AstroQuiz
2024
Study Guide
Gerry Barrow
TTAC AstroClub,
Updated September 2024
Part 1. Astronomy Terms and Definitions
Part 2. The Solar System
Part 3. The Moons
Part 4. Deep Sky Objects
Part 5. Comets, Asteroids and Dwarf Planets
Part 6. Stars
Part 7. Constellations
Part 8. Light and Optical Instruments
Part 4
Deep sky
Objects
Webb's First
Deep Field
Question
The is a Webb view of
the early
Universe toward the….
The thousands of
galaxies flooding the
field of view may be as
far as …..
The stars with six
visible spikes are well
within our own ____
____
Webb's First
Deep Field
The is a Webb view of
the early
Universe toward the
southern constellation
Volans.
The thousands of
galaxies flooding the
field of view may be as
far as 9.5 billion years
away.
The stars with six
visible spikes are well
within our own Milky
Way.
Galaxies
Question
What is A galaxy ?
It is believed that a
supermassive Black Hole
exists at …..
Galaxies
A galaxy is a massive,
gravitationally bound
system consisting of stars,
an interstellar medium of
gas and dust, and dark
matter.
It is believed that a
supermassive Black Hole
exists at the heart of every
active galaxy, including our
own Milky Way
Star populations in the galaxies
Question
Population II stars tend to
be found in ______
_______ and the _____ of
a galaxy. They tend to be
_____, ___ ______ and
_____ than Population I
stars.
They have fewer heavy
elements, either by
being…..
Population I stars are_____,
_____ ______ stars
concentrated in the arms of
____ _____. The gas from which
they formed has been seeded
with the……..
Star populations in the galaxies
Population II stars tend to
be found in globular
clusters and the nucleus
of a galaxy. They tend to
be older, less luminous
and cooler than
Population I stars.
They have fewer heavy
elements, either by being
older or being in regions
where no heavy-element
producing predecessors
would be found.
Population I stars are luminous,
hot young stars concentrated in
the arms of spiral galaxies
. The gas from which they
formed has been seeded with
the heavy elements formed from
previous giant stars.
The Milky Way
100, 000 light years
3
1
4
5
6
2
The ____ is one of the stars in the Milky
Way galaxy; the Solar System includes
the Earth and all the other objects that
orbit the Sun.
7
8
The Milky Way
100, 000 light years
The Sun is one of the stars in the Milky
Way galaxy; the Solar System includes
the Earth and all the other objects that
orbit the Sun.
Spiral
Galaxies
Question
Spiral galaxies consist
of a ___, _____ ___
containing___,
___and___, and a
central concentration of
stars known as the___.
These are surrounded
by…….
Spiral
Galaxies
Spiral galaxies consist
of a flat, rotating disk
containing stars, gas
and dust, and a central
concentration of stars
known as the bulge.
These are surrounded
by a much fainter halo
of stars, many of which
reside in globular
clusters.
M61
Question
a
This typical spiral galaxy contains…..
M61
a
This typical spiral galaxy contains
sweeping spiral arms, cosmic dust
lanes, pinkish star forming regions,
and young blue star clusters.
Barred Spiral
Galaxies
Question
Bar
What is A barred spiral galaxy
?.
Bars generally affect both
the…..
Barred Spiral
Galaxies
Bar
A barred spiral galaxy is a
spiral galaxy with a central barshaped structure composed of
stars. Bars are found in
approximately half of all spiral
galaxies.
Bars generally affect both the
motions of stars and interstellar
gas within spiral galaxies
Elliptical Galaxies
Question
M 31
M31, The Andromeda Galaxy
is a spiral galaxy approximately _______ light-years in
the constellation _______It appears elliptical because
……
Elliptical Galaxies
M 31
M31, The Andromeda Galaxy
is a spiral galaxy approximately 2,500,000 light-years in
the constellation Andromeda. It appears elliptical
because we are viewing it from the side.
It is the nearest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way.
M31 contains one trillion (1012) stars
Elliptical Galaxies
Question
M 31
The Milkyway
The center of M31 could be on a direct collision course with…..
What If that happens?
Elliptical Galaxies
M 31
The Milkyway
The center of M31 could be on a direct collision course with the center of our
Milkyway galaxy.
If that happens, the two galaxies will become bound, dance around, and eventually
merge to become one large elliptical galaxy over the next few billion years
Irregular Galaxies
Question
The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a _____ ____.
It has a diameter of about ______ light-years and
contains ………..stars.
At a distance of about _______light-years, it is one
of the Milky Way's nearest neighbors. It is also one
of the most…...
Some galaxies do not have a regular
shape, like a spiral or an elliptical galaxy
Those galaxies are known as _______
_____
Irregular Galaxies
Some galaxies do not have a regular
shape, like a spiral or an elliptical galaxy
Those galaxies are known as irregular
galaxies.
The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is a dwarf galaxy.
It has a diameter of about 7,000 light-years and
contains several hundred million stars.
At a distance of about 200,000 light-years, it is one
of the Milky Way's nearest neighbors. It is also one
of the most distant objects that can be seen with the
naked eye.
The Hubble classification for
galaxies was invented by _____
_____ in which year?
The Hubble Tuning Fork
Classification Question
What does his scheme do?
_______ galaxies have
smooth, featureless light
distributions and appear
as ellipses in images.
Roughly half of all spirals are also
observed to have a _______structure,
extending from the _____ _____.
These ______ _____are given the
symbol SB.
______ galaxies consist of a flattened
disk, with stars forming a spiral
structure, and a central concentration
of stars known as the_____,
The Hubble classification for
galaxies was invented by Edwin
Hubble in 1936. Hubble’s scheme
divides galaxies into 3 broad classes
based on their visual appearance.
Elliptical galaxies have
smooth, featureless light
distributions and appear
as ellipses in images.
Roughly half of all spirals are also
observed to have a bar-like structure,
extending from the central bulge.
These barred spirals are given the
symbol SB.
The Hubble Tuning Fork
Classification
Spiral galaxies consist of a flattened
disk, with stars forming a spiral
structure, and a central concentration
of stars known as the bulge,
Quasars
Question
What are Quasars ?They
can emit up to a _______
times the energy of our
entire Milky Way.
Quasars are believed to be powered by ……. More than
________ quasars are known.
Quasars
Quasars are very distant
ancient objects, and are
the most luminous,
powerful, and energetic
objects known in the
universe.
They can emit up to a
thousand times the
energy of our entire
Milky Way.
Quasars are believed to be powered by accretion of
material into supermassive black holes in the nuclei of
distant galaxies.
More than 200,000 quasars are known.
Nebulae
Question
What is a Nebulae ?
Why do Dark nebulae stand out?
Nebulae
Nebulae are areas of space containing
dust and gas.
Dark nebulae stand out because they
block out background stars.
Reflection
Nebula
Question
?
?
Reflection nebulae
appear blue
because….
___ is observed
as a Reflection
Nebula
Reflection
Nebula
Star emits
visible light
Scattered
blue light
reflected
from gas
and dust
Reflection nebulae
appear blue because
dust grains reflect
blue light more
efficiently than red.
Dust is observed
as a Reflection
Nebula
The Iris Reflection
Nebula Question
The dominant color of the Iris reflection
nebula is ___, characteristic of dust
grains reflecting ____.
The Iris Reflection
Nebula
The dominant color of the Iris reflection
nebula is blue, characteristic of dust
grains reflecting starlight.
Emission
Nebula
Question
?
?
?
Gas is observed
as a ___ Emission
Nebula
What is An emission nebula?
What are The most common source for ionization?
Due to the prevalence of hydrogen in interstellar gas, what happens?
Emission
Nebula
Excited
electrons reemit red
visible light
Bright star
emits ultraviolet light
Light passes
through cold
hydrogen gas
and ionizes it
Gas is observed
as a red Emission
Nebula
An emission nebula is a cloud of ionized gas (i.e. a plasma) emitting light of
various colors. The most common source for ionization are high-energy photons
emitted from a nearby hot star.
Due to the prevalence of hydrogen in interstellar gas, many emission nebulae
appear red due to the strong emissions of the Balmer series
The Pelican
Emission Nebula
Question
What is a The Pelican
Nebula?
The Pelican
Emission Nebula
The Pelican Nebula is an
emission nebula 2,000
light-years away in the
constellation Cygnus, the
Swan
The Lagoon Nebula
Question
What is The Lagoon Nebula. M8?.
It is classified as an….
The Lagoon Nebula
The Lagoon Nebula. M8, is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius.
It is classified as an emission nebula, and as an H II region.
The life cycle of a
medium sized star
Question
What does The
core of the star
do?
As a medium
sized star ages,
it….
The outer
gases are…
The gaseous shell is called
what?
The life cycle of a
medium sized star
The core of the
star collapses to
form a white
dwarf
As a medium
sized star ages, it
cools and
becomes a red
giant
The outer
gases are
blown off
like a bubble
The gaseous shell is called
a Planetary Nebula
What is A planetary
nebula?
They are a relatively
short-lived
phenomenon, lasting a
……, compared to a
typical stellar……
Planetary Nebulae
Question
?
?
?
?
?
A planetary nebula is an
emission nebula
consisting of a glowing
shell of gas and plasma
formed by certain types
of stars when they die.
They are a relatively
short-lived
phenomenon, lasting a
few tens of thousands
of years, compared to a
typical stellar lifetime of
several billion years.
Planetary Nebulae
Cat’s
Eye
Ring
Butterfly
Retina
Southern Ring
Supernova
Remnants
Question
The core of the
star collapses to
form….
As a massive
star ages, it…..
The outer atmosphere
is blown off in a huge
explosion called ____
The ashes of the
supernova are
called____
Supernova
Remnants
The core of the
star collapses to
form a pulsating
neutron star
As a massive
star ages, it
cools and
becomes a
supergiant
The outer atmosphere
is blown off in a huge
explosion called a
supernova
The ashes of the
supernova are called
Remnants
The Crab Nebula (M1) Question
The Crab Nebula is located in the______ ______. It is the remnant of a massive
star that exploded.
The supernova explosion was witnessed on ___ in the year____.
The Crab Nebula (M1)
The Crab Nebula is located in the constellation Taurus. It is the remnant of a
massive star that exploded.
The supernova explosion was witnessed on Earth in the year 1054.
The Spinning Pulsar of the Crab Nebula Question
At the core of the Crab Nebula lies a______, _____ _____ ____spinning ____ _____ __
_____. Known as the _____ ____, it is the bright spot in the center of the gaseous swirl
at the nebula's core. With more mass than the Sun and the density of an atomic nucleus,
the spinning pulsar is what?
The Spinning Pulsar of the Crab Nebula
At the core of the Crab Nebula lies a city-sized, magnetized neutron star spinning 30
times a second. Known as the Crab Pulsar, it is the bright spot in the center of the
gaseous swirl at the nebula's core. With more mass than the Sun and the density of
an atomic nucleus, the spinning pulsar is the collapsed core of the massive star
that exploded.
The Horsehead Nebula Question
The Horsehead Nebula lies
____ light years distant
towards the constellation
of____.
The Horsehead Nebula
The Horsehead Nebula lies
1,500 light years distant
towards the constellation of
Orion.
The Bubble Nebula Question
Above and left of the Bubble's
center is a ___,___ ____,
_______ ______ _____ times
more luminous than the Sun.
A fierce stellar wind and
intense radiation from that
star……….
The intriguing Bubble Nebula
and associated cloud complex
lie a mere _____ lightyears away toward the
boastful constellation______.
The Bubble Nebula
Above and left of the Bubble's
center is a hot, O-type star,
several hundred thousand
times more luminous than the
Sun.
A fierce stellar wind and
intense radiation from that
star has blasted out
the structure of glowing
gas against denser material in
a surrounding molecular
cloud.
The intriguing Bubble Nebula
and associated cloud complex
lie a mere 7,100 lightyears away toward the
boastful
constellation Cassiopeia.
The Cartwheel Galaxy Question
The double cluster is located
in the constellation _____.
The Cartwheel Galaxy
The double cluster is located
in the constellation Sculptor
The Orion Nebula (M__ __) Question
The Orion Nebula (M42)
The Trapezium
Question
Near the heart of the Orion Nebula are
what?
The Trapezium
Near the heart of the Orion Nebula are
these four hot, massive stars known
as the Trapezium.
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Question
The Andromeda Galaxy is the most
____object easily visible to the unaided eye.
Even at some two and a half million lightyears distant, this immense spiral galaxy,
spanning over _____ light years, is visible
as a ______ _______in
the constellation_______.
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
The Andromeda Galaxy is the most distant
object easily visible to the unaided eye.
Even at some two and a half million lightyears distant, this immense spiral galaxy,
spanning over 200,000 light years, is visible
as a nebulous cloud in the constellation
Andromeda.
The Cat’s Eye Nebula Question
The Cat’s Eye Nebula is located in the constellation ___ It is one of brightest and most
highly detailed planetary nebula known, composed …….The nebula's dying central
star may have produced the outer circular concentric shells by ………
The Cat’s Eye Nebula
The Cat’s Eye Nebula is located in the constellation Draco
It is one of brightest and most highly detailed planetary nebula known, composed of
gas expelled in the brief phase near the end of life of a Sun-like star.
The nebula's dying central star may have produced the outer circular concentric
shells by shrugging off outer layers in a series of regular convulsions.
1The Double Cluster Question
The double cluster is located
in the constellation_____
1The Double Cluster
The double cluster is located
in the constellation Perseus
Omega Centauri Question
Globular star cluster Omega Centauri, is some _____ light-years away. The cluster
is packed with about __ _______ stars much older than the Sun within a volume
about ___ light-years in diameter. It's the largest and brightest of ___ or so
known globular clusters that roam the halo of our _____ ____ galaxy.
Omega Centauri
Globular star cluster Omega Centauri, is some 15,000 light-years away. The cluster
is packed with about 10 million stars much older than the Sun within a volume
about 150 light-years in diameter. It's the largest and brightest of 200 or so
known globular clusters that roam the halo of our Milky Way galaxy.
Globular Star Cluster 47 Tuc Question
Globular star cluster 47 Tuc lies about ______ light-years away. The tightly packed
globular cluster is home to a star with the closest known…...
Globular Star Cluster 47 Tuc
Globular star cluster 47 Tuc lies about 13,000 light-years away. The tightly packed
globular cluster is home to a star with the closest known orbit around a black hole.
M13: The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules Question
The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, is one of the….
At a distance of _____ light-years, the cluster hundreds of thousands of stars
crowd into a region ____ light-years in diameter.
M13: The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, is one of the brightest globular star
clusters in the northern sky.
At a distance of 25,000 light-years, the cluster hundreds of thousands of stars
crowd into a region 150 light-years in diameter.
Virgo
Cluster
Question
The Virgo Cluster is the nearest galaxy
cluster, with up to about ____ member
galaxies.
The Virgo Cluster is the nearest galaxy
cluster, with up to about 2,000 member
galaxies.
The Tarantula Nebula Question
The Tarantula Nebula is
located in…..
The Tarantula Nebula
The Tarantula Nebula is
located in the Large
Magellanic Cloud
The Hamburger Galaxy Question
The Hamburger Galaxy is
located in the constellation
___
The Hamburger Galaxy
The Hamburger Galaxy is
located in the constellation
Leo
The Seven Sisters (Pleiades, M45) Question
The Pleiades, M45,is located in
the constellation_____
The Pleiades were the…..
The Seven Sisters (Pleiades, M45)
The Pleiades, M45,is located in
the constellation Taurus
The Pleiades were the seven
daughters of
the titan Atlas and the seanymph Pleione
The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) Question
The Sombrero Galaxy is located
in the constellation_____
The Sombrero Galaxy (M104)
The Sombrero Galaxy is located
in the constellation Virgo
The Ring Nebula (M57) Question
The Ring Nebula is located in
the constellation ___
The Ring Nebula (M57)
The Ring Nebula is located in
the constellation Lyra
The Southern Ring Nebula Question
NGC 3132, the Southern Ring Nebula is a _____ nebula, the death shroud of a dying
sun-like star some _____ light-years from ____. Composed of ____ and ___the
stunning cosmic landscape is nearly ____ _ ______ in diameter, explored in
unprecedented detail by the…….
The Southern Ring Nebula
NGC 3132, the Southern Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula, the death shroud of a
dying sun-like star some 2,500 light-years from Earth. Composed of gas and dust the
stunning cosmic landscape is nearly half a light-year in diameter, explored in
unprecedented detail by the James Webb Space Telescope.
The Trifid Nebula (M20) Question
The Trifid Nebula is located in
the constellation ______
The Trifid Nebula (M20)
The Trifid Nebula is located in
the constellation Sagittarius
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) Question
The Whirlpool Galaxy is
located in the constellation
______ ______
The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
The Whirlpool Galaxy is
located in the constellation
Canes Venatici
The Rosette Nebula Question
The Rosette Nebula is located
in the constellation _____
The Rosette Nebula
The Rosette Nebula is located
in the constellation
Monoceros
The Veil Nebula Question
The Veil Nebula is roughly
_______ in shape and covers
nearly __ degrees on the sky
toward the constellation of
…...
The supernova remnant lies
about ____ light-years away.
The Veil Nebula
The Veil Nebula is roughly
circular in shape and covers
nearly 3 degrees on the sky
toward the constellation of
Cygnus.
The supernova remnant lies
about 1,400 light-years away.
The Retina Nebula Question
The Retina Nebula is located
in the constellation _____
The Retina Nebula
The Retina Nebula is located
in the constellation Lupus
The Butterfly Nebula Question
The Butterfly Nebula is
located in the constellation
____
The Butterfly Nebula
The Butterfly Nebula is
located in the constellation
Scorpius
The ‘Pillars of Creation’ Question
The Pillars of Creation are
located in the _____ ______
The ‘Pillars of Creation’
The Pillars of Creation are
located in the Eagle Nebula
The Witch Head Nebula Question
The Witch Head Nebula is
located in the constellation
_____
The Witch Head Nebula
The Witch Head Nebula is
located in the constellation
Orion
Scorpius
The Scorpion
Canis Major
The Great Dog
Carina
The Keel
Centurus
The Centaur
Taurus
The Bull
Lyra
The Lyre
Auriga
The Charioteer
Orion
The Hunter
Canis Minor
The Little Dog
Large
Megallanic
Cloud
Achenar
Crux
The Southern
Cross
Cygnus
The Swan
Gemini
The Twins
Aquila
The Eagle
Leo
The Lion
Bootes
The Herdsman
Perseus
The Hero
Ursa Major
Piscis Austrinus
Ursa Minor
The Little Bear
Andromeda
The Princess
Virgo
The Maiden
Sagittarius
The Archer