Cosmic Tails (That Aren’t From Comets)

What distinguishes comets from asteroids in terms of their composition?

• Comets and asteroids have identical compositions.

• Both comets and asteroids are primarily gaseous.

• Comets are icy, while asteroids are rocky.

• Comets are rocky, while asteroids are icy.

What is the primary component of Phaethon's tail?

• Dust

• Sodium vapor

• Water vapor

• Carbon dioxide

When is Mercury's sodium tail at its brightest?

• When Mercury is closest to the Sun

• During a solar eclipse

• 16 Earth days after Mercury is closest to the Sun

• When Mercury is farthest from the Sun

What causes the sodium moon spot to appear in the sky?

• The Moon's proximity to the Sun

• The Earth's gravity focusing sodium

• The Moon's volcanic activity

• The Earth's magnetic field

What process is responsible for the X-rays emitted by Pluto's tail?

• Gravitational lensing

• Magnetic resonance

• Charge exchange

• Nuclear fusion

What is the length of WASP 69 B's tail?

• 50,000 kilometers

• 1 million kilometers

• 100,000 kilometers

• 580,000 kilometers

What technique was used to study WASP 69 B's tail?

• Radio wave analysis

• Visible light spectroscopy

• Ultraviolet hydrogen signal

• Infrared helium signature

What is the length of Myra A's tail?

• 5 light years

• 13 light years

• 20 light years

• 1 light year

What causes Myra's tail to glow?

• Infrared radiation

• Ultraviolet light

• Visible light

• Microwave radiation

What is the significance of Myra's tail for understanding stellar evolution?

• It reveals how stars can create new planets.

• It shows how stars can become supernovae.

• It provides insight into the life cycle of stars not massive enough for supernovae.

• It demonstrates how stars can form black holes.