AST-101 Unit 4
Phobos and Deimos most closely resemble: Asteroids Comets Planets Dwarf planets
Asteroids
Approximately how long does it take for Jupiter to undergo one complete rotation? 5 hours 10 hours 15 hours 20 hours
10 hours
The Galilean satellites, in order of decreasing diameter, are:
Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Europa
The primary clouds in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are composed of: a. water vapor b. iron and nickel c. frozen ammonia crystals d. metallic hydrogen e. frozen alcohol (ready to make cocktails)
c. frozen ammonia crystals
The element that can act like a metal when it is under tremendous pressure and is probably responsible for Jupiter and Saturn's magnetism is: a. gold b. helium c. hydrogen d. water e. vanallenium
c. hydrogen
A main difference between asteroids and comets is that asteroids are mostly made of rock and comets are mostly made of a. metals b. carbon compounds c. ice d. vapor (gas) e. you can't fool me, astronomers don't really know what comets are made of
c. ice
What features are abundant on Callisto and Ganymede and almost absent on Europa and Io? a. volcanoes b. markings that show the surface is made of ice c. impact craters d. lakes and pools of liquid ammonia e. rings
c. impact craters
Which of the following characteristics distinguishes Uranus from every other planet in our solar system? a. it has more than one moon b. its atmosphere is made of gases c. it rotates on an axis tilted almost 90 degrees to the circle of its orbit d. its orbit is significantly tilted relative to the orbits of the other planets e. its magnetic axis does not lie in the same direction as its rotation axis
c. it rotates on an axis tilted almost 90 degrees to the circle of its orbit
The big problem with the Galileo spacecraft is that a. its rockets misfired, putting the orbiter section into the wrong orbit b. its camera has an arm that will not move, preventing us from pointing it correctly c. its main antenna is stuck in the closed position d. its computer has stopped working e. it was manufactured in Bayonne, New Jersey, and didn't work
c. its main antenna is stuck in the closed position
The same astronomer wrote extensively about canals on Mars and about the possibility of a ninth planet in our solar system. The observatory named after this astronomer is the: a. Keck Observatory b. Hubble Telescope c. Lick Observatory d. Lowell Observatory e. Wells Observatory
d. Lowell Observatory
In the far future, an entrepreneur with a large fleet of space ships decides to capture and bring to Earth some valuable asteroids. If at that time, there is a shortage of usable metals on Earth, what type of asteroids should his employees search for? a. primitive b. C-type c. S-type d. M-type e. none of the above
d. M-type
In the far future, a daring interplanetary tourist wants to go "hang-gliding" on the jovian planet with the highest equatorial wind speeds. Which planet would have the fastest wind at its equator? a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune e. all the jovian planets have roughly the same wind speed at the equator
d. Neptune
The jovian planet that has the longest year (period of revolution) is: a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune e. you can't fool me, they all have roughly the same year
d. Neptune
Two small moons in the solar system, known since the 19th century, turn out to be captured asteroids. These two moons are: a. Io and Europa around Jupiter b. Dione and Titan around Saturn c. the Earth's moon and antimoon d. Phobos and Deimos around Mars e. none of the above
d. Phobos and Deimos around Mars
Which of the following worlds does NOT have a ring? a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Pluto e. Neptune
d. Pluto
What makes the rings of Neptune different from those of other planets we know? a. they are much thinner b. they have gaps and divisions in them c. they are much darker d. they are clumpy (or bulging) in places e. there is more than one ring in the system
d. they are clumpy (or bulging) in places
A baseball pitcher wants to impress his girl-friend with how strong his throwing arm is. On which of the following bodies would the pitcher be MOST likely to be able to throw a baseball (a fast ball) so fast it would actually go into orbit? a. Earth b. Mars c. Ganymede d. Titan e. asteroid Ida
e. asteroid Ida
Which of the following statements is NOT true in describing the orbits and locations of these particular main belt asteroids?
Their orbits occasionally carry them into Jupiter's orbit.
Which of these worlds is the most active geologically? a. Venus b. Mars c. Mercury d. the Moon e. all of the above are equally active these days
a. Venus
What is the major difference between asteroid and comet orbits?
Comet orbits are more elliptical than asteroid orbits.
Why is Vesta not classified as a dwarf planet in the new classification scheme?
It is not spherical.
The spacecraft that got the closest to the nucleus of Halley's Comet and sent back dramatic photographs of what the nucleus looked like was: a. Giotto b. Venera c. Pioneer d. Mariner 13 e. the Enterprise
a. Giotto
The two asteroids from which close-up images and data have been returned by the Galileo spacecraft are: a. Ida and Gaspra b. Vesta and Ceres c. Eros and Toutatis d. Chiron and Pholus e. you can't fool me, we have no close-up views of any asteroids except possibly for the moons of Mars
a. Ida and Gaspra
The telescope in space that allowed astronomers to find thousands of exoplanets and exoplanet candidates by making very careful measurements during a planet transit was called: a. Kepler b. Voyager c. Transitor d. New Horizons e. InSight
a. Kepler
The Shoemaker-NEAR spacecraft explored two asteroids, Mathilde and Eros. A big difference between them is that: a. Mathilde appears to be pile of "rubble" (a collection of separate rocks) while Eros is solid b. Mathilde is a "real" asteroid, while Eros is a comet that has lost some of its ice c. Mathilde is always inside the orbit of the Earth, while Eros is always outside our planet's orbit d. Mathilde is going to impact the Earth, while Eros will never come near our planet e. you can't fool me, the two asteroids have exactly the same properties; that's why the same spacecraft could explore them
a. Mathilde appears to be pile of "rubble" (a collection of separate rocks) while Eros is solid
Which of the following statements about the unusual object Chiron is FALSE? a. it is one of the largest asteroids, just a little smaller than Vesta b. its path around the Sun carries it from just inside Saturn's orbit almost out to Uranus' orbit c. it shows some characteristics of an asteroid and some characteristics of a comet d. in 1988, as it came closest to the Sun, it was seen to brighten by a factor of two e. its orbit does not appear to be stable
a. it is one of the largest asteroids, just a little smaller than Vesta
The Murchison meteorite that was found in Australia in 1969 is important to scientists because it contained a. organic materials, such as amino acids b. more metal than any other meteorite c. large flecks of gold d. radioactive elements which we do not have on the Earth e. the decomposed bodies of small yellow aliens who were clearly intelligent
a. organic materials, such as amino acids
Some years some meteor showers, such as the Leonids, feature many more meteors than at other times. What is the cause of these "meteor storms"? a. the dust freed from some comets is clumpy and not evenly distributed along its orbit b. how many meteors we see in a given year depends one which side of the Sun we are on c. we get meteor storms at the same time and for the same reason we have more hurricanes on Earth d. meteor storms happen when Halley's Comet is near the Earth in its 76-year orbit e. no one has any idea about why meteor storms happen; they are a mystery
a. the dust freed from some comets is clumpy and not evenly distributed along its orbit
Which part of a comet is the DENSEST? a. the nucleus b. the atmosphere (coma) c. the dust tail d. the gas tail e. the hydrogen cloud
a. the nucleus
When larger fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter in 1994, a. they exploded in Jupiter's atmosphere, releasing energy equal to millions of megatons of TNT b. they changed the motion of Jupiter, making its orbit larger c. they produced vast plumes of material that changed the color of Jupiter's inner moons d. they reassured scientists on Earth that this kind of comet impact could NEVER happen to Earth e. they produced no visible effect whatsoever on the giant planet Jupiter
a. they exploded in Jupiter's atmosphere, releasing energy equal to millions of megatons of TNT
In 2013, a small stony asteroid collided with the Earth above the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. What was the result? a. A large earthquake was felt all over Europe and Asia b. A fireball briefly brighter than the Sun could be seen in the sky c. It broke apart and large pieces of rock fell from the sky, killing thousands of innocent people d. The Earth's orbit around the Sun changed in a measurable way e. It burned up so high in the atmosphere, absolutely nothing could be felt or seen on the ground
b. A fireball briefly brighter than the Sun could be seen in the sky
If everything in the solar system is moving around, why do the Perseid meteors repeat regularly around August 11th or so? a. Because the Earth does not move relative to the meteor particles b. Because the Earth in its orbit intersects the same swarm of meteor particles at the same time each year c. Because the Perseids are not in space at all, but in the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere d. Because August 11th is when the Sun's rays are the warmest, and thus tend to move the meteor particles toward us at the fastest speed e. Only astrologers can explain this regularity; astronomers do not understand it
b. Because the Earth in its orbit intersects the same swarm of meteor particles at the same time each year
The scientist who first proposed that comet nuclei were "dirty snowballs" was: a. Edmond Halley b. Fred Whipple c. Eugene Shoemaker d. Isaac Newton e. Jan Oort
b. Fred Whipple
According to our textbook, what is the best way to defend ourselves against an asteroid which is on course to collide with the Earth in 7 years? a. The only thing we could do would be to move some people to the Moon so they could survive b. If we do it early enough, we could explode something on or near the asteroid to deflect it slightly, so that years later it would then miss the Earth c. Asteroids are all rubble piles, so the only thing that would protect us would be a huge thermos-nuclear explosion that vaporizes the entire asteroid d. There is no problem, because all asteroid burn up by friction in the Earth's thick atmosphere e. There is no possible protection for us; if an asteroid is headed our way, we are all doomed
b. If we do it early enough, we could explode something on or near the asteroid to deflect it slightly, so that years later it would then miss the Earth
Between 1992 and today, astronomers using large telescopes have discovered many icy pieces that orbit in the same region as the orbit of Pluto. These are believed to be members of the a. asteroid belt (which have escaped) b. Kuiper belt c. Oort cloud d. ring around Pluto e. the rock and roll band called Bill Haley and the Comets
b. Kuiper belt
At the beginning of the solar system's history, a ready supply of proto-planets or mini-planets crashed into the developing planets and each other - something astronomers call the "era of giant impacts." How long do astronomers estimate this era lasted? a. only a few dozen years - it was over very quickly b. about 100 million years (0.1 billion) c. about two billion years d. about four billion years (it only ended about half a billion years ago) e. that era is not finished yet - giant impacts are still happening all over the solar system
b. about 100 million years (0.1 billion)
Short-period comets like Comet Halley a. return to the Oort Cloud during each of their orbits b. come back again and again at predictable intervals c. have a long tail visible during their entire orbit around the Sun d. can never be observed without a telescope e. you can't fool me, the only short-period comet we know is Halley
b. come back again and again at predictable intervals
One of the best proofs that our theory of how the solar system formed is correct is that astronomers now observe a. Pluto's orbit, which is not in the plane (or disk) that the other planets orbit in b. disks around other stars which show evidence of gaps where planets may be forming c. planets that are called "hot Jupiters" d. no water in the inner solar system e. UFO's with alien astronomy textbooks inside, discussing the same theories
b. disks around other stars which show evidence of gaps where planets may be forming
When a periodic comet leaves its dusty debris behind in its orbit, the Earth can intercept this debris and a. show new impact craters b. have a meteor shower as the dust burns up c. lose ozone from its atmosphere d. speed up the orbit of the Moon e. have an increase in garbage bills from Alaska to New Zealand
b. have a meteor shower as the dust burns up
In addition to hundreds of smaller objects they have been discovering in the Kuiper Belt recently, astronomers were surprised to find a. clear evidence of the building blocks of life in their atmospheres and tails b. larger bodies, with sizes as big as Pluto (now called dwarf planets) c. objects whose orbits bring them as close to the Sun as Mars d. objects whose composition indicates that they are made mostly of stone and metal, not ice e. souvenirs from Earth's tourist attractions, such as Bayonne, New Jersey
b. larger bodies, with sizes as big as Pluto (now called dwarf planets)
Astronomers estimate that about 25 million meteors strike the Earth's atmosphere each day. How come we haven't run out of meteors in the long history of the Earth? a. meteors come from dust from the Earth's surface that winds have blown high into the atmosphere; the Earth is so big it has lots of dust b. meteors are pieces of dirt left over from the formation of our solar system and from old comets; there is a huge supply of small dirt particles from both sources c. meteors are caused by electrical sparking in the Earth's atmosphere and there is a lot of static electricity up there d. meteors have only been hitting the Earth's atmosphere recently; they are the result of human pollution of space e. this is an unsolved problem in astronomy that has a lot of astronomers mystified
b. meteors are pieces of dirt left over from the formation of our solar system and from old comets; there is a huge supply of small dirt particles from both sources
When the solar system was forming, the building blocks from which the protoplanets gathered together were the: a. gold, iron, and nickel atoms b. planetesimals (a few km to tens of km wide) c. giant accretion grains about the size of Mars d. extremely hot clouds of gas torn out of the Sun, which was already shining brilliantly e. pure water ice crystals, about the size of a snowflake
b. planetesimals (a few km to tens of km wide)
Astronomers now believe that the differences in composition among the planets reflect what characteristic in the early solar system a. orbital speed b. temperature c. whether or not a planet had rings d. the age of the material e. none of the above
b. temperature
The large reservoir of comet nuclei far beyond Pluto, from which we believe new long-period comets come into the inner solar system, is called: a. the Lowell reservoir b. the Oort Cloud c. the Kohoutek Cloud d. the Alvarez belt e. Bayonne, New Jersey
b. the Oort Cloud
The ages of stony meteorites have been measured to be roughly equal to: a. the time since the last Ice Age on Earth b. the oldest ages we have measured for any bodies in the solar system c. the time since the great impact that killed the dinosaurs d. the time that has passed since the death of Julius Ceasar e. you can't fool me, we have no way of measuring the ages of stony meteorites
b. the oldest ages we have measured for any bodies in the solar system
Halley's Comet was given that name because Edmond Halley was a. the first person to ever see that comet b. the scientist who pointed out that the orbit of the comet was such that it should return every 76 years or so c. the chief scientist who designed the probe that flew by the comet d. the first person to be hurt by pieces falling off the comet e. prime minister of England at the time the comet was discovered
b. the scientist who pointed out that the orbit of the comet was such that it should return every 76 years or so
When the Dawn spacecraft explored the largest asteroid Ceres, it discovered white spots that appear to be salt and volcanic mountains made of water ice. This led astronomers to which of the following ideas: a. all asteroids are made of frozen water b. Ceres is really one of the terrestrial planets that got kicked out of its former orbit c. Ceres may have (or may have had) a liquid ocean under its crust d. Ceres formed from the breakup of a much larger body, a solid planet bigger than Jupiter e. The next thing to search for on Ceres are spots made of pepper
c. Ceres may have (or may have had) a liquid ocean under its crust
A type of planet that our surveys of exoplanets are revealing around other stars, but we don't have any examples of around the Sun are: a. terrestrial planets b. jovian (giant) planets c. Super-Earth's d. dwarf planets e. you can't fool me, we have examples in the solar system of all the types of planets our exoplanet surveys are revealing
c. Super-Earth's
How can astronomers measure the age of a meteorite that fell from the skies? a. Just like for planets, we measure the age by counting the number of craters on the meteorite b. Meteorites all contain metals and the metal conducts electricity better and better as it ages c. They measure the amount still left of radioactive materials in the meteorite, and how much has turned into decay products d. The age of a meteorite can be found from the angle at which it enters the Earth's atmosphere; so scientists can only get the ages of meteorites they observe falling e. There is no way to measure the age of any meteorites
c. They measure the amount still left of radioactive materials in the meteorite, and how much has turned into decay products
The typical meteor is a. about the size of a small one-family house b. made of evaporated ices c. a small solid particle, no bigger than a pea d. visible only from above the Earth's atmosphere e. the result of magnetic activity in the upper atmosphere of the Earth
c. a small solid particle, no bigger than a pea
One of the key reasons that professional astronomers (as opposed to the public) are interested in comets is that they a. are beautiful to look at b. are always omens of disaster c. are icy pieces left over from the time that our solar system formed that can give us clues about that early time d. are pieces splintered off one of the giant planets, so they can provide us with samples of their composition e. are all visitors from other star systems, which can tell us about what conditions are like in distant reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy
c. are icy pieces left over from the time that our solar system formed that can give us clues about that early time
When a chunk of cosmic material the size of a golf ball or a baseball hits the Earth's atmosphere it makes a a. meteor shower b. radiant c. fireball d. meteorite which breaks into pieces when hitting the ground e. trail so faint, there is no chance of our seeing it on the ground
c. fireball
Astronomers have realized that the surface of Ida is older than the surface of Gaspra. How do they measure this? a. we have radioactive rock samples from each asteroid to analyze b. the surface composition (elements and compounds) can easily tell us the ages c. from counting craters on each asteroid's surface d. from the magnetic field of each body, which weakens with age e. it's purely a guess; astronomers have no way of really measuring the ages of these asteroids
c. from counting craters on each asteroid's surface
How do astronomers know that the age of the solar system is about 4.5 billion years old? a. radioactive dating of all the rocks on Earth shows that age b. they estimate that age from the number of comets that are still located in the Kuiper Belt c. radioactive dating of the primitive meteorites indicates they have that age (since they are left-over building blocks of the solar system) d. they estimate the date from the number of impact craters on the Earth e. they have the warranty book for each planet, and it tells you when the unit was manufactured
c. radioactive dating of the primitive meteorites indicates they have that age (since they are left-over building blocks of the solar system)
One way to find a new meteorite is to: a. patrol the block on which you live carefully each night for a few years b. look for a bright comet in the sky and look where its tail is pointing c. search the area beneath or close to the point where a bright fireball was seen to burn out d. look near the Earth's equator where our planet's magnetic attraction is the greatest e. taste the meatloaf in the college cafeteria late in the week
c. search the area beneath or close to the point where a bright fireball was seen to burn out
The reason that worlds like the Earth are differentiated is that a. the heat of the Sun vaporized much of their solid material early on b. the heaviest chunks that hit early on were able to bore through solid rock to the center c. the continuing impacts on a growing protoplanet eventually melted the entire body d. large amounts of hydrogen and helium collect around such planets a little later in their history e. planetesimals with different types of composition hit at different times, with the heaviest ones hitting first
c. the continuing impacts on a growing protoplanet eventually melted the entire body
Comets change as they approach the Sun in their orbits. Which of the following statements about a comet approaching the Sun is FALSE? a. the solid water ice in a comet begins to evaporate just beyond the orbit of Mars b. comets close to the Sun can evaporate enough material to become as large or larger than Jupiter c. the gravity of the comet nucleus holds on to the evaporated material, and it all eventually freezes back into the nucleus d. when the ice evaporates, some dust frozen into the ice is freed up to join the comet's coma and tail e. the evaporation is not always even, but can occur in spurts (where jets of material are seen moving away from the comet nucleus)
c. the gravity of the comet nucleus holds on to the evaporated material, and it all eventually freezes back into the nucleus
For solid rocky worlds, a general rule is a. the larger the world, the closer it is to the Sun b. the smaller the world, the more likely it is to have an atmosphere c. the larger the world, the slower it cools off and the more it will keep its internal heat d. the smaller the world, the more likely it is to have a moon or moons e. the shorter a world's year (time to orbit the Sun), the more likely it is to harbor life
c. the larger the world, the slower it cools off and the more it will keep its internal heat
A key difference between the protoplanets that formed in the outer solar system and those that formed in the inner solar system was that a. those in the inner solar system were much larger than those in the outer solar system b. those in the outer solar system included far more metal and rock, and thus the outer planets could be denser c. those in the outer solar system were in a place where ice, not just rock, condensed and thus could grow larger d. those in the outer solar system did not have enough planetesimals nearby e. you can't fool me, there were no differences between the inner and outer protoplanets; only the planets that finally formed are different.
c. those in the outer solar system were in a place where ice, not just rock, condensed and thus could grow larger
Which of the following statements about NEO's (Near Earth Objects) is TRUE? a. we have identified just about all NEO's with diameters greater than 1 km b. no NEO has passed closer to the Earth than the orbit of the Moon c. it is unlikely that any NEO's have hit the Earth during our planet's history d. NEO's can include both asteroids and comets that cross the Earth's orbit e. we are not able to obtain information about the shape or size of any of the NEO's at present
d. NEO's can include both asteroids and comets that cross the Earth's orbit
Among solid worlds, which type of world is most likely to have significant geological activity? a. those that are the smallest (and thus easiest to heat) b. those that have strong magnetic fields c. those that have a moon (satellite) d. those that are the largest (and retain heat the best) e. those that are farthest from the Sun
d. those that are the largest (and retain heat the best)
Which of the following is NOT an accomplishment of the Rosetta mission to Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko (C-G)? a. Rosetta matched orbits with Comet C-G and flew alongside b. Rosetta dropped the Philae lander on Comet C-G c. Rosetta took close-up images of Comet C-G and sent them back to Earth d. Rosetta took samples of the surface material of Comet C-G and sent them back to Earth e. Rosetta turned off the spacecraft systems to save power far from the Sun, and turned them back on as it got closer to the Sun
d. Rosetta took samples of the surface material of Comet C-G and sent them back to Earth
In 2012, NASA's Spaceguard Survey concluded that astronomers had now identified 90% of the asteroids with diameters greater than 1 km. How could astronomers know that they had reached this goal? a. Asteroids larger than 1 km are so rare and so big, they have always been easy to keep track of b. NASA is now able to keep track of everything in the solar system out to Pluto with great precision; nothing remains to be discovered in that region c. Most of the near-Earth objects that big are comets, and they all have big tails which are easy to see d. The people doing the survey began to find the same objects over again, indicating they were reaching the limits of their survey e. This was fake news; in fact, we can't ever know if we have found 90% of the larger near-Earth objects
d. The people doing the survey began to find the same objects over again, indicating they were reaching the limits of their survey
The atmosphere of Venus is mostly carbon dioxide, and the atmosphere of the Earth has water vapor. Why are these two gases absent in the atmosphere of the satellite around Saturn called Titan? a. Titan's atmosphere was captured from the ring system of Saturn, and thus consists of small ice crystals b. The energetic particles in the magnetosphere of Saturn have collided with and knocked away all the lighter gases in the atmosphere of Titan c. There are life-forms on the surface of Titan which absorb carbon dioxide and water vapor as part of their life processes d. Titan is so cold that carbon dioxide and water vapor freeze out e. There is a runaway greenhouse effect on Titan
d. Titan is so cold that carbon dioxide and water vapor freeze out
Which of the following statements about the tails of comets is FALSE? a. the tail always points away from the Sun b. some comets have both a gas tail and a dust tail c. the tail of a comet can sometimes be ahead of the comet in its orbit d. a comet always has a nice long tail, even when it is far from the Sun e. the Earth can pass through the tail of a comet without suffering any harm
d. a comet always has a nice long tail, even when it is far from the Sun
One of the most perplexing issues raised by the discovery of thousands of exoplanets is the existence of "hot Jupiters" - planets with the masses and compositions of Jupiter, but orbiting closer to their stars than Mercury does in our solar system. What is our best idea currently about how such "hot Jupiters" came to be? a. each hot Jupiter came directly out of the star it now orbits and must be made of the exact same material at only slightly lower temperatures b. hot Jupiters formed by the collision and merger of many terrestrial planets - these collisions heated them up c. hot Jupiters formed in an asteroid belt and are made of countless asteroids that are hot d. hot Jupiters formed further out in their star system, and then migrated inward somehow e. hot Jupiters are artificial; they were made by super-advanced alien beings to make the universe more interesting
d. hot Jupiters formed further out in their star system, and then migrated inward somehow
The first technique that allowed astronomers to find exoplanets involved: a. photographing the planets using infrared waves b. looking for the decrease of light from the star during a transit of the planet across its disk c. sending a very small spacecraft to the exoplanet to take close-up images d. measuring changes in the radial velocity (Doppler shift) of the star caused by the pull of orbiting planets e. simply taking a visible light photo of the planet around the nearest star; it wasn't that hard
d. measuring changes in the radial velocity (Doppler shift) of the star caused by the pull of orbiting planets
Astronomers estimate that there may be a trillion (a thousand billion) comet nuclei orbiting beyond Pluto. Why then do we not see more comets in our skies? a. most comets are so small that millions pass by the Earth completely undetected b. most comets have orbits that only bring them inward as far as the orbit of Jupiter c. most comets collide with Jupiter each year and are thus not seen d. most comets remain in stable orbits beyond Pluto, only a few have their orbits disturbed and come into the inner solar system e. all the comets astronomers miss are the reason so many people report seeing UFO's
d. most comets remain in stable orbits beyond Pluto, only a few have their orbits disturbed and come into the inner solar system
If our estimates of the number of comets in every part of the solar system are correct, the total mass contained in comets must be: a. about the mass of Ceres, the largest asteroid b. about the mass of the Earth c. about the mass of the Moon d. on the order of the mass of all the planets put together e. since comets are mostly vapor, their total mass is less than that of the moons of Mars
d. on the order of the mass of all the planets put together
Which of the following pieces of observational evidence does our modern "solar nebula" theory of the formation of the solar system NOT explain directly? a. the fact that all the planets revolve around the equator of the Sun in the same direction b. the difference in the composition of the terrestrial and jovian planets c. the ages of the oldest rocks on Earth, the Moon, and meteorites d. the plane of the orbit of Pluto e. the existence of comets in the outer solar system made mainly of frozen gases
d. the plane of the orbit of Pluto
Astronomers call the vast, rotating cloud of vapor and dust from which the solar system formed: a. the Oort Cloud b. the Kuiper Belt c. the proto-Sun d. the solar nebula e. Bayonne, New Jersey
d. the solar nebula
A student in your class whom you kind-of like asks you come to watch a meteor shower. What exactly are you being invited to? a. something your mom would not approve of, involving streams of dirty water b. the closest approach of an active bright comet to the Earth c. a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the end of which you will be completely covered with dust particles from space d. watching the left-over dirt from a comet burn up by friction as the pieces hit the Earth's atmosphere e. something quite dangerous where you are likely to be hit when many larger rocks fall from above
d. watching the left-over dirt from a comet burn up by friction as the pieces hit the Earth's atmosphere
The first asteroid confirmed to have a satellite (moon) was a. Vesta b. Eros c. Toutatis d. Chiron e. Ida
e. Ida
The tallest mountain on a terrestrial world is: a. Mt. Everest on Earth b. Mt. Maxwell on Venus c. the ring of mountains surrounding Copernicus crater on the Moon d. the ice mountains on Titan e. Olympus Mons (Mt. Olympus) on Mars
e. Olympus Mons (Mt. Olympus) on Mars
The comet that broke into more than 20 pieces and then collided with Jupiter in 1994 was a. Giacobini-Zinner b. Kohoutek c. Halley's Comet d. Eros e. Shoemaker-Levy 9
e. Shoemaker-Levy 9
Comets get significantly brighter in our skies as they approach the Sun because a. they reflect more sunlight as they get closer to the source of light b. they get bigger as the ice evaporates c. they get closer to the Earth than when they were outside the orbit of Mars d. they move faster and faster e. more than one of the above
e. more than one of the above
The reason that Olympus Mons, the tallest mountain on Mars, is taller than Mount Everest (the tallest mountain on Earth) is that: a. the gravity on Mars is less, so a larger mass can support itself against its own weight b. Mars has a much larger molten core than the Earth c. there are no continental plates that move sideways on Mars, while there are such sliding motions on Earth d. the Earth's Moon has a much stronger pull than the moons of Mars e. more than one of the above
e. more than one of the above
Which of the following is not a characteristic that worlds in our solar system have in common: a. that the planets all revolve around the Sun in the same direction b. that most of the planets spin in the same direction that they revolve c. that many of the larger moons go around their planets in the same direction d. that the planets' orbits lie in roughly the same plane e. that all the planets have solid surfaces on which we can see impact craters
e. that all the planets have solid surfaces on which we can see impact craters
One region on Earth that has become a rich source of new meteorites in recent decades (including the meteorite from Mars that got famous because some scientists claimed they had found evidence for the building blocks of life on Mars) is: a. the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico b. Bayonne, New Jersey c. the Great Salt Lake d. Australia e. the Antarctic
e. the Antarctic
Which factor or factors, more than any other, have allowed Titan to retain an atmosphere?
Its surface temperature is too low to allow the nitrogen gas in its atmosphere to escape from Titan's gravitational force.
Apart from low mass and large distance from the Sun, what other reason is there for Pluto's removal from the list of major planets? It is too far from the Sun to be a planet. Its overall shape in not spherical. Its orbit is highly inclined to the plane of the ecliptic. Its spin direction is opposite to all of the major planets.
Its orbit is highly inclined to the plane of the ecliptic.
Which of the following features of Pluto's orbit is NOT true? The orbit is more eccentric than the orbit of any gas giant planet. It is sometimes closer to the Sun than Neptune. The orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus. Pluto's orbital speed is constant as it moves along its orbit.
Pluto's orbital speed is constant as it moves along its orbit.
The first asteroid to be discovered (which is also the largest one) is called a. Ceres b. Gaspra c. Davida d. Eros e. Fraknoi
a. Ceres
Pluto's big satellite is called a. Charon b. Titan c. Ganymede d. Christy e. Tombaugh
a. Charon
The satellite whose surface is characterized by a smooth icy crust with a complex network of cracks is: a. Europa b. Callisto c. Triton d. Io e. Ganymede
a. Europa
The first spacecraft which did not merely fly by a jovian (or giant) planet, but actually went into orbit around it for an extended period of time was a. Galileo b. Einstein c. Voyager d. the Hubble Space Telescope e. Cassini
a. Galileo
The largest satellite (moon) in the solar system is: a. Ganymede b. Titan c. Earth's Moon d. Charon e. Io
a. Ganymede
The planet that has an axis that points roughly straight up, and thus has no seasons to speak of, is: a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune e. you can't fool me, all the giant planets have dramatically different seasons
a. Jupiter
Which of the jovian planets has the shortest period of rotation (the shortest day)? a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune e. you can't fool me, the length of the day is exactly the same on all the giant planets
a. Jupiter
What do astronomers think is the origin of the many irregular moons around the outer planets (irregular meaning they are orbiting backwards and/or have eccentric orbits)? a. These moons were likely formed elsewhere and captured by the giant planets b. These moons are fragments of a much larger moon around each planet that exploded c. These moons were expelled by volcanoes on the surfaces of the giant planets d. These moons had an early interaction with the rings of the giant planets and were moved to strange orbits as a result e. Astronomers have no idea about why these irregular moons exist; it's a complete mystery
a. These moons were likely formed elsewhere and captured by the giant planets
The planet that orbits "on its side" (i.e. has its rotation axis perpendicular to the plane of its orbit) is: a. Uranus b. Neptune c. Pluto d. Jupiter e. Saturn
a. Uranus
The rings that most resemble Saturn's narrow F ring in the solar system are: a. Uranus' rings b. Neptune's rings c. Jupiter's rings d. Saturn's A ring e. the diamond anniversary rings at Macy's
a. Uranus' rings
What do the magnetic fields of Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune have in common? a. all three have their magnetic axes offset from the center of the planet b. all are weaker than the Earth's magnetic field c. all are caused by molten iron and nickel deep within each planet d. all are tilted by about 50 or 60 degrees from the planet's axis of rotation e. all were discovered by spacecraft that flew by the planets
a. all three have their magnetic axes offset from the center of the planet
Which of the following does the composition of a planet like Jupiter resemble: a. the Sun b. the Moon c. the Earth d. Mars e. the asteroids
a. the Sun
Different asteroids reflect different percentages of the light falling on them. This is due to the fact that they have different: a. temperatures b. compositions c. eccentricities d. rotation rates e. size moons orbiting them
b. compositions
The largest and most massive of Saturn's rings is the a. A ring b. B ring c. C ring d. D ring e. F ring
b. B ring
Pluto was discovered through the patient searching of a. Percival Lowell b. Clyde Tombaugh c. E. E. Barnard d. Gerard Kuiper e. Sherlock Holmes
b. Clyde Tombaugh
The four large moons of Jupiter were first discovered by: a. ancient people, seeing Jupiter in dark, cloudless skies b. Galileo with his early telescope c. Isaac Newton with his improved telescope d. William Herschel, in the 18th century e. the Voyager spacecraft
b. Galileo with his early telescope
The satellite which has the thickest atmosphere (so thick that it's quite a surprise for a satellite) is: a. Triton b. Titan c. the Earth's Moon d. Europa e. Callisto
b. Titan
Which of the following is NOT a correct statement about the ways the jovian planets differ from the terrestrial planets? a. the jovians are larger b. all the jovians have satellites around them and none of the terrestrials do c. the jovians are made mostly of liquid and gas d. the jovians are typically colder and further from the Sun e. the jovians have rings while the terrestrials do not
b. all the jovians have satellites around them and none of the terrestrials do
The rings of the outer planets consist of a. sheets of ice that stretch in round planes millions of miles wide around each planet b. billions of chunks (of various sizes) that all orbit the equator of each planet c. many large moons, about the size of Jupiter's moon Io, all crowded together d. subatomic charged particles, all kept in line by each planet's magnetic field e. millions of alien spacecraft, some of which occasionally make it to the Earth and pick up humans to experiment on
b. billions of chunks (of various sizes) that all orbit the equator of each planet
The fact that some asteroids cluster in what are called asteroid families is probably the result of: a. resonances with the jovian planets b. collisions which broke up larger bodies into a number of smaller ones c. comets which pass through the asteroid belt and attract asteroids to them d. strong magnetic fields found in some asteroids e. random chance
b. collisions which broke up larger bodies into a number of smaller ones
The synchrotron radiation (radio waves) that astronomers first observed from Jupiter in the 1950's comes from: a. deep within Jupiter, in the metallic hydrogen layers b. high speed electrons spiraling around the planet's strong magnetic field c. the upper-atmosphere clouds that move so quickly near the equator of the planet d. the Red Spot with its tremendous friction e. physics labs at the University of Jupiter, on the planet's surface
b. high speed electrons spiraling around the planet's strong magnetic field
By far the most abundant element in the giant (jovian) planets is: a. helium b. hydrogen c. oxygen d. nitrogen e. silicon
b. hydrogen
Which element plays the same role on Titan as water does on Earth (existing as gas, liquid, and solid)? a. carbon dioxide b. methane c. ammonia d. hydrogen cyanide e. propane
b. methane
What allowed the Voyager 2 spacecraft to make a "tour" of all four of the jovian planets in the late 1970's and the 1980's? a. NASA had developed a completely new kind of rocket that could send the craft from planet to planet b. the four planets were approximately aligned on one side of the Sun and we used the gravity of each planet to speed up the spacecraft to get to the next one in its path c. the spacecraft stopped off to collect fuel on the satellites of each planet before proceeding to the next one d. we used laser beams to propel the spacecraft into the outer solar system, where sunlight is dim e. you can't fool me, no spacecraft has ever explored four different planets
b. the four planets were approximately aligned on one side of the Sun and we used the gravity of each planet to speed up the spacecraft to get to the next one in its path
One reason that we have such a complex system of belts/zones/storms in Jupiter's atmosphere is that: a. the moon Io stirs up the atmosphere b. the planet rotates very rapidly c. the magnetic field is not centered inside d. ring particles "rain down" regularly e. the closeness of the asteroid belt means the planet feels a lot of gravitational tugs from nearby asteroids
b. the planet rotates very rapidly
The same process that explains why astronomers see less helium in the upper atmosphere of Saturn when they take spectra also explains a. why the winds near the equator are so high b. the reason Saturn is warmer than we expect c. the hexagon at one of Saturn's poles d. why Saturn has rings e. the strong radio waves we detect from Saturn
b. the reason Saturn is warmer than we expect
At the moment when the Voyager spacecraft got closest to Uranus, the Sun was shining directly on the planet's south pole. Uranus takes about 17 hours to rotate once on its axis. If Voyager took a photo of the south pole 8.5 hours later, what would it observe? a. the south pole was in darkness b. the south pole was brightly lit, with the Sun shining down on it c. the south pole was in twilight d. the south pole was facing directly away from the Sun e. more than one of the above
b. the south pole was brightly lit, with the Sun shining down on it
How does Saturn's F ring stay so thin (narrow), when the other rings are so wide? a. the further away from Saturn a ring is, the narrower it gets b. there are 2 shepherding satellites on either side of it c. Saturn's huge magnetic field keeps ice boulders from expanding d. the F ring is in the same orbit as the moon Enceladus e. we don't know the answer, because Saturn keeps its diet tips to itself
b. there are 2 shepherding satellites on either side of it
. What evidence can you give that shows the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa must be relatively young? a. there are thousands of active volcanoes on Europa's surface b. we see very few craters compared to the surfaces of Callisto and Ganymede c. radioactive rocks from Europa that have been brought back to Earth by our probes show that Europa is a young moon d. the interior of Europa is made of metals like iron and nickel e. Europa was not orbiting Jupiter when Galileo observed its moons, but now it is
b. we see very few craters compared to the surfaces of Callisto and Ganymede
Jupiter has enough mass to make 318 Earths. In contrast, Uranus and Neptune have only enough mass to make a. 100 Earths b. 70 Earths c. 15 Earths d. 2 Earths e. you can't fool me, Uranus and Neptune have a lot of ice, and so have much more mass than Jupiter
c. 15 Earths
Which of the following spacecraft is NOT leaving the solar system? a. Pioneer 10 b. Pioneer 11 c. Galileo d. Voyager 1 e. Voyager 2
c. Galileo
The world in the solar system that is most active volcanically is: a. Earth b. Neptune c. Io d. Mars e. Ganymede
c. Io
Why do astronomers today think that we have an asteroid belt and not a planet between Mars and Jupiter? a. a planet exploded and broke apart b. Io's volcanoes produced asteroids c. Jupiter's gravity prevented material in that zone from getting together d. the Sun's wind stops "blowing" there e. the solar system needed fashion accessories
c. Jupiter's gravity prevented material in that zone from getting together
Which of the following statements about Saturn's rings is TRUE? a. There is really only one ring, which looks unbroken from Earth b. The structure of the rings is completely independent of Saturn's moons c. The rings are made of billions and billions of individual "moonlets" (small chunks) d. The rings are made of particles no bigger than the particles that make up smoke e. If the rings were put on Earth, they would stretch from about New York to Boston
c. The rings are made of billions and billions of individual "moonlets" (small chunks)
Much of what we have learned about the jovian planets and their satellites has come from the work of two spacecraft called: a. Viking b. Magellan c. Voyager d. Mariner e. Enterprise
c. Voyager
Astronomers believe that Jupiter's strong magnetic field is caused by a. a core of molten iron and nickel b. electric charges from the moon Io c. a huge layer of metallic hydrogen inside Jupiter d. the circulation of large reddish storms containing magnetic ammonia crystals e. the magnetic personalities of all the jovian movie stars that live there
c. a huge layer of metallic hydrogen inside Jupiter
When two objects in orbit have periods of revolution that are simple ratios of each other (such as 1 to 2 or 1 to 3) we say that we have: a. an occultation b. a conjunction c. a resonance d. a tidal stability limit e. a traffic problem
c. a resonance
If there are at least a million asteroids, how did spacecraft like Galileo survive their trip through the asteroid belt? a. NASA sends its spacecraft above and below the orbits of the asteroids in the belt to avoid collisions b. spacecraft use a magnetic repulsion tool to make sure asteroids do not come too close c. although there are many asteroids, they are widely spaced (there is lots of space between them) d. the known asteroids are typically less than a centimeter across, so they do not represent a danger to spacecraft e. you can't fool me, NASA has lost over a dozen spacecraft to collisions with asteroids
c. although there are many asteroids, they are widely spaced (there is lots of space between them)
One way to measure 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: a. send a spacecraft like the Galileo probe into the top cloud layer b. determine how long the innermost moons take to orbit Jupiter c. measure the changes in the planet's radio waves, which are controlled by its magnetic field d. determine the amount of methane in the planet's atmosphere e. you can't fool me, astronomers don't have any reliable way of knowing how long Jupiter takes the spin
c. measure the changes in the planet's radio waves, which are controlled by its magnetic field
The lakes found in the north polar region of Titan are filled with liquid a. water b. ammonia c. methane d. nitrogen e. you can't fool me, all the lakes on cold Titan are frozen solid; none are liquid
c. methane
The mountains on Pluto are made of frozen water, which at Pluto temperatures, is as hard as rock. Pluto also has a smooth, round basin which could be thought of as a frozen sea. What material is in the basin (nicknamed Sputnik) likely to be made of? a. warmer water b. carbon dioxide (dry ice) c. nitrogen d. complex carbon compounds which are the building blocks of life on Earth e. helium
c. nitrogen
Callisto, the fourth moon of Jupiter's, takes 17 days to orbit Jupiter. If I stand on the surface of Callisto and see Jupiter high in the sky over my head, and then wait 8.5 Earth days in the same spot, where will I see Jupiter? a. you won't see it; it will only be visible from the other side of Callisto b. setting in the west c. overhead, where it was before d. rising in the east e. we need more information to give even a rough estimate of where Jupiter will be
c. overhead, where it was before
One reason we know more about the surface composition of the asteroid Vesta than about most other members of the asteroid belt is that a. Vesta's volcanoes still spew out a lot of material that goes into orbit around Vesta b. Vesta's surface is made of water ice and is extremely reflective c. pieces of Vesta have landed on Earth as meteorites d. Vesta's orbit crosses the Earth's orbit roughly once a century e. Vesta's surface markings happen to resemble a human face and thus have intrigued astronomers ever since this large asteroid was discovered
c. pieces of Vesta have landed on Earth as meteorites
To obtain the wonderful images of the jovian planets in our textbook (out where the sunlight is a lot fainter) what did the Voyager spacecraft cameras have to do as they flew by each world? a. use faster (more light sensitive) film b. slow down the spacecraft using retro-rockets to get long exposures c. swivel the cameras backwards to keep pointing in the same direction as the craft flew by d. use more than one camera and combine the light that fell into each one e. simply make do with pictures that got worse and worse as we went outward from the Sun; by the time we got to Neptune, the images were quite blurry
c. swivel the cameras backwards to keep pointing in the same direction as the craft flew by
What was a surprise to astronomers when they carefully examined Neptune with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1994? a. the magnetic field of the planet had reversed (north was now south) b. new elements and compounds were found in the upper atmosphere that had not been there before c. the Great Dark Spot had disappeared d. the wind speeds had slowed considerably e. a large smiley-face had been constructed using dark clouds
c. the Great Dark Spot had disappeared
Our modern understanding of Pluto is that it is a member of a. the asteroid belt b. the giant planets c. the Kuiper Belt (of trans-Neptunian objects) d. the terrestrial planets e. no grouping within our solar system; it is completely one-of-a-kind
c. the Kuiper Belt (of trans-Neptunian objects)
According to astronomical tradition, who gets to suggest the name for a newly discovered asteroid? a. the president of the country of the discoverer b. a special committee of the U.N. set up for this purpose c. the discoverer of the asteroid d. a special committee in Italy, where the first asteroid was discovered e. authors of astronomy textbooks
c. the discoverer of the asteroid
What is the cause of its many volcanic/geyser-like eruptions on the moon Io? a. its surface is at the triple point of methane, where it can be gas/liquid/solid b. Jupiter's magnetic field causes huge bolts of lightning to hit Io and heat the surface c. the gravitational stress of being so close to Jupiter and its other large moons heats the Io's inside d. there is a metallic magnetic layer inside Io which is explosive e. inhabitants of Io are intercepting Earth TV transmissions; it's making them throw up
c. the gravitational stress of being so close to Jupiter and its other large moons heats the Io's inside
Which of the following statements about the geysers on the moon Triton is true? a. they are caused by the impact of small comets on Triton's fragile surface b. the geysers are sulfur volcanoes which stick out of Triton's crust c. they involve plumes of nitrogen on the sunlit side of Triton d. they are caused by collisions with the rings of Neptune e. they are only visible when it is winter on Triton
c. they involve plumes of nitrogen on the sunlit side of Triton
The Galileo spacecraft measured that the moon Ganymede had a magnetic field, indicating that its interior was at least partly melted and warm. What do scientists think is the most likely reason for this? a. Ganymede is so far away from Jupiter, it is an independent world, and can compress its core without interference b. Ganymede has thousands of volcanoes, which then send material downward to heat up its interior c. Ganymede is a relatively small moon, and therefore much easier to heat up than its neighbor moons d. Ganymede is heated by tidal forces from Jupiter e. Scientists have no idea what causes the inner part of Ganymede to be warm; this is an unsolved mystery
d. Ganymede is heated by tidal forces from Jupiter
The largest planet in the solar system (by mass) is a. Earth b. Mars c. Venus d. Jupiter e. Neptune
d. Jupiter
Which of the following statements about the seasons on Jupiter is correct? a. Jupiter has seasons pretty much like the Earth; its axis has the same tilt, and each season is about the same length b. Jupiter has the same axis tilt as the Earth, but each season on Jupiter is much longer c. Jupiter's axis is tilted much more than the Earth's so its seasons are much more intense d. Jupiter's axis is hardly tilted so it has no real seasonal variations e. Jupiter's orbit brings it much closer to the Sun in summer and much farther from the Sun in winter
d. Jupiter's axis is hardly tilted so it has no real seasonal variations
What factor, more than any other, do you think led to Jupiter having so many moons compared to the inner terrestrial planets? a. The Sun is far enough away from Jupiter that its heat is insufficient to melt icy particles orbiting the planet; these particles coelesced to form moons. b. Jupiter's rapid rotation was important in spinning off most of these moons from its surface. c. Jupiter has an extensive atmosphere from which these moons have been formed. d. The powerful gravitational field produced by Jupiter's large mass has allowed this planet to capture moons from the nearby asteroid belt.
d. The powerful gravitational field produced by Jupiter's large mass has allowed this planet to capture moons from the nearby asteroid belt.
How have astronomers learned what different asteroids are made of? a. The only way is to send a spacecraft to each asteroid and bring a chunk of it home b. They measure the x-rays that all asteroids give off c. They wait until the asteroid has a tail of gas behind it and measure that tail d. They examine the spectrum of the sunlight that reflects from the asteroid e. There is no way at the present time to know what asteroids are made of
d. They examine the spectrum of the sunlight that reflects from the asteroid
At their centers, all the jovian planets have cores made of: a. hydrogen and helium in the form of gas b. hydrogen and helium in the form of liquids c. methane, ammonia, and sulfur compounds d. a solid mixture of rocky and icy materials under great pressure e. new elements produced by the high pressure; elements which we do not have on Earth
d. a solid mixture of rocky and icy materials under great pressure
Why were asteroids not discovered until the 19th century? a. although asteroids are the same size as the planets, they are completely covered with dark dusty material, which means they reflect almost no light b. in their long looping orbits, it was not until the 19th century that an asteroid came close enough to the Earth to be detectable c. several asteroids collided with each other in early 1801, calling them to the attention of astronomers d. asteroids are generally small compared to planets and require a good telescope and patient searching to spot them e. only after Halley's work did astronomers think to look for the tails which allow us to spot an asteroid
d. asteroids are generally small compared to planets and require a good telescope and patient searching to spot them
When astronomers say that Ganymede is a differentiated body, they mean that it: a. has a northern hemisphere which is different from its southern hemisphere b. has more of the larger crater types than the smaller ones c. has a magnetic field that is not centered on its axis of rotation d. has a heavier core, surrounded by a lighter, icy mantle and crust e. has a color that is surprising among outer solar system satellites
d. has a heavier core, surrounded by a lighter, icy mantle and crust
Which of the following statements about Jupiter's magnetosphere is TRUE? a. its source is a zone directly above the planet's cloudtops b. the magnetic field is 20 to 30 times weaker than the Earth's c. it is tilted so that it is almost perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to the equator of Jupiter d. it completely covers the inner satellites of Jupiter and is one of the largest structures in the solar system e. it is easily visible to the human eye with a small telescope
d. it completely covers the inner satellites of Jupiter and is one of the largest structures in the solar system
Which of the following statements about the Galileo probe that dropped into Jupiter is FALSE? a. it was the first spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of a jovian planet b. it sent back information for a little less than an hour c. it was slowed by atmospheric friction and a parachute d. it detected a lot of water and water vapor clouds on its way down e. it found that the temperature and pressure increased as it got further down
d. it detected a lot of water and water vapor clouds on its way down
Which of the following statements about Charon is FALSE? a. it takes the same amount of time to rotate and revolve b. it keeps the same face toward Pluto c. it takes the same time to go around Pluto as Pluto takes to rotate d. it has a significant atmosphere e. it has a retrograde orbit (revolves in a direction opposite to the sense that most satellites in the solar system revolve)
d. it has a significant atmosphere
The bluish color that makes the atmosphere of Neptune so beautiful to the human eye is caused by the interaction of sunlight with what gas? a. carbon dioxide b. oxygen c. argon d. methane e. helium
d. methane
If I stood on the surface of Pluto, observing its big moon, I would see that moon: a. rise in the east b. rise in the west c. get smaller day by day d. remain in the same place in the sky e. Come on! Pluto has no moons!
d. remain in the same place in the sky
The majority of the moons orbiting the outer (jovian) planets are: a. large moons, roughly the size of Pluto or Mercury b. small moons orbiting in the same direction that their planet turns c. much warmer than the planet they orbit d. small moons orbiting in a retrograde direction (opposite to the direction their planet turns and orbits) e. not in good working order, since they were made in Bayonne, New Jersey
d. small moons orbiting in a retrograde direction (opposite to the direction their planet turns and orbits)
What method was used to discover Pluto in 1929-1930? a. look at irregularities (wobbles) in the motions of Uranus and Neptune b. use one of the first radio telescopes to measure cold radio waves from Pluto c. look for patterns in the orbits of the moons of Neptune to see in which direction Pluto would have escaped d. take pairs of photographs several days apart and "blink" them e. you can't fool me; Pluto was discovered by Galileo through one of his first telescopes
d. take pairs of photographs several days apart and "blink" them
For a while, after the space age began, astronomers did not know what the surface of Titan looks like, but today they do. Which of the following was NOT a method by which astronomers have learned about the surface of Titan? a. using instruments on the Huygens spacecraft to take pictures as it was descending b. using an infrared camera aboard Cassini to take images of the surface in infrared c. using a radar instrument to penetrate the smog in Titan's atmosphere d. using the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit to take a photo of Titan e. taking a photograph of the surface from a spacecraft that landed on Titan
d. using the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit to take a photo of Titan
Which of the following is NOT one of the largest moons in the Solar System? a. Titan (around Saturn) b. Triton (around Neptune) c. Ganymede (around Jupiter) d. the Earth's Moon e. Atlas (the shepherd moon near Saturn's A ring)
e. Atlas (the shepherd moon near Saturn's A ring)
The moon Triton orbits which of the planets? a. Mars b. Jupiter c. Saturn d. Uranus e. Neptune
e. Neptune
The first spacecraft to explore the environment of the planet Jupiter was called a. Viking b. Mariner c. Apollo d. Voyager e. Pioneer
e. Pioneer
Which planet has the biggest moon relative to its own size? Not the biggest moon in terms of kilometers, but the biggest as a percentage of the size of the planet it orbits. a. Jupiter b. Neptune c. Uranus d. Saturn e. Pluto
e. Pluto
Two worlds in the outer solar system that seem remarkably similar to each other are: a. Titan and Ganymede b. Io and Europa c. Titan and Triton d. Callisto and Io e. Pluto and Triton
e. Pluto and Triton
The Red Spot of Jupiter is: a. variable in size b. a high pressure storm system in the atmosphere c. made of a reddish colored material (but we don't know what gives it the reddish color) d. long-lived (observed since the 1600's) e. all of the above
e. all of the above
Which of the following is NOT a way that the moon Titan probably resembles the Earth? a. it has a thick atmosphere b. the main constituent of its atmosphere is nitrogen c. sunlight interacts with the chemicals on the moom to create a rich mix of organic molecules d. it has clouds in its atmosphere e. at its surface the temperature and pressure are just right for water to exist in all three phases (gas, liquid, and ice)
e. at its surface the temperature and pressure are just right for water to exist in all three phases (gas, liquid, and ice)
How were the rings of Uranus discovered? a. They were seen through a small telescope at the same time the planet was b. They were discovered with the Hubble Space Telescope c. They were discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft when it flew by Uranus d. Through the radio waves given off as they interact with the magnetic field e. by using the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (the telescope aboard an airplane) to observe Uranus moving in front of a distant star
e. by using the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (the telescope aboard an airplane) to observe Uranus moving in front of a distant star
More than 75% of the known asteroids: a. cross the Earth's orbit at least once as they revolve around the Sun b. are made of icy material that is highly reflective c. were once part of a planet as large as Jupiter d. lie farther out from the Sun than the orbit of Saturn e. can be found in a belt between Mars and Jupiter
e. can be found in a belt between Mars and Jupiter
Which of the following is NOT a way that Jupiter differs from terrestrial planets? a. its average density is lower b. it is farther away from the Sun c. it includes much more gas and liquid d. it is larger in diameter e. its surface has many more craters from early collisions
e. its surface has many more craters from early collisions
The upper clouds in the atmosphere of Neptune are composed of: a. frozen water crystals b. liquid hydrogen c. iron crystals caught in the magnetic field lines d. carbon dioxide e. methane
e. methane
The dwarf planet Pluto was discovered in 1930. Since that time, which jovian planet has completed a full revolution around the Sun? a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune e. more than one of the above
e. more than one of the above
The spacecraft that visited Pluto and send back our first images: a. was called New Horizons b. got a gravity boost from Jupiter to get it to Pluto faster c. used plutonium to keep it warm d. is returning to Earth in the 22nd century e. more than one of the above
e. more than one of the above
Saturn's ring particles are composed mainly of: a. silicate rocks b. frozen carbon dioxide c. droplets of very cold methane d. carbon that has been compressed until it is highly reflective e. water ice
e. water ice
Which of the jovian planets does NOT have any satellites? a. Jupiter b. Saturn c. Uranus d. Neptune e. you can't fool me, all the jovian planets are accompanied by satellites
e. you can't fool me, all the jovian planets are accompanied by satellites