Trivia Flashcards
(138 cards)
1
Q
When are the equinoxes?
A
+-22 March and +-22 September.
2
Q
What is an equinox?
A
A 24 hour period in the year where there are equal parts day and night.
3
Q
What does Aquarius represent?
A
The water carrier
4
Q
What does Aries represent?
A
The ram
5
Q
What is an asteroid?
A
Asteroids; also known as minor planets or planetoids; are mostly small; irregularly shaped chunks of metal and rock that orbit the Sun.
6
Q
Name the atmospheric layers and the height zone they encompass.
A
Troposphere up to 16km. Stratosphere: 16 - 50km. Mesosphere: 50 -80km. Thermosphere: 80 - 500km. Exosphere: 500 - 10 000km.
7
Q
When is the big bang believed to have happened?
A
10 - 20 Billion years ago.
8
Q
What does Cancer represent?
A
The crab
9
Q
Canopus; found directly North of Celestial South; is the ___ brightest star in the sky and is _______ times brighter than our Sun but is as dim as it is because it is _____ lightyears from Earth.
A
- 2nd
- 200 000 times
- 1100 lightyears
10
Q
What does Capricorn represent?
A
The sea-goat
11
Q
What is Omega Centauri and how do we find it?
A
It is a globular star cluster consisting of over a million stars (possibly even up to 10 million!). Seen as a small “star” that forms a triangle with Beta Crux and Beta Centauri.
12
Q
Alpha Centauri is the 3rd brightest star in the sky; how many stars is it made up of?
A
3
13
Q
Alpha Centauri is the next closest Sun to us besides ours. But how far is Beta Centauri from Earth?
A
391.4 lightyears
14
Q
What is a comet? Why do they shine?
A
Comets are essentially giant balls of ice and cosmic dust or rock held together by the ice. (Shine due to the reflection of the Sun’s light)
15
Q
Describe the composition of a comet.
A
They consist of a “nucleus” (the ice core); and a “coma” (a particle haze which becomes the tail); which is made up of the dust and ice crystals.
16
Q
What is a meteor shower?
A
Meteor showers are a period of unusually high meteor activity that occur when the earth, in its orbit around the Sun, passes through debris left over from the disintegration of comets.
17
Q
When was the earth formed?
A
4.6 billion (4.6 x 10^9) years ago.
18
Q
What is the composition of our atmosphere?
A
78% nitrogen; 21% oxygen; with smaller amounts of argon; carbon dioxide; water vapour; and other gases
19
Q
What is a galaxy?
A
A galaxy is a massive group of stars, their satellites & other stellar material orbiting a common centre, considered by most to be a super-massive black hole.
20
Q
How big (long) is the Milky Way? How many stars does it contain?
A
The milky Way is approximately 100 000 light years from one end to the other and has well over 100 Billion stars.
21
Q
What is our closest star (other than the sun) and how far is it? What constellation is it a part of?
A
Alpha Centauri is the closest star and is 4.3 light years away (43 million million km.) It is part of Centaurus but alpha and beta centauri are more commonly identified as the Pointers.
22
Q
What is the brightest star in the sky? What does the name mean? What constellation is it a part of?
A
Sirius; meaning “Sparkling One” is part of Canis Major.
23
Q
What kind of galaxy is the Milky Way?
A
A spiral galaxy
24
Q
What is the most distant object we are able to see with the naked eye? How far is it?
A
The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.3 million light years away.
25
Where is the Andromeda Galaxy found?
It's a faint smudge with the naked eye. (low on the northern horizon Nov and Dec in the constellation of Andromeda – between Pegasus and Pisces) 2.3 million light years away.
26
What constellation comprises of Castor and Pollox?
Gemini
27
What is the Jewel Box?
The Jewel Box is an open cluster of stars all formed of the same giant molecular cloud found next to Beta Crux; the celestial-southern most star of the Southern Cross.
28
What does Libra represent?
The scales or Balance
29
What is a lightyear?
A lightyear is the distance travelled by light in 1 year through a vacuum. This distance is ~10 trillion (10 x 10^12) km.
30
What is the speed of light?
300 000km/s
31
Why do stars seem to be different colours and brightnesses?
Stars are at varying distances from Earth which affects the luminosity as seen from Earth. The color of a star is linked to its surface temperature. The hotter the star; the shorter the wavelength of light it will emit. The hottest ones are blue or blue-white; which are shorter wavelengths of light. Cooler ones are red or red-brown; which are longer wavelengths
32
What is a shooting star?
Are not actually stars at all; but just small fragments of rock (Asteroid fragments) dust; called “Meteors”; entering into our atmosphere and burning up through friction.
33
What speed is a shooting star travelling and at what height does it enter the atmosphere?
70km/s and 50 - 90km above the earths surface.
34
What is a meteorite?
Meteors that do not fully disintegrate in their path through the Earth’s atmosphere and reach the Earth’s surface
35
What is a meteoroid?
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. Meteoroids are significantly smaller than asteroids, and range in size from small grains to one-meter-wide objects. Objects smaller than this are classified as micrometeoroids or space dust.
36
Why do we only see one side of the moon?
The moon rotates on its own axis at exactly the same speed as it orbits the Earth.
37
How far away is the moon from Earth? (In km and light seconds)
384 000km. ~1.3 light seconds.
38
The moon is drifting away from Earth at what speed?
3.8cm per year. The same rate at which our fingernails grow.
39
What is the diameter of the moon compared to the Earth?
3 480 vs Earth's 12 742km. 1/3 the size of Earth.
40
What is the actual colour of the moon and why does it appear white?
The Moon is actually covered in Illmenite which is a black mineral that looks white due to the incredibly reflective nature of the Illmenite.
41
What caused the craters on the moon and why do we still see them? What is the average size of these craters?
The craters on the Moon were caused by Meteorites striking the surface of the moon. There is no atmosphere so no wind and therefore these “prints” will remain there for all time. They average between 50 – 150 km in diameter.
42
What are the "seas" on the moon? What is their alternate name? How big can they get?
“Seas” are just massive craters (impact basins) where lava filled the craters due to the extent of the impact. They are alternately named “Mare" which is Latin for Sea. They can be several hundred km in diameter.
43
With regard to the moon; what is the "Terminator"?
The “Terminator” is the shadow-line along the moon during its phases. This is the best area to look to get definition and detail
44
How much later does the moon rise each day?
45 minutes.
45
What is a lunar eclipse? It only occurs at _____ moon.
When the Earth’s position is between the Sun and the Moon; and its shadow (“Umbra”) is cast upon the Moon (causing it to go dark as it no longer has light to reflect). As the Moon orbits; it moves out of the shadow. (total or partial eclipse) – only during Full Moon
46
Name 3 of the "seas" visible to the nake eye on the moon?
Tycho; Mare Serenitatis; Alpine Valley; Straight Wall.
47
What is the edifference between a new moon and a lunar eclipse?
A new moon is formed by the sun shining on the side not visible from earth while a lunar eclipse is formed by the Earth's shadow falling across the face of the moon that we do see.
48
How can you tell if the moon is waxing or waning?
The moon is waning when any portion of the moon's right half is not visible or when the illuminated sliver is on the left. The moon is waxing when the illuminated sliver is on the right; or if the left half of the moon is predominantly shadowed
49
What is a new moon?
when none of the illuminated part of the Moon is visible (it is dark).
50
What is a crescent moon?
when less than half the Moon is visibly illuminated
51
What is a gibbous moon?
when more than half the Moon is visibly illuminated
52
What is a waxing moon?
As the Moon is progressing from New towards Full Moon (getting “bigger”)
53
What is a waning moon?
As the Moon is progressing from Full towards New Moon (getting “smaller”)
54
What is a blue moon and how often does it occur?
A “Blue Moon” is when two full moons occur during one calendar month (beginning and end); this occurs roughly every two and a half years
55
What is a nebula?
These are essentially gas clouds (a mixture of hydrogen gas and stellar dust.) Nebulas are what we may call “Stellar Nurseries” – They are where stars are “born”.
56
What is the Coal Sack and where is it found?
The Coal Sack is a Dark Nebula found between Alpha & Beta Crux.
57
What is an Emission Nebula? What is the best example of this and how long has light from that nebula been travelling before it reaches Earth?
A nebula that reflects the light of neighbouring stars or emits its own neon light formed of charged particles in the gas cloud. The best example is the middle "star" of the sword of Orion and the light from this nebula has travlled for over 2000years before reaching Earth i.e. It is over 2000 light years away.
58
If Betelgeuse, the Red Giant of Orion, was to replace our sun what planets would it encompass?
Mercury, Venus and Earth (and possibly Mars).
59
What are the names of the 3 stars of Orion's Belt?
Mintaka; Alnilam; and Alnitak.
60
Name the stars that make up Orion's shoulders.
Betelgeuse and Bellatrix
61
Name the stars that make up Orions knees?
Rigel and Saiph
62
What is the middle star of Orion's sword and why is it significant?
It is an Emission Nebula, the only nebula visible to the naked eye.
63
What is the luminosity of Betelgeuse with reference to our sun?
Betelgeuse is 13 000 times brighter than our sun.
64
What is a penumbra?
A penumbra is formed during a solar eclipse whereby a partial shadow is cast by partial eclipse of the sun by the moon.
65
What does Pisces represent?
The fish
66
Why can we see planets?
Planets are “reflectors”; they do not generate their own light; but shine by reflecting the light of the Sun.
67
Name the 8 planets.
Mercury; Venus; Earth; Mars; Jupiter; Saturn; Uranus; Neptune
68
Pluto is no longer regarded as a planet - why? What is it now regarded as?
Pluto is no longer regarded as a planet as it has not cleared its neighboring region of other objects. It is now regarded as a planetoid or dwarf planet.
69
How many dwarf planets are there in our solar system? Name them in order from the Sun.
5. Ceres; Pluto; Haumea; Makemake and Eris.
70
What average distance is the moon from earth?
384 400 km (238 900 mi)
71
How man moons does Jupiter have?
Jupiter has at least 16 moons (possibly as many as 52!!)
72
Which is the closest planet to the sun?
Mercury
73
Which planet is the largest planet?
Jupiter
74
Which planet is furthest from the sun?
Neptune
75
How many of Jupiter's moons are visible through binoculars? Name them.
4. Io; Europa; Ganymede and Calisto.
76
What is the recent exploratory interest in Mars based on?
Mars still has an intact atmosphere i.e. It has not been stripped away by solar winds. There is strong evidence that Mars was once covered in water that is now locked in the ice caps. The planet has the potential for past life and the possibility of future habitation by humans.
77
Which planet displays phases simialr to that of the moon when viewed through a telescope?
Venus
78
Why does Saturn deliver such an impact when viewed through binoculars?
Because you can see the rings.
79
In isiXhosa; isiLimela (the Digging Stars) is the name given to what constellation? Why?
Pleides. Named the digging stars as it is the time of digging or ploughing of the fields when this constellation becomes visible in the Southern Hemisphere; at the start of Summer.
80
What does Sagittarius represent?
The archer
81
Why are satellites not visible in the middle of the night?
Satellites are only visible as they reflect light from the Sun and are only visible a few hours after sunset; or before sunrise. In the middle of the night the sun is simply too far below the horizon to light them.
82
In what constellation is Aldebaran and what is it's significance
It is the brightest star in the constellation; Taurus.
83
In what constellation is Antares found and what is the meaning of the name?
Antares is the brightest star in Scorpio and means "the Rival of Mars" due to its red colour, it being a Red Giant, and it being on the same ecliptic as Mars.
84
What does our solar system comprise of?
Our Solar System is the system consisting of the Sun circled by the planets and their satellites (moons); asteroids; comets; meteoroids; and interplanetary dust and gas.
85
What is an Astronomical Unit?
An AU is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun; 150 million km. It is the standard unit of astronomical distance.
86
How far away is the sun?
1 Astronomical Unit; 150 million km.
87
How long does light take to travel from the Sun to Earth?
8.3minutes
88
How many planets are visbile to the naked eye? Name them.
5. Mercury; Venus; Mars; Jupiter; Saturn.
89
What is the Ecliptic?
The planetary pathway travelled by the Sun; planets and the 13 constellation of the Zodiac. It is along the same axis as the entire Milky Way galaxy.
90
What is a solar eclipse? It only occurs at _____ moon.
Is when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth. It casts its shadow (Umbra) onto an area of the Earth; causing the Sun to “go dark” as the Moon moves in front of it (relative to the Earth). Only during New Moon
91
How many Earths could fit into the Sun?
Over a million Earths would fit into the Sun.
92
What important element is created by the Sun?
Helium
93
The Sun is a burning ball of what element?
Hydrogen
94
What is the surface temperature of the Sun?
6 500°C
95
What is the core temperature of the Sun?
15 million °C.
96
What is Pleides or the Seven Sisters?
Pleidies is an open cluster of what seems to be only 6 visible stars but is infact comprised of 480 stars better seen through binoculars!
97
What are tides and what causes them?
Tides are the periodic rise and fall of all ocean and sea waters (High Tide and Low Tide); resulting from the gravitational attraction of the Moon and the Sun upon the water and upon the Earth itself.
98
What is the principle cause of the tides?
The gravitational pull of the moon.
99
What is a spring tide and when does it occur?
Spring tides occur when the gravitational forces of the Sun and Moon reinforce each other resulting in a higher than normal tidal range (higher high tide and a lower low tide). This occurs during full and new moon (when the Sun; Moon and Earth are in a straight line)
100
What is a neap tide?
Neap tides occur when these gravitational forces act at right angles to each other resulting in a lower than normal tidal range (Lower high tide and a higher low tide). This occurs when the Moon is in its first and third quarter i.e. Gravitationally acting perpendicularly to the Sun.
101
How many man-made satellites currently orbit earth and at what speed do they travel?
There are about 13 000 satellites in orbit around the Earth at a speed of about 28000km/h
102
Why do man-made satellites shine?
They reflect the sun's light.
103
Why do we have leap years?
Earth orbits the Sun in 365.25 days – one “year” (hence we have a “leap year” every four years; where an extra day added to Feb due to the quarter days that are accumulated)
104
What causes the seasons; Spring; Summer; Autum & Winter?
The seasons occur because the axis of the Earth is tilted by 23 degrees with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. Therefore; the North Pole and South Pole are each inclined towards the Sun for half the year. The hemisphere that is tilted towards the Sun has a longer day and receives more of the Sun’s rays (more directly) than the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun. Summer in the Northern hemisphere therefore corresponds to winter in the Southern hemisphere.
105
What is an equinox and how is it caused?
An Equinox is when the lengths of day and night are equal over virtually the whole Earth. It is caused by the Earth’s position relative to the Sun during its orbit; and on two days of the year neither pole is inclined toward the Sun; and the Sun appears to be directly over the Earth’s equator.
106
When are the equinoxes?
~21 March & ~23 September.
107
What is a solstice and how is it caused?
A solstice is the shortest day and longest night or the longest day and shortest night. They are caused when either of the Earth's poles are at their closest point to (and hence the other is at its furthest point from) the Sun.
108
When are the solstices?
Winter Solstice (shortest day) on ~21 June and Sumer Solstice (longest day) on ~22 December. Opposite Solstices occur on the same days in the Northern Hemisphere.
109
How long is a lunar month?
29.53 days
110
A pinhead amount of the material from the core of the Sun would vaporize everything within a \_\_\_km radius
100km
111
What are fossil fuels with regard to solar energy?
Solar energy captured by living things millions of years ago was stored beneath Earth's surface in the form of coal, gas, and petroleum.
112
Our fastest spacecraft can now reach Jupiter in about four years. How long would the same craft take to reach our next closest sun after "our" sun?
At this speed it would take about 70 000 years to reach Alpha Centauri; our nearest cosmic neighbour.
113
What is an umbra?
An umbra is the shadow cast by a planet.
114
What is the closest planet to Earth?
Venus
115
What planet is regarded as the "Evening star" and why is this a misnomer?
This rise and fall of Venus as a morning star takes 263 days. For the next 50 days, Venus disappears and cannot be seen in the sky at all.
Then, Venus reappears in the evening sky, where it remains for another 263-day phase before disappearing below the horizon for 8 days. At the end of these 8 days, Venus reappears as a morning star, and the cycle begins again.
116
What is the Virgo Super-cluster?
A cluster of approximately 3 000 galaxies spread throughout the area beyond Virgo; in the opposite direction to the centre of our galaxy.
117
With reference to the centre of the Milky Way; what direction is Virgo in?
Opposite to the direction of the centre of the Milky Way. i..e Toward the outer rim of our spiral galaxy.
118
What does Virgo represent?
The virgin/maiden
119
How many signs of the Zodiac are visble in the night sky at one time?
6
120
What is the difference between astrology and astronomy?
Astronomy is the scientific study of the universe; especially of the motions; positions; sizes; composition; and behaviour of celestial objects. Astrology is Is the study of the positions of the Moon; Sun; and other planets in the belief that their motions affect human beings.
121
Name 2 other galaxies visible to the naked eye?
Andromeda & the Cape of Clouds.
122
What is a solstice? When do they occur?
A solstice is a day in the year with the longest or shortest period of daylight. They occur +-21st June and +-21st December.
123
If moonrise is after sunset, is the moon waxing or waning?
waning
124
If moonrise is before sunset, is the moon waxing or waning?
waxing
125
What causes craters on the moon and why do they last so long?
The craters on the moon are caused by meteorite impacts. The reason we can still see them is because the moon has no atmosphere and therefore no weathering or erosion takes place.
126
What is the Alpha (brightest) star in Taurus?
Aldebaran
127
1. Which brand of car uses teh constellation Pleides in its logo?
Subaru
128
How does one locate Omega Centauri?
Omega Centauri is found by creating an equal sided triangle with the celestial southernmost star in the Southern Cross and the celestial northernmost Pointer (Beta Centauri).
129
What is Omega Centauri
Omega Centauri is a globular cluster that looks like a fuzzy golf ball when viewed through binoculars.
130
Name the prominent stars in Orion and what they represent in that constellation.
Betelgeuse and Bellatrix are the shoulders; Saiph and Rigel are the knees; Mintaka, Alnitak and Alnilam form the belt of Orion.
131
How would you find the Jewel Box?
The Jewel Box is next to Beta Crux of the Southern Cross.
132
Where is the Great Orion Nebula? How far away is it? How big is it?
The Great Orion Nebula the middle “star” of Orion’s Sword and is 2000 light years away and 30 light years across!
133
What is the most prominent Summer constellation of the Londolozi night sky?
Orion
134
What is the most prominent Winter constellation of the Londolozi night sky?
Scorpio
135
When can both Orion and Scorpio be seen in the Londolozi night sky?
May & November
136
Andromeda is the furthest object able to be seen with the naked eye. It is 2.3 million light years away which means that the light we see now was omitted at the time our earliest hominid ancestors, *Australopethicus Africana*, was wondering the African Savannah.
True or False?
True
137
What is an open cluster?
An open cluster is a group of up to a few thousand stars that were formed from the same giant molecular cloud and have roughly the same age
138
What is the difference between an Open Cluster and a Globular Cluster?
Open clusters are collections of up to a few hundred stars. These are normally young stars.
Globular clusters are between 10 and 30 light years across, typically containing between 10,000 and several million stars. They are normally old stars.
