NASA Celestial Events Quiz

What celestial event is NASA predicting between now and September 2024?

• Solar eclipse

• Lunar eclipse

• Nova explosion

• Meteor shower

What is a nova?

• A type of planet

• A sudden burst of energy from a star

• A comet passing by Earth

• A solar flare

In what type of star system does a nova occur?

• Single star system

• Binary star system

• Triple star system

• Quaternary star system

What type of star is involved in a nova along with a red giant?

• Neutron star

• Black hole

• White dwarf

• Planetary nebula

What tool is usually needed to observe a nova?

• Microscope

• Binoculars

• Telescope

• Magnifying glass

What will be unique about the upcoming T Coronae Borealis nova eruption?

• It will be visible only with a telescope

• It will be visible with the unaided eye

• It will last for several years

• It will occur during the day

What is T Coronae Borealis (T CrB)?

• A single star system located 3,000 light-years away from Earth

• A binary star system located 3,000 light-years away from Earth

• A planet located 3,000 light-years away from Earth

• A galaxy located 3,000 light-years away from Earth

How often do the periodic nova outbursts of T CrB occur?

• Every 50 years

• Every 60 years

• Every 70 years

• Every 80 years

What causes the white dwarf's atmosphere to heat up and eventually erupt?

• The tight orbits of the system's red giant and white dwarf

• The collision of two stars

• The presence of a black hole

• The gravitational pull of a nearby planet

Who is Bradley Schaefer?

• An astronaut at NASA

• An astrophysicist at Louisiana State University

• A physicist at Harvard University

• A chemist at MIT