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Quiz about The Night Sky
Quiz about The Night Sky

The Night Sky Trivia Quiz


Some of the beautiful and intriguing things you can see on a clear, dark night.

A multiple-choice quiz by wjames. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
wjames
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
365,610
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1893
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 73 (6/10), Guest 174 (10/10), Guest 195 (9/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. If you were heading out into the country to watch the Leonids, Perseids and Orionids, what would you be looking for? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What is the name of the hazy band of light that arcs across the clear night sky? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which night sky phenomenon is caused by the collision of charged particles with the upper atmosphere? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What is the largest artificial object in Earth orbit, which can often be seen with the naked eye? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. If your amateur astronomer friend is excited about seeing a "bolide", what have they seen? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which sky phenomenon has been officially defined as "any airborne object which by performance, aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features, does not conform to any presently known aircraft or missile type, or which cannot be positively identified as a familiar object."? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What is a common name for the rare phenomenon known scientifically as "paraselene" or "beside the moon"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What do some people, in cultures all across the globe, claim to see in the full moon? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What is the term for the line between the light and dark areas of the Moon, a name that sounds like it came from Hollywood? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Which night sky phenomenon have names such as "West", "Hyakutake" and "C/2006 P1"? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 73: 6/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 195: 9/10
Feb 01 2024 : bakeryfarm: 9/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. If you were heading out into the country to watch the Leonids, Perseids and Orionids, what would you be looking for?

Answer: Meteors

Meteor showers seem to originate from a point in the sky and are usually named for the nearest constellation. The largest showers are the Perseids, which peak in August, and the Leonids, which can be seen in November.
2. What is the name of the hazy band of light that arcs across the clear night sky?

Answer: Milky Way

The Milky Way is the name of our galaxy. From our position in the rim of the galaxy, we see the light from the other stars as a general band of light approximately 30 degrees wide.
3. Which night sky phenomenon is caused by the collision of charged particles with the upper atmosphere?

Answer: Aurora

The Aurora generally occurs in the high latitudes, usually within 20 degrees of the magnetic poles, but occasionally spreading into lower latitudes. Many have also reported sounds associated with the Aurora, and some early twenty-first century research in Norway and Alaska seems to support this.
4. What is the largest artificial object in Earth orbit, which can often be seen with the naked eye?

Answer: International Space Station

The International Space Station (ISS) is visible from approximately 95% of the Earth, and is as bright as Venus at magnitude -4. The ISS takes approximately 10 minutes to transit the night sky and many web sites and phone apps will help you locate the ISS at any time and location.
5. If your amateur astronomer friend is excited about seeing a "bolide", what have they seen?

Answer: A very bright or exploding meteor

Bolides are meteors that are unusually bright (magnitude -14 or greater) or that explode. "Bolide" is synonymous with "fireball", and it has been reported that some bolides can be heard.
6. Which sky phenomenon has been officially defined as "any airborne object which by performance, aerodynamic characteristics, or unusual features, does not conform to any presently known aircraft or missile type, or which cannot be positively identified as a familiar object."?

Answer: UFO

The U.S. Air Force so defined Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) in 1954. Reports of UFOs have declined steeply in recent years, since cell phone cameras have become ubiquitous.
7. What is a common name for the rare phenomenon known scientifically as "paraselene" or "beside the moon"?

Answer: Moon dog

Moon dogs are bright spots on a lunar halo, usually seen only when the moon is full and high, thin, icy clouds are present. "Moon Dog" is also a popular name in popular culture, including the nickname of disc jockey Alan Freed.
8. What do some people, in cultures all across the globe, claim to see in the full moon?

Answer: Man in the Moon

The dark areas of the moon (mares or "seas") seem to make the pattern of a human face or figure of the Man in the Moon. Some people see eyes and a mouth, others a full human form carrying a back pack or being accompanied by a dog.
9. What is the term for the line between the light and dark areas of the Moon, a name that sounds like it came from Hollywood?

Answer: Terminator

The terminator is the line between light (day) and dark (night) on the surface of the moon or any other planet or satellite. The moon is in synchronous rotation with the Earth, always showing the same side to us.
10. Which night sky phenomenon have names such as "West", "Hyakutake" and "C/2006 P1"?

Answer: Comets

Comets are collections of ice, dust and rock that orbit the Sun and, when they get close, heat up and become more visible. There are approximately 5,000 known comets and on average one per year is visible to the naked eye.
Source: Author wjames

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