Planets & Dwarf Planets
Which is the only planet known to support life?
Earth
What is the star at the center of our solar system?
The Sun
What icy object develops a tail when it gets close to the Sun?
Comet
The Moon reflects light from which celestial object?
The Sun
What was the first space telescope launched into orbit in 1990?
Hubble Space Telescope
Which planet is the largest in the solar system?
Jupiter
What is a group of stars that form a pattern called?
A constellation
Where are most asteroids found between Mars and Jupiter?
Asteroid Belt
What force keeps the Moon in orbit around Earth?
Gravity
What is the difference between objects that emit light and objects that reflect light in space?
Objects that emit light produce their own light, like the sun, while objects that reflect light, like planets and moons, only shine by reflecting light from a source like the Sun.
Which planet has the most extensive ring system?
Saturn
What is the main gas that makes up stars?
Hydrogen
What is the difference between asteroids and meteoroids?
Asteroids are large, rocky objects orbiting the Sun, while meteoroids are smaller, rocky or metallic bodies, often fragments of asteroids or comets, that also orbit the Sun
Which planet has the most moons and how many does it have?
Saturn has 274 moons
The first refracting telescope was invented by who?
Hans Lippershey
Which planet is the hottest due to its thick atmosphere?
Venus
What is the term for a massive explosion marking the death of a star?
Supernova
Where do comets originate in the outer solar system?
The Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt
Why does Earth's Moon have so many craters?
The Moon has no atmosphere to burn up meteoroids, so they impact its surface directly.
What is the difference between refracting and reflecting telescopes?
Refracting telescopes use lenses to bend light, while reflecting telescopes use mirrors to gather and focus light.
What are the three criteria a celestial body must meet to be classified as a planet?
It must orbit the Sun, be nearly round in shape, and clear its orbit of other debris.
What is the name of the dense core left behind after a massive star goes supernova (explodes)?
A neutron star or black hole
What is the name of the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt?
Ceres
Why do Mercury and Venus have no moons?
They are too close to the Sun’s gravitational pull to retain moons.
What is the Big Bang Theory?
The scientific explanation for how the universe began expanding from a hot, dense state.