Science General · Geography

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena

1,839 Questions

This section provides practice questions on astronomy and celestial phenomena, focusing on eclipses, planetary movements, and tides. These concepts are commonly tested in general science sections of various competitive exams. Use this hub to practice questions related to the Earth, Moon, and solar system dynamics.

Solar and lunar eclipsesEquinoxes and solsticesPlanetary movementsOcean tidesCoriolis effectMeteor showers

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena Questions

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The light from sun takes about 8 minutes to reach the Earth.
  2. Twinkling of light is based on the phenomenon of refraction of light.
  3. Due to absorption of light, the atmosphere appears reddish during morning and evening.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only (1)

  2. (1), (2) & (3)

  3. Only (1) & (2)

  4. Only (1) & (3)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement (1) is correct. The light from sun takes about 8 minutes to reach the Earth.

Statement (2) is correct. Twinkling of light is based on the phenomenon of refraction of light. Statement (3) is wrong. Due to scattering of light, the atmosphere appears reddish during morning and evening.

Multiple choice

We have a lamp, a big and a small ball, placing the big ball infront of the lamp so that its shadow falls on the smaller ball. Considering the lamp as Sun, big ball as Earth and the smaller ball as the Moon, what kind of eclipse is happening?

  1. Lunar Eclipse

  2. Solar Eclipse

  3. Moon Eclipse

  4. Nothing is happening

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When Earth comes between the sun and the moon, the shadow of the earth falls on the moon. No sunlight can reach to the moon. So, option (1) is correct.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Uttarayan is a period, which comes after summer solstice.

  2. In a year sunrises in the east only on two days i.e 21st March and 23rd September, otherwise it rises either north of east or south of east.

Which of the above 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
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. Uttarayan (the sun's apparent northward movement) begins after the winter solstice (December 21-22), not after the summer solstice. The summer solstice (around June 21) marks the beginning of Dakshinayan (southward movement). Statement 2 is correct. The sun rises due east only on the two equinoxes (March 21 and September 23). On other days, it rises either north of east (during Uttarayan) or south of east (during Dakshinayan) due to Earth's axial tilt.

Multiple choice

The movement of Earth around the sun is known as

  1. rotation

  2. revolution

  3. orbital plane

  4. circle of illumination
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Revolution refers to Earth's year-long orbital motion around the sun, taking approximately 365.25 days to complete one full revolution. This movement is responsible for the changing seasons because different parts of Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. In contrast, rotation is Earth's daily spinning on its axis (24 hours), orbital plane is the flat disc of Earth's orbit, and circle of illumination is the dividing line between day and night on Earth.

Multiple choice

Where, among the following, is the mid-day sun exactly overhead at least once a year on all latitudes?

  1. Between Tropic of Cancer and Equator only

  2. Between Tropic of Capricorn and Equator only

  3. Between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn

  4. Between Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The sun is directly overhead (at zenith) only within the tropics - between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S). Outside this zone, the sun never reaches directly overhead. This occurs once annually at each latitude within the tropical zone.

Multiple choice

Why can't we see the moon in daytime?

  1. Because it is far away from earth

  2. Because it is white in colour

  3. Because of the bright sunlight

  4. Because of the earth's pull
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Due to bright sunlight, we cannot see the moon in daytime.