The Solar System Practice Quiz

Our entire solar system was formed from:

• the remains of an exploded star that gravity pulled together

• black holes ejecting matter into space

• the expansion of the universe

• a superheated plasma cloud burning up large asteroids and making planets

The technical "name" of our Solar System is:

• Sol

• Luna

• Sagittarius

• Astro

Our sun makes up 99.8% of all the mass contained within our solar system.

• True

• False

What is the correct order of the planets starting with the planet closest to the Sun?

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

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

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

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a planet?

• Planets orbit a star.

• Planets have the shape of a sphere.

• Planets are the most massive object in their orbit.

• Planets emit light just like a star.

The group of 4 inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) are known as the ___________ planets because of their rocky surfaces.

• Terrestrial

• Gas Giants

• Cold

The group of 4 outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are known as the Jovian Planets but also as the ____________, because they don't have rocky surfaces.

• hot planets

• gas giants

• terrestrial planets

Between what two planets is the "asteroid belt" found?

• Earth and Mars

• Uranus and Neptune

• Mercury and Venus

• Mars and Jupiter

Pluto is very small and does not dominate its' orbital path around the Sun and is now referred to as a __________.

• sol horizon

• dwarf star

• dwarf planet

• terrestrial planet

Natural satellites that orbit a planet are known as:

• moons

• asteroids

• meteors

• comets