1. Astronomy
Class Starters

2. The big dipper is part of what other constellation?
a. Ursa minor c. Ursula septoria
b. Cancer d. Ursa major
What part of the big dipper will point at the North Star?
a. The end of the handle c. The last two stars on the dipper
b. The first two stars on the dipper d. A line from the handle end to the
end of the dipper
If the Sun’s gravity on the Earth suddenly ended, what would the orbit of the Earth look like?
a. The Earth would fly away in a straight line tangent to the original orbit, and the Earth would slow down
b. The Earth would fly away in a straight line tangent to the original orbit, and the Earth would not change speed
c. The Earth would go away in an ever widening circle
d. The orbit would not change
1 millimeter is the same as what?
a. 1x103 meter c. 1x102 meter
b. 1x10-3 meter d. 1x10-2 meter
If the Sun “turned off” right now, when would be find out about it?
a. Immediately c. In 1.25 seconds
b. In 8.25 light-minutes d. In 8.25 minutes

3. What is a light-year?
a. The time it takes light to travel c. The distance light travels in a year
b. The distance from Earth to the Sun d. The time it takes light to travel from the Sun
What is an A.U.?
a. The distance from Earth to Sun c. ½ the diameter of Earth’s orbit
b. The radius of the Earth’s orbit d. All of the above
The Geographic North Pole on Earth corresponds to what part of the Celestial Sphere?
a. The Equator c. 90º West
b. 90º North d. 90º East
What is the approximate “tilt” of the Earth?
a. 10º c. 23º
b. 29º d. If the Earth tilts, why don’t I fall off my chair?
When is the Vernal Equinox?
a. December 22 c. September 23
b. June 21 d. March 21
Which is longer, the sidereal day, or the solar day?
a. Sidereal day c. Solar day
b. They are the same d. It depends upon the season

4. What is the actual name of the North Star
Arcturus c. Betelgeuse
Andromeda d. Polaris
When will the parallax be the greatest?
When an object is small c. When an object is near
When an object is far away d. When an object is big
What is the smallest part of a circle?
An hour c. A minute
A degree d. A second
When is the Autumnal equinox?
December 22 c. September 23
b. June 21 d. March 2
Which is shorter (by 4 minutes)?
Solar day c. Sidereal day
Astronomical day d. Venusian day
The Sun, the Moon and all of the planets will follow the same general path across the sky.
What is the name of the path that they all generally follow?
Celestial equator c. Solar equator
Planetary pathway d. Ecliptic

5. What is a light-year?
a. The time it takes light to travel c. The distance light travels in a year
b. The distance from Earth to the Sun d. The time it takes light to travel from the Sun
What is an A.U.?
a. The distance from Earth to Sun c. ½ the diameter of Earth’s orbit
b. The radius of the Earth’s orbit d. All of the above
What star does the big dipper point to?
a. Rigel c. Arcturus
b. Polaris d. Paris Hilton
Where is your zodiac sign?
a. Dawn on your birthday c. High in the night sky on your b-day
b. Behind the Sun on your b-day d. Dusk on your b-day
How long does it take for Earth to complete one “wobble” through the zodiac?
a. 5,000 years c. 25,000 years
b. 10,000 years d. 100,000 years

6. 1. Who interpreted Brahe's observations about the planets?
Newton c. Kepler
Aristotle d. Ptolemy
Who showed that epicycles are simply impossible?
Galileo Galilei c. Ptolemy
Kepler d. Isaac Newton
What causes seasons to change on Earth?
The changing size of our orbit c. The tilt of the Earth
The moon's shadow d. Solar output
What does heliocentric mean?
Sun-centered solar system c. Earth-centered solar system
A solar system dominated by epicycles d. A solar system with halo orbits
Who developed the theory of a Sun centered solar system?
Keller d. Nicholas Copernicus

7. 1. 1 millimeter is the same as what?
a. 1x103 meter c. 1x102 meter
b. 1x10-3 meter d. 1x10-2 meter
2. If the Sun “turned off” right now, when would be find out about it?
a. Immediately c. In 1.25 seconds
b. In 8.25 light-minutes d. In 8.25 minutes
Which orbit would be the “most elongated”, or the “most flattened circle”?
a. Eccentricity of c. Eccentricity of 1.00
b. Eccentricity of d. Eccentricity of .95
Where will the orbiting planet be traveling the fastest?
Earth's orbit is almost completely circular. Where are the two focal points of its orbit?
On either side of the sun c. The Sun, and by Mercury
One by Mercury, one just outside the Sun d. Both are in the Sun

8. A star coming towards a person at great speed will appear to be more
Red c. Blue
Unchanging d. Massive
The most energetic waves are
Ultraviolet c. Blue
X-ray d. Gamma
An object's sound changes to an observer, when the emitter is moving. What is this?
Coreolis effect c. Kelvin effect
Wingstrom effect d. Doppler effect
Rays that give a sunburn are
Infrared c. Gamma
Ultraviolet d. X-ray
What kind of electromagnetic radiation would have wavelengths as large as a mountain.
Gamma c. Radio
Visible d. Infrared

9. Which type of electromagnetic radiation is the fastest?
Gamma radiation c. Blue light
Red light d. All are the same
What is the speed of visible light?
3,000 meters per second c. 3,000,000 meters per second
3,000,000,000 meters per second d. 300,000,000 meters per second
Which type of radiation is the most penetrating?
Alpha c. Beta
Gamma d. All are the same
Which of these has the shortest wavelength (highest Hz)
Radio wave c. Blue visible light
Red visible light d. Gamma wave
What is the name of the particle that carries the electromagnetic spectrum (light).
Proton c. Positron
Photon d. Lightron

10. If an object is moving away, its pitch will be
Higher c. Lower
Slower d. Faster
If an object is moving towards you, it will appear
Faster c. Slower
Redder d. Bluer
When the sound of things change due to movement, it is the
Coreolis effect c. Doppler effect
Carson effect d. Darwin effect
Light can only go one speed, it is
3,000,000 meters per second c. 300,000,000 m/s
300,000 km/s d. All of the above

11. Who believed in epicycles?
Copernicus c. Keppler
Leviticus d. Ptolemy
What type of radiation is most penetrating?
Alpha c. Gamma
Beta d. Helium nuclei
The electromagnetic wave with the longest wavelength is what?
Radio c. Gamma
Visible d. Microwave
The Doppler effect is caused by what?
Movement of energy source c. Movement of receiver
Movement of energy source or receiver c. The “Doppler effect”?
What is the eccentricity of Earth’s (almost circular) orbit? c d
e. Can I take this in summer school?

12. A telescope that uses glass lenses to bend light is called what?
a. A reflecting scope b. A Kepler scope
c. A refracting scope d. A Dipper scope
A telescope that uses a mirror to reflect light is called what?
a. A reflecting scope b. A Doppler scope
c. A refracting scope d. A radio scope
The next “best scope” will be the
a. Hubble telescope b. Dragnet telescope
c. James Webb telescope d. Newtonian telescope
4. What is the eccentricity of Earth?
a. Near zero b. Near one
b. About d. Changes by seasons
Who thought that the orbits of the planets was dominated by epicycles?
a. Ptolemy b. Newton
c. Keppler d. Copernicus
What does “retrograde” mean?
a. Going backwards b. Going fast c. Going down d. Stopping e. Starting

13. How long is a Lunar day?
24 hours c. 27 days
30 days d. 365 days
About how big is the moon, as compared to Earth (diameter)?
1/10th the size c. 1/20th the size
1/2 the size d. 1/4th the size
What color is the sky on the moon?
Blue c. No color
Black d. Bright as stars
The dark parts of the moon are called what?
Highland c. Maria
Terrane d. Plains
The year we landed on the moon was?
c. 1972
d Yeah, we “landed” on the moon

14. How much higher are the “highlands” on the Moon, than the rest of the planet?
What are highlands c. About the same
About 500 meters d. 1 – 3 kilometers
Comparatively speaking, how big is the core of the Moon?
About average c. Pretty large
Small d. Same as Earth’s
The Earth is about 4.6 billion years old. How old is the Moon?
4.4 billion years old c million years old
4.6 billion years old d. No one has a clue
Compared to the “near side” of the Moon, the “far side” is
Cratered c. Smooth
Dark d. Covered in Maria
How many times did man land on the moon?
Five c. Six
Seven d. None, and I can prove it!!

15. What does “phase locked” mean?
Orbital periods are the same c. Same side always faces the orbited body
Planets start looking the same d. Tides disappear
Compared to the Earth, what is the mass of the moon?
1/4th c. ½
1/16th d. 1/64th
How long does it take for light to get to the moon and back?
1 second c. 2 seconds
5 seconds d. 67 seconds
What is another name for the moon?
Sol c. Dykstra
Luna d. Tsuuni
About what is the gravity on the moon, compared to Earth?
1/6th d. 1/64th

16. 1. Mercury has been geologically dead for about how long (in years)?
2. A series of cliffs on the surface of Mercury, that were formed after the end of the meteorite storms and after the geology has stopped, are called what?
Caloris highlands c. Scarps
Weird areas d. Entrapments
3. The “Weird Areas” were formed by
Geological activity c. Planetary shrinkage
Meteor impacts d. Lava erosion
The reason for the magnetic field around Mercury is what?
The partially molten core d. Rapid rotation of the planet
Leftover magnetized rocks e. IDK, but maybe “b” and “d
Really, you think I care?
The Iron core of Mercury is
Larger than Earth’s by percentage, smaller by size c. Larger than Earth’s by size and percentage
Smaller than Earth’s by percentage and size d. Smaller than Earth by percentage, larger by size
What does the planetary symbol of Mercury look like?
A satanic Venus (with horns) c. A satanic Earth (with horns)
A woman with a mirror d. A circle throwing a spear

17. 1. Venus’s atmosphere is made up mostly of?
a. Carbon trioxide c. Sulfur dioxide
b. Carbon dioxide d. Sulfuric acid
Lava domes are probably a result of ?
a. Magma plumes and volcanism c. Meteor impacts
b. Plate tectonics d. Core contraction
The “Continents” are named
a. Ishtar Terra and Diaphones c. Apollo and Nexus
b. Aphrodite and Ishtar Terra d. Firstus and Lastus
The reason the magnetic field is so weak may be either of these reasons.
Slow rotation and high surface temperature d. Carbon dioxide and water in atmosphere
A completely solidified core, and high air pressure e. Vesuvian rocks are non magnetic, and high heat
A lack of water and iron isotopes in crustal material?
Which of these statements is true?
The surface of Venus has volcanoes, but no plate tectonics c. Venus has volcanoes and plate tectonics
Venus has no volcanoes, nor plate tectonics d. Venus has plate tectonics but no volcanoes
What does the planetary symbol of Venus look like? (A B C D E and the moon)
A B C D E The Moon

18. 1. Mars is about how old?
4,500,000 years old c. 4,000,000,000
4,500,000,000 years old d. There is no way to tell
Mars's atmosphere is made up mostly of
Nitrogen c. Carbon dioxide
Sulfuric acid d. Oxygen
The air pressure on Mars is about what fraction of that on Earth?
1/100th c. 1/25th
1/1000th d. About the same
What is true about water on Mars?
There is a little bit of water on the surface c. There may be some in permafrost
There are significant amounts in the atmosphere d. There used to be huge, deep oceans
What is true about the density of the planet Mars?
It has about the same density of Earth c. It is less dense than Earth
It is slightly more dense than Earth d. Without actually going there, no one can really tell
Why do volcanoes grow so large on Mars?
The volcanoes are less dense c. There is less gravity
The air is much thinner d. There is no water for them to sink into

19. 1. Mars is about how old?
4,500,000 years old c. 4,000,000,000
4,500,000,000 years old d. There is no way to tell
Mars's atmosphere is made up mostly of
Nitrogen c. Carbon dioxide
Sulfuric acid d. Oxygen
The air pressure on Mars is about what fraction of that on Earth?
1/100th c. 1/25th
1/1000th d. About the same
What is true about water on Mars?
There is a little bit of water on the surface c. There may be some in permafrost
There are significant amounts in the atmosphere d. There used to be huge, deep oceans
What is true about the density of the planet Mars?
It has about the same density of Earth c. It is less dense than Earth
It is slightly more dense than Earth d. Without actually going there, no one can really tell
Why do volcanoes grow so large on Mars?
The volcanoes are less dense c. There is less gravity
The air is much thinner d. There is no water for them to sink into
The idea that life on Earth first started on Mars is called what?
Interstellar germination c. Grand spreadia
b. Panspermia d. Nuts

20. 1. Jupiter has
a. Dark zones and light belts c. Dark belts and light zones
b. Dark zones and dark belts d. Light zones and light belts
2. Jupiter was first seen clearly (and its moons) by
a. Brache c. Kepler
b. Galileo d. Newton
3. The four Galilean moons are
a. Luna, Io, Europa and Tital c. Io, Europa, Ganymede and Calisto
b. Titan, Europa, Ganymede and Germania d. Ganymede, Europa, Io and Titan
4. The strong magnetic field is caused by
a. A fast rotating rocky core c. A rotating liquid metal core of Helium
b. A fast rotating core of solid hydrogen d. A radioactive core
5. The moons are heated by
a. small by resilient cores c. Ancient asteroid bombardment
b. tidal bending d. Jupiter’s magnetic field
6. Jupiter is made up mostly of what?
a. a small rocky core c. Hydrogen and Helium gas
b. metallic hydrogen d. Liquid Hydrogen and Helium
7. Jupiter gives off more thermal energy than it takes in from the Sun. Where does it come from?
a. Tidal bending c. Gravitational contraction
b. A large magnetic core d. Helium condensation

21. 1. The most obvious difference between a simple and complex crater is the presence of what?
a. Extensive ray systems c. Central peak
b. Shocked quartz d. A raised outer rim
2. A boloid is another name for
a. A meteor c. A meteoroid
b. A comet d. Any impactor
3. The largest impact crater in the Solar System is
a. The dinosaur impact crater in Mexico c. The Caloris impact crater on Mercury
b. The Northern Hemisphere on Mars d. Craterous Olympus on Mars
4. The largest impact crater in the continental United States is in what state?
a. Arizona c. New Mexico
b. Ontario d. Iowa
5. The “average speed” of a meteor hitting Earth would be about what? Really rough average.
a. 10 kilometer per second c. 36,000 kilometers per hour
b. 22,500 miles per hour d milers per minute

22. What is a “type-C” meteor mostly made of?
Iron and nickel c. Dimes and quarters
Carbon compounds d. Silicate rocks
What killed off the dinosaurs?
Volcanoes with a “meteor knock-out punch” c. Smoking
Greenhouse gases d. Hopelessness to ever move up the food chain, or have opposable thumbs
What are the two tails of a comet called?
Ion and charged c. Dust and visible
Dust and Ion d. Ion and following
When will the next “planet killer” hit Earth?
When the aliens send it c. Not a matter of if, only when, and we don’t know
December 21, d. They are all out of the Sun’s orbit by now.
Why is Venus so bright?
It has a high oblateness c. It has a high albedo
It has a low oblateness d. It has a low albedo

23. The main fuel in a star is what?
Helium c. Iron
Hydrogen d. Carbon
A “normal” star will last about how long?
10,000,000 years c. 10,000,000,000 years
1,000,000 years d. It depends upon the fuel burned
Which will last longer?
Large star c. Small star
Hot star d. Old star
Which star would probably be older
High hydrogen content c. High He to H ratio
Low He to H ratio d. The hotter one
5. How far away is our nearest star?

24. Who is generally considered the father of the S.E.T.I. project?
Karl Gauss c. Kepler
James Watson DeKlerk d. Frank Drake
What was the name of the monk, who was burned at the stake for suggesting the existence of extra-terrestrial life?
Bruno Hauptman c. Giordano Bruno
James Watson DeKlerk d. Karl Gauss
3. The frequency of electromagnetic radiation that is generally called the “watering hole” is between about two and three gigahertz. Why is this a good place to listen for aliens?
At this frequency, water is heard c. Water vibrates naturally at this frequency
There is little other radiation at this Hz d. This is hydrogen times pi
Panspermia is the idea that what happens?
Life DEVELOPS everywhere c. Life is SPREAD everywhere
Life IS everywhere d. Life is POSSIBLE everywhere
What was the name of the Astronomer that put the plaque of a man/woman and directions to Earth on the first spaceship to leave the Solar System?
Frank Drake c. Leonoid Kosegan
Carl Sagan d. Stephen Hawkingston

25. Which view of the Universe expressly forbids the existence of a universal clock?
Newtonian c. Quantum mechanics
Relativity d. Uniformitarianism
You are in a space ship that can travel at relativistic speeds (that means approaching the speed of light). You leave for a cruise of the galaxy, and return just in time for your twin brother’s retirement party. You, however, are still not old enough to legally consume C2H6O. What has happened?
Your watch has moved too slowly c. His watch moved too fast
Your watch was to slow, his was too fast d. Nothing abnormal happened
Which really is correct?
Quantum mechanics is correct c. Newton is always right
Einstein is always correct d. It depends upon your perspective
Yesterday is but a memory, tomorrow is but a dream. This implies that time does NOT exist at all, because it precludes what?
Order c. Simultaneity
Duration d. Continuity
You look up at the sky. You see a star that has a size and mass indicating that it will exist on the main sequence for only 200,000 years. The star is 500,000 light years away.
a. Does the star exist?
b. What definition of time are you using to come to this conclusion?