What is an exoplanet?

• A) A moon orbiting an asteroid

• B) A planet that orbits a star outside our solar system

• C) A comet passing through a solar system

• D) A type of star

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Which method is commonly used to detect exoplanets by observing the dimming of a star as a planet passes in front of it?

• A) Radial velocity

• B) Transit method

• C) Direct imaging

• D) Astrometry

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What does the term "habitable zone" refer to?

• A) The region around a star where temperatures allow for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface

• B) The area in a galaxy where most stars are found

• C) The core area of a planet where life is possible

• D) The space within a solar system that is protected from solar flares

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DOK Level 1: Recall

What is the significance of the Kepler Space Telescope in the study of exoplanets?

• A) It was the first telescope to use the transit method

• B) It discovered thousands of exoplanets

• C) It is used for studying the sun

• D) It primarily studies comets

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DOK Level 1: Recall

How do astronomers use the transit method to estimate the size of an exoplanet?

• A) By measuring the duration of the transit

• B) By observing the depth of the dip in brightness of the star

• C) By calculating the speed of the planet

• D) By the frequency of the transits

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What is the primary factor that determines whether an exoplanet is in the habitable zone of its star?

• A) The planet's atmosphere

• B) The planet's size

• C) The distance of the planet from its star

• D) The type of rock on the planet

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DOK Level 1: Recall

What does the detection of water vapor in an exoplanet's atmosphere suggest about the planet?

• A) It is too hot to support life

• B) It has a protective magnetic field

• C) It could potentially support life

• D) It is geologically active

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

What information can astronomers derive from the light curve obtained during a transit of an exoplanet?

• A) The chemical composition of the star

• B) The size and orbit of the exoplanet

• C) The age of the exoplanet

• D) The temperature of the exoplanet

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Tell me about an exoplanet you would be excited to find. Write a couple paragraphs, roughly 10 sentences or more describing what your ideal exoplanet would be like. You can describe traits like temperature, pressure, rainfall if any, etc. Use your imagination and describe your perfect exoplanet.

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NGSS.MS-PS1-4