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

Which of the following is/are correct? a. Constellations move randomly in the sky. b. The Sun is the only planet that we can see in the day. c. Venus was called the morning or evening star.

  1. Only a

  2. Only b

  3. Only c

  4. Only a and b

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

This is the correct satatement. Venus is called the morning or the evening star. Although Venus is a planet, but in ancient civilisations it was known as the morning star or the evening star as it came close to the Earth and could be seen by the naked eye.

Multiple choice

The Moon is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun. Which of the following reasons is correct for its brightness?

  1. It shines because of the gases present on it.

  2. It shines because of the thick shining dust on its surface.

  3. It shines because it reflects the colour of the water on the Earth's surface.

  4. It shines due to the craters caused by meteorites.

  5. It shines because it reflects the light of the Sun falling on it.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. It shines because it reflects the light of the sun falling on it.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct? a. The gravity on the Moon's surface is six times that of Earth's surface. b. The different shapes/sizes of the Moon visible from Earth are called the phases of Moon. c. A solar eclipse occurs on the day of a New Moon.

  1. Only a

  2. Only b

  3. Only c

  4. Only a and b

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

The different shapes/sizes of the Moon visible from Earth are called the phases of the Moon. This is the only correct statement.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are incorrect? a. The moon takes 27 days and 8 hours to complete one rotation. b. Every 12 and half hours there is a high tide followed by a low tide. c. The artificial satellites are 3000 kms away from the earth.

  1. Only a

  2. Only b

  3. Only c

  4. Only a and b

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

This is an incorrect statement. Thus this answer is correct. The artificial satellites are 300 kms, not 3000 kms away from the earth.

Multiple choice

What is the approximate rate of Earth’s revolution around the sun?

  1. 1° per year

  2. 1° per day

  3. 15° per year

  4. 15° per day

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

1° per day is the approximate rate of Earth’s revolution around the sun. The formula which is used to calculate this is Kepler’s third law which states that the squares of the orbital periods of planets are directly proportional to the cubes of the axes of the orbits. Earth's orbit is an ellipse, i.e. 360° and it takes 365.25 days to go 360°. So in one day, Earth moves 1.0145833°.

Multiple choice

As viewed from Earth, stars appear to move across the sky at night because of

  1. Earth’s revolution

  2. Earth’s rotation

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. Neither (1) nor (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

As viewed from Earth, stars appear to move across the sky at night because of Earth’s rotation. The stars appear to move, but it is actually just our location on Earth that is moving (West to East). Any actual motion of the stars is too small to detect because of the huge distances involved.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace ‘casts’ as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. radiates

  2. shines

  3. spreads

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

We are talking about the sun eclipse, when the moon comes between the sun and the earth and its shadow is visible..... So, the moon throws its shadow on the surface of earth. The other options do not fit in with the flow of the passage.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the correct spelling of 'juornie'?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. jurney

  2. journey

  3. journie

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

he correct spellings are 'journey'.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'for then' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. because

  2. also with

  3. as a result of

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

Here 'for then' is used to explain the reason of something. Therefore, because can be used to replace it.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'toward' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

When the moon in its juornie (1) around the earth, passes directly between the earth and the sun, it casts (2) its shadow on the surface of the earth, and an eclipse of the sun takes place. An eclipse of the sun occurs only when the moon is new, for then (3) the moon is on that side of the earth facing toward (4) the sun. Then why isn’t there are eclipse of the sun every time there’s a new moon? The reason (5) is that the path of the moon around the earth does not lie directly (6) in line with the orbit of the earth about the sun. In its 29–day trip around (7) the earth, the moon passes sometimes above and sometimes below the path (8) of the earth.

  1. near

  2. on road to

  3. in the direction of

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

'Towards' is used here to tell about the direction in which the earth is facing.