Astronomy Astrobiology and the Search for Life

Question 1

What term describes the region around a star where liquid water could exist on a planet's surface?

Accepted Answer

Habitable zone

Answer

The habitable zone, sometimes called the Goldilocks zone, is the orbital range where surface temperatures allow liquid water to exist.

Question 2

Which molecule, when detected alongside oxygen in a planetary atmosphere, is considered a strong biosignature?

Accepted Answer

Methane

Answer

Methane and oxygen coexisting in an atmosphere is a strong biosignature because they react and destroy each other, so a continuous biological source is needed to maintain both.

Question 3

NASA's TESS mission, launched in 2018, is designed primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Search for exoplanets transiting nearby stars

Answer

TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) monitors nearby bright stars for periodic dimming caused by planets crossing in front of them.

Question 4

Organisms that thrive in extreme environments such as high heat, high acidity, or intense radiation are called:

Accepted Answer

Extremophiles

Answer

Extremophiles are organisms adapted to conditions that would be hostile to most life, demonstrating the wide range of environments where life can survive.

Question 5

Which of Jupiter's moons is considered a top candidate for harboring life due to its confirmed subsurface liquid water ocean?

Accepted Answer

Europa

Answer

Europa has a global subsurface ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust, kept liquid by tidal heating from Jupiter's gravity, making it a prime astrobiology target.

Astronomy Practice Test

Astronomy Practice Test

Astronomy Astrobiology and the Search for Life