Fractured Night Sky Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jupiter

Moving back from the sun, Jupiter is the fifth planet in our solar system. This gas giant, which is the largest planet in our system, is made up of hydrogen and helium. It is believed that its immense gravitational pull helps capture many comets which would otherwise create havoc on our planet.

However this theory is debated by some scientists who believe that Jupiter actually directs comets towards earth. What a lovely cheerful thought that is.

Answer: Comet

A comet is a small object, usually made out of ice and dust, that travels through space, leaving a visible trail behind it. This is caused by the comet passing close enough to the sun so that it transforms straight from its solid state into a gaseous one without transforming into liquid first.

This process is known as sublimation. Halley's Comet is probably the one most well known to the majority of people. It appears in our night skies every seventy-six years. If you're lucky you'll be able to see this event twice in your lifetime. Mention of this comet's appearance has been recorded by various civilisations as far back as 240 BC, but it was thought to be a different comet each time.

It is therefore named after the astronomer Edmund Halley, who, in 1705, proved that these periodic sightings in the night sky by a comet every seventy-six years were, in fact, the return of the same comet.

Interestingly, the great Isaac Newton had propounded this idea some eighteen years earlier, but failed to follow through on his theory.

Answer: Mercury

Mercury is the closest planet to the sun in our solar system. This planet, which has a cratered surface much like that of our moon, varies enormously in its daily temperature range. It averages a freezing 100 degrees Kelvin at nights, and up to a boiling 700 degrees Kelvin during the day.

Much of the enormous heat it produces during the day isn't retained on the surface of the planet because it lacks all but the weakest of atmospheres.

Answer: Meteor

Meteor is the term given to the path of a meteoroid which can be seen blazing its way down towards our planet. These lovely displays of flashing lights are commonly referred to by many as shooting stars, ones on which the dreamers among us are known to make wishes. Each poetical and beautiful shooting star, now scientifically and brisky classified as a no-nonsense meteor, usually disintegrates approximately fifty miles above the surface of our planet - along with our wishes.

Answer: Lightning

Of course lightning occurs during the day as well, but this is much harder to see with the naked eye. At night however, and during the beauty and power of a magnificent thunderstorm, these electrical pyrotechnic displays by Mother Nature are just breathtaking in their loveliness. On a more mundane level, lightning is scientifically described as a massive electrical discharge in the atmosphere.

It is caused by warm moisture in the air passing through electrically charged particles. It is good to know the cause of all these strange and beautiful occurrences in our night skies in order to remove the fear and negative superstition associated with them by some people.

The trouble is, however, that their poetry is unveiled as well, and that's a terrible loss to humanity.

Answer: Saturn

Moving away from the sun, Saturn is the sixth planet in our solar system. This gas giant is the second largest of our planets. It is believed to be comprised of iron, nickel, silicon compounds, and liquid hydrogen and helium. Surrounding the planet are nine main rings and three smaller ones, all comprised of various space rock and dust. Even more impressive with this mighty planet is that it has an astonishing sixty-two moons and hundreds of much smaller moonlets!

Answer: Flying Saucer

A flying saucer is another term for the many and varied unidentified flying objects that have been noted in our night sky since mankind first developed the means to make a record of same. Just as numerous are the explanations given for them: Hoaxes, cloud formations, undiscovered life forms lurking in our atmosphere, weather balloons, new military equipment, various other weather anomalies, aliens of course, mass hysteria, large birds, searchlights, mirages, flares and kites.

It's all a pile of rubbish...or is it?

Answer: Uranus

The seventh planet from the sun in our solar system, Uranus is frequently referred to as an ice giant by astronomers. It's comprised of hydrogen, helium, water, ammonia, methane, hydrocarbons, ice and rock. It's also the coldest plant in our system with temperatures descending to as low as 49 degrees Kelvin. For those of us who are more familiar with other temperature scales, that's approximately -225 degrees Celcius.

Answer: Cumulonimbus

Cumulonimbus clouds are huge, heaped up clouds which usually indicate that bad weather is on the way. Lightning very often accompanies them, and it's quite an awesome sight at night to see these dark and threatening giants of the sky lit from below by vivid flashes of light.

Answer: Aurora Borealis

Otherwise known as the northern lights, the aurora borealis is a stunningly beautiful display of light found in the skies over the Arctic region of our world. The equivalent display over Antarctica is called aurora australis. The effect is caused by charged particles colliding with atoms in the atmosphere.

It's incredible to see as it lights up the night skies with a swirling vivid display of colour, and one more reminder of how very precious and beautiful our planet really is. We should all work together to protect that wonder and beauty forever.