Astronomy 8: District Review

Satellites start out moving forward in a straight line at a high rate of speed, but they are pulled into orbit by the force of ______________________.

• magnetism

• radiation

• gravity

• inertia

Name the rocky space objects, much smaller than planets but larger than meteoroids, that revolve around the Sun.

• asteroid

• comet

• meteoroid

• dwarf planet

Earth’s water layer:

• atmosphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

• lithosphere

Earth’s rigid, rocky layer:

• atmosphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

• lithosphere

Earth’s gas layer:

• atmosphere

• hydrosphere

• biosphere

• lithosphere

Earth’s gas layer helps in which of the following ways:

• blocking the Sun's dangerous rays

• regulating temperature

• protection from meteoroids

• All of the above

Why do astronomers use light-years to measure distances in space?

• space is too dark

• light travels so fast

• space distances are so vast (very large)

• they eventually ran out of numbers

Name the spiral galaxy where our solar system is located.

• Orion

• M51

• The Milky Way

• Andromeda

What is a light year?

• the distance between Earth and the Sun

• the distance light travels in one year

Identify the type of galaxy shaped like a flattened pinwheel, with curved arms spinning out from a center point.

• elliptical

• spiral

• circular

• irregular