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 geography how seasons occur - part i how seasons occur rotation and calculation of time seasons and time

Which is the longest day and shortest night in the northern hemisphere ?

  1. 21st June.

  2. 23rd June.

  3. 25th June.

  4. None of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Sunrays are never perpendicular on any of the parallels between Tropic of Cancer and the North Pole or between Tropic of Capricorn and the South Pole. 21st June is the longest day and it marks the shortest night in the northern hemisphere.
Multiple choice geography natural regions tundra regions tundra climatic region natural regions of the world

'During some days in the year the sun never rises while during some periods the sun never sets' can be experienced in which regions ___________.

  1. Monsoon region

  2. Savanna region

  3. Tundra region

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

The phenomenon of the midnight sun and polar nights is characteristic of high-latitude regions, specifically the Tundra or polar regions.

Multiple choice geography natural regions tundra regions tundra climatic region natural regions of the world

The sun begins to shine in the Tundra around _____.

  1. January-February

  2. February-March

  3. December-January

  4. November-December
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Tundra has cold and dry Climate. It is covered with snow and is very cold throughout the year. There is no sunshine in the winter season of the year, both days and nights are dark. In the month of February-March, the sun begins to shine. Sun shines for the whole day and night. This tundra region is also known as the land of the midnight sun. There are nearly six months' day and six months' night in the tundra region.

Multiple choice physics light and shadow elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium the solar system nature and sources of light how light travels

Lunar eclipse occurs when earth comes in between sun and the moon. Solar eclipse occurs when moon comes in between sun and earth. This suggests that:

  1. Both eclipses occur on a new moon day

  2. Solar eclipse occurs on a new moon day

  3. Lunar eclipse occurs on a new moon day

  4. Both eclipses occur on a full moon day
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and

Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun. This

can happen only at new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in

conjunction as seen from Earth in an alignment.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes

directly behind the Earth into its shadow. This can occur only

when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very

closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, a lunar eclipse can only occur the night of a full moon.

Multiple choice physics light and shadow elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium the solar system nature and sources of light how light travels

Lunar eclipse occurs when the

  1. Sun comes between the Earth and the Moon.

  2. Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun.

  3. Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun.

  4. the Earth and Moon collide with each other.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Moon moves around the Earth and the Earth moves around the Sun. During their revolutions, when the Moon, the Earth and the Sun come into a straight line keeping the Earth in between the Moon and the Sun, the lunar eclipse takes place.

Multiple choice physics light and shadow elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium the solar system nature and sources of light how light travels

The partial or complete hiding of one heavenly body by shadow of another is called

  1. Ellipse

  2. Eclipse

  3. Asteriod

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

Eclipse is partial or complete hiding of one heavenly body by shadow of another.

Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse are two processes associated with earth, moon and sun.

Multiple choice physics light and shadow elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium the solar system nature and sources of light how light travels

When Earth comes in between Sun and Moon and casts its shadow on Moon. The ______ eclipse will occur.

  1. solar

  2. lunar

  3. either A or B

  4. none of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

During lunar eclipse, Earth comes between Sun and Moon in a straight line. The shadow of the Earth falls on the Moon and the Moon gets eclipsed.

Multiple choice physics light and shadow elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium the solar system nature and sources of light how light travels

Eclipse occurs when the Earth, Sun and Moon form:

  1. an isosceles triangle

  2. a straight line

  3. any random position

  4. a right angled triangle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Eclipse occurs when Sun, Earth and Moon come in a straight line. The Earth or Moon that comes in between casts a shadow on Moon or Earth and form lunar or solar eclipse respectively.

Multiple choice physics light and shadow elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium the solar system nature and sources of light how light travels

When the Moon comes in between the Sun and Earth in a straight line, then ________ eclipse will occur.

  1. solar

  2. lunar

  3. either A or B

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

During solar eclipse, Moon comes between Sun and the Earth. The Sun is eclipsed where the shadow of the Moon falls on the Earth.

Multiple choice physics gravitation elementary ideas of astronomy shadow formation and optical medium light and shadow

The Halley's comet appears after every

  1. $72$ years
  2. $74$ years
  3. $75$ years
  4. $78$ years
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Halley's comet appears after every  $75$ years.

Halley's Comet is arguably the most famous comet. It is a "periodic" comet and returns to Earth's vicinity about every $75$ years, making it possible for a human to see it twice in his or her lifetime. The last time it was here was in 1986, and it is projected to return in $2061.$

The comet is named after English astronomer Edmond Halley, who examined reports of a comet approaching Earth in $1531, 1607$ and $1682$. He concluded that these three comets were actually the same comet returning over and over again, and predicted the comet would come again in $1758$.

Multiple choice geography ocean tsunami and floods movements of ocean and sea water oceanic circulations circulation of ocean water

Tides in the ocean will be highest when __________________.

  1. it is full Moon

  2. Moon is eclipsed

  3. Moon and Sun are pulling at right angles to the Earth

  4. Moon is in new phase
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Tides are highest (spring tides) during the new moon and full moon phases, when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon are aligned.

Multiple choice geography in search of the source of wind global pressure belts pressure belts atmospheric conditions

When the sun is overhead on the Tropic of Capricorn (22st December) the pressure belts shift _____________.

  1. $5^0N$
  2. $5^0S$
  3. $15^0N$
  4. $15^0S$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
$5^0S$
When the sun is overhead on the Tropic of Cancer (21 June) the pressure belts shift 5° northward and when it shines vertically overhead on Tropic of Capricorn (22 December), they shift 5° southward from their original position.

Because the axis of the Earth is tilted. If the Earth rotated upright the sun will always shine perpendicular to the Equator so the pressure belts would not move. But the Earth’s axis is slightly tilted. So in Summer, the northern hemisphere is pointed to the sun and in Winter southern hemisphere is pointing away from the sun. That is why days are longer in summer than in winter. The pressure belts move with the energy the sun provides. So if it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere the pressure belts move towards the north. If it is Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the pressure belts move further south.