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

Directions: The question carries the meaning of any one of the four options that follow. You are required to select the correct option.

"Relating to the sun”

  1. Planetary

  2. Lunar

  3. Solar

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

(1) Planetary = relating or belonging to a planet or planets (2) Lunar = relating to the moon (3) Solar = relating to the sun (4) Astrology = a study of the positions and relationships of the sun, moon, stars, and planets in order to judge their influence on human action 

Multiple choice

Days and nights are caused due to

  1. rotation

  2. revolution

  3. gravitational pull

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

The rotation of the Earth on its axis causes the cycle of day and night.

Multiple choice

A solar eclipse occurs when the

  1. sun comes between the earth and the moon

  2. moon comes between the sun and the earth

  3. earth comes between the sun and the moon

  4. sun comes between the earth and a star
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth, blocking the sun's light from reaching a portion of the earth. The other options describe different celestial alignments.

Multiple choice

What is moon blindness?

  1. Night Blindness

  2. Day blindness

  3. Mid Day Blindness

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

Moon blindness is a common term for night blindness (nyctalopia), a condition where one cannot see well in low light.

Multiple choice

The time taken by light to reach the earth from the sun is

  1. 8 hrs 20 secs

  2. 8 min 20 secs

  3. 8 seconds

  4. 20 seconds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Light travels from the Sun to the Earth at a speed of approximately 300,000 km/s. The average distance is 150 million km, resulting in a travel time of about 500 seconds, which is 8 minutes and 20 seconds.

Multiple choice

Some scientists believe that

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows.


There are millions of stars in the sky. We see many of them in the night sky. But, we can see only one during the day – the sun. The sun is also a star like so many others in the sky. But, it is ‘our’ star. It is the head of and at the centre of the family we call “The solar system”. All the planets in the solar system revolve around the sun.  Till recently, we were told that there are nine planets in the solar system, Mercury being the nearest to the sun and Pluto the most distant; Jupiter being the largest and Pluto again being the smallest. Some astronomers believe there could be more. They say that Pluto is too small to be called a planet.  It is a dwarf planet, though still much bigger than ordinary asteroids. The planets move around the sun in a definite orbit. This is what prevents them from striking each other.

  1. the sun is also a planet

  2. the planets are also suns

  3. the number of planets could be more or less than nine

  4. the planets do not revolve around the sun
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage explicitly states that some astronomers believe there could be more planets, noting that Pluto is too small to be a planet.

Multiple choice

Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct option.

_______ they lose much of their mass due to friction.

  1. When the meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere,

  2. When meteor enters the Earth's atmosphere,

  3. When the meteor enters the Earth's atmosphere,

  4. When meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The main clause 'they lose much of their mass' refers to a plural noun. Therefore, the introductory 'when' clause must also use the plural 'meteors'.