Bronze Exam

1

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

Saturn Jupiter Uranus Neptune

2

Which cardinal direction do you face to see Polaris (the North Star)?

North South East West

3

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

4

What type of object is the Pleiades (M45)?

A globular cluster A planetary nebula A galaxy An open star cluster

5

Which star is closest to Earth (besides the Sun)?

Sirius Betelgeuse Vega Alpha Centauri (Proxima Centauri)

6

What is the magnitude scale in astronomy?

A scale measuring the size of celestial objects A scale measuring distance to stars A scale measuring the brightness of celestial objects A scale measuring the temperature of stars

7

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

8

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

Elliptical Irregular Spiral Lenticular

9

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

Mars Earth Venus Mercury

10

What powers the Sun and other stars?

Nuclear fusion Chemical combustion Radioactive decay Gravitational collapse alone

11

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

12

What is a meteor?

A rocky body orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter A streak of light caused by a small particle burning up in Earth's atmosphere A large rock that has landed on Earth's surface A comet visible to the naked eye

13

What is the main advantage of a larger telescope aperture?

Higher magnification More light-gathering power and resolution Lighter weight Wider field of view

14

How long does the Moon take to complete one cycle of phases (new Moon to new Moon)?

About 24 days About 27 days About 29.5 days About 31 days

15

What is the brightest star in Earth's night sky?

Polaris Betelgeuse Sirius Canopus

16

What term describes the adjustment of your eyes to see faint objects in the dark?

Light adaptation Averted vision Dark adaptation Scotopic vision

17

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

18

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

19

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

20

What are the four largest moons of Jupiter collectively called?

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