General Awareness ยท Physics

Space Exploration and Astronomy

4,144 Questions

Review significant milestones in space exploration, including artificial satellites, reusable space shuttles, and historic lunar landings. This topic also covers astronomical phenomena and telescopic observations. Such scientific general knowledge is commonly tested in SSC, railways, and banking examinations.

Space shuttle missionsArtificial satellitesLunar and planetary landingsSpace telescopes and observatories

Space Exploration and Astronomy Questions

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is known for its high metal content and is considered a potential source of valuable metals?

  1. Psyche

  2. Vesta

  3. Ceres

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

The asteroid Psyche is known for its high metal content and is considered a potential source of valuable metals, such as iron and nickel.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2023?

  1. Bennu

  2. Ryugu

  3. Itokawa

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

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft visited the asteroid Bennu in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2023.

Multiple choice

Which asteroid is known for its rapid rotation, completing one full rotation in just 4.3 hours?

  1. Eros

  2. Ida

  3. Gaspra

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

The asteroid Eros is known for its rapid rotation, completing one full rotation in just 4.3 hours.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft in 1997 and became the first asteroid to be orbited by a spacecraft?

  1. Eros

  2. Ida

  3. Gaspra

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

The NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft visited the asteroid Eros in 1997 and became the first spacecraft to orbit an asteroid.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the Dawn mission in 2015 and is the largest object in the asteroid belt?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

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

The Dawn mission visited the asteroid Ceres in 2015, which is the largest object in the asteroid belt.

Multiple choice

What is the name of the asteroid that was visited by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2020?

  1. Ryugu

  2. Bennu

  3. Itokawa

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

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft visited the asteroid Ryugu in 2018 and is scheduled to return samples to Earth in 2020.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first exoplanet orbiting a Sun-like star, 51 Pegasi b, was discovered in 1995 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first extragalactic planets?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first extragalactic planets were discovered in 1992 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first brown dwarfs?

  1. Keck Observatory

  2. Hubble Space Telescope

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first brown dwarfs were discovered in 1995 using the Keck Observatory.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first Kuiper Belt objects?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first Kuiper Belt objects were discovered in 1992 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first trans-Neptunian objects?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first trans-Neptunian objects were discovered in 1992 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first rogue planets?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first rogue planets were discovered in 2006 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first super-Earths?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first super-Earths were discovered in 2005 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first Earth-like planets?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first Earth-like planets were discovered in 2007 using the Hubble Space Telescope.

Multiple choice

Which observatory was used to discover the first habitable planets?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. Keck Observatory

  3. Very Large Telescope

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

The first habitable planets were discovered in 2011 using the Hubble Space Telescope.