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Practical Astronomy Trivia Quiz

Ever looked at the sky - with the naked eye - through a telescope? Maybe you know the answers to some of these then?

A multiple-choice quiz by markarian. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
markarian

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
106,766

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
4379

Last 3 plays: Guest 24 (4/10), johnnycat777 (4/10), sam388 (10/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is the name of the only asteroid visible to the naked eye? Hint

Eros

Ceres

Vesta

Pallas

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Question 2 of 10

2. The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is also a binary star. True or False?

True

False

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Question 3 of 10

3. You can see some of the moons of Jupiter through ordinary binoculars. True or False?

True

False

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Question 4 of 10

4. When a meteor shower is named after a constellation (for example, the Geminids after Gemini), this means that all meteors seen will be contained within the bounds of that constellation.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the most active meteor shower that takes place in August every year? Hint

Augustids

Perseids

Leonids

Meteorids

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following is not a type of telescope? Hint

Copernican

Gregorian

Herschelian

Newtonian

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Question 7 of 10

7. What magnification would a refractor telescope give if the main objective lens had a focal length of 1200mm and the eyepiece a focal length of 30mm? Hint

40x

360x

36x

400x

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following is a type of eyepiece design? Hint

Egocentric

Monocentric

Planocentric

Orthocentric

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Question 9 of 10

9. You cannot see the Aurora Borealis in the Southern hemisphere. True or False?

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. What type of telescope mount is generally the best for taking long exposure photographs of the sky? Hint

Altazimuth

Equatorial

Dobsonian

Transit

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 10 2024 : Guest 24: 4/10
Apr 09 2024 : johnnycat777: 4/10
Apr 09 2024 : sam388: 10/10
Apr 09 2024 : stephedm: 8/10
Apr 09 2024 : Upstart3: 5/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 68: 8/10
Mar 16 2024 : turaguy: 5/10
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 75: 4/10
Feb 23 2024 : glenjue: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is the name of the only asteroid visible to the naked eye?

Answer: Vesta

Although it's not the largest (Ceres is) it's the only one that can be seen without a telescope - but only just, if you have a dark sky.

2. The brightest star in the sky, Sirius, is also a binary star. True or False?

Answer: True

Sirius B, sometimes called the Pup, is a white dwarf companion to Sirius (A). The two stars revolve around their common centre of gravity in approximately 50 years.

3. You can see some of the moons of Jupiter through ordinary binoculars. True or False?

Answer: True

The 4 largest and brightest satellites, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, can be seen through binoculars.

4. When a meteor shower is named after a constellation (for example, the Geminids after Gemini), this means that all meteors seen will be contained within the bounds of that constellation.

Answer: False

This means that that the radiant, the point from which all meteors appear to radiate, is within that constellation.

5. What is the most active meteor shower that takes place in August every year?

Answer: Perseids

The Perseids are one of the best showers of the year. They peak between 12/13 August every year.

6. Which of the following is not a type of telescope?

Answer: Copernican

Herschelian named after Sir William Herschel. Newtonian after Sir Isaac Newton. Gregorian after Professor James Gregory. Although an astronomer , no telescope was invented by, or named after Nicolaus Copernicus

7. What magnification would a refractor telescope give if the main objective lens had a focal length of 1200mm and the eyepiece a focal length of 30mm?

Answer: 40x

To calculate the magnification of a telescope, divide the focal length of the objective lens (in a refractor) or main mirror (in a reflector) by the focal length of the eyepiece.

1200/30 = 40

8. Which of the following is a type of eyepiece design?

Answer: Monocentric

A Monocentric eyepiece is usually composed of three glass elements, cemented together.

9. You cannot see the Aurora Borealis in the Southern hemisphere. True or False?

Answer: True

Borealis means Northern. In the Southern hemisphere you see Southern equivalent, the Aurora Australis.

10. What type of telescope mount is generally the best for taking long exposure photographs of the sky?

Answer: Equatorial

An Equatorial mount is aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation and only has to be driven in one axis in order to track the movement of the stars as the Earth rotates.

Source: Author markarian

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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