8th Grade Science     Astronomy                  Name:

 

Matching: 

A. Dark Matter

B. Galaxy

C. Constellation

D. Nova

E. Supernova

F. Zodiac

G. Ecliptic

H. Light Year

I. Satellite

J. Orbit

K. Fusion

L. Asteroid

 

___ 1. Distance light travels in one year; about 5.8 trillion miles.

___ 2. Huge star that explodes and dies with the brilliance of a galaxy.

___ 3. Small atoms smashing together into heavier ones; produces energy.

___ 4. Imaginary groupings of stars in the sky.

___ 5. Ancient divisions of the ecliptic (Greek = “carved animals”)

___ 6. Small rocky bodies orbiting sun.

___ 7. Star blowing off its outer layers in an explosion; star survives.

___ 8. Proposed “missing matter” which does not reflect nor transmit light.

___ 9. Path of an object in space around a heavier one.

___ 10. Huge collection of many stars in space.

___ 11. Plane of planet orbits around the sun.

___ 12. A body in orbit around a heavier one; a moon.

 

13. The planets are named for: (a) Greek gods             (b) Roman gods

                                                            (c) Egyptian kings         (d) U. S. Presidents

 

14. Traveling from earth toward the sun, a rocket would first cross the orbit of:

            (a) Mars           (b) Mercury                  (c) Venus         (d) Pluto

 

15. Where will you never see Mercury or Venus in the night sky?

            (a) eastern horizon        (b) western horizon           (c) directly overhead

 

16. Which planet does not have rings?  (a) Venus         (b) Saturn

                                                                        (c) Neptune      (d) Uranus

 

17. Which body has obvious retrograde motions?   (a) Mercury   (b) Venus   (c) Mars

 

18. The closest of the gas giants is :       (a) Jupiter   (b) Mars    (c) Saturn  (d) Pluto

 

19. List the nine planets in order from the sun:

Matching:

A.     B.

C.     D.

 

___ 20. Globular cluster            ____ 21. Elliptical galaxy

___ 22. Irregular galaxy             ____ 23. Spiral galaxy

 

24. Olympus Mons is a gigantic volcano found on:

            (a) Mars        (b) Venus       (c) a moon of Jupiter

 

25. Our galaxy is named           (a) Andromeda                         (b) Magellanic Cloud

                                                (c) Whirlpool                            (d) the Milky Way

 

26. Would an average person be able to see our sun without any telescope at a distance of 20 light years?

                                                            YES        or         NO

 

27. Huge, hot, bright stars:                    (a) Die sooner

                                                            (b) Are most visible to earth

                                                            (c) Both a and b

                                                            (d) None of the above

 

28. Elements heavier than iron, such as gold, are formed inside:

            (a) Black holes

            (b) Normal sun-type stars

            (c) Supernovae