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The New Earth - Gliese 581c Trivia Quiz

An earth-like planet was discovered. How much do you know about it?

A multiple-choice quiz by Boneseh. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Boneseh

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
259,955

Updated
Jan 31 25

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1221

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the name of the star that Gliese 581c orbits? Hint

Gliese 581a

Gliese 581

Gliese 581s

Antares

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Question 2 of 10

2. Gliese 581c was discovered by astronomers located where? Hint

La Silla in the Chilean Andes

La Chaise in France

The European Southern Observatory in Germany

The Tower in Oxford, England

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Question 3 of 10

3. Gliese 581c was identified only two years after the discovery of the main star.

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. How was Gliese 581c detected? Hint

Pulsar timing

Gravitational microlensing

Transit method

Radial velocity

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Question 5 of 10

5. How was Gliese 581c discovered? Hint

An anonymous tip

A wobble in the star Gliese 581

An astronomer thought it was a meteor

A star exploded and lit up the planet

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Question 6 of 10

6. Gliese 581c orbits its star in 13 days. Why is it thought that it can sustain life?
Hint

Gliese 581c always faces the same side of the sun, just like the moon

Gliese 581 (the star) is 50 times cooler than our sun.

Gliese 581c is six million miles from its sun

All of these

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Question 7 of 10

7. What type of star is Gliese 581c's sun? Hint

White dwarf

Red dwarf

Supernova

Red supergiant

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Question 8 of 10

8. The sun is so close that it would appear as a giant red ball from the surface of Gliese 581c.

True

False

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Question 9 of 10

9. Gliese 581c can be found in which constellation? Hint

Ursa Major

Scorpius

Ursa Minor

Libra

10. The odds on proving that there is extraterrestrial intelligence improved to 100-1 according to the second largest United Kingdom bookmaker who offers telephone and internet betting. Who is this well-known bookmaker? Hint

William Hill

Bloomsbury

Procter & Gamble

Richard Booth

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the name of the star that Gliese 581c orbits?

Answer: Gliese 581

The planets orbiting Gliese 581 are Gliese 581b, Gliese 581c, and Gliese 581d. There is no Gliese 581a so there is no confusion with the star itself.

2. Gliese 581c was discovered by astronomers located where?

Answer: La Silla in the Chilean Andes

A team of European astronomers discovered Gliese 581c. This discovery slashes the odds of alien existence. Gliese 581 is very faint, and Gliese 581c had not been noticed previously due to the lack of available technology with telescopes.

3. Gliese 581c was identified only two years after the discovery of the main star.

Answer: False

Gliese 581 was mentioned as long ago as 1886, while the planets surrounding it were found much later when improved technology became available.

4. How was Gliese 581c detected?

Answer: Radial velocity

The radial velocity method measures the star's own orbit to determine how many planets should be orbiting around it according to their gravity. Gliese 581c is about 15 times closer to its star than the Earth is to the Sun.

5. How was Gliese 581c discovered?

Answer: A wobble in the star Gliese 581

Gliese 581, the star that Gliese 581c orbits, had a slight wobble to it, indicating that there were planets orbiting it. Gliese 581b had been discovered years prior to the discovery of Gliese 581c, but was not big enough to cause the wobble the star was experiencing. Astronomers knew that there must have been at least one more planet, and upon the latest search they discovered Gliese 581c.

6. Gliese 581c orbits its star in 13 days. Why is it thought that it can sustain life?

Answer: All of these

Gliese 581 (the star) is 50 times cooler than our sun, but ten times the size. Therefore, Gliese 581c can be much closer to its star and maintain earth-like temperatures between 0-40 Celsius (32-102 Fahrenheit). Gliese 581c is only six million miles from its sun, while our Sun is 93 million miles away from Earth.

7. What type of star is Gliese 581c's sun?

Answer: Red dwarf

Red dwarfs are much cooler and smaller than other stars. They also burn their hydrogen at a slow rate, meaning they can last for billions, and even trillions of years!

8. The sun is so close that it would appear as a giant red ball from the surface of Gliese 581c.

Answer: True

Not only should you be able to see Gliese 581, but you should also be able to faintly see Gliese 581b during the daytime. Gliese 581c is the perfect distance from the star, not too close, not too far. At this distance it could keep water from freezing or vaporizing.

9. Gliese 581c can be found in which constellation?

Answer: Libra

Libra lies to the east of the constellation Virgo, and to the west of Scorpius. It has two bright stars, and the four brightest form a rectangle.

Answer: William Hill

Before the discovery of Gliese 581c the odds were 1000-1. Due to Gliese 581c being so close to the sun, any life there would have to cope with higher levels of solar radiation than on Earth. Improving the chances for life on Gliese 581c is that its sun is one of the oldest in the galaxy, and is extremely stable, allowing for billions of years for evolution.

Source: Author Boneseh

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