Astronomy 101 Midterm Exam 1 Study Guide, Fall 2020 semester

Aurora borealis is:

• A type of cloud

• A natural light display in the sky

• A constellation

• A type of storm

The Arecibo Telescope in Puerto Rico is:

• a radio telescope

• a space shuttle

• a volcano

• an observatory for marine life

Europa is:

• A moon of Jupiter

• A planet in the Solar System

• A star in the Milky Way

• An asteroid belt

Ceres is:

• a planet

• a dwarf planet

• an asteroid belt

• a comet

Asteroid Florence is:

• a planet in the solar system

• a large near-Earth asteroid

• a comet in the Kuiper belt

• a moon of Jupiter

The Berringer Crater is:

• a volcanic crater

• an impact crater

• a sinkhole

• a man-made lake

A Megaton in the context of astronomy refers to:

• A unit of mass equal to one million tons

• A measure of explosive energy equivalent to one million tons of TNT

• A distance measurement used in space

• A type of star

A biomarker in astronomy is:

• A chemical or physical indicator of life on another planet.

• A type of telescope used to observe stars.

• A measurement of a planet's mass.

• A method for calculating distances between galaxies.

The Sun is crucial to life on Earth because:

• It provides light and energy needed for living things.

• It causes earthquakes.

• It makes the Earth spin faster.

• It creates mountains.

What are planetary transits and why are they important?

• Events when a planet passes in front of its star, helping scientists study the planet's properties.

• The movement of planets around the Sun, important for understanding seasons.

• The rotation of a planet on its axis, which determines day and night.

• The collision of two planets, which can create new celestial bodies.