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

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.

Multiple choice

Directions: Select the correct option for the following sentence.

Earth moves round sun.

  1. The earth moves around sun.

  2. Earth moves around the sun.

  3. A earth moves around a sun.

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Earth' is a proper noun here and refers to the name of one particular planet. So, 'the' will not be used before it. But there are many 'Sun' in our galaxy. But the sentence refers to the 'Sun' of our Solar System. So, 'the' will be used before it as it is definite. 

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Prenumbra is the innermost and the darkest part of a shadow, where the light source is completely blocked by the occluding body.
  2. The colored areas of light to the left or right of the sun at 220 distant above the horizon is called sundog.

Which of the given statements is/are incorrect?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

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

Statement 1 is incorrect. The three distinct parts of a shadow created by a light source are: (i) Umbra - The innermost and darkest part of a shadow, where the light source is completely blocked by the body. (Total eclipse) (ii) Penumbra - The region in which only a portion of the light source is observed by the body. (Partial eclipse) (iii) Antumbra - The region from which the body appears entirely contained within the disc of the light source. Statement 2 is correct. Sundogs may appear as a coloured patch of light to the left or right of the sun, and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun, and in ice halos.

Multiple choice

Moon is an example of ___________ object.

  1. luminous

  2. non-luminous

  3. transparent

  4. translucent

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

 It is the correct answer. Moon is non-luminous as it does not have light of its own but it reflects the light of the sun which falls on it.

Multiple choice

During a lunar eclipse, we see a part of the earth's shadow on the surface of the moon. This happens when the earth, the sun and the moon are in a straight line __________________.

  1. with the moon between the sun and the earth

  2. with the sun between the earth and the moon

  3. with the earth between the sun and the moon

  4. on a full moon night

  5. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is correct. When the earth, the moon and the sun are in a straight line with the earth between the sun and the moon, a part of the earth's shadow falls on the surface of the moon. This is called a lunar eclipse.

Multiple choice

The change in perception about the occurrence of days and nights shows that

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE EARTH KEEPS TURNING
Days follow nights and nights follow days because the earth keeps turning from west to east. The light around us keeps on changing slowly through the day, as the sun’s place in sky moves from east to west. People love the moments when the light around us changes suddenly, as that makes everything look so different. When, the sun springs up and colours the clouds with its light, we call it a sunrise. A sunrise is a beautiful sight. When at the end of the day the sun goes down, evening falls with the moment of sunset. It is the beginning of night. Since the earth keeps on turning through the night without rest, the sun comes up with another day. However, in the old days, people believed that the earth stood still, while the sun went around the earth bringing day and night.

  1. we no longer believe in what old people said

  2. old myths and beliefs still hold their importance

  3. scientific research has established facts over old beliefs

  4. man is a slave of technology
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

0 0

Multiple choice

The Earth rotating from west to east leads to

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE EARTH KEEPS TURNING
Days follow nights and nights follow days because the earth keeps turning from west to east. The light around us keeps on changing slowly through the day, as the sun’s place in sky moves from east to west. People love the moments when the light around us changes suddenly, as that makes everything look so different. When, the sun springs up and colours the clouds with its light, we call it a sunrise. A sunrise is a beautiful sight. When at the end of the day the sun goes down, evening falls with the moment of sunset. It is the beginning of night. Since the earth keeps on turning through the night without rest, the sun comes up with another day. However, in the old days, people believed that the earth stood still, while the sun went around the earth bringing day and night.

  1. shorter days

  2. sequence of day and night

  3. changes in intensity of sun's light

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

0 0

Multiple choice

The change in light around us occurs because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE EARTH KEEPS TURNING
Days follow nights and nights follow days because the earth keeps turning from west to east. The light around us keeps on changing slowly through the day, as the sun’s place in sky moves from east to west. People love the moments when the light around us changes suddenly, as that makes everything look so different. When, the sun springs up and colours the clouds with its light, we call it a sunrise. A sunrise is a beautiful sight. When at the end of the day the sun goes down, evening falls with the moment of sunset. It is the beginning of night. Since the earth keeps on turning through the night without rest, the sun comes up with another day. However, in the old days, people believed that the earth stood still, while the sun went around the earth bringing day and night.

  1. the sun changes its place

  2. the moon comes in between the sun and the earth

  3. the earth keeps turning

  4. of an unnatural and unexplained phenomenon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

0 0