The Solstice & Seasons
At the Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere), Earth is at its closest point to the Sun. What is this called?
Perihelion
Astronomers often refer to these small, icy celestial bodies as "dirty snowballs." What are they?
Comets
One theory suggests the "Star of Bethlehem" was a "Great Conjunction." Which two planets were involved in the famous 2020 Great Conjunction?
Jupiter and Saturn
The "Christmas Tree Cluster" (NGC 2264) is a group of young stars surrounded by a nebula that glows what festive color?
Green
If Santa is navigating from the North Pole, which star should he keep directly overhead to ensure he is at 90° North latitude?
Polaris
The Earth is tilted on its axis by how many degrees?
23.5°
This moon of Jupiter is covered in a thick crust of ice and is considered one of the most likely places to find alien life in its subsurface ocean. Name it.
Europa
In 1054 AD, Chinese astronomers recorded a "Guest Star" that was so bright it could be seen during the day. What do we call this type of stellar explosion today?
A Supernova
The Aurora Borealis often displays a shimmering green light. This specific color is caused by the "excitation" of which element in Earth's atmosphere?
Oxygen
According to Einstein's Theory of Relativity, if Santa travels near the speed of light, he will age more slowly than the people on Earth. This is called:
Time Dilation
At the Winter Solstice, your noontime shadow is
The longest of the year
Mars has polar ice caps just like Earth, but they aren't just water ice. What is the "Dry Ice" on Mars made of?
Frozen Carbon Dioxide
Some historians think a famous comet appearing every 76 years might have been mistaken for a special star. Name that comet.
Halley’s Comet
Which red supergiant star in the constellation Orion looks like a giant red ornament and is expected to explode as a supernova?
Betelgeuse
What is the absolute "speed limit" (c) of the universe that physics says no object with mass can ever reach?
The Speed of Light
The word "Solstice" literally translates to:
Sun Stop
Which tiny moon of Saturn is famous for its "Tiger Stripes" that spray icy geysers into space?
Enceladus
When a planet appears to move "backward" in the sky because Earth is overtaking it in orbit, it is called:
Apparent Retrograde Motion
Gold and Silver used in holiday jewelry are not made on Earth. They were created during what massive cosmic event?
A Supernova or Neutron Star collision
If Santa wanted to take a shortcut through a "tunnel" connecting two distant points in space-time, he would be using a:
Wormhole
Which ancient monument in England was built to align with the sunset on the Winter Solstice?
Stonehenge
Pluto has a famous heart-shaped region called Tombaugh Regio. What is this giant "glacier" primarily made of?
Nitrogen Ice
If the "star" was actually a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BC, it would have taken place in which constellation of the Zodiac?
Pisces
There are regions in the Milky Way where thick dust blocks out all background starlight, appearing like "lumps of coal." These are known as:
Dark Nebulae
In 1968, the Apollo 8 crew sent a holiday message to Earth while orbiting the Moon, capturing a famous photo. What was the photo called?
Earthrise