Astronomy Test 8
The physical structure of Saturn's rings is
a sequence of many thousand separate ringlets consisting of ice blocks and ice-coated rock.
Triton, the largest satellite of Neptune, has
a surface of ice with frozen lakes, plumes of escaping gas, and few craters.
Detailed observations of Jupiter's rotation suggest that
it is not a rigid object because equatorial regions rotate faster than polar regions.
"Markings" on the surface of Saturn are
similar in appearance to those on Jupiter, but much less distinct.
How was Neptune discovered?
By a careful application of Newton's laws to the somewhat irregular motions of Uranus
What is the source of Jupiter's intense magnetic field?
Electric currents in Jupiter's liquid hydrogen layer
How were the rings of Uranus discovered?
From the Earth, when each ring momentarily blocked the light from a background star
What are the most abundant gases in the atmosphere of Uranus?
Hydrogen and helium, with traces of methane
Europa, one of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter, has a surface consisting of
a relatively young, icy crust covered with a network of streaks and cracks and only a few impact craters.
What is the typical thickness of Saturn's rings?
2 km
How many large, spherical moons are in orbit around Jupiter?
4
How much more massive would Jupiter need to be in order to generate energy by nuclear fusion in its interior?
75 times more massive
What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?
A large, long-lived, anticyclonic storm that is maintained by the differential rotation of Jupiter's atmosphere
What characteristic of Saturn's satellite Titan makes it different from any other known satellite in the solar system?
It has geyser-like plumes of nitrogen gas on its surface.
What characteristic of Jupiter's satellite, Io, makes it different from any other known satellite in the solar system?
It is volcanically active, with gas plumes and lava flows.
Which property of Triton, the largest moon of Neptune, makes it significantly different from all other major moons in the solar system?
It orbits in a direction opposite to the rotation and revolution of its mother planet.
Which is the biggest planet in the solar system?
Jupiter
The most massive planetary satellite in the solar system is
Jupiter's satellite Ganymede.
What characteristic features are seen on the visible surface of Jupiter?
Light and dark bands parallel to the equator
The Great Dark Spot (which is not the same as the Great Red Spot) was found on which planet or moon?
Neptune
The rings of Saturn are in which plane with respect to the planetary system?
The equatorial plane of Saturn
What is the mass of Jupiter compared to other objects in the solar system?
Twice the mass of all other planets combined
Which planet has its rotation axis tilted at 98° from the vertical to its orbit?
Uranus
What are the light-colored bands on Jupiter called?
Zones
The dark, reddish bands on Jupiter are called
belts.