 

    What is the smallest constellation?

    • Crux

    • Ursa Minor

    • Cassiopeia

    • Kobe

    Correct Answer
    A. Crux
    Explanation
    Crux is the correct answer because it is the smallest constellation in terms of size. It is also known as the Southern Cross and is located in the southern hemisphere. Crux consists of only four main stars and is easily recognizable due to its distinctive cross shape. Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia are not the smallest constellations, and Kobe is not a constellation at all.

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  • 9. 

    Which star did the ancient Egyptians closely follow, for agricultural reasons?

    • The Planet Venus

    • Regulus

    • Sirius

    • Polaris

    Correct Answer
    A. Sirius
    Explanation
    The ancient Egyptians closely followed the star Sirius for agricultural reasons. Sirius, also known as the "Dog Star," was highly significant to the Egyptians as its rising coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River. This event marked the beginning of the agricultural season, as the floodwaters brought fertile soil and allowed for successful crop cultivation. The Egyptians believed that the appearance of Sirius in the sky was a sign of prosperity and abundance, making it an important celestial body to observe and follow.

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  • 10. 

    Who discovered the mathematical laws that govern the movements of the planets?

    • Nicholas Copernicus

    • Johannes Kepler

    • Joseph Mar

    • Albert Einstein

    Correct Answer
    A. Johannes Kepler
    Explanation
    Johannes Kepler discovered the mathematical laws that govern the movements of the planets. He is best known for his three laws of planetary motion, which describe the elliptical orbits of the planets around the sun. Kepler's laws revolutionized our understanding of planetary motion and laid the foundation for Isaac Newton's theory of universal gravitation. Kepler's discoveries were based on careful observations made by Tycho Brahe, and his work significantly advanced our knowledge of the solar system.

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  • 11. 

    Which planet was pummeled by pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy in 1994?

    • Saturn

    • Jupiter

    • Mars

    • Earth

    Correct Answer
    A. Jupiter
    Explanation
    In 1994, the planet Jupiter was pummeled by pieces of the comet Shoemaker-Levy. This event was significant because it was the first observed collision between two solar system objects. The fragments of the comet created massive explosions on Jupiter's surface, leaving dark scars that lasted for weeks. The impact provided valuable insights into the dynamics of planetary collisions and the composition of comets.

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  • 12. 

    Who was the chief designer of the Russian Space Program?

    • Alexi Shmedov

    • John Glenn

    • Yuri Gagarin

    • Sergi Korelov

    Correct Answer
    A. Sergi Korelov
    Explanation
    Sergi Korelov is the correct answer because he was the chief designer of the Russian Space Program. He played a crucial role in the development and success of the program, overseeing the design and construction of various spacecraft and launch vehicles. His contributions were instrumental in advancing Russia's space exploration efforts and achieving significant milestones, such as the launch of the first manned spacecraft, Vostok 1, with Yuri Gagarin onboard.

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  • 13. 

    Who was the commander of the first Skylab mission?

    • Pete Conrad

    • Alan Bean

    • Bill Pogue

    • Joe Kerwin

    Correct Answer
    A. Pete Conrad
    Explanation
    Pete Conrad was the commander of the first Skylab mission. This can be inferred from the information provided in the question.

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  • 14. 

    What is the "disk" that encircles a black hole called?

    • Gravity Solar Disk

    • A Solar Disk

    • Globular Cluster Disk

    • Accretion Disk

    Correct Answer
    A. Accretion Disk
    Explanation
    An accretion disk is the disk that forms around a black hole. It is composed of gas, dust, and other matter that is pulled towards the black hole by its strong gravitational force. As the matter falls into the disk, it spirals inward and heats up, emitting high levels of energy in the form of X-rays. This disk plays a crucial role in the process of accretion, where the black hole gains mass and energy from the surrounding matter. Accretion disks are also observed around other celestial objects, such as young stars and active galactic nuclei.

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  • 15. 

    What must a meteor do in order to become a meteorite?

    • Burn Up In The Earth's Atmosphere

    • Travel Through Space At 300,000 Mps

    • Explode In The Earth's Hydrosphere

    • Hit The Earth's Surface

    Correct Answer
    A. Hit The Earth's Surface
    Explanation
    A meteor becomes a meteorite when it successfully hits the Earth's surface. Meteors are small rocky or metallic objects that enter Earth's atmosphere from space. As they travel through the atmosphere, they experience intense heat and friction, causing them to burn up and create a bright streak of light known as a meteor. However, not all meteors survive this journey and disintegrate completely in the atmosphere. Only those that manage to reach the Earth's surface without completely vaporizing are considered meteorites.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 20, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Mar 14, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Alfredhook3

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