Question 1

Which element plays the same role on Titan as water does on Earth (existing as gas, liquid, and solid)?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  methane 
C)  ammonia 
D)  hydrogen cyanide 
E)  propane 
A)  carbon dioxide 
B)  methane 
C)  ammonia 
D)  hydrogen cyanide 
E)  propane B

Question 2

Pluto's big satellite is called

Accepted Answer

A)  Charon 
B)  Titan 
C)  Ganymede 
D)  Christy 
E)  Tombaugh 
A)  Charon 
B)  Titan 
C)  Ganymede 
D)  Christy 
E)  Tombaugh A

Question 3

What do astronomers think is the origin of the many irregular moons around the outer planets (irregular meaning they are orbiting backwards and/or have eccentric orbits)?

Accepted Answer

A)  These moons were likely formed elsewhere and captured by the giant planets 
B)  These moons are fragments of a much larger moon around each planet that exploded 
C)  These moons were expelled by volcanoes on the surfaces of the giant planets 
D)  These moons had an early interaction with the rings of the giant planets and were moved to strange orbits as a result 
E)  Astronomers have no idea about why these irregular moons exist; it's a complete mystery 
A)  These moons were likely formed elsewhere and captured by the giant planets 
B)  These moons are fragments of a much larger moon around each planet that exploded 
C)  These moons were expelled by volcanoes on the surfaces of the giant planets 
D)  These moons had an early interaction with the rings of the giant planets and were moved to strange orbits as a result 
E)  Astronomers have no idea about why these irregular moons exist; it's a complete mystery A

Question 4

What evidence can you give that shows the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa must be relatively young?

Accepted Answer

A)  there are thousands of active volcanoes on Europa's surface 
B)  we see very few craters compared to the surfaces of Callisto and Ganymede 
C)  radioactive rocks from Europa that have been brought back to Earth by our probes show that Europa is a young moon 
D)  the interior of Europa is made of metals like iron and nickel 
E)  Europa was not orbiting Jupiter when Galileo observed its moons, but now it is 
A)  there are thousands of active volcanoes on Europa's surface 
B)  we see very few craters compared to the surfaces of Callisto and Ganymede 
C)  radioactive rocks from Europa that have been brought back to Earth by our probes show that Europa is a young moon 
D)  the interior of Europa is made of metals like iron and nickel 
E)  Europa was not orbiting Jupiter when Galileo observed its moons, but now it is

Question 5

The majority of the moons orbiting the outer (jovian) planets are:

Accepted Answer

A)  large moons, roughly the size of Pluto or Mercury 
B)  small moons orbiting in the same direction that their planet turns 
C)  much warmer than the planet they orbit 
D)  small moons orbiting in a retrograde direction (opposite to the direction their planet turns and orbits) 
E)  not in good working order, since they were made in Bayonne, New Jersey 
A)  large moons, roughly the size of Pluto or Mercury 
B)  small moons orbiting in the same direction that their planet turns 
C)  much warmer than the planet they orbit 
D)  small moons orbiting in a retrograde direction (opposite to the direction their planet turns and orbits) 
E)  not in good working order, since they were made in Bayonne, New Jersey

Question 6

When two objects in orbit have periods of revolution that are simple ratios of each other (such as 1 to 2 or 1 to 3) we say that we have:

Accepted Answer

A)  an occultation 
B)  a conjunction 
C)  a resonance 
D)  a tidal stability limit 
E)  a traffic problem 
A)  an occultation 
B)  a conjunction 
C)  a resonance 
D)  a tidal stability limit 
E)  a traffic problem

Question 7

The spacecraft that visited Pluto and send back our first images:

Accepted Answer

A)  was called New Horizons 
B)  got a gravity boost from Jupiter to get it to Pluto faster 
C)  used plutonium to keep it warm 
D)  is returning to Earth in the 22nd century 
E)  more than one of the above 
A)  was called New Horizons 
B)  got a gravity boost from Jupiter to get it to Pluto faster 
C)  used plutonium to keep it warm 
D)  is returning to Earth in the 22nd century 
E)  more than one of the above

Question 8

The rings of the outer planets consist of

Accepted Answer

A)  sheets of ice that stretch in round planes millions of miles wide around each planet 
B)  billions of chunks (of various sizes) that all orbit the equator of each planet 
C)  many large moons, about the size of Jupiter's moon Io, all crowded together 
D)  subatomic charged particles, all kept in line by each planet's magnetic field 
E)  millions of alien spacecraft, some of which occasionally make it to the Earth and pick up humans to experiment on 
A)  sheets of ice that stretch in round planes millions of miles wide around each planet 
B)  billions of chunks (of various sizes) that all orbit the equator of each planet 
C)  many large moons, about the size of Jupiter's moon Io, all crowded together 
D)  subatomic charged particles, all kept in line by each planet's magnetic field 
E)  millions of alien spacecraft, some of which occasionally make it to the Earth and pick up humans to experiment on

Question 9

Two worlds in the outer solar system that seem remarkably similar to each other are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Titan and Ganymede 
B)  Io and Europa 
C)  Titan and Triton 
D)  Callisto and Io 
E)  Pluto and Triton 
A)  Titan and Ganymede 
B)  Io and Europa 
C)  Titan and Triton 
D)  Callisto and Io 
E)  Pluto and Triton

Question 10

For a while, after the space age began, astronomers did not know what the surface of Titan looks like, but today they do. Which of the following was NOT a method by which astronomers have learned about the surface of Titan?

Accepted Answer

A)  using instruments on the Huygens spacecraft to take pictures as it was descending 
B)  using an infrared camera aboard Cassini to take images of the surface in infrared 
C)  using a radar instrument to penetrate the smog in Titan's atmosphere 
D)  using the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit to take a photo of Titan 
E)  taking a photograph of the surface from a spacecraft that landed on Titan 
A)  using instruments on the Huygens spacecraft to take pictures as it was descending 
B)  using an infrared camera aboard Cassini to take images of the surface in infrared 
C)  using a radar instrument to penetrate the smog in Titan's atmosphere 
D)  using the Hubble Space Telescope in orbit to take a photo of Titan 
E)  taking a photograph of the surface from a spacecraft that landed on Titan

Question 11

Callisto, the fourth moon of Jupiter's, takes 17 days to orbit Jupiter. If I stand on the surface of Callisto and see Jupiter high in the sky over my head, and then wait 8.5 Earth days in the same spot, where will I see Jupiter?

Accepted Answer

A)  you won't see it; it will only be visible from the other side of Callisto 
B)  setting in the west 
C)  overhead, where it was before 
D)  rising in the east 
E)  we need more information to give even a rough estimate of where Jupiter will be 
A)  you won't see it; it will only be visible from the other side of Callisto 
B)  setting in the west 
C)  overhead, where it was before 
D)  rising in the east 
E)  we need more information to give even a rough estimate of where Jupiter will be

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the geysers on the moon Triton is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are caused by the impact of small comets on Triton's fragile surface 
B)  the geysers are sulfur volcanoes which stick out of Triton's crust 
C)  they involve plumes of nitrogen on the sunlit side of Triton 
D)  they are caused by collisions with the rings of Neptune 
E)  they are only visible when it is winter on Triton
Section 12.4: Pluto and Charon 
A)  they are caused by the impact of small comets on Triton's fragile surface 
B)  the geysers are sulfur volcanoes which stick out of Triton's crust 
C)  they involve plumes of nitrogen on the sunlit side of Triton 
D)  they are caused by collisions with the rings of Neptune 
E)  they are only visible when it is winter on Triton
Section 12.4: Pluto and Charon

Question 13

What is the cause of its many volcanic/geyser-like eruptions on the moon Io?

Accepted Answer

A)  its surface is at the triple point of methane, where it can be gas/liquid/solid 
B)  Jupiter's magnetic field causes huge bolts of lightning to hit Io and heat the surface 
C)  the gravitational stress of being so close to Jupiter and its other large moons heats the Io's inside 
D)  there is a metallic magnetic layer inside Io which is explosive 
E)  inhabitants of Io are intercepting Earth TV transmissions; it's making them throw up
Section 12.3: Titan and Triton 
A)  its surface is at the triple point of methane, where it can be gas/liquid/solid 
B)  Jupiter's magnetic field causes huge bolts of lightning to hit Io and heat the surface 
C)  the gravitational stress of being so close to Jupiter and its other large moons heats the Io's inside 
D)  there is a metallic magnetic layer inside Io which is explosive 
E)  inhabitants of Io are intercepting Earth TV transmissions; it's making them throw up
Section 12.3: Titan and Triton

Question 14

The satellite whose surface is characterized by a smooth icy crust with a complex network of cracks is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Europa 
B)  Callisto 
C)  Triton 
D)  Io 
E)  Ganymede 
A)  Europa 
B)  Callisto 
C)  Triton 
D)  Io 
E)  Ganymede

Question 15

The largest satellite (moon) in the solar system is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ganymede 
B)  Titan 
C)  Earth's Moon 
D)  Charon 
E)  Io 
A)  Ganymede 
B)  Titan 
C)  Earth's Moon 
D)  Charon 
E)  Io

Question 16

How does Saturn's F ring stay so thin (narrow), when the other rings are so wide?

Accepted Answer

A)  the further away from Saturn a ring is, the narrower it gets 
B)  there are 2 shepherding satellites on either side of it 
C)  Saturn's huge magnetic field keeps ice boulders from expanding 
D)  the F ring is in the same orbit as the moon Enceladus 
E)  we don't know the answer, because Saturn keeps its diet tips to itself 
A)  the further away from Saturn a ring is, the narrower it gets 
B)  there are 2 shepherding satellites on either side of it 
C)  Saturn's huge magnetic field keeps ice boulders from expanding 
D)  the F ring is in the same orbit as the moon Enceladus 
E)  we don't know the answer, because Saturn keeps its diet tips to itself

Question 17

What method was used to discover Pluto in 1929-1930?

Accepted Answer

A)  look at irregularities (wobbles) in the motions of Uranus and Neptune 
B)  use one of the first radio telescopes to measure cold radio waves from Pluto 
C)  look for patterns in the orbits of the moons of Neptune to see in which direction Pluto would have escaped 
D)  take pairs of photographs several days apart and "blink" them 
E)  you can't fool me; Pluto was discovered by Galileo through one of his first telescopes 
A)  look at irregularities (wobbles) in the motions of Uranus and Neptune 
B)  use one of the first radio telescopes to measure cold radio waves from Pluto 
C)  look for patterns in the orbits of the moons of Neptune to see in which direction Pluto would have escaped 
D)  take pairs of photographs several days apart and "blink" them 
E)  you can't fool me; Pluto was discovered by Galileo through one of his first telescopes

Question 18

The lakes found in the north polar region of Titan are filled with liquid

Accepted Answer

A)  water 
B)  ammonia 
C)  methane 
D)  nitrogen 
E)  you can't fool me, all the lakes on cold Titan are frozen solid; none are liquid 
A)  water 
B)  ammonia 
C)  methane 
D)  nitrogen 
E)  you can't fool me, all the lakes on cold Titan are frozen solid; none are liquid

Question 19

What makes the rings of Neptune different from those of other planets we know?

Accepted Answer

A)  they are much thinner 
B)  they have gaps and divisions in them 
C)  they are much darker 
D)  they are clumpy (or bulging) in places 
E)  there is more than one ring in the system 
A)  they are much thinner 
B)  they have gaps and divisions in them 
C)  they are much darker 
D)  they are clumpy (or bulging) in places 
E)  there is more than one ring in the system

Question 20

The rings that most resemble Saturn's narrow F ring in the solar system are:

Accepted Answer

A)  Uranus' rings 
B)  Neptune's rings 
C)  Jupiter's rings 
D)  Saturn's A ring 
E)  the diamond anniversary rings at Macy's 
A)  Uranus' rings 
B)  Neptune's rings 
C)  Jupiter's rings 
D)  Saturn's A ring 
E)  the diamond anniversary rings at Macy's

Exam 12: Rings, Moons, and Pluto

Which element plays the same role on Titan as water does on Earth (existing as gas, liquid, and solid)?

Pluto's big satellite is called

What do astronomers think is the origin of the many irregular moons around the outer planets (irregular meaning they are orbiting backwards and/or have eccentric orbits)?

What evidence can you give that shows the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa must be relatively young?

The majority of the moons orbiting the outer (jovian) planets are:

When two objects in orbit have periods of revolution that are simple ratios of each other (such as 1 to 2 or 1 to 3) we say that we have:

The spacecraft that visited Pluto and send back our first images:

The rings of the outer planets consist of

Two worlds in the outer solar system that seem remarkably similar to each other are:

For a while, after the space age began, astronomers did not know what the surface of Titan looks like, but today they do. Which of the following was NOT a method by which astronomers have learned about the surface of Titan?

Callisto, the fourth moon of Jupiter's, takes 17 days to orbit Jupiter. If I stand on the surface of Callisto and see Jupiter high in the sky over my head, and then wait 8.5 Earth days in the same spot, where will I see Jupiter?

Which of the following statements about the geysers on the moon Triton is true?

What is the cause of its many volcanic/geyser-like eruptions on the moon Io?

The satellite whose surface is characterized by a smooth icy crust with a complex network of cracks is:

The largest satellite (moon) in the solar system is:

How does Saturn's F ring stay so thin (narrow), when the other rings are so wide?

What method was used to discover Pluto in 1929-1930?

The lakes found in the north polar region of Titan are filled with liquid

What makes the rings of Neptune different from those of other planets we know?

The rings that most resemble Saturn's narrow F ring in the solar system are:

Science and the Universe: a Brief Tour

Observing the Sky: the Birth of Astronomy

Orbits and Gravity

Earth, Moon, and Sky

Radiation and Spectra

Astronomical Instruments

Other Worlds: an Introduction to the Solar System

Earth As a Planet

Cratered Worlds: the Moon and Mercury

Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars

The Giant Planets

Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System

Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System

The Sun: a Garden-Variety Star

The Sun: a Nuclear Powerhouse

Analyzing Starlight

The Stars: a Celestial Census

Celestial Distances

Between the Stars

The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets Outside the Solar System

Stars From Adolescence to Old Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes and Curved Space-Time

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes

The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies

The Big Bang

Life in the Universe

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