General Awareness: General Astronomy Quiz

1. Out of these four stars, which one is the brightest (as seen from Earth)?

a) Betelgeuse
b) Vega
c) Achernar
d) Procyon

The correct answer is b) Vega

2. Which constellation is sometimes referred to as the thirteenth sign of the zodiac?

a) Ophiuchus
b) Cetus
c) Cancer
d) Leo

The correct answer is a) Ophiuchus

3. In September 29, 2010, an unconfirmed extrasolar planet 20.5 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Libra was discovered. What was its name?

a) Gliese 581g
b) Kepler 22-b
c) Upsilon Andromedae d
d) 16 Cygni Bb

The correct answer is a) Gliese 581g

4. What is the theoretical boundary between the Sun's solar wind and the interstellar medium?

a) Heliopause
b) Heliosphere
c) Solar flare
d) Oort cloud

The correct answer is a) Heliopause

5. In the constellation of Serpens, this Messier object consists of noticeable features such as the Spire and the Pillars of Creation. What is it called?

a) Crab Nebula
b) Eagle Nebula
c) Helix Nebula
d) Tarantula Nebula

The correct answer is b) Eagle Nebula

6. Which two co-ordinates are used to find a celestial object in the sky?

a) Declination and right ascension
b) Latitude and longitude
c) Equatorial diameter and radius
d) Northings and eastings

The correct answer is a) Declination and right ascension

7. What is the term that defines the maximum mass of a white dwarf star, approximately equal to 1.38 solar masses?

a) Redshift
b) Roche's limit
c) Chandrasekhar limit
d) Hubble's law

The correct answer is c) Chandrasekhar limit

8. By July 14 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft will arrive to study what celestial object?

a) Pluto
b) Sedna
c) Eris
d) Halley's comet

The correct answer is a) Pluto

9. Which of these is classified by astronomers as the largest star (actual diameter)?

a) VY Canis Majoris
b) Rigel
c) Mu Cephei
d) KY Cygni

The correct answer is a) VY Canis Majoris

10. What is the tight open cluster of stars located in the heart of the Orion Nebula named?

a) Beehive Cluster
b) The Trapezium
c) Butterfly Cluster
d) The Diamond

The correct answer is b) The Trapezium