The Universe
What is the Universe made of?
Billions of galaxies filled with stars, planets, gases, and other celestial bodies.
How many planets are in our Solar System? List the planets.
8. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
What number planet is Earth from the Sun?
The third planet from the sun.
What is the Moon to Earth?
Its natural satellite.
What is an eclipse?
When one celestial body blocks another’s light.
What is the name of the explosion that created the Universe?
The Big Bang.
Name the four planets closest to the Sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
What shape is Earth?
A sphere, slightly flattened at the poles.
How long does it take the Moon to orbit Earth?
About 28 days.
What happens during a solar eclipse?
The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun.
What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?
Astronomy is science; astrology is about beliefs, not science.
What are dwarf planets? Give an example.
Small, round celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, like Pluto.
What causes day and night?
Earth’s rotation on its axis.
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?
It rotates and revolves at the same speedit orbits the Earth.
What happens during a lunar eclipse?
The Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.
What galaxy is Earth in?
The Milky Way.
What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?
Comets are made of ice and dust; asteroids are made of rock and metal.
What causes the seasons?
Earth’s revolution around the Sun and the tilt of its axis.
What causes the Moon’s phases?
The Moon’s position as it orbits Earth and sunlight reflecting off it.
When is it high tide? How often does the tide change between high and low?
When the water reaches its highest level. Around every 6 hours.
Where in the Milky Way is our Solar System?
The Orion Arm.
Why do planets closer to the Sun orbit faster than those farther away?
Because the Sun’s gravity is stronger on planets that are closer to it.
Why can life exist on Earth?
It has the right temperature, water, and an atmosphere with oxygen.
What causes ocean tides?
The Moon’s gravitational pull on Earth.
Why don’t we have an eclipse every month even though the Moon orbits the Earth every 28 days?
Because the Moon’s orbit is tilted, so it doesn’t line up perfectly with the Earth and Sun every time.