Stargazer Quiz 3: Chapters 5-6

Question 1

A ___ is when one celestial body passes closely by another.

Answer 1

conjunction

Question 2

An ___ is when one celestial object passes directly in front of another, blocking the background object from sight.

Answer 2

Occultation

Question 3

The term “___” refers to the bright streak in the sky. The rock causing the streak is called the “___.” The rock that hits the earth’s surface is called a “___.”

Answer 3

Meteor, meteoroid, meteorite

Question 4

During a meteor shower, meteors will appear to move away from the same point in space. This point called the “___.”

Answer 4

Radiant

Question 5

A “___ ___” is a rare occurrence where they sky appears to be raining meteors.

Answer 5

meteor storm

Question 6

The only meteor shower known to be associated with an asteroid rather than a comet is the ___.

Answer 6

Geminids

Question 7

Approximately every 33 years, the ___ produce a meteor storm

Answer 7

Leonids

Question 8

The reason rainbows are colorful is because the water droplets split the sunlight into its constituent ___.

Answer 8

wavelengths

Question 9

A ___ ___ is caused by the reflection and refraction of sunlight off of ice crystals in thin, high cirrus clouds.

Answer 9

solar halo

Question 10

The word corona means “__”

Answer 10

crown

Question 11

___ orbit the earth in about 90 minutes.

Answer 11

satellites

Question 12

The iridium ___ is the temporary brightening of a satellite associated with the company Iridium Communications Inc.

Answer 12

flare

Question 13

The overall ability of a telescope is determined by the diameter of the primary lens or primary mirror - the “___.”

Answer 13

aperture

Question 14

The two kinds of telescopes are ___ and reflectors.

Answer 14

refractors

Question 15

“___ aberration” is when bright objects you view through a refractor are surrounded by a little purple halo.

Answer 15

chromatic

Question 16

Reflectors use a curved ___ instead of a primary lens to bring light to a focus.

Answer 16

mirror

Question 17

Binoculars or a small telescope will allow you to observe the moon, bright stars, open star clusters, the ___ Galaxy, and some bright comets.

Answer 17

Andromeda

Question 18

A ___-___ is a motor that slowly rotates the telescope in the opposite direction that Earth rotates.

Answer 18

Clock-drive

Question 19

Telescope mounts come in two varieties: ___ mounts and ___ (alt-azimuth) mounts.

Answer 19

Equatorial, horizon

Question 20

A ___ adds a laser-produced artificial spot, concentric circles, or crosshairs that indicate exactly where the telescope is pointed.

Answer 20

telrad