Astronomy Basics
What does astronomy study?
Space, stars, planets, galaxies—everything in the universe.
What is at the center of our solar system?
The Sun.
What are stars made of?
Hot gases, mostly hydrogen and helium.
What is a “shooting star” really called?
A meteor.
What kind of energy is light?
Bright energy we can see.
Does light travel in curves or straight lines?
Straight lines.
What is a shadow?
A dark shape made when light is blocked.
What is a rainbow?
A colorful arc formed when sunlight passes through water droplets.
What are scientists who study space called?
Astronomers.
Which planet is called the Red Planet?
Mars.
What galaxy do we live in?
The Milky Way.
What is a meteor shower?
Many meteors as Earth passes through comet dust.
Give one natural and one artificial light source.
Natural: Sun, fire, lightning, bioluminescent animals; Artificial: bulb, lamp, torch, candle, screens.
What do we call light bouncing off a surface?
Reflection.
On which side of a light source does a shadow form?
On the opposite side.
What is the bending of light called?
Refraction.
Name two tools astronomers use to study space.
Telescopes, satellites, space probes (any two).
Which planet is famous for its icy rings?
Saturn.
What is a constellation?
A star pattern/picture in the sky.
What happens in a solar eclipse?
The Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, blocking sunlight.
What is bioluminescence?
Light made by living things (e.g., fireflies, deep-sea fish).
Match the material types: clear glass, frosted glass, wood.
Transparent; Translucent; Opaque.
When are shadows shortest during the day?
Around noon (Sun highest).
Why does red appear on top of a rainbow and violet on bottom?
Red bends least; violet bends most.
Give two ways ancient people used the sky.
Navigation by stars; telling time/seasons; stories about constellations (any two).
What is the name for the path planets follow around the Sun?
Orbit.
Why do different constellations appear in different seasons?
Earth orbits the Sun, changing our night-sky view.
What causes ocean tides on Earth?
Why do we need both natural and artificial light?
To see/live safely, learn and work, grow plants, and function at night/indoors.
What is absorption, and which colors absorb more light?
Light is taken in; dark colors (e.g., black) absorb more.
Why don’t rough surfaces reflect a clear image?
They scatter light in many directions.
Briefly: How do we see? Name two parts involved.
Light enters pupil, hits retina, signals brain; parts: pupil, retina, brain (any two).
Name one “big question” astronomy helps answer.
Origins, life elsewhere, what the universe is made of, how big it is (any one).
Which planet has the most moons, and which moon is bigger than Mercury?
Jupiter
Order these star colors from hottest to coolest: Blue, Yellow, Red.
Blue (hottest), Yellow, Red.
Why don’t eclipses happen every month?
The Moon’s orbit is tilted, so line-ups are rare.
List two artificial sources used for safety/transport.
Streetlights, car headlights, traffic lights (any two).
What is transmission, and which material shows it best?
Light passing through; transparent materials (e.g., clean glass).
Name two shiny/smooth surfaces that reflect clearly.
Mirrors, calm water, glass, polished metal (any two).
Name three ways light helps people daily (beyond “seeing”).
Safety (streetlights/headlights), tech (screens/cameras), learning/working, plant growth, art/stage lighting (any three).
Why are space telescopes (like Hubble/James Webb) placed in space instead of on Earth?
To avoid atmospheric distortion/clouds for clearer, deeper images.
Name the planets in order from the Sun (first and last only).
First: Mercury; Last: Neptune.
Name two constellation uses in ancient times.
Navigation; tracking seasons/calendar; storytelling (any two).
Name and define spring tides and neap tides.
Spring: very high/low when Sun–Moon–Earth align; Neap: weaker when Sun and Moon are at right angles
How long does sunlight take to reach Earth, and what does that show about light?
~8 minutes; light travels extremely fast (~300,000 km/s).
Name the three things that can happen when light meets matte
Reflection, absorption, transmission.
Explain how distance from a light source changes a shadow’s size/clarity.
Closer object → bigger, sharper shadow; farther → smaller, blurrier.
When and where are you most likely to see a bright rainbow?
When the Sun is behind you and low (morning/evening) with rain/mist ahead.