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

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.

Multiple choice

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

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. does go

  2. goes

  3. is going

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

Simple present tense 'goes' is correct because the sentence describes a universal, timeless fact - Earth continuously orbits the sun. 'Does go' adds unnecessary emphasis, 'is going' suggests a temporary action happening right now, and 'will go' indicates future. Scientific facts about celestial motion use simple present.

Multiple choice

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

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. because

  2. since

  3. as

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

'Because' correctly explains the reason the moon is called a satellite - it hangs on to (orbits) the Earth. 'Since' and 'as' can also mean 'because', but 'because' is most direct for cause-effect relationships. 'Far' is not a conjunction and makes no sense grammatically.

Multiple choice

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

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. had been

  2. were

  3. are

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

'Are' is correct because the sentence states a current, ongoing fact - there exist several other bodies orbiting the sun. 'Were' is past tense (these bodies still exist), 'had been' is past perfect, and 'have been' would need a time duration. The simple present matches the timeless nature of astronomical facts.

Multiple choice

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

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. a

  2. the

  3. an

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

'The' is the definite article required because 'sun' is a unique, specific entity - there's only one sun in our solar system. 'A' would imply any sun, 'an' is for vowel sounds, and 'that' is a demonstrative used for pointing to something already mentioned, not for introducing a unique noun.

Multiple choice

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

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. the

  2. as

  3. in

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

'The' is needed as the definite article for 'whole group' - it's a specific, unique group being referred to (the solar system). 'As' is a conjunction/preposition, 'in' is a preposition that doesn't fit, and 'a' is indefinite. The phrase is identifying a specific complete set.

Multiple choice

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

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. was called

  2. was being called

  3. is called

  4. has been called
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage describes general scientific facts about the solar system using present tense ('The earth goes round', 'moon goes round'). The naming convention 'is called the solar system' is a present tense fact. 'Was called' would imply the name changed, which is incorrect.

Multiple choice

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

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. system

  2. groups

  3. systems

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

The passage defines the solar system and states it 'is called the solar system'. The final blank (viii) completes this term, which is 'system'. 'System' is singular matching the singular antecedent 'solar system' introduced earlier. 'Systems' would be plural, 'group' doesn't match the defined term.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are not connected with proof of the Earth’s shape?

  1. Circumnavigation
  2. Rotation and revolution of the earth
  3. The shadow of the earth on moon during eclipse
  4. Satellite photography

  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 1

  3. 1, 3 and 4

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Following are the evidences of the Earth’s shape:

  1. Earth's shadow on the moon (at lunar eclipse) is always circular.
  2. The position of the sun and the stars depends on the position of earth, thus earth has to be curved.
  3. Magellan sailed around Earth.
  4. Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth in space.
  5. Pictures of Earth taken from the Moon impressively demonstrate the shape of Earth.
  6. The rotation of Earth can be proven with Foucault's pendulum.
  7. Astronomical observations show that all the other planets are spheres, it is very likely that the Earth is a sphere too.
Multiple choice

The occurrence of days and nights is because of ______________.

  1. shape of Earth’s orbit

  2. revolution movement of the Earth

  3. rotational movement of the Earth

  4. movement of the Sun

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

Day and night is caused by the rotation of the Earth about its axis. At any given time, the half facing the Sun will be shined upon while the other half will have no light. Places in the former will therefore experience day while places in the latter will experience night.