Astronomy Exam #2

Which planet experiences the shortest day?

Jupiter

Jovian planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

Earth

Largest terrestrial planet

Comets

The smaller objects in the solar system composed mainly of ices (frozen gases) that usually orbit far from the Sun are called

Humans first walked on the Moon in

1965

The majority of the moons orbiting the Jovian planets are irregular moons orbiting in retrograde manner, or have orbits of high inclination or eccentricity.

True

Planet with an oddly behaving magnetic field

Uranus

The planet that orbits the sun on its side

Uranus

Planet that rotates backwards

Venus

Which planet is most similar to Earth in size?

Venus

Venus

closest in size to Earth, does not have satellites, the atmospheric pressure on the surface is 90 times larger than Earth's

Mercury

closest planet to the sun, smallest planet in our solar system, has a magnetic field, no moons; liquid iron core makes up 75% of its radius

Most meteor showers occur when the Earth's path

crosses a comet's path

During the process of differentiation

heavier materials sink to the centers of molten planets

In general, the further planets are from the Sun, the cooler they are. What other factor can have a significant influence on a planet's surface temperature?

it's atmosphere (whether it has one and how thick it is)

Jupiter

largest planet in our solar system, greatest number of moons, key feature is a big red spot; axis is hardly tilted so it has no season variation

objective lens

lens of a telescope that brings distant object closer and and represents the light gathering power

The region around the Earth where charged particles are trapped and spiral around is called the

magnetosphere

Carbon dioxide

makes up the atmosphere of Mars and Venus

One way to determine how long Jupiter takes to rotate is to watch the giant storms in its atmosphere go around. A more fundamental way to measure the rotation is to

measure how the changes in the planet's radio waves, which are controlled by its magnetic field

nitrogen

primary constituent of Earth's atmosphere

All planets (without exception)

revolve around the Sun in the same direction

dwarf planets do not have

satellites

Charon

size of which is the largest fraction of its parent planet

mesosphere

the layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere; where meteors burn up

Why does Mars have a reddish color when we see its surface from afar?

the material of Mars' surface contains a lot of iron oxide, the same chemistry that makes rusting metals look reddish

troposphere

the place where we have spent most of our life

differentiation

the process by which gravity helps separate a planet's interior into layers of different composition and density

Which planet would have the fastest wind speed at its equator?

Neptune

Stratosphere

where the ozone layer is located

How do the densities of the jovian and terrestrial planets compare?

All the terrestrials are more dense than the Jovians

The only planet not named for Greek or Roman gods or goddesses

Earth

The Earth's magnetosphere is the same shape and size on the sides facing toward and away from the Sun.

False

Planets from smallest to largest

Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter

Hydrogen

Most common element in giant planets

The jovian planet that has the longest year (period of revolution) is

Neptune

Neil Armstrong

The first human being to step out onto the surface of another world

Pluto

The first trans-Neptunian (beyond Neptune) object astronomers found (in 1930) is called

Maria

The large, roughly circular, dark, and somewhat younger regions of the Moon are

Olympus Mons

The largest mountain/volcano in our solar system

The Sun

The most massive object in the system, a medium-sized star that provides energy and gravitational force to govern the orbits of surrounding bodies

Van Allen Belt

a region of charged particles trapped in the Earth's magnetosphere

Why does Saturn appear yellow?

ammonia crystals in the upper atmosphere

Ceres

asteroid that is also a dwarf planet; first dwarf planet discovered

concave lens

causes parallel rays of light to diverge as they pass through

Jupiter's core

dense, rocky core

hydrogen

element that can act like a metal when it's under tremendous pressure and is probably responsible for Jupiter and Saturn's magnetism

Neptune

fastest wind speeds at equator

oxygen

gives rise to the green and red colors seen in auroras

Planets and moons in our solar system are named after

gods and goddesses from Greek mythology

99% of Jupiter's atmosphere

hydrogen and helium

Valles Marineris

on mars and the largest canyon in the solar system

Titan

one of the largest moons in our solar system, orbits around Saturn

climate

overall weather in an area over a long period of time

Concave

parallel rays of light diverge as they pass through this type of lens

Vesta

part of this asteroid landed on Earth

The total mass of an asteroid belt is less than

the Moon

What two things affect a planet's temperature?

the atmosphere of a planet and its distance from the sun

Shoemaker-Levy 9

the comet that struck Jupiter in 1994

focal length

the distance from the center of a lens to the focal point

Explorer I

the first U.S. space craft; discovered Van Allen belts

What gives rise to Earth's magnetic field?

the flow of liquid iron in the Earth's core

The Oort Cloud

the spherical cloud of comets and some larger icy bodies surrounding the outer solar system

coma

the temporary atmosphere of a comet

Two most important functions of a telescope

to enhance objects that are far away and to collect and focus light

Layers of Earth's Atmosphere

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere