FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Interesting Planetary Data Trivia Quiz

Here is a rather tough quiz on planetary phenomena.

A multiple-choice quiz by almach. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
almach

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
49,146

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3694

Last 3 plays: davanvash (7/10), james1947 (10/10), stephedm (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Mercury is...(from the Earth)? Hint

not a planet

a superior planet

an inferior planet

a gas giant

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Mars is...(from the Earth)? Hint

a moon of Earth

an inferior Planet

a superior planet

not a planet

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. When a superior planet is on the far side of the Sun it is said to be at? Hint

Opposition

Conjunction

Quadrature

Western elongation

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What is opposition? Hint

The planet is on the same side of the Sun and closest to the Earth.

Has no meaning in Astronomy

The planet is on the opposite side of the Sun and farthest from the Earth.

The planet is at a right angle to the Sun from the Earth

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. All planets move at the same speed as they orbit the Sun.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. A planetary orbit is an ellipse.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Earth moves at the same speed along its orbit as it orbits the Sun.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Looking upon the North Pole of Earth, the planets move in a clockwise direction around the Sun.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What does the word planet mean? Hint

wanderer

traveler

no one knows

left over star material

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. When a superior planet's elongation angle is 90 degrees in relation to the Sun as viewed from the Earth, it is said to be at? Hint

Conjunction

Opposition

Quadrature

Elongation

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Nov 13 2024 : davanvash: 7/10
Oct 21 2024 : james1947: 10/10
Oct 21 2024 : stephedm: 10/10
Oct 10 2024 : imustac: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Mercury is...(from the Earth)?

Answer: an inferior planet

Only Mercury and Venus are inferior planets, in other words, they are closer to the Sun than the Earth.

2. Mars is...(from the Earth)?

Answer: a superior planet

Mars and all the outer planets are superior planets because they are farther from the Sun than the Earth.

3. When a superior planet is on the far side of the Sun it is said to be at?

Answer: Conjunction

A superior planet cannot be viewed from the Earth when it is at conjunction.

4. What is opposition?

Answer: The planet is on the same side of the Sun and closest to the Earth.

Opposition is usually the best time to observe the superior planets.

5. All planets move at the same speed as they orbit the Sun.

Answer: False

The closer the planet is to the Sun, the faster it moves.

6. A planetary orbit is an ellipse.

Answer: True

Kepler's first law of motion.

7. Earth moves at the same speed along its orbit as it orbits the Sun.

Answer: False

All planets move faster in their orbits when they are closer to the Sun and more slowly when farther away. Kepler's second law of motion.

8. Looking upon the North Pole of Earth, the planets move in a clockwise direction around the Sun.

Answer: False

All the planets move counterclockwise around the Sun.

9. What does the word planet mean?

Answer: wanderer

Since the planets wandered across the sky, and the stars remained 'fixed', the word wanderer was applied to the planets.

10. When a superior planet's elongation angle is 90 degrees in relation to the Sun as viewed from the Earth, it is said to be at?

Answer: Quadrature

Source: Author almach

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.