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Facts About Constellations Trivia Quiz

Do you know the largest constellation? The smallest? Then try this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by tralfaz. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
tralfaz

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
85,944

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
1511

Last 3 plays: angostura (15/15), Guest 72 (3/15), Guest 124 (9/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Which constellation does not have a star above the fifth magnitude? Hint

Caelum

Sextans

Horologium

Mensa

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Question 2 of 15

2. Argo Navis (The Ship) was the largest constellation before it was divided into 3 separate constellations. Which one is NOT one of those pieces? Hint

fore-deck

keel

poop-deck

sails

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Question 3 of 15

3. So what is now the largest constellation? Hint

Hydra

Draco

Cetus

Eridanus

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Question 4 of 15

4. And the smallest constellation? Hint

Circinus

Equuleus

Crux Australis

Sagitta

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Question 5 of 15

5. What constellation represents a unicorn?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 6 of 15

6. Fornax represents what? Hint

A mythological figure

Dame Fortune

A furnace

The wheel of fortune

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which constellation contains the star Cor Caroli? Hint

Canes Venatici

Scutum

Microscopium

Triangulum Australe

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Question 8 of 15

8. The two brightest stars in this constellation are named Svalocin & Rotanev. Hint

Sculptor

Delphinus

Ara

Vulpecula

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which constellation has two pieces Caput (The Head) and Cauda (The Body) separated by over 10 degrees? Hint

Serpens

Lynx

Lupus

Camelopardus

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Question 10 of 15

10. This constellation lost its third brightest star to Taurus. Hint

Auriga

Lepus

Dorado

Norma

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Question 11 of 15

11. Now for some history! How many constellations did Ptolemy list? Hint

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Question 12 of 15

12. What was the first constellation added to Ptolemy's list?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 13 of 15

13. Besides Ptolemy, who has had the most proposed constellations accepted? Hint

Hevelius

Johann Bode

Nicolas La Caille

Johann Bayer

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Question 14 of 15

14. What was the original name of Apus? Hint

Reticulum Rhomboidalis

Quadra Euclidis

Avis Indica

Pyxis Nautica

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Question 15 of 15

15. Final Question: How many official constellations are there?

Answer: (Answer is a number.)

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 16 2024 : angostura: 15/15
Nov 26 2024 : Guest 72: 3/15
Nov 25 2024 : Guest 124: 9/15
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 2: 9/15
Nov 11 2024 : spaismunky: 12/15
Nov 04 2024 : Guest 137: 9/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which constellation does not have a star above the fifth magnitude?

Answer: Mensa

Mensa (The Table) is the dimmest constellation.
Caelum (The Engaving Tool), Horologium (The Clock), and Sextans (The Sextant) each have 2 stars above the 5th magnitude.

2. Argo Navis (The Ship) was the largest constellation before it was divided into 3 separate constellations. Which one is NOT one of those pieces?

Answer: fore-deck

Argo Navis is now made up of Puppis, Vela, and Carina.

3. So what is now the largest constellation?

Answer: Hydra

Hydra (The Watersnake) covers 1303 square degrees.
Cetus (The Whale) is 1232 s.d.
Eridanus (The River) is 1138 s.d.
Draco (The Dragon) is 1083 s.d.

4. And the smallest constellation?

Answer: Crux Australis

Crux Australis (The Southern Cross) covers 68 square degrees.
Equuleus (The Foal) is 72 s.d.
Sagitta (The Arrow) is 80 s.d.
Circinus (The Compasses) is 93 s.d.
These are the only constellations under 100 square degrees.

5. What constellation represents a unicorn?

Answer: Monoceros

Monoceros is Greek for "one-horn"

6. Fornax represents what?

Answer: A furnace

7. Which constellation contains the star Cor Caroli?

Answer: Canes Venatici

This brightest star in Canes Venatici was named by Edmond Halley to honor King Charles I of England.

8. The two brightest stars in this constellation are named Svalocin & Rotanev.

Answer: Delphinus

They were named by Nicolaus Venator of course.

9. Which constellation has two pieces Caput (The Head) and Cauda (The Body) separated by over 10 degrees?

Answer: Serpens

It is any surprise that between the two parts of the snake is Orphiuchus (The Serpent Bearer).

10. This constellation lost its third brightest star to Taurus.

Answer: Auriga

Even though this constellation contains Capella, it gets no repect. The star Al Nath had its designation changed from Gamma Aurigae to Beta Tauri

11. Now for some history! How many constellations did Ptolemy list?

Answer: 48

21 Northern, 12 Zodiacal, 15 Southern

12. What was the first constellation added to Ptolemy's list?

Answer: Coma Berenices

By Tycho Brahe around 1590

13. Besides Ptolemy, who has had the most proposed constellations accepted?

Answer: Nicolas La Caille

In 1752, La Caille proposed 14 constellations and all were accepted.
In 1603, Bayer proposed 11 constellations and all were accepted.
In 1690, Hevelius proposed 11 constellations and 9 were accepted.
In 1775, Bode proposed 9 constellations and NONE were accepted.

14. What was the original name of Apus?

Answer: Avis Indica

Confusion between two constellations Avis Indica (The Bird of Paradise) and Apis (The Bee) led to the hybrid Apus which is still given the English translation "Bird of Paradise"
Quadra Euclidis (Euclid's Square) became Norma (The Ruler)
Pyxis Nautica (The Sailor's Compass) has been shortened to Pyxis
Reticulum Rhomboidalis (The Rhombodial Net) has been shortened to Reticulum

15. Final Question: How many official constellations are there?

Answer: 88

Source: Author tralfaz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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