Indian Astronomical Observations and Discoveries

Description: This quiz will test your knowledge of Indian astronomical observations and discoveries.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: indian astronomy history of astronomy aryabhata bhaskara ii
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Who was the first Indian astronomer to propose that the Earth rotates on its axis?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aryabhata, in his book Aryabhatiya, proposed that the Earth rotates on its axis, and that the apparent daily motion of the Sun and stars is due to this rotation.

Which Indian astronomer calculated the value of pi to be 3.1416?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Bhaskara II, in his book Siddhānta Shiromani, calculated the value of pi to be 3.1416, which is accurate to four decimal places.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to observe and describe the phenomenon of solar eclipses?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Varāhamihira, in his book Brihat Samhita, observed and described the phenomenon of solar eclipses, and explained that they are caused by the Moon passing between the Earth and the Sun.

Which Indian astronomer developed a theory of planetary motion that was later adopted by Copernicus?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aryabhata, in his book Aryabhatiya, developed a theory of planetary motion that was later adopted by Copernicus. This theory proposed that the planets orbit the Sun, and that the Earth is one of the planets.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to observe and describe the phenomenon of lunar eclipses?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Varāhamihira, in his book Brihat Samhita, observed and described the phenomenon of lunar eclipses, and explained that they are caused by the Earth passing between the Moon and the Sun.

Which Indian astronomer developed a method for calculating the position of the planets using trigonometry?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Brahmagupta, in his book Brahmasphuta Siddhanta, developed a method for calculating the position of the planets using trigonometry. This method was later adopted by Arab and European astronomers.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to propose that the Earth is round?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aryabhata, in his book Aryabhatiya, proposed that the Earth is round, and that it rotates on its axis. This idea was later adopted by other Indian astronomers, and eventually by European astronomers.

Which Indian astronomer developed a theory of gravity that was later adopted by Newton?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Bhaskara II, in his book Siddhānta Shiromani, developed a theory of gravity that was later adopted by Newton. This theory proposed that objects attract each other with a force that is proportional to their mass.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to observe and describe the phenomenon of comets?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Varāhamihira, in his book Brihat Samhita, observed and described the phenomenon of comets, and explained that they are caused by the interaction of the Sun and the Moon.

Which Indian astronomer developed a method for calculating the time of sunrise and sunset?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Brahmagupta, in his book Brahmasphuta Siddhanta, developed a method for calculating the time of sunrise and sunset. This method was later adopted by Arab and European astronomers.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to observe and describe the phenomenon of meteors?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Varāhamihira, in his book Brihat Samhita, observed and described the phenomenon of meteors, and explained that they are caused by the interaction of the Sun and the Moon.

Which Indian astronomer developed a method for calculating the distance to the Moon?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Aryabhata, in his book Aryabhatiya, developed a method for calculating the distance to the Moon. This method was later adopted by other Indian astronomers, and eventually by European astronomers.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to observe and describe the phenomenon of aurora borealis?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Varāhamihira, in his book Brihat Samhita, observed and described the phenomenon of aurora borealis, and explained that it is caused by the interaction of the Sun and the Moon.

Which Indian astronomer developed a method for calculating the time of lunar eclipses?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Brahmagupta, in his book Brahmasphuta Siddhanta, developed a method for calculating the time of lunar eclipses. This method was later adopted by Arab and European astronomers.

Who was the first Indian astronomer to observe and describe the phenomenon of sunspots?

  1. Aryabhata

  2. Bhaskara II

  3. Brahmagupta

  4. Varāhamihira


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Varāhamihira, in his book Brihat Samhita, observed and described the phenomenon of sunspots, and explained that they are caused by the interaction of the Sun and the Moon.

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