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Fascinating Astronomy 1 Trivia Quiz

This is Funtrivia's original astronomy quiz, created in early 2000. Please enjoy and good luck to you...the questions should not be that tough!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
122

Updated
Oct 12 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
15175

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 76 (4/10), Guest 96 (8/10), Guest 98 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who used a telescope to confirm the existence of the planet Neptune in 1846, after its position had been mathematically predicted by Le Verrier? Hint

William Herschel

Galileo Galilei

Edmond Halley

Johann Galle

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the name of the largest moon in our solar system? Hint

Titan

Earths moon

Triton

Ganymede

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the constellations represents a goat? Hint

Taurus

Cepheus

Capricornus

Mensa

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which object is a neutron star that emits pulses of radiation toward Earth as it spins? Hint

Pulsar

Nebula

Quasar

Black Hole

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which comet passed so close to Jupiter, in 1994, that it was broken into fragments by Jupiter's immense gravity? Hint

Halley's Comet

Hale-Bopp

Shoemaker-Levy

Encke's Comet

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Giotto space probe was launched in order to examine what type of space object? Hint

Asteroid

Solar Flare

Meteorite

Comet

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Question 7 of 10

7. Aside from the Sun, Sirius is the star with the brightest apparent magnitude, as seen from Earth. What is the third brightest star in apparent magnitude (after the Sun and Sirius)? Hint

Canopus

Betelgeuse

Alpha Centauri

Vega

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which planet has the largest volcano and largest valley in the solar system? Hint

Mars

Venus

Earth

Jupiter

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Question 9 of 10

9. What astronomer was the first to discover galaxies beyond the Milky Way? Hint

Edwin Hubble

Nicolaus Copernicus

Hans Lippershey

Giuseppe Piazzi

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following is NOT a type of galaxy? Hint

Elliptical

Nebular

Spiral

Irregular

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Nov 19 2024 : Guest 76: 4/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who used a telescope to confirm the existence of the planet Neptune in 1846, after its position had been mathematically predicted by Le Verrier?

Answer: Johann Galle

Neptune had been seen many times, including by Galileo, without being recognized as a planet. The German Johann Galle found Neptune in 1846, the second planet (after Uranus) to be discovered using a telescope. Urbain Le Verrier and, it is claimed, John Couch Adams, had separately calculated its likely position.

2. What is the name of the largest moon in our solar system?

Answer: Ganymede

Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system, with a diameter of 3,274 miles (5,269 kilometers). It has a larger diameter than either Mercury or Pluto.

3. Which of the constellations represents a goat?

Answer: Capricornus

Cepheus is a king, Mensa a table, and Taurus a bull.

4. Which object is a neutron star that emits pulses of radiation toward Earth as it spins?

Answer: Pulsar

A Pulsar gets its energy from rotation - it spins very, very rapidly.

5. Which comet passed so close to Jupiter, in 1994, that it was broken into fragments by Jupiter's immense gravity?

Answer: Shoemaker-Levy

In July of 1994, the fragments from the Shoemaker-Levy comet crashed into Jupiter, causing a series of huge explosions in Jupiter's atmosphere. The comet had just been discovered and named the year before by two astronomers named, go figure, Shoemaker and Levy!

6. The Giotto space probe was launched in order to examine what type of space object?

Answer: Comet

The Giotto sent back the first pictures of a comet's nucleus, in 1986. This probe was named for the artist who is said to have been the first modern Western painter...what a fitting name!

7. Aside from the Sun, Sirius is the star with the brightest apparent magnitude, as seen from Earth. What is the third brightest star in apparent magnitude (after the Sun and Sirius)?

Answer: Canopus

Sirius has an apparent magnitude of -1.6, Canopus -0.9, Alpha Centauri +0.1, Vega +0.1, and Betelgeuse +0.9. The negative values indicate that those stars are VERY bright, as seen from Earth. As can be imagined, the sun has a very high negative number...please don't attempt to observe it with your naked eye, or even with sunglasses on!

8. Which planet has the largest volcano and largest valley in the solar system?

Answer: Mars

The largest volcano in the solar system is called Olympus Mons. The largest valley is called Valis Marinaris. Both can be found on the planet Mars. Earthlings everywhere are very jealous...

9. What astronomer was the first to discover galaxies beyond the Milky Way?

Answer: Edwin Hubble

American astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that other galaxies exist beyond our own in 1924.

10. Which of the following is NOT a type of galaxy?

Answer: Nebular

The three types of galaxies are spiral, elliptical, and irregular. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is a spiral...and not a candy bar shaped galaxy as rumored!

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

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