Astronomy Flashcards
Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a full moon?
Moon, earth, sun aligned
Which of the following best accounts for day and night on Earth?
the Earth’s rotation on its axis
Which of the following characteristics is associated with the planet Mercury?
extreme temperature variations
When is it safe for students to look directly at a lunar eclipse?
At all times
Of the following, which color star has the highest surface temperature?
Blue
Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a crescent moon?
From Earth’s point of view, only a sliver of the Moon is lit by the Sun during a crescent moon. Most of the Moon appears dark, being lit only by reflected light from the Earth.
Which of the following best illustrates the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon during a first-quarter moon?
From Earth’s point of view, half of the Moon is lit by the Sun during a quarter moon. This occurs when a line from the Earth to the Moon is perpendicular to a line from the Earth to the Sun.
Australia experiences which of the following seasons when the southern end of Earth’s axis is tilted toward the sun?
Summer
Which of the following types of stars is a large, relatively cool star with a small core that fuses helium into carbon?
Red Giant
Michelle enjoys watching an eclipse. What caused the solar eclipse she observed today?
The moon moved directly in between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun’s light from fully hitting the Earth.
Which of the following causes the lunar cycle as observed from Earth?
the orbit of the moon around the Earth
Which of the following describes the orientation of Earth’s axis relative to the Sun during the vernal equinox, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere?
Neither end of the axis is tilted toward the Sun.
Which of the following describes the phase of the Moon during a total solar eclipse?
New
Which of the following is primarily a result of the Earth’s tilt on its axis?
Seasons
What is the composition of 98% of the Sun?
hydrogen and helium
Which of the following refers to the amount of light emitted by a star?
Absolute Magnitude
Which of the following best describes the conditions of a full moon?
A full moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the moon.
Which of the following describes a nebula?
a giant cloud of gas and dust that is found in deep space
Which of the following produces the lunar phases as seen from Earth?
The Moon’s revolution around the Earth
What is the state of matter of the Sun’s core?
Plasma
Our solar system contains many components. Which object is at the center of the solar system?
Sun
Which of the following materials will allow students to safely observe a solar eclipse if a teacher decides to bring her class outside to watch it? Select all that apply.
Select all answers that apply.
Eclipse Glasses and A pinhole projection device
A year on Earth is approximately 365 days, while a year on Venus takes about 224 Earth days, and a year on Mars takes about 687 Earth days. What causes the number of days in a year on each of these planets to differ from one another?
Different distances
Which of the following is a stage in the life cycles of both low-mass and high-mass stars?
Red giant
The seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as the Earth orbits the Sun. Which of the following correctly describes the changes in the tilt of Earth’s axis as the Earth moves around the Sun?
The tilt remains constant throughout the year.
Which of the following describes the positioning of Earth’s axis relative to the Sun during the autumnal equinox, the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere?
All points on the axis are equally distant from the Sun.
Which of the following is a transitory phase of the lunar cycle?
Waxing Cresent
Where is all the energy of the Sun produced?
Sun’s core
Which of the following describes the orientation of Earth’s axis relative to the Sun during the winter in the northern hemisphere?
The north end of the axis is tilted away from the Sun.
Comets are composed of:
gas, dust, and ice
What period of time can be measured by one rotation of the Earth on its axis?
One day
If there is a full moon tonight, how many days will pass until the next full moon?
28
A bright ring is present around the Sun during a total solar eclipse. What is the source of that bright ring?
the sun’s corona
Which of the following is an inner planet?
Mercury
What period of time can be measured by roughly one revolution of the moon around the Earth?
One month
Which of the following is the name for a group of stars and their systems that are held together by gravity?
Galaxy
The tilt of the Earth causes
The seasons
Which of the following is not a type of galaxy?
regular
