Physics · Science General

Astronomy and Cosmology

4,498 Questions

This topic provides questions on astronomy, cosmology, and the physical universe. It covers subjects like the Hubble sequence, constellations, dark matter, and stellar evolution. These questions help build a strong foundation for general science exam sections.

Galaxies and clustersConstellations and starsStellar evolutionSpace observatories

Astronomy and Cosmology Questions

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The Milky Way galaxy is disc-shaped.
  2. The place deep within a black hole, where everything is destroyed, is called the event horizon.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. The Milky Way shape is most likely in the form of a spiral galaxy because of its disc shape. Statement 2 is also correct. Around a black hole, there is a defined surface called an event horizon that marks the point of no return.

Multiple choice

One night Gaurav saw a star with a tail in the sky. What was it?

  1. Asteroid

  2. Moon

  3. Satellite

  4. Comet

  5. Planet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A Comet is a small solar system body that orbits the Sun. When these Comets come close enough to the Sun they display a visible coma (a fuzzy outline or atmosphere due to solar radiation) and sometimes a tail.

Multiple choice

Match the following:

1. Sirius A. Lava
2. Milky way B. Shooting star
3. Volcano C.The brightest star in our sky
4. Meteoroid D. Galaxy

  1. 1 - C, 2 - A, 3 - B, 4 - D

  2. 1 - C, 2 - D, 3 - A, 4 - B

  3. 1 - D, 2 - C, 3 - A, 4 - B

  4. 1 - A, 2 - D, 3 - B, 4 - C

  5. 1 - A, 2 - B, 3 - C, 4 - D
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. Sirius is the brightest star in sky in our galaxy. The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. Volcano erupts lava, which is the molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and a shooting star is another name for a meteoroid that burns up as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is true?

  1. Hottest stars are blue and coolest are red in colour.

  2. Hottest stars are yellow and coolest are blue in colour.

  3. Hottest stars are red and coolest are blue in colour.

  4. Hottest stars are white and coolest are blue in colour.

  5. Hottest stars are violet and coolest are green in colour.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

We can determine the temperature of the stars by determining their colour. Hottest stars are blue and coolest are red in colour.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a celestial object?

  1. Star

  2. Galaxy

  3. Pulsar

  4. Eclipse

  5. Moon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

No, an eclipse is not a celestial object. An eclipse is an astronomical event. Hence, the correct answYes, a moon is a celestial object. Hence, an incorrect answer.er.

Multiple choice

Which of the following objects is a luminous object?

  1. Sun

  2. Moon

  3. Book

  4. Iron
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Luminous objects are those which emit out their own light, e.g. sun, stars, tube light, bulb, etc., whereas non-luminous objects are those which shine by reflecting the light of the luminous objects. They do not emit their own light, e.g. moon, book and iron do not shine at all and are opaque objects.

Multiple choice

Which of the following objects is a non-luminous object?

  1. Tube light

  2. Moon

  3. Electric bulb

  4. Sun
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Non-luminous objects are those which shine by reflecting the light of the luminous objects. They do not emit their own light, e.g. moon. So, it is the moon which is non-luminous.

Multiple choice

Which of the following describes a tiny, dense, hot star representing the later stage in the life-cycle of a star, with matter in it so dense that a single tea-spoonful of it would weigh several tonnes?

  1. Black dwarf

  2. Supernova

  3. Supergiants

  4. White dwarf
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

White dwarf is a very small hot star, the last stage in the life cycle of a star like the Sun. White dwarfs have a mass similar to that of the Sun, but are only 1% of the Sun's diameter; approximately the diameter of the Earth. 

Multiple choice

The constellation Orion is named after __________.

  1. the Queen of Ethiopia

  2. a Greek hunter and warrior

  3. one of the seven sisters

  4. a dwarf planet

  5. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. Orion was an ancient Greek hunter and warrior and the constellation resembles this figure, with a club and a shield, and a sword dangling from his belt. The belt is usually the easiest part of Orion to spot, with three bright stars in a row.