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The Solar System, and Beyond! Trivia Quiz

A quiz on all in the solar system and beyond! Includes some questions on the history of space exploration! Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by colin_stuart. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
colin_stuart

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
151,264

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
3311

Last 3 plays: workisboring (15/15), comark2000 (15/15), Joepetz (15/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In which year did NASA begin to build the Hubble Space Telescope? Hint

1980

1990

1984

1977

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Question 2 of 15

2. Where in the Solar System would you find "Alba Patera"? Hint

Pluto

Mars

The Moon

Mercury

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Question 3 of 15

3. "Ceres" is sometimes referred to as a dwarf planet, but its designation, according to NASA, is a/an ___.

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 4 of 15

4. What are "Crab", "Eagle", "Tarantula", "Horsehead" and "Butterfly" all examples of?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 5 of 15

5. What is the name of the closest white dwarf to The Sun? Hint

Sirius A

Sirius D

Sirius C

Sirius B

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Question 6 of 15

6. A WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) is lighter than a hydrogen atom.

True

False

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which space probe was the first to cross the asteroid belt? Hint

Mariner 9

Viking 2

Voyager 1

Pioneer 10

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Question 8 of 15

8. Hertzsprung is a volcano found on Mars.

True

False

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Question 9 of 15

9. How many inferior planets are there in the Solar System? Hint

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Question 10 of 15

10. Which planet has a moon that shares it name with the object struck in a game of ice hockey? Hint

Mars

Uranus

Jupiter

Saturn

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which is the densest and most massive molecular cloud in the Milky Way galaxy? Hint

Aries B2

Sagittarius B2

Gemini B2

Capricorn B2

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Question 12 of 15

12. What was Percival Lowell convinced he could see on Mars that might indicate the presence of intelligent life?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 13 of 15

13. What is the name of the cloud that marks the edge of the Solar System?

Answer: (Dutch Astronomer)

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Question 14 of 15

14. How many times more luminous is the Milky Way compared to our Sun? Hint

14 billion times

140 trillion times

1.4 million times

1.4 billion times

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Question 15 of 15

15. What were the names of the two dogs carried into space by Sputnik 5?

Answer: (use "and")

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In which year did NASA begin to build the Hubble Space Telescope?

Answer: 1977

The American astronomer Lyman Spitzer first proposed an extraterrestrial observatory in 1946. The Hubble Space Telescope was named after Edwin Hubble.

2. Where in the Solar System would you find "Alba Patera"?

Answer: Mars

Alba Patera, found on Mars, is a peak at a height of 1,600m and a diameter of 464km.

3. "Ceres" is sometimes referred to as a dwarf planet, but its designation, according to NASA, is a/an ___.

Answer: Asteroid

Ceres is also the largest asteroid to be discovered, with a diameter of 932km. It also contains one-third of the total mass of all asteroids.

4. What are "Crab", "Eagle", "Tarantula", "Horsehead" and "Butterfly" all examples of?

Answer: Nebula

The Horsehead Nebula is 4 light years from "mane" to "nose". The blue glow that can be seen in the Crab Nebula is synchrotron radiation produced by very-fast moving electrons.

5. What is the name of the closest white dwarf to The Sun?

Answer: Sirius B

Sirius B is a tiny star orbiting around the bright star Sirius.

6. A WIMP (Weakly Interacting Massive Particle) is lighter than a hydrogen atom.

Answer: False

It is possible that WIMPS make up most of the dark matter in the universe. Physicists are currently trying to establish whether WIMPSs really exist.

7. Which space probe was the first to cross the asteroid belt?

Answer: Pioneer 10

Pioneer 10 was a fly-by probe which encountered Jupiter in 1973.

8. Hertzsprung is a volcano found on Mars.

Answer: False

Hertzsprung is a 591km crater basin found on the far side of the Moon.

9. How many inferior planets are there in the Solar System?

Answer: 2

Mercury and Venus. These are called inferior planets because they orbit closer to the Sun than the Earth.

10. Which planet has a moon that shares it name with the object struck in a game of ice hockey?

Answer: Uranus

All of Uranus's moons are named after characters from plays by William Shakespeare. The moon in question, Puck, comes from the comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

11. Which is the densest and most massive molecular cloud in the Milky Way galaxy?

Answer: Sagittarius B2

Sagittarius B2 lies at the heart of the Milky Way and is a region of intensive starbirth.

12. What was Percival Lowell convinced he could see on Mars that might indicate the presence of intelligent life?

Answer: Canals

These turned out to be optical illusions. The channels were first seen by Giovanni Schiaparelli in the 1890's.

13. What is the name of the cloud that marks the edge of the Solar System?

Answer: Oort

The Oort Cloud consists of orbiting comets that surround the planetary region of the Solar System to an average distance of 0.8 light years!

14. How many times more luminous is the Milky Way compared to our Sun?

Answer: 14 billion times

15. What were the names of the two dogs carried into space by Sputnik 5?

Answer: Belka and Strelka

The satellite returned to Earth after only a day of orbiting however, Strelka and Belka became the first creatures to survive the weightlessness of space and the forces of re-entry.

Source: Author colin_stuart

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