Star Basics
Stars are born from enormous clouds of dust and gas called:
A) Galaxies
B) Nebulae
C) Supernovas
D) Comets
B) Nebulae
The sun appears larger and brighter than other stars primarily because:
A) It is the hottest star
B) It is the largest star
C) It is closer to Earth
D) It is made of different gas
C) It is closer to Earth
What is the most important reason some stars appear brighter than others from Earth?
A) Their color
B) Their distance from us
C) Their age
D) Their name
B) Their distance from us
You can tell a planet from a star because stars tend to:
A) Stay still
B) Change color
C) Twinkle
D) Disappear
C) Twinkle
One way scientists classify stars is by their color and:
A) Shape
B) Weight
C) Temperature
D) Age
C) Temperature
These two gases primarily make up a nebula:
A) Oxygen and Nitrogen
B) Hydrogen and Helium
C) Carbon and Neon
D) Iron and Nickel
B) Hydrogen and Helium
Compared to other stars in the universe, our sun’s size is considered:
A) Giant
B) Tiny
C) Average
D) Massive
C) Average
If two stars are the same size, the one that is closer to Earth will appear:
A) Dimmer
B) Brighter
C) Redder
D) Smaller
B) Brighter
This object can appear as a very bright star in the evening sky from December to June:
A) Mars
B) The Moon
C) Venus
D) Jupiter
C) Venus
What is the name for the explosion of a star?
A) Nebula
B) Fusion
C) Supernova
D) Orbit
C) Supernova
The process that releases light and heat in a star is called:
A) Gravity
B) Solar wind
C) Nuclear fusion
D) Photosynthesis
C) Nuclear fusion
How many times wider than Earth is the sun?
A) 10 times
B) 50 times
C) 109 times
D) 1,000 times
C) 109 times
These stars, like Betelgeuse, may appear bright because they grow very large before they die:
A) Blue dwarfs
B) Red giants
C) Yellow averages
D) White stars
B) Red giants
Why do we see different stars at different times of the year?
A) Stars move around Earth
B) Earth changes positions
C) The sun gets brighter
D) Stars turn off
B) Earth changes positions
Stars that appear bluish in color are:
A) The coolest
B) The smallest
C) The hottest
D) The oldest
C) The hottest
This force pulls gases together in clumps to form a star:
A) Magnetism
B) Friction
C) Gravity
D) Electricity
C) Gravity
The surface temperature of the sun is approximately:
A) 1,000°F
B) 5,000°F
C) 10,000°F
D) 100,000°F
C) 10,000°F
According to the Big Dipper data, which star is closest at 63 light-years away?
A) Alkaid
B) Megrez
C) Dubhe
D) Mizar
B) Megrez
Besides twinkling, you can identify a planet by noticing its:
A) Position in the sky
B) Points/rays
C) Sharp edges
D) Blinking lights
A) Position in the sky
The coolest stars, at about 5,000°F, appear which color?
A) Blue
B) White
C) Red
D) Yellow
C) Red