ThatQuiz Test Library Take this test now
How to track a comet
Contributed by: Kay
  • 1. What is the first step in tracking a comet?
A) Calculating its mass
B) Predicting its future path
C) Building a specialized telescope
D) Locating the comet's initial position
  • 2. What resource is typically used to find initial comet positions?
A) Newspaper articles
B) Dream interpretations
C) Personal telescopes only
D) Astronomical catalogs and databases
  • 3. Which type of telescope is best for observing comets?
A) Refracting telescope
B) Radio telescope
C) Binoculars
D) Reflecting telescope
  • 4. What type of chart or software is used to plot a comet's position?
A) Road map
B) Star chart or planetarium software
C) Stock market graph
D) Weather forecast
  • 5. What is Right Ascension and Declination?
A) Political boundaries
B) Time zones
C) Chemical compositions
D) Celestial coordinates
  • 6. How frequently should observations be made to accurately track a comet?
A) As often as possible, ideally nightly
B) Once a month
C) Once a year
D) Only during a full moon
  • 7. What causes a comet's tail?
A) Solar radiation and solar wind
B) Internal combustion
C) Atmospheric friction
D) Earth's gravity
  • 8. What is the nucleus of a comet made of?
A) Pure gold
B) Gaseous helium
C) Ice, dust, and rock
D) Liquid water
  • 9. What unit of measurement is typically used for distances in space?
A) Kilometers
B) Astronomical Units (AU)
C) Miles
D) Inches
  • 10. What is an ephemeris?
A) A table of predicted positions of a celestial object
B) A telescope accessory
C) A type of comet
D) A scientific theory
  • 11. What is the purpose of astrometry?
A) Studying black holes
B) Predicting earthquakes
C) Precise measurement of star positions
D) Analyzing weather patterns
  • 12. Which software is commonly used for astrometry?
A) Minecraft
B) Astrometrica
C) Adobe Photoshop
D) Microsoft Word
  • 13. What is needed to perform astrometry on an image?
A) A crystal ball
B) Accurate time and location data
C) Only the image itself
D) A lucky charm
  • 14. What is orbital determination?
A) Flying a kite
B) Calculating the orbit of a comet
C) Naming a comet
D) Melting ice cream
  • 15. What data is needed for orbital determination?
A) Wishful thinking
B) Multiple position measurements
C) A single position measurement
D) Guesswork
  • 16. What force primarily influences a comet's orbit?
A) Wind
B) Friction
C) Magnetism
D) Gravity
  • 17. What can perturb a comet's orbit?
A) Sunlight
B) Planetary gravitational influences
C) Telescope alignment
D) Eating ice cream
  • 18. What is the Oort cloud?
A) A type of telescope
B) A constellation
C) A cloud of smog
D) A distant reservoir of comets
  • 19. What is the Kuiper Belt?
A) A region near Mars with sand dunes
B) A region inside Mercury filled with lava
C) A region beyond Neptune containing icy bodies
D) A region near Jupiter with auroras
  • 20. What does 'perihelion' refer to?
A) The point farthest from the Sun
B) The name of a famous astronomer
C) The speed of light
D) The point in a comet's orbit closest to the Sun
  • 21. What does 'aphelion' refer to?
A) The point closest to the Sun
B) The name of a spaceship
C) The study of apples
D) The point in a comet's orbit farthest from the Sun
  • 22. Why is tracking a comet over time important?
A) To refine its orbital parameters
B) To change its color
C) To teach it tricks
D) To make it disappear
  • 23. What is a light curve?
A) A recipe for a comet-shaped cake
B) A diagram of a comet's tail
C) A measurement of a comet's speed
D) A graph of a comet's brightness over time
  • 24. What can a light curve tell you about a comet?
A) Its political opinions
B) Its favorite color
C) Its chemical composition directly
D) Its activity level
  • 25. What is important to record along with your observations?
A) The type of food you ate
B) Your mood at the time
C) The music you were listening to
D) Weather conditions and seeing quality
  • 26. Why is it important to submit your observations to the Minor Planet Center?
A) To get your name on the comet
B) To impress your friends
C) To win a prize
D) To contribute to scientific knowledge
  • 27. What is the role of the Minor Planet Center (MPC)?
A) Collects and disseminates asteroid and comet observations
B) Manages space travel tourism
C) Sells telescopes
D) Creates new constellations
  • 28. What is a sungrazing comet?
A) A comet made of sunlight
B) A comet that eats the Sun
C) A comet that passes very close to the Sun
D) A comet that only appears during the day
  • 29. What is a periodic comet?
A) A comet made of metal
B) A comet with a well-defined orbit and period
C) A comet that sings songs
D) A comet that appears only once
  • 30. What can amateur astronomers contribute to comet tracking?
A) Nothing of importance
B) Valuable observations and data
C) Building rockets
D) Funding for space missions
Created with That Quiz — a math test site for students of all grade levels.