Exploring Our Cosmic Neighbourhood

What is the largest planet in our Solar System?

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Mars

Answer explanation

Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System, significantly larger than Earth, Saturn, and Mars. It has a diameter of about 86,881 miles (139,822 kilometers), making it a gas giant with a massive size and strong gravitational pull.

Which planet is known as the "Red Planet"?

• Venus

• Mars

• Mercury

• Neptune

Answer explanation

Mars is known as the "Red Planet" due to its reddish appearance, which is caused by iron oxide (rust) on its surface. This distinguishes it from other planets like Venus, Mercury, and Neptune.

Who was the first human to travel into space?

• Neil Armstrong

• Yuri Gagarin

• Buzz Aldrin

• John Glenn

Answer explanation

Yuri Gagarin was the first human to travel into space on April 12, 1961, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, making him a significant figure in space exploration history.

What is the name of the galaxy that contains our Solar System?

• Andromeda Galaxy

• Milky Way Galaxy

• Triangulum Galaxy

• Whirlpool Galaxy

Answer explanation

The Milky Way Galaxy is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. It is a barred spiral galaxy and is home to billions of stars, including our Sun.

Which spacecraft was the first to land on the Moon?

• Apollo 11

• Sputnik 1

• Voyager 1

• Hubble Space Telescope

Answer explanation

Apollo 11 was the first spacecraft to land on the Moon on July 20, 1969, with astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin making history. The other options, such as Sputnik 1 and Voyager 1, were not lunar landers.

What is the approximate distance from the Earth to the Sun?

• 93 million miles

• 150 million miles

• 250 million miles

• 300 million miles

Answer explanation

The average distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 93 million miles, also known as 1 Astronomical Unit (AU). This is a standard measurement used in astronomy.

Which planet is known for its prominent ring system?

• Uranus

• Neptune

• Saturn

• Jupiter

Answer explanation

Saturn is renowned for its stunning and extensive ring system, which is the most prominent among all the planets in our solar system. While other gas giants have rings, Saturn's are the most visible and well-defined.

What is the main component of the Sun?

• Oxygen

• Hydrogen

• Carbon

• Helium

Answer explanation

The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen, which makes up about 74% of its mass. This is followed by helium at around 24%. Oxygen and carbon are present in much smaller amounts, making hydrogen the main component.

Which of the following is a dwarf planet in our Solar System?

• Pluto

• Venus

• Mars

• Earth

Answer explanation

Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet due to its size and inability to clear its orbit of other debris, unlike the other options which are classified as full planets.

What is the term for the boundary around a black hole beyond which nothing can escape?

• Event Horizon

• Singularity

• Accretion Disk

• Photon Sphere

Answer explanation

The term 'Event Horizon' refers to the boundary surrounding a black hole. Once crossed, nothing, not even light, can escape the gravitational pull of the black hole, making it a crucial concept in understanding black hole physics.