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

Find out the appropriate word and fill blank (vii).

Directions: In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.

In a ____(i)____ space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012. The rare ____(ii)____ display began shortly after 2200 GMT on 5 June 2012 in ____(iii)____ of North America. Subsequently, it was ____(iv)____ in Central America, and the northern part of South America. The view at the time when Venus was ____(­v)____ the Sun was ____(vi)____, as a tiny black dot appeared on the solar _____(vii)_____. Venus is 100th of the _____(viii)_____ of the Sun, so while moving across from one side to the other, it was just a black spot placed over on the disc of the Sun. The celestial _____(ix)_____ which repeats itself after every 100 years, will now be rewitnessed only in 2117. The space phenomenon is _____(x)_____ on the Earth when the Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth.

  1. extreme

  2. enlargement

  3. pressure

  4. aviation

  5. surface
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'solar _____' refers to the Sun's outer layer or disc where Venus appeared as a black dot. 'Surface' is the correct astronomical term for the Sun's visible outer layer. Extreme, enlargement, pressure, and aviation are unrelated to the Sun's visible disc in this context.

Multiple choice

Find out the appropriate word and fill blank (vi).

Directions: In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.

In a ____(i)____ space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012. The rare ____(ii)____ display began shortly after 2200 GMT on 5 June 2012 in ____(iii)____ of North America. Subsequently, it was ____(iv)____ in Central America, and the northern part of South America. The view at the time when Venus was ____(­v)____ the Sun was ____(vi)____, as a tiny black dot appeared on the solar _____(vii)_____. Venus is 100th of the _____(viii)_____ of the Sun, so while moving across from one side to the other, it was just a black spot placed over on the disc of the Sun. The celestial _____(ix)_____ which repeats itself after every 100 years, will now be rewitnessed only in 2117. The space phenomenon is _____(x)_____ on the Earth when the Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth.

  1. incredible

  2. edible

  3. legible

  4. comprehensible

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

The sentence 'The view at the time when Venus was crossing the Sun was ____' requires an adjective describing the quality of the view. 'Incredible' means extraordinarily impressive or remarkable, which fits the context of witnessing a rare astronomical phenomenon. Edible means suitable for eating, legible means readable, comprehensible means understandable, and lucid means clear - none capture the awe of the celestial event.

Multiple choice

Find out the appropriate word and fill blank (ix).

Directions: In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.

In a ____(i)____ space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012. The rare ____(ii)____ display began shortly after 2200 GMT on 5 June 2012 in ____(iii)____ of North America. Subsequently, it was ____(iv)____ in Central America, and the northern part of South America. The view at the time when Venus was ____(­v)____ the Sun was ____(vi)____, as a tiny black dot appeared on the solar _____(vii)_____. Venus is 100th of the _____(viii)_____ of the Sun, so while moving across from one side to the other, it was just a black spot placed over on the disc of the Sun. The celestial _____(ix)_____ which repeats itself after every 100 years, will now be rewitnessed only in 2117. The space phenomenon is _____(x)_____ on the Earth when the Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth.

  1. body

  2. appear

  3. phenomenon

  4. aspect

  5. target
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage refers to 'The celestial _____ which repeats itself after every 100 years.' 'Phenomenon' is the correct term for a remarkable event or occurrence in nature. Body refers to a physical object, appear is a verb, aspect means feature, and target means objective. The Venus transit is correctly classified as a celestial phenomenon due to its rare, observable nature.

Multiple choice

Find out the appropriate word and fill blank (iii).

Directions: In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.

In a ____(i)____ space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012. The rare ____(ii)____ display began shortly after 2200 GMT on 5 June 2012 in ____(iii)____ of North America. Subsequently, it was ____(iv)____ in Central America, and the northern part of South America. The view at the time when Venus was ____(­v)____ the Sun was ____(vi)____, as a tiny black dot appeared on the solar _____(vii)_____. Venus is 100th of the _____(viii)_____ of the Sun, so while moving across from one side to the other, it was just a black spot placed over on the disc of the Sun. The celestial _____(ix)_____ which repeats itself after every 100 years, will now be rewitnessed only in 2117. The space phenomenon is _____(x)_____ on the Earth when the Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth.

  1. views

  2. distances

  3. parts

  4. shows

  5. levels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'in ____ of North America' refers to specific geographic regions. 'Parts' is the correct answer as it indicates portions or areas of the continent. Views, distances, shows, and levels don't fit the geographic context of describing regions where the event was observable.

Multiple choice

Find out the appropriate word and fill blank (ii).

Directions: In the given passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered.

In a ____(i)____ space event, Venus, the second closest planet from the sun, passed in front of the sun on 5 June 2012. The rare ____(ii)____ display began shortly after 2200 GMT on 5 June 2012 in ____(iii)____ of North America. Subsequently, it was ____(iv)____ in Central America, and the northern part of South America. The view at the time when Venus was ____(­v)____ the Sun was ____(vi)____, as a tiny black dot appeared on the solar _____(vii)_____. Venus is 100th of the _____(viii)_____ of the Sun, so while moving across from one side to the other, it was just a black spot placed over on the disc of the Sun. The celestial _____(ix)_____ which repeats itself after every 100 years, will now be rewitnessed only in 2117. The space phenomenon is _____(x)_____ on the Earth when the Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth.

  1. planetary

  2. substantial

  3. ocular

  4. molecular

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

The phrase 'The rare ____ display' requires an adjective describing the type of astronomical display. 'Planetary' is correct as the Venus transit involves a planet (Venus) passing in front of the Sun. Substantial means significant, ocular relates to vision, molecular relates to atoms, and secular means worldly/non-religious. The event is correctly termed a planetary display as it involves planetary motion.

Multiple choice

A solar eclipse occurs when

  1. the Sun comes between the Moon and Earth

  2. the Earth comes between the Sun and Moon

  3. the Moon is at a a right angle to the Earth

  4. the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light. Option A would create an extremely rare event, Option B describes a lunar eclipse, and Option C describes quarter moon phases when the Moon is at right angles to the Earth-Sun line.

Multiple choice

When does a lunar eclipse occur?

  1. When the moon comes between the earth and the sun.

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

  3. When the sun comes between the earth and the moon.

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

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon. A is a solar eclipse configuration. C is astronomically impossible as the Sun cannot come between Earth and Moon.

Multiple choice

What is the principal cause of lunar eclipse?

  1. Earth comes in between the sun and the moon

  2. Moon comes in between the sun and Earth

  3. Sun stops emitting rays

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

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon. This can only happen during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align in a straight line. Option B describes a solar eclipse, and option C is impossible.

Multiple choice

Match the following:

a. Asteroid 1. is a meteor which does not burn up completely on entering the Earth's atmosphere
b. Comet 2. is a small celestial object which revolves around the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter
c. Meteorite 3. is a collection of gases and dust which appears as a bright ball of light in the sky with a long glowing tail when it comes close to the Sun

  1. a - 1, b - 2, c - 3

  2. a - 2, b - 1, c - 3

  3. a - 3, b - 2, c - 1

  4. a - 2, b - 3, c - 1

  5. a - 1, b - 3, c - 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. An asteroid is a small celestial object which revolves around the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. A comet is a collection of gases and dust which appears as a bright ball of light in the sky with a long glowing tail when it comes close to the Sun. A meteorite is a meteor which does not burn up completely on entering the Earth's atmosphere.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. Planets do not twinkle in the night sky because they are much more nearer to the Earth than the stars. b. The heat and light of the stars is produced by nuclear fission reactions taking place inside them. c. The Sun is the nearest star to the Earth.

  1. Only a

  2. Both a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Both b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as statement 'b' is a false statement. The heat and light of the stars is produced by  nuclear fusion reactions taking place inside them.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. The Earth rotates on an imaginary axis which passes through its North and South poles. b. The axis of rotation of Earth is slightly tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun. c. As a result of the rotation of Earth on its axis, day and night and different seasons on the Earth are caused.

  1. Only a

  2. Both a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Both b and c

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as none of these statements are false. The Earth rotates on an imaginary axis which passes through its North and South poles. The axis of rotation of Earth is slightly tilted with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun and as a result of the rotation of Earth on its axis, day and night and different seasons on the Earth are caused.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are false?

a. The Moon is about one-fourth the size of the Earth in diameter, but its mass is only about one-eighth that of Earth. b. The surface of the Moon is covered with hard and loose dirt, craters and mountains. c. The night on which the whole bright disc of the Moon is visible from the Earth is called the crescent Moon.

  1. Only a

  2. Both a and b

  3. Only b

  4. Both b and c

  5. Only c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this is a false statement. The night on which the whole bright disc of the Moon is visible from the Earth is called the full Moon day, not the crescent Moon.