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

Duration of sunshine is longest in _____________.

  1. May and June

  2. November and December

  3. July and August

  4. February and March

  5. September and October
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct as these are summer months. During the summer season, the duration of the sunshine is longer. Due to this, the temperature is high in summer.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the question below, the 1st and the last (correctly ordered) sentences are numbered 1 and 6. The rest of the passage is split into four parts and named B, C, D and E. These four parts are not given in the proper order. Choose the correct combination among the four alternatives given.

  1. The sun has been shedding light and energy on Earth for about 4.5 billion years. B. And while it provides us with life, it can also ­be dangerous. C. That's a lot of heat, and if you're not careful, it can cause a lot of damage. D. That means, humans have only been around to enjoy a fraction of it. E. After all, the center of the sun burns at roughly 10 million degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 million degrees Celsius).
  2. Looking directly at the sun, even for a few minutes, can blind you permanently.

  1. CDEB

  2. CBED

  3. DCBE

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

In D, 'fraction of it' refers to 'about 4.5 billion years' in 1. 'And while it provides us…can also be dangerous' in B links it with D providing contrary statement to 'around to enjoy'. E follows B because it explains why sun can be dangerous. 'That's a lot of heat' in C refers to '10 million degrees Fahrenheit' in E. 6 explains what damage the sun can cause as mentioned in C.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is an example of curvilinear motion?

  1. A girl sliding down a slope

  2. A spinning top

  3. A boy on a swing

  4. A ball thrown upwards at an angle

  5. The Earth revolving around the Sun
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. A ball thrown upwards at an angle is an example of curvilinear motion.

Multiple choice

The earth revolves round the sun and its causes :

  1. Differences in longitude and time

  2. Changes of seasons

  3. Deflection of winds and currents

  4. Formation of day and night
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Earth's revolution around the Sun on a tilted axis leads to varying amounts of sunlight reaching different parts of the planet throughout the year. This cycle is what creates the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Rotation on the axis, by contrast, causes day and night.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word which has the same contextual meaning as the part in bold letters in the given sentence.

The earth moves around the sun in a curved path.

  1. Orbit

  2. Ellipse

  3. Rotation

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

Orbit is the actual or imaginary path taken by a celestial body during its periodic revolution around another body. Ellipse is a geometrical shape. Rotation is the spinning of a body on its axis, e.g. earth rotates. Track is any path. So, orbit is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Equinoxes occur when

  1. the days are longer than the nights

  2. the nights are longer than the days

  3. the nights and days are equal in length

  4. the difference between the length of nights and days is the highest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

An equinox occurs twice a year when the Sun is positioned exactly above the Earth's equator. During this time, the duration of day and night is approximately equal everywhere on Earth.

Multiple choice

We always see the same face of the moon, because

  1. it is smaller than the earth

  2. it revolves on its axis in a direction opposite to that of the earth

  3. it takes equal time for revolution around the earth and rotation on its own axis

  4. it rotates at the same speed as the earth around the sun
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blank with an appropriate word.

For a blue moon to ________, the first of the full moons must appear at or near the beginning of the month so that the second will fall within the same month.

  1. happen

  2. occur

  3. see

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

Occur is the standard verb used to describe the happening of natural phenomena like a blue moon. Happen is also possible, but occur is more formal and precise in this context.

Multiple choice

The day and night are equal on ____.

  1. Equator

  2. Equinoxes

  3. Equidays

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

Equinoxes occur twice a year when the sun crosses the celestial equator, resulting in approximately equal day and night lengths globally.

Multiple choice

Although just inside the orbit of Jupiter, amateur astronomers with good telescopes should be able to see the comet within the next few weeks.

  1. Although just inside the orbit of

  2. Although it is just inside the orbit of

  3. Just inside the orbit of

  4. Orbiting just inside

  5. Having orbited just inside
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The original phrase is a dangling modifier because the subject of the main clause, amateur astronomers, is not the entity inside the orbit of Jupiter. Option B correctly adds a subject and verb to the introductory clause to fix this.