Bronze Exam

1

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is which type of galaxy?

Elliptical Irregular Spiral Lenticular

2

What happens when you use a shorter focal length eyepiece in your telescope?

The magnification increases The field of view gets wider The image gets dimmer The image quality improves

3

What is a constellation?

A group of stars that are physically close together in space A recognized pattern of stars as seen from Earth forming an area of the sky A cluster of galaxies A type of nebula

4

What powers the Sun and other stars?

Nuclear fusion Chemical combustion Radioactive decay Gravitational collapse alone

5

Which planet in our solar system has the most prominent ring system visible through a small telescope?

Saturn Jupiter Uranus Neptune

6

What does the term 'seeing' refer to in amateur astronomy?

The observer's eyesight quality The atmospheric steadiness affecting image sharpness The transparency of the sky The brightness of the Moon

7

What is the astronomical unit (AU)?

The distance from Earth to the nearest star The average distance from Earth to the Sun The diameter of Earth's orbit The distance light travels in one second

8

What is the Messier catalog?

A catalog of all known galaxies A list of the 100 brightest stars A list of 110 bright deep-sky objects compiled by Charles Messier A catalog of comets

9

What is a solar eclipse?

When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth When the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon When the Sun dims temporarily When a planet passes in front of the Sun

10

What are the four largest moons of Jupiter collectively called?

The Jovian moons The Classical moons The Galilean moons The Titan moons

11

What is a Barlow lens used for?

Reducing chromatic aberration Widening the field of view Multiplying the magnification of an eyepiece Filtering moonlight

12

Why do astronomers use red flashlights at night?

Red light preserves night vision (dark adaptation) Red light is brighter Red light makes star charts easier to read Red light repels insects

13

What is a light-year?

The time it takes light to travel from the Sun to Earth The distance light travels in one year The brightness of a star as seen from one year away The lifespan of a star measured in years

14

What is a planetary nebula?

A nebula that forms planets A dust cloud around a planet A galaxy shaped like a planet A ring of gas expelled by a dying sun-like star

15

Which mount type is simplest to use, moving up-down and left-right?

Equatorial mount Alt-azimuth mount Dobsonian mount German equatorial mount

16

What is the purpose of a finderscope on a telescope?

To increase magnification To reduce chromatic aberration To filter out light pollution To help locate and aim at celestial objects

17

What is a globular cluster?

A loose grouping of young stars A dense, spherical collection of old stars orbiting a galaxy A cluster of galaxies A group of nebulae

18

What is 'averted vision' in observational astronomy?

Using binoculars instead of a telescope Observing with one eye closed Using a filter to block bright stars Looking slightly to the side of a faint object to see it better

19

What is a galaxy?

A massive system of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter bound by gravity A cluster of planets orbiting a star A type of nebula inside our solar system A pattern of stars as seen from Earth

20

What type of telescope uses a lens as its primary light-gathering element?

Refractor Reflector Catadioptric Radio telescope