Astronomy Wrap-Up

A total eclipse of the sun can only occur during which phase of the moon?

• new moon

• waxing gibbous

• waning gibbous

• full moon

What was used as evidence to develop the big bang theory and the origin of the universe?

• the existence of planets revolving around the Sun

• the observation that galaxies are moving away from each other

• the existence of planets revolving around stars other than the Sun

• the observation that stars are still being produced in other galaxies

The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond Neptune, 55 AU from the Sun. It contains smaller bodies that scientists think are remnants from the formation of the solar system. Which of the following statements best describes how scientists know that the Kuiper Belt is part of the solar system?

• It is located beyond Neptune.

• The objects within the belt orbit the Sun.

• The objects within the belt are bigger than Mercury

• Objects in the Kuiper Belt are still visible with a telescope.

Which statement best describes the differences between the inner planets and the outer planets?

• The inner planets are large, gaseous bodies, while the outer planets are small, solid, rocky bodies.

• The inner planets are small, solid, rocky bodies, while the outer planets are large, gaseous bodies.

• The inner planets are collections of frozen gas and rocky particles, while the outer planets are fragments of rock.

• The inner planets have thick, poisonous atmospheres, while the outer planets have no atmospheres at all.

Which of the following planets is NOT a gas giant?

• Saturn

• Neptune

• Mars

• Jupiter

What do the inner planets have in common?

• same size

• rocky surface

• made of gas

• rotate at the same speed

What causes The Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

• canyon

• volcano

• ocean

• storm

The earliest astronomers observed the Sun's daily motion across the sky. Until the early 1500s, astronomers believed the Sun's apparent motion was evidence that the Sun revolved around Earth. Today, the Sun still moves across the sky every day, but astronomers no longer believe that it revolves around Earth. Why has the theory explaining the Sun's motion changed, while the observation of the Sun's motion has remained the same?

• Scientists have developed new theories that do not require evidence derived from observations.

• Scientists have made new observations that make it possible to ignore the original observation.

• New technology has shown that the human eye cannot adequately observe the Sun's motion across the sky.

• New technology and research has allowed scientists to reevaluate the conclusions drawn from the original observation.

Which of the following are three of the outer planets?

• Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn

• Neptune, Earth, Venus

• Saturn, Mercury, Earth

• Uranus, Jupiter, Mars

What is the correct order of the planets from largest mass to smallest mass?

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

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

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

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