NASA's Solar System Explorer

Reviewed by Editorial Team
The ProProfs editorial team is comprised of experienced subject matter experts. They've collectively created over 10,000 quizzes and lessons, serving over 100 million users. Our team includes in-house content moderators and subject matter experts, as well as a global network of rigorously trained contributors. All adhere to our comprehensive editorial guidelines, ensuring the delivery of high-quality content.
Learn about Our Editorial Process
| By Marshallje
M
Marshallje
Community Contributor
Quizzes Created: 22 | Total Attempts: 13,025
| Attempts: 273
Quiz Flashcard
SettingsSettings
Please wait...
  • 1/30 Questions

    VENUS Venus's atmosphere is made mostly of ____________________  _____________________ , which traps heat like a greenhouse.

Please wait...
NASA
About This Quiz

Explore the wonders of our solar system with NASA's Solar System Explorer quiz. This quiz tests your knowledge on various celestial bodies, including the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and the Moon, focusing on their unique characteristics and phenomena.

Quiz Preview

  • 2. 

    MOON The moon orbits the Earth once every ________________________ days or so.

    Explanation
    The moon orbits the Earth once every 28 days or so. This is the average length of its lunar cycle, known as a synodic month. During this time, the moon completes a full cycle of phases, going from new moon to full moon and back again.

    Rate this question:

  • 3. 

    ASTEROID BELT Asteroids orbit between  Mars and ____________________________________ .

    Explanation
    Asteroids orbit between Mars and Jupiter.

    Rate this question:

  • 4. 

    SUN The sun has ___________ % of matter in the solar system.

    Explanation
    The correct answer is 99.85%. This means that the sun contains 99.85% of the matter in the solar system. This indicates that the sun is by far the largest and most massive object in our solar system, containing the majority of the mass and gravitational pull.

    Rate this question:

  • 5. 

    MERCURY The sun shines ______________ times brighter on Mercury than the Earth.

    Explanation
    The sun shines 11 times brighter on Mercury than the Earth because Mercury is much closer to the sun than Earth. The intensity of sunlight decreases with distance, so being closer to the sun means that Mercury receives more sunlight and appears brighter.

    Rate this question:

  • 6. 

    EARTH & MOON The moon's ___________________________  helps smooth out Earth's wobble on its axis.

    Explanation
    The moon's gravity helps smooth out Earth's wobble on its axis.

    Rate this question:

  • 7. 

    MARS Mars had lots of ________________________ at one time, and no one knows what happened to it.

    Explanation
    Mars had lots of water at one time, and no one knows what happened to it.

    Rate this question:

  • 8. 

    VESTA Vesta, a large asteroid,  may have had a ______________________ rock core at one time.

    Explanation
    Vesta, a large asteroid, may have had a liquid rock core at one time. This suggests that the asteroid was once molten, possibly due to the heat generated from its formation or from subsequent impacts. The presence of a liquid core could have influenced the geological processes and evolution of Vesta, including the formation of its surface features and the differentiation of its interior.

    Rate this question:

  • 9. 

    JUPITER Jupiter is the largest planet.  With its many moons and huge magnetic field, it's almost like a mini  ________________________  ________________________ .

    Explanation
    Jupiter is referred to as a mini solar system because it has many moons and a large magnetic field, similar to the characteristics of our solar system. Just like how our solar system consists of multiple planets and smaller celestial bodies orbiting around the sun, Jupiter has numerous moons orbiting around it. Additionally, its strong magnetic field resembles the sun's influence on the planets in our solar system. Therefore, Jupiter's resemblance to a mini solar system is due to its moons and magnetic field.

    Rate this question:

  • 10. 
    JUNO The __________________________ , solar powered spacecraft,  will orbit Jupiter 33 times to gather information about Jupiter?  - ProProfs

    JUNO The __________________________ , solar powered spacecraft,  will orbit Jupiter 33 times to gather information about Jupiter? 

    Explanation
    Juno is a solar powered spacecraft that will orbit Jupiter 33 times to gather information about the planet.

    Rate this question:

  • 11. 

    CALLISTO Callisto has more __________________________ than any other object in the solar system. 

    Explanation
    Callisto has more craters than any other object in the solar system. This means that it has experienced more impacts from asteroids and other celestial bodies over its lifetime compared to other objects. The high number of craters suggests that Callisto's surface is very old and has not been significantly modified by geological processes.

    Rate this question:

  • 12. 

    TITAN Titan has rivers of liquid ___________________ (the compound in natural gas). 

    Explanation
    Titan, one of Saturn's moons, is known to have rivers of liquid methane. Methane is a compound found in natural gas and is commonly known as a greenhouse gas on Earth. On Titan, the extremely cold temperatures allow methane to exist in its liquid form, creating rivers and lakes. This discovery has provided valuable insights into the unique geology and potential for life on this moon.

    Rate this question:

  • 13. 

    URANUS Methane makes Uranus look _____________________ (color).

    Explanation
    Methane in the atmosphere of Uranus absorbs red light and reflects blue light, giving the planet its distinct blue color. This is due to a process called Rayleigh scattering, where shorter wavelengths of light (such as blue) are scattered more easily by the molecules in the atmosphere. As a result, the blue light is scattered in all directions, making Uranus appear blue to observers on Earth.

    Rate this question:

  • 14. 

    COMETS A comets tail is made of __________________ _________________  .

    Explanation
    A comet's tail is made of water vapor. When a comet gets closer to the sun, the heat causes the frozen water on the comet to turn into gas, creating a glowing tail. This tail is composed of water vapor, along with other gases and dust particles that are released from the comet's nucleus. As the comet moves through space, the solar wind pushes the tail away from the sun, creating the characteristic curved shape.

    Rate this question:

  • 15. 

    EARTH Earth has a _______________________  ______________________  that protects the life forms on its surface from storms of particles from the sun.

    Explanation
    The Earth has a magnetic field that acts as a protective barrier against storms of particles from the sun. This magnetic field is generated by the movement of molten iron in the Earth's outer core. It extends from the Earth's interior into space and helps to deflect and trap charged particles, preventing them from reaching the surface. This magnetic field is essential for the survival of life forms on Earth as it shields the planet from harmful solar radiation and solar wind.

    Rate this question:

  • 16. 

    IO Io is an interesting moon.  It not only resembles a pizza, but its surface has active __________________________ .

    Explanation
    Io is described as an interesting moon because it not only resembles a pizza in shape, but it also has active volcanoes on its surface. This means that there are volcanic eruptions occurring on Io, which makes it a unique and fascinating celestial body.

    Rate this question:

  • 17. 

    ENCELADAS Enceladus shoots jets of ___________________  ______________________ .  MMmmmm…no wonder I'm so thirsty. 

    Explanation
    Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons, shoots jets of ice water and water ice into space. This phenomenon could explain why the person is feeling thirsty, as the mention of the jets of ice water and water ice suggests that there is a presence of water on Enceladus.

    Rate this question:

  • 18. 

    TRITON Triton orbits a(n) ______________________ direction that Neptune rotates.

    Explanation
    Triton orbits in the opposite direction to the rotation of Neptune.

    Rate this question:

  • 19. 

    CERES Ceres is an asteroid that is about _________________________ miles across.

    Explanation
    Ceres is an asteroid that is about 600 miles across.

    Rate this question:

  • 20. 

    EUROPA Scientists would like to study below Europa's icy surface.  They would like to examine the ___________________  _______________________ for signs of life.

    Explanation
    Scientists would like to study below Europa's icy surface to examine the liquid oceans for signs of life. This is because liquid water is a key ingredient for life as we know it. The presence of liquid oceans on Europa suggests the possibility of habitable conditions and the potential for the existence of microbial life or other forms of life. By studying the liquid oceans, scientists hope to gather evidence of any signs of life that may exist on Europa.

    Rate this question:

  • 21. 

    GANYMEDE Ganymede is larger than the planet  ___________________________ .

    Explanation
    Ganymede is larger than the planet Mercury.

    Rate this question:

  • 22. 

    NEPTUNE It takes Neptune __________________ Earth years to make one trip around the sun.

    Explanation
    Neptune takes 165 Earth years to make one trip around the sun. This means that it completes one orbit around the sun in the span of 165 Earth years.

    Rate this question:

  • 23. 

    CASINI The Cassini spacecraft, that orbits Saturn, launched the ________________ _____________ into Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

    Explanation
    The Cassini spacecraft, that orbits Saturn, launched the Huygens Probe into Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

    Rate this question:

  • 24. 

    ROSETTA RESEARCHER  Rosetta will reach comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko in _________________ (what year).

    Explanation
    In the given question, it is stated that Rosetta will reach comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The answer provided, 2014, indicates that the year in which Rosetta will reach the comet is 2014.

    Rate this question:

  • 25. 

    JUPITER Check all the information about Jupiter that is TRUE.

    • Jupiter has a think layer of ice that cover's the terrestrial core.

    • Jupiter has more mass than all the other planets combined.

    • Jupiter has 62 moons.

    • Jupiters Red Spot has been raging 300 years.

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Jupiter has more mass than all the other planets combined.
    A. Jupiter has 62 moons.
    A. Jupiters Red Spot has been raging 300 years.
    Explanation
    Remember--Jupiter is a gas giant.

    Rate this question:

  • 26. 

    THE ROSETTA COMET ENCOUNTER The Rosetta Probe is gathering data from the falling comets.  What types of data were collected? 

    • Temperature

    • Dust Pocket Map

    • Ice Pocket Map

    • Solar wind interactions

    • Carbon dioxide

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Temperature
    A. Dust Pocket Map
    A. Ice Pocket Map
    A. Solar wind interactions
    A. Carbon dioxide
    Explanation
    I hope you got them all!!!! Wooo Hoooooo

    Rate this question:

  • 27. 

    URANUS JOKES……VERY LAME, BUT MOST KIDS LOVE THEM. Just for fun…….not graded.  Thanks to scientist, Ben Dover for his discovery, we can all look up at URANUS now.URANUS is four times the size of Earth, larger than originally believed.Scientists had originally thought URANUS was 1.7 billion miles from Earth. This is wrong. It's closer that you think!There are no incidents of moons associated with URANUS. pHEW!!! That was a close one.I didn't think URANUS was the one with a big red spot.Do you know what happens when you ride a bicycle on a different planet? I was hoping you'd know because I saw some skid marks around URANUS.When earth's rotation causes us to face URANUS, I can only hope I'm upwind.What are those rings around URANUS?News Flash: The massive black hole located dead center of URANUS seems to be pulling the two moons right in.Don't look now, but there are rings around URANUS.The top religious and scientific figures are debating whether URANUS is holy or not.URANUS makes earth seem small.URANUS and it's moons are always visible to the naked eye.This morning, NASA released a news statement saying there will never be a mission to URANUS. It is far to dangerous, due in part, to the crushing gravity of the black hole located in the heart of it and it's crappy terrain.Due to the poisonous gases that exist, Man can not survive anywhere near URANUS.New scientific studies reveal that there are not five moons on URANUS, but only two, very large moons.Although URANUS is very far from earth, due to its large size there is no surprise it took man so little time to find it.When I go to see URANUS, will it be bright? Remind me to bring my blinders anyway.

    • Lame

    • Lame

    • Lame

    • Vey Lame

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Lame
    A. Lame
    A. Lame
    A. Vey Lame
    Explanation
    Love you guys! Ha Ha

    Rate this question:

  • 28. 

    CASSINI GAME How did  you like the Cassini Spacecraft game?

    • It's a shame. It was lame.

    • I couldn't score very high.

    • I am the Cassini Spacecraft Master…Bow to me!

    • It was O.K.

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. It's a shame. It was lame.
    A. I couldn't score very high.
    A. I am the Cassini Spacecraft Master…Bow to me!
    A. It was O.K.
    Explanation
    Learning can be fun.

    Rate this question:

  • 29. 

    SATURN Check all facts about Saturn that are TRUE.

    • Saturn is mostly hydrogen and helium gas.

    • Saturn has 62 moons.

    • Saturns rings are made of ionized calcium.

    • Saturn's rings are 175,000 miles wide.

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Saturn is mostly hydrogen and helium gas.
    A. Saturn has 62 moons.
    A. Saturns rings are made of ionized calcium.
    A. Saturn's rings are 175,000 miles wide.
  • 30. 
    JUNO GAME Juno is a cool BRAIN GAME.   What other game does the Juno game remind you of? - ProProfs

    JUNO GAME Juno is a cool BRAIN GAME.   What other game does the Juno game remind you of?

    • Simon

    • Brain Games

    • Bop It

    • A key chain my friend had.

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Simon
    A. Brain Games
    A. Bop It
    A. A key chain my friend had.
    Explanation
    I used to love playing these games. Hope you like it too!!!!!

    Rate this question:

Quiz Review Timeline (Updated): Mar 21, 2023 +

Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Mar 17, 2011
    Quiz Created by
    Marshallje
Back to Top Back to top
Advertisement
×

Wait!
Here's an interesting quiz for you.

We have other quizzes matching your interest.