Sky Science Grade 6 Quiz

Explanation
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon aligns itself between the Earth and the sun, causing the moon to cast a shadow on the Earth's surface. This alignment blocks the sunlight from reaching certain parts of the Earth, resulting in a temporary darkening of the sky. This phenomenon can only occur during a new moon phase when the moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the sun.

Explanation
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves behind the Earth, causing the Earth to cast a shadow on the moon. This happens when the Earth is positioned between the sun and the moon, blocking the sunlight from reaching the moon. As a result, the moon appears to darken or take on a reddish hue during a lunar eclipse.

Explanation
There are 8 moon phases. The moon goes through a complete cycle, known as a lunar month, which takes approximately 29.5 days. During this cycle, the moon goes through different phases, including the new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. Each phase represents a different amount of the moon's illuminated surface that is visible from Earth. Therefore, the correct answer is 8.

Explanation
There are eight planets in our solar system. These planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto, which was previously considered the ninth planet, was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.

Explanation
The core is the hottest part of the sun. It is the central region where nuclear fusion occurs, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing a tremendous amount of energy in the process. The temperature in the core can reach millions of degrees Celsius, making it the hottest part of the sun.

Explanation
Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. It is located just 36 million miles away from the sun, making it the closest planet in our solar system. Its close proximity to the sun means that it experiences extreme temperatures, with the surface reaching up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and dropping to -290 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Mercury is also the smallest planet in our solar system and has a very thin atmosphere.

Explanation
Neptune is the farthest planet from the sun in our solar system. It is located about 2.7 billion miles away from the sun, making it the most distant planet. It takes Neptune approximately 165 Earth years to complete one orbit around the sun.

Explanation
The sun is indeed a star. It is a massive ball of hot, glowing gas that emits light and heat due to nuclear reactions happening at its core. It belongs to the star category known as G-type main-sequence stars, or more commonly referred to as yellow dwarfs. The sun is relatively close to Earth, which makes it appear larger and brighter than other stars in the night sky. However, in terms of its fundamental nature and characteristics, the sun shares many similarities with other stars in the universe.

Explanation
The answer is false because Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the definition of a planet and Pluto did not meet the new criteria. It is now considered a dwarf planet.

Explanation
Alpha Centauri is the nearest star to our solar system. It is a triple star system located about 4.37 light-years away from Earth. It consists of three stars: Alpha Centauri A, Alpha Centauri B, and Proxima Centauri. Proxima Centauri is the closest of the three stars and is the closest known star to our solar system. It is located about 4.24 light-years away from Earth.