5C-D

Question 1

Compare mercury’s rotation with its revolution around the sun

Answer 1

It moves through its orbit at great speed but it spins slowly on its axis.

Question 2

Which planet in the solar system appears the brightest when viewed from earth

Answer 2

Venus

Question 3

Why can’t Venus be observed in its full phase

Answer 3

Because the full phase always occurs when Venus is hidden behind the sun

Question 4

Describe the atmosphere of Venus

Answer 4

A hot,dense atmosphere that our most powerful optical telescopes cannot penetrate

Question 5

Why was it so difficult for Venus landing probes to survive on the surface of the planet

Answer 5

Extremely harsh conditions on the planet’s surface

Question 6

How can a casual observer with a telescope tell the difference between Mars and Venus in the sky

Answer 6

Reddish color

Question 7

What are the names of Mars moons

Answer 7

Phobos and Demos

Question 8

Describe the temperature at the equator on the surface of Mars

Answer 8

Chilly to comfortable 32-77 degrees

Question 9

List the probes that successfully landed on Mars

Answer 9

Viking 1and 2

Question 10

Which planet is the largest

Answer 10

Jupiter

Question 11

What is the collective name for the four largest moons of Jupiter

Answer 11

Ganymede Callisto Io Europa

Question 12

How does the size of Jupiter’s moon compare to the other planets

Answer 12

Both Ganymede and calisto are larger than Mercury

Question 13

List three distinguishing features of Jupiter

Answer 13

The bands of turbulent clouds that extend around the planet parallel to the equator
The great red Spot
Jovian winds

Question 14

What makes Jupiter’s moon Io so spectacular

Answer 14

It might be inhabitable

Question 15

What is the feature of Saturn that makes it stand out from the other planets

Answer 15

It’s rings

Question 16

List three ways in which Saturn is similar to Jupiter

Answer 16

It has bands of clouds in its atmosphere parallel to the equator
It radiates more energy than it receives
It has winds
It has temporary small spots somewhat like Jupiters great red Spot
It has a magnetosphere

Question 17

Describe Cadini’s division

Answer 17

It is the large gap between the two largest rings of Saturn cost by the gravitational pull of the Moon Mimas

Question 18

When was Uranus discovered

Answer 18

1781

Question 19

Who discovered Uranus

Answer 19

William Herschel

Question 20

What color is Uranus as seen in voyager two photographs

Answer 20

Pale blue

Question 21

How does this color different from how Uranus appears from earth

Answer 21

From earth Uranus appears to be a greenish color

Question 22

What is unusual about Uranus

Answer 22

It appears to be tilted 98°

Question 23

What caused some astronomers to expect that there was another planet beyond Uranus

Answer 23

Uranus sometimes was not quite and it’s calculated place in the sky

Question 24

Which two man-made mathematical calculations about the location of Neptune

Answer 24

John Adams

Urban Leverrier

Question 25

Who discovered Neptune

Answer 25

Johann Gottfried

Question 26

What is different about Neptunes moon called triton

Answer 26

It orbits Neptune in a retro grade orbit

Question 27

During what year was Pluto discovered

Answer 27

1929

Question 28

Who discovered Pluto

Answer 28

Clyde Tombaugh

Question 29

Describe the characteristics of Pluto’s moon

Answer 29

Sharon’s diameter is about half Pluto’s making it the largest moon in proportion to its planet in the solar system

Question 30

What is unusual about the orbit of Pluto

Answer 30

Pluto’s rotational axis is tilted at nearly 122°

Question 31

Why is Mercury such a difficult planet to observe

Answer 31

It is too close to the sun to be seen