astrophysics

Question 1

Constelations

Answer 1

a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure

Question 2

Solar System

Answer 2

Age: 4.6 billion years
consists of the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity
planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune)
dwarf planets (Pluto)
dozens of moons
millions of asteroids, comets and meteoroids

Question 3

Sun

Answer 3

Age: 4.6 billion years
The star that is at the center of our solar system.
Light from the Sun takes 8min and 19s to get to Earth

Question 4

Mercury 1

Answer 4

Terrestrial planet
Closest to our Sun
Surface craters
No atmosphere
No moons
Mariner 10 passed by and photographed 45% of its surface

Question 5

Venus 2

Answer 5

Terrestrial planet
Hottest planet (475oC)
Surface craters, volcanos, and cracks
Similar size and mass to Earth
No moons
Venus Express investigated the atmosphere, clouds and surface temperature

Question 6

Earth 3

Answer 6

Terrestrial planet
Only planet in our solar system with life
Atmosphere protects life
Water exists as solid, liquid and gas
1 moon

Question 7

Mars 4

Answer 7

Terrestrial planet
Red planet because of the iron oxide in the soil
2 moons – Phobos and Deimos
Gullies suggest that water once flowed
Largest volcano in the solar system - Olympus Mons
Huge dust storms
4 seasons due to its axial tilt
Perseverance seeks signs of ancient life and collects samples of rock

Question 8

Jupiter 5

Answer 8

Jovian planet
Ring system
Largest planet
At least 63 moons
The four largest moons are: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
Continual storms, the largest is the Great Red Spot
Juno was the last mission sent to Jupiter which discovered more moons.

Question 9

Saturn 6

Answer 9

Jovian planet
7 rings
The Cassini Division is the largest gap in the rings and separates the B ring from
the A ring.
Many moons, Titan is the largest of Saturn’s moons.
The Cassini-Huygens mission landed on Titan and took measurements of
Saturn’s atmosphere.

Question 10

Uranus 7

Answer 10

Jovian planet
Ring system
Axis of rotation is almost pointing at the Sun.
Its atmosphere has methane which makes it appear blue
Many moons, Titania being the largest.
Voyager II discovered 10 new moons

Question 11

Neptune

Answer 11

Jovian planet
Ring system
Its atmosphere has methane which makes it appear blue
Many moons, Triton being the largest.
Voyager II discovered new moons and a huge storm called the Great Dark Spot.

Question 12

Comet

Answer 12

a celestial object consisting of ice, dust and rock that orbits the Sun
Halley’s Comet returns to Earth every 75 years

Question 13

Oort Cloud

Answer 13

a sphere of icy solid objects that entirely encapsulates the Solar System and
presumably is the birthplace of comets

Question 14

Asteroid

Answer 14

a small rocky body orbiting the Sun
Situated in the asteroid belt – between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
Ceres is the largest asteroid – big enough to have a round shape – now classified as a dwarf planet

Question 15

Meteor

Answer 15

A meteoroid that enters Earth’s atmosphere and burns up.

Question 16

Meteorite

Answer 16

A large meteoroid that doesn’t burn up completely in Earth’s atmosphere and strikes Earth.

Question 17

Dwarf Planets

Answer 17

Dwarf planets:
* have not cleared out their orbital path around the Sun
* orbit around the Sun
* have enough mass so that they have become round in shape due to their
own gravity