Astronomy Chapter 1 - Quick Quiz

An astronomical unit is

Earth's average distance from the Sun

Could we see a galaxy that is 50 billion light-years away?

No, because it would be beyond the bounds of our observable universe.

Which of the following correctly lists our "cosmic address" from small to large? a.) Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe b.) Earth, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, Milky Way Galaxy, universe c.) Earth, Milky Way Galaxy, solar system, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe

a.) Earth, solar system, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Local Supercluster, universe

The age of our solar system is about

one-third of the age of the universe.

When we say the universe is expanding, we mean that:

the average distance between galaxies is growing with time.

The total number of stars in the observable universe is roughly equivalent to

the number of grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth.

If we represent the solar system on a scale that allows us to walk from the Sun to Pluto in a few minutes, then:

the planets are marble-size or smaller and the nearest stars are thousands of miles away.

The fact that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us, with more distant ones moving faster, helped us to conclude that

the universe is expanding

The star Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. If it explodes tonight,

we won't know about it until about 600 years from now

If stars existed but galaxies did not:

we would not exist because we are made of material that was recycled in galaxies.