ASTRO QUIZ

1.To explain the remarkably uniform temperature of the

cosmic microwave background, despite vast distances
between regions, cosmologists invoked an ultra-brief yet
monumental expansion.
What theory addresses this early “smoothing” of the
universe?
A) Quantum tunneling
B) Big Crunch
C) Cosmic inflation
D) String cosmology
ans : C

2. When a star slightly larger than the Sun dies, its end isn't explosive
but elegant. It exhales glowing gas shells, leaving a dense core behind.
What do we call this brief luminous phase during stellar death?
A) Nova
B) Coronal ejection
C) Planetary nebula
D) Red supergiant bloom
Ans : C
3.In the infant universe, just minutes old, nuclear fusion began
stitching atomic nuclei. Yet only certain light elements formed in
appreciable amounts before the universe cooled too much.
Beyond hydrogen, which element emerged in significant abundance
during this primordial nucleosynthesis?
A) Lithium
B) Helium
C) Oxygen
D) Carbon
ans : B

4. As a white dwarf accumulates mass from a binary companion, a

critical threshold exists beyond which electron degeneracy pressure
can no longer support it. Surpassing this mass doesn't merely increase
its size , it triggers catastrophic collapse.
What is this theoretical mass boundary known as?
A) Roche limit
B) Schwarzschild radius
C) Chandrasekhar limit
D) Hawking boundary
ans : C

5. During the Planck epoch, the universe existed at extreme

temperatures and densities, where known laws of physics break down.
Around 10⁻⁴³ seconds after the Big Bang, a key event is believed to
have occurred that marked the end of this epoch and the beginning of
a more structured universe .What is this pivotal event?
A) Onset of stellar nucleosynthesis
B) Gravity decoupling from the other fundamental forces
C) Formation of the first galaxy clusters
D) Reionisation of the intergalactic medium
Ans : B

6. Astronomers observe a certain type of star that, after a long quiet

phase, suddenly flares up dramatically brightening by many
magnitudes almost overnight. Over the following weeks to years, it
slowly dims back to its usual faint state. This explosive event involves
material accreting onto a white dwarf in a binary system, triggering a
runaway nuclear reaction on its surface.
What four-letter word, starting with N, describes this stellar
phenomenon?
a) Neap
b) Node
c) Nova
d) Nuke
ans : C
7. At the heart of our galaxy, an invisible force anchors stars in tight,
rapid orbits, despite emitting no visible light. Known only through its
gravitational influence and faint radio emissions, this enigmatic object
defies direct observation. Which of the following best explains what
lies at the center of the Milky Way?
A) A massive neutron star cluster
B) A dormant quasar
C) A supermassive black hole named Sagittarius A*
D) A dark matter core
Ans : C

8.In 2015, scientists recorded faint distortions in space-time itself—

ripples generated by the violent merger of two black holes over a
billion light-years away. This historic first direct detection of
gravitational waves validated a century-old prediction by Einstein’s
theory of general relativity. What was this groundbreaking event
known as?
A) WMAP
B) LISA Pathfinder
C) Hubble Constant
D) GW150914 (LIGO Detection)
Ans : D
9. .‘X’ was a planet Galileo initially mistook for a star. The
irregular orbit of ‘Y’ puzzled astronomers until
mathematicians applied ‘Z’ to predict ‘X’'s existence
years before it was visually confirmed by telescopes. This
discovery challenged classical astronomy and reshaped
planetary science. Identify X, Y, and Z
A) X: Uranus, Y: Saturn, Z: Kepler’s Laws
B) X: Neptune, Y: Uranus, Z: Newton’s Law of Gravitation
C) X: Pluto, Y: Neptune, Z: General Relativity
D) X: Jupiter, Y: Earth, Z: Tidal Theory
Ans : b

10. .In the 1930s, while most astronomers were focused

on expanding universe theories and white dwarf physics,
two scientists proposed a bold idea: that supernova
explosions could compress matter so densely that
electrons and protons would merge to form neutrons,
creating an entirely new type of stellar remnant. Though
the concept lacked observational backing and seemed
extreme compared to white dwarfs or black holes, it laid
the foundation for what we now call neutron stars. Who
were the first to propose this groundbreaking theory in
1934?
A) Edwin Hubble & Georges Lemaître – known for
expanding universe theory
B) Max Planck & Niels Bohr – pioneers of quantum and
atomic structure
 C) Walter Baade & Fritz Zwicky – theorized neutron stars
from supernovae
D) Arthur Eddington & Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar –
known for stellar structure and mass limits
Answer : C

11. ‘X’ was the first hypothetical object proposed to

explain anomalies in Mercury’s orbit, but it was never
observed. The mystery was resolved with the theory of
‘Z’, which revolutionized gravitational physics and
predicted phenomena like black holes.Identify X and Z:
A) X: Nibiru, Z: Gravitational Waves
B) X: Vulcan, Z: General Relativity
C) X: Planet Nine, Z: Keplerian Correction
D) X: Mercury II, Z: Einstein Field Equation
Answer : B

12. . Achieving angular resolutions impossible for any

single dish, which instrument uses phase-linked beam
often over kilometre-scale baselines to synthesize a
virtual aperture?
A) Adaptive coronagraph
B) Fabry-Pérot spectrometer
C) Interferometer
D) Fabry lenslet array
Answer: C
13. The Sun fuses hydrogen into helium in a process that
powers its core. What mechanism drives this fusion?
A) Gravitational ignition
B) Proton-proton chain reaction
C) Neutron decay
D) Deuterium collapse
Answer : B

14.The image shows a space telescope launched decades

ago , featuring an iconic primary mirror of segmented
hexagonal gold-coated panels designed for infrared
observation at the Earth-Sun L2 point, far beyond low
Earth orbit. Despite sharing some design features with its
predecessors ,it vastly surpasses them in resolution and
wavelength coverage. Identify this telescope .

A)Spritzer Space Telescope

B)Hubble Space Telescope
C)James Webb Space Telescope(JWST)
D)Herschel Space Observatory
Answer : C

15. .Though many galaxies surround the Milky Way, only

one large spiral is on a direct path toward us.Despite
poetic names like Whirlpool and Triangulum, this galaxy’s
gravitational tango with the Milky
Way is expected to climax billions of years from now.
Which galaxy is on a collision course with us?
A) Triangulum Galaxy
B) Whirlpool Galaxy
C) Andromeda Galaxy
D) Centaurus A
Answer: c

16.

.
In the diagram above:
X is the flat, disc-shaped region just beyond Neptune that contains icy
bodies and dwarf planets like Pluto.
Y is the spherical shell far beyond the Solar System, believed to be the
source of long-period comets.
Identify X and Y.
A) X: Asteroid Belt Y: Kuiper Belt
B) X: Kuiper Belt Y: Oort Cloud
C) X: Oort Cloud Y: Kuiper Belt
D) X: Planetary Disk Y: Comet Shell
Ans : b

17. The SOHO spacecraft once recorded oscillatory patterns in the Sun’s
photosphere that were interpreted as “sound waves” traveling
beneath the solar surface. While the term “helioseismology” became
popular, public misunderstandings equated these waves with literal
sounds, leading to viral claims of the Sun “singing.” In scientific terms,
what are these oscillations most accurately classified as?
A) Ionization resonance loops
B) Acoustic pressure (p-mode) oscillations
C) Electromagnetic standing wave nodes
D) Magnetohydrodynamic coronal blooms
Answer: B
18. This stunning cosmic ring isn't a galaxy or a portal—it's actually light
from a galaxy that has been bent into a circle by another galaxy's mass
lying directly in front of it. What is this rare phenomenon called?

A) Halo Reflection
B) Cosmic Mirage
C) Einstein Ring
D) Wormhole Echo
Ans : c

19. Einstein originally proposed a static, closed universe — a view later

challenged by Hubble’s expansion discovery. Many now believe the
universe is flat based on WMAP and Planck data. However, curvature is
often confused with topology. Which of the following statements
about the shape of the universe is currently the most accurate
according to modern cosmology?
A) The universe is perfectly flat and infinite, as proven by gravitational
lensing.
B) The universe appears flat on large scales, but its topology may still
be multiply connected.
C) The universe loops back on itself like a 3D torus, causing repeated
galaxy patterns.
D) The observable universe is flat, but the unobservable portion curves
positively.
Answer: B

20. NASA’s interest in the Moon’s south pole surged due to discoveries
of permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) that may harbor water ice.
However, many early readings were falsely interpreted due to signal
noise from neutron spectrometers and interference from solar flares.
What genuine piece of evidence led scientists to now believe that ice
does exist in these shadowed craters?
A) Observations of scattered UV light using the LAMP spectrometer
aboard LADEE
B) Detection of hydration absorption bands by the Moon Mineralogy
Mapper (M3)
C) Elevated gamma ray bursts indicating hydrogen decay in polar soils
D) Reflected thermal radiation matching cryogenic water reflectance
profiles
Answer: B

21. Beneath its icy crust lies a global subsurface ocean, and
despite its modest size, this moon shoots towering geysers of
water vapor and organic material into space from polar
fractures. These jets, first closely observed by Cassini, hint at
possible hydrothermal activity deep within.
Which moon, orbiting a gas giant, has become a prime
candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life due to this
ongoing cryovolcanism?
A)Europa
B) Titan
C) Enceladus
D) Io
Answer : C

22. In 2006, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft recorded spiral-

shaped plasma structures near Saturn's magnetic
equator, later dubbed the “sunflower swirl.” While some
suggested solar storms or external cosmic influences,
this bizarre formation was found to originate from Saturn
itself. What is the most scientifically accurate explanation
for this spiral pattern?

A) Ion waves generated by Enceladus’s cryovolcanic

geysers
B) Saturn’s rapid rotation twisting plasma into a spiral
disk
C) Disruptive auroral activity scattering electrons across
latitudes
D) An electromagnetic flux tube connecting to Titan’s
ionosphere
Answer: B

23.

The image above showcases a region where externally

driven star formation is occurring. Taking into account
the balance of thermal pressure, radiation-driven
implosion, and gravitational instability, what makes the
heads of these pillars especially resistant to
photoevaporative dispersal, and how does this enable
sequential star formation in such nebulae?
A) The heads are magnetically shielded, and the
surrounding ionization fronts repel collapse.
B) The dense gas clumps locally lower the Jeans length
and resist erosion, allowing collapse to proceed.
C) The radiation pressure ionizes the interior of the
clumps faster than the exterior, stabilizing them.
D) The material is cooler due to shadowing, preventing
the onset of star formation until the pillar disperses
Answer: b

24. Uranus spins on its side with a tilt of about 98°, which
is not only awkward but unique in the solar system. While
commonly blamed on a single impact, newer simulations
support more complex causes. Based on current models,
what is the leading explanation for this extreme axial tilt?
A) Internal core collapse due to helium crystallization
B) A slow, glancing collision with a massive protoplanet
C) Spin-orbit resonance locking during Neptune’s
migration
D) Magnetic instability from ancient solar storms
Answer: B

25. The CMB (Cosmic Microwave Background) was once

hailed as the most uniform evidence of the early
universe’s conditions. However, detailed data from WMAP
and Planck revealed a strange alignment in temperature
anisotropies, humorously referred to as the "Axis of Evil"
due to its contradiction with the assumption of isotropy.
While many explanations emerged including residual
foreground contamination and statistical flukes. What
makes this "Axis of Evil" most controversial in current
cosmology?
A) It contradicts Hubble’s Law by implying a preferred
redshift direction
B) It suggests possible influence of a multiversal collision
remnant
C) It aligns with the ecliptic plane, implying
contamination or unknown physics
D) It shows quadrupole resonance across known baryonic
filaments
Answer: C