Exploring The Universe: 20 Astronomy Questions To Test Your Cosmic IQ

Space has fascinated humanity for centuries – from the mystery of the stars to the groundbreaking discoveries that push the boundaries of our understanding. Whether you’re an armchair astronomer or a seasoned space enthusiast, the cosmos is full of wonders waiting to be explored.

In this trivia quiz, you’ll embark on a journey across planets, stars and galaxies to uncover the secrets of our universe.

So, are you ready to shoot for the stars and prove you’re a true cosmic explorer? Let’s dive in! 🚀

Image credits: Lucas Pezeta

1. Which planet is known as the "Red Planet"?

Red planet in space with stars, highlighting astronomy trivia.

Placidplace

Venus

Jupiter

Mars

Saturn

2. Which planet has the shortest day in the Solar system?

Hourglass silhouette against sunset sky, symbolizing time in astronomy trivia context.

Samer Daboul

Earth

Jupiter

Neptune

Uranus

3. Is it true or false that black holes have a gravitational pull so strong that not even light can escape?

Black hole in space with stars, illustrating gravitational pull in astronomy trivia.

Placidplace

True

False

4. The first human to walk on the Moon was _______.

Moon boot print symbolizing astronomy trivia and lunar exploration.

Andrea Wright

Yuri Gagarin

Michael Collins

Buzz Aldrin

Neil Armstrong

5. The Hubble Space Telescope observes in which spectrum of light?

Hubble Space Telescope orbiting Earth, capturing light spectra for astronomy trivia insights.

Andrew-Art

Infrared

Visible

Ultraviolet

All of the above

6. Which planet is known for its prominent ring system?

Saturn with its prominent ring system against a starry background, highlighting its unique astronomical features.

Zelch Csaba

Uranus

Saturn

Neptune

Jupiter

7. What is the main component of the Sun?

tommyvideo

Hydrogen

Helium

Oxygen

Carbon

8. Is it true or false that the Milky Way is a spiral galaxy?

Milky Way's spiraling stars and bright clusters in the night sky, showcasing its spiral galaxy structure.

Philippe Donn

True

False

9. What is the closest star to Earth after the Sun?

Starry night sky with a meteor streaking across, highlighting astronomy trivia.

Neale LaSalle

Sirius

Alpha

Betelgeuse

Proxima Centauri

10. The asteroid belt is located between _ and _.

Asteroid belt in space scene, highlighting astronomy trivia amidst stars and planets.

SciTechTrend

Mars & Jupiter

Mercury & Venus

Uranus & Neptune

Jupiter & Saturn

11. What is the shape of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun?

Two views of Earth in space, highlighting geography, relevant to astronomy trivia and Earth's orbital shape around the Sun.

Pixabay

Circular

Elliptical

Parabolic

Triangular

12. What type of star is the Sun?

Close-up view of the Sun's fiery surface in astronomy trivia.

AstroGraphix_Visuals

Neutron Star

White Giant

Yellow Dwarf

Supernova

13. Is it true or false that Pluto is classified as a planet in our solar system?

Pluto illustrated against a starry space background, related to astronomy trivia.

Zelch Csaba

True

False

14. Which spacecraft was the first to reach interstellar space?

Space shuttle launching, showcasing powerful rocket boosters, related to astronomy trivia and interstellar spacecraft.

Pixabay

Pioneer 10

Galileo

Apollo 11

Voyager 1

15. The Sun is approximately _______ million kilometers away from Earth.

Desert road stretching towards distant mountains under a cloudy sky, illustrating vast distances akin to astronomy trivia.

Jan Kroon

50

100

150

200

16. What is the brightest planet in the night sky?

Kevin Gill

Venus

Mars

Sirius

Mercury

17. Is it true or false that the Moon produces its own light?

Moon in a starry night sky, illustrating astronomy trivia about its light source.

Min An

True

False

18. What was the name of the first animal sent into orbit aboard the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957?

Spacecraft orbiting Earth; a nod to astronomy trivia.

SpaceX

Bela

Laika

Mila

Nina

19. What is a supernova?

Fiery explosion of a supernova in deep space, surrounded by stars.

Pixabay

The explosive death of a planet

The formation of a black hole

The collision of two galaxies

The explosive death of a star

20. The largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is found on the planet _______.

Volcano erupting under a starry sky, symbolizing Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system.

Clive Kim

Earth

Mars

Venus

Jupiter

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What do you think ?

POST

Abel 3 months ago

14/20, and most of the fails I facepalmed myself! "You knew that!"

9points

WoodenLion 3 months ago

15/20 same

5points

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winterwidow87 3 months ago

Same.

2points

Dnd Panda (she/them) 3 months ago

The laika question made me sad :(

1point

Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 3 months ago

Also 14!

0points

Mason Kronol 3 months ago

Ditto 13/20 and I did a ton of book reports in grade school on space. I blame old age and too much misinformation in the news and in space movies🤪

0points

Dela Bee 3 months ago

#15. Me *sweats in American miles*

6points

Jumping Jellyfishes 3 months ago

Sure, it's 93 million...wait, KILOMETERS?! Curse you, US education system!!!

3points

Miki 3 months ago

Extremely basic questions and I still fell for the Hubble one. At least only this one.

5points

Bob Brooce 3 months ago

The vast majority of these were trivia in the same way that the name of the thing with two holes in the middle of your face is trivia. I got tripped up on distance to the sun because I didn't pay enough attention and answered in miles while wondering why all the choices were multiple of 50.

4points

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