WELCOME to the SAASTA Astro Quiz 2015 ROUND

WELCOME to the SAASTA Astro. Quiz 2015 ROUND 4

QUESTION 1 What is the meaning of the term “umbra”? A. B. C. D. The Earth The Moon Shadow Eclipse

QUESTION 2 Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the Earth, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of the Earth. A. True B. False

QUESTION 3 A solar eclipse occurs during the day whilst a lunar eclipse occurs only at night. A. True B. False

QUESTION 4 The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a giant __and exists as a result of ___ A. Crater; collision of gas molecules B. Storm; Swirling of gases C. Ocean; large amounts of water coming together D. Volcano; eruptions on the planet

QUESTION 5 The phase of the Moon that one sees depends on _______ A. The Moon’s position and where you are on Earth's surface. B. How much of the sunlit side of the Moon faces Earth. C. How much of the Moon's surface is lit by the sun. D. Whether or not an eclipse is occurring

QUESTION 6 When do we experience the highest tides? A. During the Moon's first quarter phase B. When the Sun, Earth and Moon are nearly in a line C. During the Moon's third quarter D. When the Moon is at a right angle to the Sun

QUESTION 7 How long does it take light to travel from the Sun to the Earth? A. B. C. D. 1 minute 8 minutes 1 hour 24 hours

QUESTION 8 Arrange the following in terms of decreasing distance from Earth. A. B. C. D. Makemake, Eris, Ceres, Pluto Eris, Pluto, Ceres, Makemake, Eris, Pluto Ceres, Pluto, Makemake, Eris

QUESTION 9 The orbits of all the known planets are roughly on the same plane? A. True B. False

QUESTION 10 Which statement describes the atmosphere of the planet correctly? A. Venus’ atmosphere contains mostly carbon dioxide B. Mercury’s atmosphere contains mostly nitrogen C. Earth’s atmosphere contains mostly oxygen D. Saturn’s atmosphere contains mostly helium

QUESTION 11 The three most abundant gases found in Uranus' atmosphere are __ A. B. C. D. Hydrogen, Helium & Nitrogen Hydrogen, Helium & Methane Hydrogen, Helium & Ammonia Hydrogen, Helium & Oxygen

QUESTION 12 Saturn’s rings are so spectacular that they span up to approximately three quarters the distance between Earth and its Moon. A. True B. False

QUESTION 13 What is the approximate average distance between the Moon and the Earth? A. B. C. D. 2, 80 x 105 km 280 x 105 km 3, 80 x 105 km 380 x 105 km

QUESTION 14 Approximately how far do the rings of Saturn spread/span? A. B. C. D. 280 000 m 380 000 km 282 000 km 190 000 m

QUESTION 15 Which of the following statements about Saturn is false? A. Its rings orbit at different speeds around the planet B. There are gaps in the rings through which some of its moons orbit C. The rings can be seen with the naked eye on a very dark night D. The rings are so thin that their height is in the range of approximately 1 km or less

QUESTION 16 Which Kuiper Belt object was passed by a spacecraft this year? A. B. C. D. Mercury Pluto Neptune Eris

QUESTION 17 Which of the following statements is incorrect about the Kuiper belt? A. It is found between Mars & Jupiter B. It is found beyond Neptune C. It is where most dwarf planets are found D. It surrounds our star, the Sun

QUESTION 18 Which of the following is not true about the Moon? A. It has an effect on Earth’s oceanic tides B. It has an effect on the Earth’s rotation C. It has very thin and weak atmosphere D. It has very faint rings around it

QUESTION 19 If Proxima Centauri is approximately 4, 22 light years away from the Earth. How far is it in km given that 1 light year = 9, 46 x 1012 km? A. B. C. D. 39, 92 x 1013 3, 992 x 1013 2, 241 x 1012

QUESTION 20 What is the distance in kilometres travelled by light in one year? A. B. C. D. 1, 50 x 108 3, 99 x 1012 9, 46 x 1012 1, 50 x 1012

QUESTION 21 At what speed does light travel in vacuum? A. B. C. D. 3, 99 x 1012 m/s 3, 99 x 1012 km/h 2, 99 x 108 m/s 2, 99 x 108 km/h

QUESTION 22 Which two observatories led to the formation of the SAAO in Cape Town? A. Republic & Royal B. Republic & Radcliffe C. Royal & Radcliffe D. Radcliffe & Natal

QUESTION 23 At which observatory was the discovery of Proxima Centauri made? A. Boyden Observatory B. South African Astronomical Observatory C. SAASTA Johannesburg Observatory D. Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory

QUESTION 24 In which year was the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) opened? A. 1995 B. 1994 C. 2004 D. 2005

QUESTION 25 Which astronomer was the first to classify stars systematically? A. Henrietta Swan Leavitt B. Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin C. Annie Jump Cannon D. Carolyn Shoemaker

QUESTION 26 Which astronomer is an expert on the formation of high-mass stars? A. Dr Patricia Whitelock B. Dr Sharmila Goedhart C. Dr Claire Flanagan D. Dr Catherine Cress

QUESTION 27 Arrange the following in terms of increasing Earth year length. A. B. C. D. Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Mars

QUESTION 28 Arrange the following in terms of an increasing number of satellites. A. B. C. D. Neptune, Mars, Uranus, Mars, Neptune, Uranus Mars, Uranus, Neptune

QUESTION 29 Arrange the following in terms of increasing distance from the Earth. A. B. C. D. Moon, Sun, Sirius, Proxima Centauri Sun, Moon, Sirius, Proxima Centauri Moon, Sun, Proxima Centauri, Sirius

QUESTION 30 Which of the following is a criterion used for defining a dwarf planet? A. It is a very small celestial body, smaller than all known planets B. It has no satellites of its own C. It has not cleared its orbit of other celestial bodies D. It is very far from all other known planets but still orbits the Sun

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING

SUDDEN DEATH TIE BREAKERS

QUESTION 1 The tilt of the Earth’s spin axis causes ______ A. B. C. D. the seasons day and night. the ice on its poles. it to sustain life.

QUESTION 2 What keep planets in orbit around the Sun and moons in orbit around planets? A. Only gravitation forces B. Only the orbiting speeds C. Gravitation and orbiting speeds D. Only the Sun’s attraction

QUESTION 3 Which of the following is the most accurate about seasons? A. Seasons occur because the Sun goes around the Earth and the Moon around the Earth B. Seasons occur because the Earth goes around the Sun C. Seasons occur because the Earth goes around the Sun and its axis is tilted at 23. 50 to the plane of its orbit D. Seasons occur because the Earth’s orbit brings it nearer and further away from the Sun

QUESTION 4 Which one of the following is true? A. A galaxy is made of a few collection of stars held together by common gravity B. None of the stars in a galaxy have common gravity C. Galaxies contain stars only D. A galaxy is a collection of many stars, gas and dust which are held together by gravity

QUESTION 5 Planets in the solar system shine by ____ A. Nuclear fusion in their cores B. Refracting sunlight C. Reflecting sunlight D. b and c above

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING ALL THE BEST!