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 'diamond ring' effect occurs during total solar eclipse.
  2. Sirius is the brightest star that appears in the night sky.

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 'diamond ring' effect occurs during the total solar eclipse. The Diamond Ring is observed as a large burst of light that appears a few seconds before and after totality. Statement 2 is also correct. Sirius is the brightest star that appears in the night sky.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Sputnik was the first satellite, which sent into space.
  2. The average distance between the earth and the sun is equal to one light year.

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
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched by the Soviet Union into an elliptical low earth orbit on 4 October 1957. Statement 2 is incorrect. The average distance between the earth and the sun is equal to one astronomical unit. 1 Astronomical unit = 92, 935, 700 miles (approx.)

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Moon completes one revolution around the Earth in about 28 days.
  2. Astronomical Society of India is located in Bangalore.

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
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Moon takes 28 days to complete one revolution around the Earth. Statement 2 is incorrect. Astronomical Society of India is located in Hyderabad.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Sunspots always appear in pairs.
  2. Mars takes more time to complete one rotation on its axis than to complete one revolution around the sun.

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
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Dark, cool areas called sunspots appear on the photosphere of the sun. They always appear in pairs and are intense magnetic fields that break through the surface of the sun. Statement 2 is incorrect. Mercury takes more time to complete one rotation on its axis than to complete one revolution around the sun due to its nearness to the sun.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statement is true?

  1. Sun is the biggest and closest star to the earth in the Universe.

  2. Sun is the closest star to the earth but it is not the biggest star in the Universe.

  3. Sun is the biggest but not the closest star to the earth in the universe.

  4. Sun is neither the biggest nor the closest star to the earth in the universe.

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

Although the Sun appear larger than any other star, there are many stars which are much larger. The Sun sppears so large campared to other starts because it is so much closer to us than any  other star. The Sun is an average size star. So this is a right answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statement is not correct?

  1. The Universe consists of countless stars.

  2. Stars do not orbit the Sun.

  3. Nothing can live on Sun due to its intense heat.

  4. Stars are quite close to the Earth.

  5. Stars give off a tremendous amount of energy in the form of light and heat.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

No, stars are very far from the Earth that is why they appear very small in size,  from the earth.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is correct about circadian rhythm?

  1. Circadian rhythm is dependent on exogenous clock is restricted to birds and mammals

  2. Circadian rhythm is not exactly of 24 hours

  3. Circadian rhythm is necessary as the earth is tilted on its axis

  4. Circadian rhythm has period of exactly 24 hours in animals

  5. Circadian rhythm has period of 1 year
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A circadian rhythm is any biological process that displays an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours. These rhythms are driven by a circadian clock, and rhythms have been widely observed in plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria. The term circadian comes from the Latin circa, meaning around (or approximately), and diem or dies, meaning day. The formal study of biological temporal rhythms, such as daily, tidal, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms, is called chronobiology. Although circadian rhythms are endogenous they are adjusted (entrained) to the local environment by external cues called zeitgebers, commonly the most important of which is daylight.

Multiple choice

Why do different constellations appear at different time periods of the year?

  1. Due to rotation of Earth

  2. Due to revolution of Earth

  3. Due to revolution of the constellations around Earth

  4. Due to distance between Earth and the constellations

  5. Due to change in the shape of the constellations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Different constellations appear in the night sky at different time periods of the year due to revolution of Earth.

Multiple choice

When does a solar eclipse occur?

  1. When Earth comes between the moon and the sun

  2. When there is a full moon day

  3. When the moon comes between Earth and the sun

  4. When there is a high tide

  5. When the sun comes between the moon and Earth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

When the moon comes between Earth and the sun, a solar eclipse occurs.

Multiple choice

Why does a solar eclipse last for a short time only?

  1. Earth's shadow covers only a small portion of the sun.

  2. Earth moves quickly in its orbit.

  3. The moon has to pass the shadow of the sun.

  4. The moon's shadow covers only a small portion of the sun.

  5. The moon's shadow covers only a small portion of Earth.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The moon's shadow covers only a small portion of Earth, where the eclipse is visible. As the moon moves in its orbit (at 1 km/hr), the position of the shadow changes very quickly.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the most appropriate word/verb phrase from the given options and fill blank (iv).

The earth (i) _________ round the sun and the moon goes round the earth. There (ii) _________ several other bodies which like the earth go round the sun. The moon is called a satellite of the earth (iii) _________ it hangs on to it. The other planets have also (iv) _________ their satellites. The sun and the planets with their satellites form a happy family. This is called the solar system. Solar means belonging to the sun and (v) _________ sun being the father of all the planets, (vi) _________ whole group (vii) _________ the solar (viii) _________.

  1. get

  2. gotten

  3. got

  4. getting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The present perfect tense 'have got' (option C) indicates that planets already possess satellites. In British English, 'have got' is commonly used to mean possession. 'Have gotten' is American English, 'have get' is grammatically incorrect, and 'have getting' uses the wrong verb form after 'have'. The context shows a factual statement about what celestial bodies possess.