Astronomy Fundamentals Quiz

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What is the main purpose of a radio interferometer?

To combine the signals from multiple radio telescopes to produce a higher-resolution image. (correct)
To detect radio waves from distant objects.
To measure the distance to distant galaxies.
To study the composition of stars.

Which of the following is NOT a terrestrial planet?

Venus
Mercury
Saturn (correct)
Mars

What is the astronomical unit (AU) used to measure?

The distance between galaxies
The distance between objects in our solar system (correct)
The diameter of planets
The distance between stars

What is the difference between a geocentric model and a heliocentric model of the solar system?

The geocentric model places the Earth at the center, while the heliocentric model places the Sun at the center. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of an ellipse?

A closed-plane curve created by intersecting a cone with a plane. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between parallax and the distance to an object?

The larger the parallax, the closer the object. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these techniques is NOT used to determine the position of an astronomical object?

Spectroscopy (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does triangulation rely on to determine the location of a point?

Measuring the angle between the point and two or more reference points. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How is a radio interferometer similar to triangulation?

Both rely on combining signals from multiple sources to improve resolution. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the point in the sky directly above an observer?

Zenith (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of telescope uses a lens to focus light?

Refracting telescope (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a geosynchronous orbit characterized by?

An axis that follows Earth's rotation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does the term interferometry refer to?

A measurement method using wave interference (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the electromagnetic spectrum represent?

The range of waves for electromagnetic radiation (B) Signup and view all the answers

Revolution

A method of estimating the position of a celestial object in space by measuring the apparent change in the object's position when viewed from different points.

Astronomical Unit (AU)

A standard unit of length used to measure the distance between objects in our solar system.