ASP Knowledge 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What phenomenon describes the reddening of starlight as a star moves away from the observer?
- Blueshift
- Redshift (Correct answer)
- Lensing
- Scintillation
Correct answer: Redshift
Redshift occurs due to the Doppler effect when a light source moves away, stretching wavelengths toward the red end of the spectrum.
Question 2: What is the primary composition of a comet's nucleus?
- Iron and nickel
- Silicate rock and metal
- Ice and dust (Correct answer)
- Carbon and sulfur
Correct answer: Ice and dust
Comet nuclei are composed mainly of ice (water, carbon dioxide, methane) mixed with dust and rocky material, earning them the nickname 'dirty snowballs.'
Question 3: Which planet has the largest known moon in the solar system?
- Saturn
- Neptune
- Jupiter (Correct answer)
- Uranus
Correct answer: Jupiter
Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter, is the largest moon in the solar system, even larger than the planet Mercury.
Question 4: What is the name of the process by which a star converts hydrogen into helium in its core?
- Nuclear fission
- Radioactive decay
- Nuclear fusion (Correct answer)
- Photodisintegration
Correct answer: Nuclear fusion
Stars generate energy through nuclear fusion, combining hydrogen nuclei under extreme pressure and temperature to form helium.
Question 5: The celestial coordinate equivalent of longitude on Earth is called:
- Declination
- Altitude
- Right ascension (Correct answer)
- Azimuth
Correct answer: Right ascension
Right ascension is the celestial equivalent of geographic longitude, measured in hours eastward from the vernal equinox.
Question 6: What is a neutron star's typical diameter?
- About 1,000 km
- About 10–20 km (Correct answer)
- About 100 km
- About 1 km
Correct answer: About 10–20 km
Neutron stars are incredibly dense remnants of supernova explosions, typically only about 10–20 kilometers in diameter.
Question 7: Which spacecraft was the first to provide detailed close-up images of Pluto?
- Voyager 2
- Cassini
- New Horizons (Correct answer)
- Dawn
Correct answer: New Horizons
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto in July 2015, returning the first detailed close-up images of the dwarf planet.
ASP Knowledge 3
What phenomenon describes the reddening of starlight as a star moves away from the observer?