ASP Knowledge 5

Question 1

What is the name of the region of the solar system where most short-period comets originate?

Accepted Answer

Kuiper Belt

Answer

The Kuiper Belt, a disk of icy bodies beyond Neptune's orbit, is the primary source of short-period comets that orbit the Sun in under 200 years.

Question 2

Which instrument is used to analyze the spectrum of light from a star?

Accepted Answer

Spectrograph

Answer

A spectrograph disperses starlight into its component wavelengths, allowing astronomers to study composition, temperature, velocity, and other stellar properties.

Question 3

What does the term 'magnitude' refer to in astronomy?

Accepted Answer

The brightness of a celestial object

Answer

Magnitude is a logarithmic scale of brightness; lower numbers (and negative values) indicate brighter objects.

Question 4

What is a planetary nebula?

Accepted Answer

The glowing shell of gas expelled by a dying low-mass star

Answer

A planetary nebula forms when a low-mass star sheds its outer layers at the end of its life, creating an illuminated shell around the remaining white dwarf.

Question 5

Which law states that equal areas are swept out in equal times as a planet orbits the Sun?

Accepted Answer

Kepler's second law

Answer

Kepler's second law (law of equal areas) states that a line joining a planet to the Sun sweeps equal areas in equal intervals of time, implying planets move faster near perihelion.

ASP - Astronomical Society of the Pacific Exam Practice Test

ASP - Astronomical Society of the Pacific Exam Practice Test

ASP Knowledge 5