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Quiz about Paint a Picture In the Sky
Quiz about Paint a Picture In the Sky

Paint a Picture In the Sky Trivia Quiz


A quiz about constellations and the stars. Use the photo clues to help you answer the questions.

A photo quiz by kino76. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
kino76
Time
3 mins
Type
Photo Quiz
Quiz #
385,513
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Very Easy
Avg Score
9 / 10
Plays
895
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (7/10), Raven361 (4/10), Guest 74 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Asterisms are not constellations. They do occasionally occur in official constellations, like Orion's Belt in the Orion constellation. Which asterism forms part of the constellation Ursa Major? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The ninth largest constellation, containing two of the brightest known stars, also has the largest number of visible stars, a total of a hundred and one. What is it called? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. How many different recognised constellations are there in the early twenty-first century? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Often referred to as the thirteenth Zodiac constellation, Ophiuchus is represented as a man grasping an animal represented by which other constellation? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. It is impossible to see the constellation Ursa Minor in its entirety from the Southern Hemisphere because of one specific star found in the constellation. Which star is it?

Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The constellation Corvus contains a pair of colliding galaxies known as the Antennae Galaxies. By what other name are these galaxies known? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is part of which constellation? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. An annual meteor shower named the Quadrantids has a radiant occurring within which constellation? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. There is a nebula within the constellation Taurus, categorised as the remnant of a supernova containing a rapidly rotating pulsar. What is it named? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Out of all the recognised constellations, only one has a name that that can be used for both fauna and flora. Its name is Apus, but what does it mean? Hint



Most Recent Scores
Oct 20 2024 : Guest 1: 7/10
Sep 30 2024 : Raven361: 4/10
Sep 30 2024 : Guest 74: 10/10
Sep 28 2024 : Stonecreek: 10/10
Sep 14 2024 : Guest 24: 10/10
Sep 13 2024 : Jane57: 10/10
Sep 12 2024 : DotSnoopyFan: 10/10
Sep 12 2024 : bernie73: 10/10
Sep 07 2024 : ceetee: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Asterisms are not constellations. They do occasionally occur in official constellations, like Orion's Belt in the Orion constellation. Which asterism forms part of the constellation Ursa Major?

Answer: The Big Dipper

A pattern of stars recognisable in the night sky, but not an official constellation is referred to as an asterism. All the incorrect answer options are all asterisms occurring in the night sky. The Great Diamond comprises stars from the constellations Leo, Virgo, Canes Venatici and Boötes. Job's Coffin is made up of four stars in the Delphinus constellation.

The Keystone is an asterism making up the torso of the constellation Hercules.
2. The ninth largest constellation, containing two of the brightest known stars, also has the largest number of visible stars, a total of a hundred and one. What is it called?

Answer: Centaurus

Centaurus, not to be confused with the Zodiac constellation Sagittarius, is a large constellation found in the southern sky. It was originally listed by Ptolemy, a 2nd century astronomer. Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to Earth,as well as Beta Centauri the second brightest star is found in this constellation.

The brightest globular cluster visible from Earth, Omega Centauri, is contained here too.
3. How many different recognised constellations are there in the early twenty-first century?

Answer: Eighty-eight

The astronomer, Ptolemy, originally listed forty-eight constellations in the second century. The original constellations were discovered in the northern sky. As the southern hemisphere was explored, more constellations were proposed. In 1922, the International Astronomical Union adopted the list of eighty-eight constellations used today. Noted astronomers involved with constellation discovery and proposals were Petrus Plancius, Johannes Hevelius and Lacaille.
4. Often referred to as the thirteenth Zodiac constellation, Ophiuchus is represented as a man grasping an animal represented by which other constellation?

Answer: Serpens

Ophiuchus lies between Serpens, Aquila and Hercules. It is best seen in the summer in the Northern hemisphere, lying across from Orion in the night sky. Ophiuchus translates to "serpent bearer" from the original Greek. This constellation literally divides the constellation Serpens into two parts, although it is still counted as one whole constellation.
5. It is impossible to see the constellation Ursa Minor in its entirety from the Southern Hemisphere because of one specific star found in the constellation. Which star is it?

Answer: Polaris

Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Bear, is found in the northern sky. While all constellations can be seen in the night sky from both hemispheres depending on the season and time of year, Ursa Minor contains the star Polaris, also known as the North Star. Polaris cannot be seen from the Southern hemisphere at all.
6. The constellation Corvus contains a pair of colliding galaxies known as the Antennae Galaxies. By what other name are these galaxies known?

Answer: Ringtail Galaxies

William Herschel discovered these galaxies, also known as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, in 1785. As a result of the collision, two tails of stars, gas and dust are ejected which resemble the antennae of an insect. Due to these two long tails, they have also been nicknamed the Ringtail Galaxies. It has been suggested that our Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxy will undergo a similar fate.
7. The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is part of which constellation?

Answer: Canis Major

Sirius is actually a binary star system consisting of the brighter star Sirius A and a dimmer white dwarf companion star Sirius B. Sirius is also referred to as the Dog Star. It forms part of the constellation Canis Major. Canis Major (greater dog) and Canis Minor (lesser dog) are often represented as following Orion through the night sky.
8. An annual meteor shower named the Quadrantids has a radiant occurring within which constellation?

Answer: Boötes

The Quadrantids occur annually in January. Two other meteor showers are equally as predictable, the Geminids in December and the Perseids in August. The Quadrantids originate from a point within the constellation Boötes which lies close to the handle of the Big Dipper and radiate outwards.
9. There is a nebula within the constellation Taurus, categorised as the remnant of a supernova containing a rapidly rotating pulsar. What is it named?

Answer: Crab Nebula

Supernova remnants are the remains of a star that exploded in a supernova. A pulsar is a rotating neutron star which releases a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The Crab Nebula was first observed in 1840 by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse. Due to his drawing of the nebula resembling a crab, the nebula was so named.
10. Out of all the recognised constellations, only one has a name that that can be used for both fauna and flora. Its name is Apus, but what does it mean?

Answer: Bird of Paradise

The Apus constellation, found in the southern sky, was named for the bird not the flower. The Greek word Apus, means "without feet". It was once believed that the Bird-of-Paradise had no feet. Petrus Plancius, a Dutch astronomer, included Apus on a celestial globe in 1598.

The bird-of-paradise bird is commonly found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea as well as Australia. The bird-of-paradise flower is better known as a strelitzia and is native to South Africa.
Source: Author kino76

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