The Ultimate Astronomy Trivia Quiz

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Questions: 15 | Attempts: 239 | Updated: Mar 20, 2023

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The Ultimate Astronomy Trivia Quiz - Quiz

What do you know about astronomy? Could you pass this quiz? Astronomy is quite a fascinating subject. It is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry to explain their origin and evolution. Some examples of subjects of interest include planets, means, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Take this quiz and see if a passing grade is in the stars.

Questions and Answers

1.

On average how many miles is Pluto away from the Sun?
- A.
  
  27,000,000 Miles
- B.
  
  1,782,000,000 Miles
- C.
  
  3,666,000,000 Miles
- D.
  
  14,000,000,000 Miles
Correct Answer
C. 3,666,000,000 Miles

Explanation
Pluto is located at an average distance of 3,666,000,000 miles away from the Sun. This means that, on average, it is around 3.666 billion miles away from the Sun.

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1
0
2.

Who was the first man in space in 1961?
- A.
  
  Gagarin
- B.
  
  Shepard
- C.
  
  Glenn
- D.
  
  Armstrong
Correct Answer
A. Gagarin

Explanation
Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space in 1961. He became a Soviet cosmonaut and on April 12, 1961, he successfully completed a single orbit around the Earth aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. Gagarin's historic flight lasted for 108 minutes and marked a significant milestone in human space exploration.

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3.

How many astronauts walked on the moon before 1970?
- A.
  
  2
- B.
  
  12
- C.
  
  6
- D.
  
  4
Correct Answer
D. 4

Explanation
Before 1970, a total of four astronauts walked on the moon. The Apollo program, which started in 1961, successfully landed four missions on the moon between 1969 and 1972. The first manned moon landing was Apollo 11 in 1969, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first two astronauts to walk on the moon. They were followed by the Apollo 12 mission in the same year, where Charles Conrad and Alan Bean also walked on the moon. Therefore, the correct answer is 4.

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4.

What university did astronomy and space science theorist Carl Sagan teach at?
- A.
  
  Yale
- B.
  
  Cornell
- C.
  
  Stanford
- D.
  
  Harvard
Correct Answer
B. Cornell

Explanation
Carl Sagan, the astronomy and space science theorist, taught at Cornell University.

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5.

What is the sun mostly made up of?
- A.
  
  Helium
- B.
  
  Hydrogen
- C.
  
  Sulfur
- D.
  
  Oxygen
Correct Answer
B. Hydrogen

Explanation
The sun is mostly made up of hydrogen. This is supported by scientific research and observations. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and it is the primary fuel that powers the sun's nuclear fusion reactions. These reactions convert hydrogen into helium, releasing massive amounts of energy in the process. Other elements, such as helium, oxygen, and sulfur, are present in smaller quantities in the sun, but hydrogen is the dominant element by far.

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6.

How many Earth years does it take Mars to go around the Sun?
- A.
  
  1.2
- B.
  
  0.75
- C.
  
  1.88
- D.
  
  3
Correct Answer
C. 1.88

Explanation
Mars takes approximately 1.88 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun. This is because Mars has a longer orbital period than Earth, meaning it takes more time to complete a full revolution around the Sun. The other options, 1.2, 0.75, and 3, are not the correct answers as they do not accurately represent the orbital period of Mars.

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7.

Which planet in Earth's solar system has the largest diameter?
- A.
  
  Neptune
- B.
  
  Mercury
- C.
  
  Venus
- D.
  
  Jupiter
Correct Answer
D. Jupiter

Explanation
Jupiter is the correct answer because it has the largest diameter among all the planets in Earth's solar system. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a diameter of about 143,000 kilometers. It is more than 11 times the diameter of Earth and is known for its immense size and massive storms, including the famous Great Red Spot.

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8.

Which is the planet with the greatest average density?
- A.
  
  Mars
- B.
  
  Mercury
- C.
  
  Earth
- D.
  
  Venus
Correct Answer
C. Earth

Explanation
Earth has the greatest average density among the given options. Density is defined as the mass of an object divided by its volume. Earth's high density is primarily due to its iron-rich core, which is surrounded by a mantle and a crust. This composition gives Earth a dense and solid structure compared to the other planets. Mars, Mercury, and Venus have lower average densities compared to Earth, making Earth the correct answer.

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9.

Which planet is the impact crater named the "Caloris Basin" found?
- A.
  
  Venus
- B.
  
  Earth
- C.
  
  Mars
- D.
  
  Mercury
Correct Answer
D. Mercury

Explanation
The impact crater named the "Caloris Basin" is found on the planet Mercury. This large basin is one of the most prominent features on Mercury's surface and is believed to have been formed by a massive asteroid impact billions of years ago. The basin is named after the Latin word for "heat" because it is located near Mercury's equator and experiences extreme temperature variations.

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10.

How many times is Jupiter larger than Earth in diameter?
- A.
  
  50
- B.
  
  5
- C.
  
  4
- D.
  
  11
Correct Answer
D. 11

Explanation
Jupiter is approximately 11 times larger than Earth in diameter. This means that if you were to line up 11 Earths next to each other, their combined diameter would be equal to the diameter of Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and its size is one of its defining features.

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11.

Launched in 1995, what was the SOHO spacecraft designed to study?
- A.
  
  The Earth
- B.
  
  The Sun
- C.
  
  The Milky Way
- D.
  
  Saturn's Rings
Correct Answer
B. The Sun

Explanation
The SOHO spacecraft, launched in 1995, was designed to study the Sun.

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12.

Which college features the Dooley Planetarium?
- A.
  
  North Carolina-Pembroke University
- B.
  
  Francis Marion University
- C.
  
  Yale University
- D.
  
  Cal-Irvine University
Correct Answer
B. Francis Marion University

Explanation
The correct answer is Francis Marion University. This can be inferred from the given options, as the other three universities (North Carolina-Pembroke University, Yale University, and Cal-Irvine University) are not mentioned as having a planetarium.

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13.

On which college campus would you find the Hatter Planetarium?
- A.
  
  Gettysburg College
- B.
  
  Vassar College
- C.
  
  Stetson University
- D.
  
  Cascade College
Correct Answer
A. Gettysburg College

Explanation
The Hatter Planetarium can be found on the campus of Gettysburg College.

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14.

Which planet's orbit is the most circular?
- A.
  
  Venus
- B.
  
  Neptune
- C.
  
  Mercury
- D.
  
  Pluto
Correct Answer
A. Venus

Explanation
Venus has the most circular orbit among the given options. The eccentricity of an orbit determines how circular or elliptical it is, with a value of 0 representing a perfect circle. Venus has the lowest eccentricity of any planet in our solar system, making its orbit the closest to a perfect circle. This means that Venus maintains a relatively constant distance from the Sun throughout its orbit, resulting in a more circular path compared to the other planets listed.

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15.

The Great Red Spot of Jupiter is as wide as how many times as wide as Earth?
- A.
  
  8
- B.
  
  0.5
- C.
  
  2
- D.
  
  4
Correct Answer
C. 2

Explanation
The Great Red Spot of Jupiter is as wide as 2 times the width of Earth. This means that if we were to compare the diameter of the Great Red Spot to the diameter of Earth, the Great Red Spot would be twice as wide. This indicates that the Great Red Spot is a massive storm on Jupiter, much larger than any storm on Earth.

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The Ultimate Astronomy Trivia Quiz

On average how many miles is Pluto away from the Sun?

Who was the first man in space in 1961?

How many astronauts walked on the moon before 1970?

What university did astronomy and space science theorist Carl Sagan teach at?

What is the sun mostly made up of?

How many Earth years does it take Mars to go around the Sun?

Which planet in Earth's solar system has the largest diameter?

Which is the planet with the greatest average density?

Which planet is the impact crater named the "Caloris Basin" found?

How many times is Jupiter larger than Earth in diameter?

Launched in 1995, what was the SOHO spacecraft designed to study?

Which college features the Dooley Planetarium?

On which college campus would you find the Hatter Planetarium?

Which planet's orbit is the most circular?

The Great Red Spot of Jupiter is as wide as how many times as wide as Earth?