Key Concepts

Question 1

First to use a telescope for astronomical observations; discovered moons of Jupiter and phases of Venus

Answer 1

Galileo Galilei

Question 2

Formulated the laws of planetary motion, including the elliptical orbits of planets.

Answer 2

Johannes Kepler

Question 3

Developed the laws of motion and universal gravitation, which explain planetary orbits.

Answer 3

Isaac Newton

Question 4

The first manned mission to land on the Moon.

Answer 4

Apollo 11 (1969)

Question 5

Found through mathematical predictions based on the orbit of Uranus.

Answer 5

the discovery of Neptune (1846))

Question 5

The first artificial satellite, marking the start of the space age.

Answer 5

Launch of Sputnik (1957)

Question 6

Proposed by Copernicus, stating that the Sun is at the center of the solar system, with planets orbiting around it

Answer 6

Heliocentric Theory

Question 7

The prevailing cosmological model explaining the early development of the universe from a singularity

Answer 7

Big Bang Theory

Question 8

An optical instrument that gathers and magnifies light to observe distant objects

Answer 8

Telescope

Question 9

The largest circular storm in our solar system is found on what planet?

Answer 9

Jupiter

Question 10

An instrument used to measure properties of light over a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 10

Spectrometer

Question 11

1 astronomical unit is how many kilometers?

Answer 11

150 million kilometers

Question 12

On average, how far is the sun from earth? (AU)

Answer 12

1 AU (150 MILLION KILOMETERS)

Question 13

The gravity on the moon is (BLANK) of that of Earth

Answer 13

1/6

Question 14

The main component of Mars’ atmosphere is (BLANK)

Answer 14

95% CARBON DIOXIDE

Question 15

The sun’s core is roughly approximately (BLANK) degrees

Answer 15

15 million degrees (celcius)/ 27 million degrees (Fahrenheit)

Question 16

The milky way galaxy is is approximately (BLANK) light years across

Answer 16

100,000

Question 17

The Andromeda Galaxy is approximately (BLANK)- Million light years away from earth

Answer 17

2 (million)

Question 18

The average temperature of cosmic background radiation is (BLANK) Kelvin

Answer 18

2.7 (kelvin)

Question 19

What system is used to estimate the age of the universe?

Answer 19

Hubble constant

Question 20

What are the names of regions of charges particles trapped in earth’s magnetic field?

Answer 20

Van Allen Belts

Question 21

What is the path the sun appears to take through the sky over the course of a year?

Answer 21

The ecliptic (represents the plane of earths orbit)

Question 22

A system that compares the temperature and luminosity of stars

Answer 22

The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

Question 23

How do you calculate the distance to a star using parallax? Measure the angle of what?

Answer 23

Measure the angle of parallax (the apparent shift of a star against distant background stars) from two different positions of earth on its orbit.

Question 24

what is the formula to calculate the distance to a star using parallax,

Answer 24

Distance (in parsecs)= 1 parallax angle (in arcseconds)

Question 25

To accurately calculate the distance to a star using parallax, ensure measurements are taken how long apart?

Answer 25

6 months

Question 26

To accurately calculate the distance to a star using parallax, be sure to account for…

Answer 26

Common Pitfalls- not accounting for the Earth’s orbital radius.

Question 27

A stream of charges particles released from the released from the upper atmosphere of the sun:

Answer 27

SOLAR WIND

Question 28

A point in the orbit of a planet where it is farthest from the sun

Answer 28

aphelion

Question 29

A point in the orbit of a planet where it is closest from the sun

Answer 29

perihelion

Question 30

The apparent motion of a planet in the opposite in the direction to that of other bodies within its system

Answer 30

Retrogade motion