Science General · Geography

Astronomy and Celestial Phenomena

1,884 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

Why is it difficult to observe the planet Mercury?

  1. Because of its small size

  2. Because it is at a large distance from Earth

  3. Because of the glare from the sun

  4. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is difficult to observe the planet Mercury because of the glare from the Sun. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is not true?

  1. Uranus rotates from east to west.

  2. Uranus has a highly tilted rotational axis.

  3. Uranus in its orbital motion appears to roll on its side.

  4. Uranus can be seen through small telescopes.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Uranus can be seen only through large telescopes.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. Saturn has a large number of satellites.

  2. Saturn appears yellowish in colour.

  3. Rings of Saturn can be seen with naked eyes.

  4. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Saturn has a large number of satellites and it appears yellowish in colour.

Multiple choice

Why does Earth appear blue-green from space?

  1. Due to reflection of light from water and landmass

  2. Due to refraction of light from water and landmass

  3. Due to transmission of light from water and forests

  4. Everything looks blue and green from space
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Due to reflection of light from water and landmass, Earth appears blue-green from space.

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. Meteor showers result from dust trails left by Asteroids.
  2. Galileo Galilei was the first astronomer to use an optical telescope.

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
B Correct answer
Explanation

Meteor showers are caused by debris left by comets, not asteroids. Galileo was indeed the first to use an optical telescope for systematic astronomical observations.

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.