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Neptune, the Sea-king Star Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz on the gas planet Neptune. Sea-king Star is its Japanese name.

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

Author
jonthomas

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
358,353

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
243

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the first probe to explore Neptune? Hint

Pioneer 11

Voyager 2

Explorer 9

Journeyer 1

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is unique about Neptune's discovery compared to the discoveries of the planets found before it? Hint

It was the first planet to be discovered with a telescope

It was the first planet to be mistaken for a comet

It was the farthest planet that was discovered with the naked eye

Its existence and position were mathematically calculated

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was GDS-89 (in context of Neptune)? Hint

The official name of Neptune's Great Dark Spot

The code-name used to refer to Neptune before its naming

A mnemonic astronomers use to easily remember seasonal weather changes on Neptune

The name of a probe launched to Neptune in 2009

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the interior of Neptune (likely) mostly composed of? Hint

Ammonia

Methane

Hydrogen peroxide gases

Rock and ice

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Question 5 of 10

5. Neptune is smaller than Uranus, but it is actually more massive. Why is this? Hint

It has been hit by fewer comets

It is denser than Uranus

It is farther from the Sun, so it gets less heat

It has a more active atmosphere

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the name of Neptune's innermost ring? Hint

Galle

LeVerrier

Lassell

Arago

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Question 7 of 10

7. How long after the discovery of Neptune was its moon Triton discovered? Hint

8 months

11 years

17 days

67 years

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Question 8 of 10

8. Why is Neptune's atmosphere more active than that of Uranus? Hint

Higher internal temperature

Chaotic axial tilt

Faster rotation

Atmospheric composition

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Question 9 of 10

9. Neptune periodically loses and gains new Great Dark Spots. For about how much of its known existence has Neptune had a Great Dark Spot? Hint

Seven eighths

Half

One tenth

One twentieth

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Question 10 of 10

10. The Cassini space probe was a probe that orbited and studied the planet Saturn, however it was actually a redesign of another probe originally intended for Neptune. What was it called? Hint

Voyager 4

Neptune Explorer

Lassell

Mariner Mark II

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the first probe to explore Neptune?

Answer: Voyager 2

The probe made its closest approach to the planet on August 25, 1989. Against mission expectations, it failed to discover any moons.

2. What is unique about Neptune's discovery compared to the discoveries of the planets found before it?

Answer: Its existence and position were mathematically calculated

John Couch Adams and Urbain LeVerrier both noticed discrepancies with the recently discovered planet Uranus, and so surmised that another planet must be beyond it. Astoundingly, they were successfully able to predict its exact location within a reasonable degree of error.

3. What was GDS-89 (in context of Neptune)?

Answer: The official name of Neptune's Great Dark Spot

GDS, of course, stands for Great Dark Spot. 89 refers to the year it was first observed, 1989.

4. What is the interior of Neptune (likely) mostly composed of?

Answer: Rock and ice

It is widely believed that the same applies to Uranus, which is why it and Neptune are often referred to as ice giants rather than gas giants.

5. Neptune is smaller than Uranus, but it is actually more massive. Why is this?

Answer: It is denser than Uranus

Neptune is 18% more massive than Uranus. The latter is about 14 times as massive as Earth, while the former is over 17 time as massive.

6. What is the name of Neptune's innermost ring?

Answer: Galle

The rings of Neptune, which were the fourth such system to be discovered, are named after astronomers who discovered important traits of the planet. They were first detected in the 1960s, but were indisputably confirmed by Voyager 2's 1989 flyby.

7. How long after the discovery of Neptune was its moon Triton discovered?

Answer: 17 days

Triton is one of the largest known moons in the Solar System. It is thought to have once been a planet in its own right, but it was captured by Neptune's gravity.

8. Why is Neptune's atmosphere more active than that of Uranus?

Answer: Higher internal temperature

Due to the higher density of Neptune, this allows for a much hotter core, which in turn causes a more extreme atmosphere. However, as of at least the 1990s, Uranus began to exhibit more internal heating, resulting in its atmosphere becoming more active.

9. Neptune periodically loses and gains new Great Dark Spots. For about how much of its known existence has Neptune had a Great Dark Spot?

Answer: Half

Astronomers were surprised to find that the original Great Dark Spot had disappeared when Neptune was again observed by the Hubble Space Telescope almost ten years later, and also surprised to find that a new Dark Spot had formed in the early 2000s in Neptune's northern hemisphere.

10. The Cassini space probe was a probe that orbited and studied the planet Saturn, however it was actually a redesign of another probe originally intended for Neptune. What was it called?

Answer: Mariner Mark II

The mission was first envisioned by NASA in 1993, however it was cancelled in 1997 and replaced with the far less expensive Discovery program.

Source: Author jonthomas

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