Secrets of Saturn
MCQ
What are Saturn’s rings mostly made of?
A. Gas
B. Ice and rock
C. Lava
D. Sand
B. Ice and rock
Saturn’s rings are composed of billions of ice chunks mixed with rock and dust.
MCQ
Which unique feature makes Uranus stand out in the solar system?
A. Its extremely hot surface
B. It spins on its side
C. Its giant volcanoes
D. It has no moons
B. It spins on its side
Explanation: Uranus’s axis is tilted about 98°, so it essentially rolls around the Sun, unlike any other planet.
Fill in the Blank:
Neptune is known for having the strongest _______ in the solar system.
winds
MCQ
Pluto was reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet in which year?
A. 1995
B. 2000
C. 2006
D. 2010
C. 2006
Explanation: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined planets in 2006, and Pluto no longer met all the criteria.
MCQ
Which was the first confirmed exoplanet discovered orbiting a Sun-like star?
A. Kepler-22b
B. TRAPPIST-1e
C. Proxima Centauri b
D. 51 Pegasi b
D. 51 Pegasi b
Explanation: Discovered in 1995, 51 Pegasi b was the first exoplanet found orbiting a normal star like the Sun.
True or False
Saturn is the least dense planet in the solar system and could float in water.
False
Saturn is mostly gas, so its overall density is lower than water, meaning it would float if there were a big enough ocean. .
MCQ
How many major rings does Uranus have?
A. 1
B. 13
C.15
D. 10
B. 13
Explanation: Uranus has 13 known dark rings, discovered in the 1970s and 1980s, which are much fainter than Saturn’s.
MCQ:
What spacecraft flew by Neptune in 1989?
A. Galileo
B. Voyager 2
C. New Horizons
D. Cassini
B. Voyager 2
True or False
Pluto has a thin atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen.
True
Explanation: Pluto has a very thin atmosphere of nitrogen, with traces of methane and carbon monoxide, which can freeze when it’s far from the Sun.
True or False:
Exoplanets orbit stars just like planets in our solar system.
True
MCQ
Which spacecraft was the first to orbit Saturn and send detailed images?
A. Voyager 1
B. Galileo
C. Cassini
D. Hubble
C. Cassini
Cassini orbited Saturn for 13 years, sending back thousands of images and data about the planet, rings, and moons.
MCQ:
How many moons does Uranus have?
A. 2
B. 13
C. 27
D. 60
D. The Values are off by 1
C. 27
True or False
Neptune is warmer than Uranus.
True
Explanation: Neptune generates more internal heat than Uranus, making it slightly warmer, even though it is farther from the Sun.
MCQ
What mission gave us the first close-up images of Pluto?
A. Voyager 2
B. New Horizons
C. Cassini
D. Hubble
B. New Horizons
Explanation: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto in 2015, revealing its mountains, glaciers, and vast plains.
MCQ:
How do scientists usually find exoplanets?
A. Sending rockets
B. Using giant nets
C. Watching stars dim as planets pass
D. Sending out laser signals
C. Watching stars dim as planets pass
MCQ:
How many major rings does Saturn have?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 7
D. 10
E. 5
C. 7
MCQ:
How long does Uranus take to go around the Sun once?
A. 84 Earth years
B. 56 Earth year
C. 88 Earth days
D. 62 Earth years
E. None of the above
A. 84 Earth years
MCQ
How many moons does Neptune have?
A. 13
B. 27
C. 14
D. 8
C. 14
Explanation: Neptune has 14 known moons, with Triton being the largest and geologically active.
MCQ:
Which of these is NOT a moon of Pluto?
A. Nix
B. Styx
C. Charon
D. Triton
D. Triton
MCQ
Which telescope is famous for discovering thousands of exoplanets?
A. Hubble Space Telescope
B. Kepler Space Telescope
C. Voyager 2
D. Spitzer Telescope
B. Kepler Space Telescope
Explanation: Kepler monitored over 150,000 stars, finding thousands of exoplanet candidates by detecting transits.
MCQ:
Which of these moons of Saturn might have an ocean under its surface?
A. Deimos
B. Titan
C. Ganymede
D. Phobos
B. Titan
MCQ
What season phenomenon is extreme on Uranus?
A. 24-hour nights and days at the poles for decades
B. Constant rain everywhere
C. No seasonal changes
D. Permanent sunlight at the equator
A. 24-hour nights and days at the poles for decades
Explanation: Because of its tilt, each pole can face the Sun continuously for about 42 years, then face away for 42 years.
MCQ
How long is a year on Neptune?
A. 84 Earth years
B. 30 Earth years
C. 165 Earth years
D. 200 Earth years
C. 165 Earth years
MCQ:
Which planet's orbit does Pluto sometimes cross?
A. Jupiter
B. Neptune
C.Uranus
D. Saturn
B. Neptune
MCQ:
What is the name of the closest known exoplanet to Earth?
A. Kepler-22b
B. Mars
C. Proxima b
D. Planet X
C. Proxima b