Asteroid Orbits: Paths Around the Sun

Description: Test your knowledge about the orbits of asteroids in our solar system.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: asteroids orbits kepler's laws astronomy
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What is the term used to describe the elongated shape of an asteroid's orbit?

  1. Eccentricity

  2. Inclination

  3. Semi-major axis

  4. Perihelion


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Eccentricity measures the deviation of an orbit from a perfect circle, with values ranging from 0 (circular) to 1 (parabolic).

Which of Kepler's Laws states that the square of an asteroid's orbital period is proportional to the cube of its average distance from the Sun?

  1. Law of Equal Areas

  2. Law of Ellipses

  3. Law of Harmonies

  4. Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Kepler's Third Law, also known as the Law of Harmonies, describes the relationship between an asteroid's orbital period and its distance from the Sun.

What is the name of the point in an asteroid's orbit where it is closest to the Sun?

  1. Aphelion

  2. Perihelion

  3. Ascending node

  4. Descending node


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Perihelion is the point in an asteroid's orbit where it is closest to the Sun, while aphelion is the point where it is farthest from the Sun.

Which asteroid has the most eccentric orbit among the known asteroids in our solar system?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

  4. Juno


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Juno has an eccentricity of 0.256, making it the most eccentric asteroid among the four largest asteroids in the asteroid belt.

What is the name of the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

  4. Juno


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ceres is the largest asteroid in the asteroid belt, with a diameter of approximately 950 kilometers.

Which asteroid family is known for its high inclination and eccentric orbits?

  1. Flora family

  2. Vesta family

  3. Eos family

  4. Themis family


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Flora family is known for its high inclination and eccentric orbits, with members having inclinations up to 25 degrees and eccentricities up to 0.4.

What is the term used to describe the angle between an asteroid's orbital plane and the ecliptic?

  1. Inclination

  2. Eccentricity

  3. Semi-major axis

  4. Perihelion


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Inclination measures the angle between an asteroid's orbital plane and the ecliptic, the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Which asteroid has the highest semi-major axis among the known asteroids in our solar system?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

  4. Juno


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ceres has a semi-major axis of 2.77 AU, making it the asteroid with the largest average distance from the Sun.

What is the name of the point in an asteroid's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun?

  1. Aphelion

  2. Perihelion

  3. Ascending node

  4. Descending node


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aphelion is the point in an asteroid's orbit where it is farthest from the Sun, while perihelion is the point where it is closest to the Sun.

Which asteroid family is known for its low inclination and nearly circular orbits?

  1. Flora family

  2. Vesta family

  3. Eos family

  4. Themis family


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Vesta family is known for its low inclination and nearly circular orbits, with members having inclinations typically less than 10 degrees and eccentricities less than 0.1.

What is the term used to describe the average distance of an asteroid from the Sun?

  1. Eccentricity

  2. Inclination

  3. Semi-major axis

  4. Perihelion


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Semi-major axis is the average distance of an asteroid from the Sun, measured in astronomical units (AU).

Which asteroid has the lowest inclination among the known asteroids in our solar system?

  1. Ceres

  2. Vesta

  3. Pallas

  4. Juno


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Vesta has an inclination of only 7.3 degrees, making it the asteroid with the lowest inclination relative to the ecliptic.

What is the name of the point in an asteroid's orbit where it crosses the ecliptic from south to north?

  1. Ascending node

  2. Descending node

  3. Perihelion

  4. Aphelion


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ascending node is the point in an asteroid's orbit where it crosses the ecliptic from south to north, while descending node is the point where it crosses from north to south.

Which asteroid family is known for its high eccentricity and moderate inclination?

  1. Flora family

  2. Vesta family

  3. Eos family

  4. Themis family


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Eos family is known for its high eccentricity and moderate inclination, with members having eccentricities up to 0.3 and inclinations up to 20 degrees.

What is the name of the point in an asteroid's orbit where it crosses the ecliptic from north to south?

  1. Ascending node

  2. Descending node

  3. Perihelion

  4. Aphelion


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Descending node is the point in an asteroid's orbit where it crosses the ecliptic from north to south, while ascending node is the point where it crosses from south to north.

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