Asteroid Trivia Quiz: Space Knowledge Test

1. The diameter of asteroid 2012 DA14 is closest to:

The length of an Olympic-size swimming pool

The depth of the deepest portion of the Mariana Trench

The length of the Statue of Liberty’s nose

Asteroid 2012 DA14 is nearly 150 feet in diameter, and the length of an Olympic-size swimming pool is about 164 feet. Meanwhile, the Mariana Trench hosts the deepest spot in the world’s oceans—it plunges approximately 6.8 miles. Lady Liberty’s nose is four-and-a-half feet long.

Explanation

Asteroid 2012 DA14 is nearly 150 feet in diameter, and the length of an Olympic-size swimming pool is about 164 feet. Meanwhile, the Mariana Trench hosts the deepest spot in the world’s oceans—it plunges approximately 6.8 miles. Lady Liberty’s nose is four-and-a-half feet long.

2. The mass of asteroid 2012 DA14 is most close to the mass of:

An African elephant

Two and a half ships the size of the RMS Titanic

The moon

Asteroid 2012 DA14 has a mass of around 130,000,000 kg, about 2.5 times that of the RMS Titanic, which had a mass of about 53,149,413 kg, according to the Titanic Artifact Exhibition.

African elephants are much smaller than 2012 DA14. According to the San Diego Zoo, the mass of an African Elephant is up to 6,800 kg. And the moon has a substantially larger mass than 2012 DA14—a whopping 73,476,730,924,573,500,000,000 kg.

Explanation

Asteroid 2012 DA14 has a mass of around 130,000,000 kg, about 2.5 times that of the RMS Titanic, which had a mass of about 53,149,413 kg, according to the Titanic Artifact Exhibition.

African elephants are much smaller than 2012 DA14. According to the San Diego Zoo, the mass of an African Elephant is up to 6,800 kg. And the moon has a substantially larger mass than 2012 DA14—a whopping 73,476,730,924,573,500,000,000 kg.

3. When asteroid 2012 DA14 is closest to the Earth's surface, it will be roughly as far away as:

The distance between the Earth and the Moon

Half the distance between the Earth and Venus at its closest approach

Three-quarters of the way around the Earth at the equator

Asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass about 17,200 miles above Earth’s surface, which is approximately 70% of the Earth's circumference of 24,873.6 miles.

The moon is an average of 238,855 miles from the Earth. Of the planets in our solar system, none come closer to Earth than Venus, which is about 23.7 million miles away at its nearest approach.

Explanation

Asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass about 17,200 miles above Earth’s surface, which is approximately 70% of the Earth's circumference of 24,873.6 miles.

The moon is an average of 238,855 miles from the Earth. Of the planets in our solar system, none come closer to Earth than Venus, which is about 23.7 million miles away at its nearest approach.

4. Duende was discovered on

24 January 2009

23 February 2012

29 December 2010

05 May 2012

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Explanation

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5. The close approach to Earth reduced the orbital period of Duende from_______days to________days.

352, 325

322,385

368, 317

321, 225

The correct answer is 368, 317. This suggests that the close approach to Earth caused a reduction in the orbital period of Duende from 368 days to 317 days. This implies that the gravitational interaction between Earth and Duende during the close approach caused a change in Duende's orbit, resulting in a shorter orbital period.

Explanation

The correct answer is 368, 317. This suggests that the close approach to Earth caused a reduction in the orbital period of Duende from 368 days to 317 days. This implies that the gravitational interaction between Earth and Duende during the close approach caused a change in Duende's orbit, resulting in a shorter orbital period.

Asteroid Trivia: Near-earth Object Facts