Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO)

Description: The Indian National Astronomy Olympiad (INAO) is a competitive exam conducted annually to select the Indian team for the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO). The exam is open to students of class XI and XII who have a strong interest in astronomy and astrophysics.
Number of Questions: 15
Created by:
Tags: astronomy astrophysics olympiad
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

What is the name of the largest planet in our solar system?

  1. Jupiter

  2. Saturn

  3. Uranus

  4. Neptune


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a mass of 318 times that of Earth and a diameter of 142,984 kilometers.

What is the name of the star that our solar system orbits?

  1. Sun

  2. Alpha Centauri

  3. Sirius

  4. Vega


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Sun is the star that our solar system orbits. It is a G-type main-sequence star, with a mass of 1.989 x 10^30 kilograms and a diameter of 1.392 million kilometers.

What is the name of the galaxy that our solar system is located in?

  1. Milky Way

  2. Andromeda

  3. Triangulum

  4. M31


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Milky Way is the galaxy that our solar system is located in. It is a barred spiral galaxy with a diameter of about 100,000 light-years and a mass of about 1 trillion solar masses.

What is the name of the closest star to our solar system?

  1. Alpha Centauri A

  2. Alpha Centauri B

  3. Proxima Centauri

  4. Sirius


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our solar system, located just 4.2 light-years away. It is a red dwarf star with a mass of about 0.12 solar masses and a diameter of about 0.15 solar radii.

What is the name of the largest moon in our solar system?

  1. Ganymede

  2. Titan

  3. Callisto

  4. Io


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system, with a diameter of 5,262 kilometers. It is larger than the planet Mercury and has a mass of 1.4819 x 10^23 kilograms.

What is the name of the planet that is closest to the Sun?

  1. Mercury

  2. Venus

  3. Earth

  4. Mars


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Mercury is the planet that is closest to the Sun, with an average distance of 57.9 million kilometers. It is a small, rocky planet with a diameter of 4,879 kilometers and a mass of 3.3011 x 10^23 kilograms.

What is the name of the planet that is farthest from the Sun?

  1. Neptune

  2. Uranus

  3. Saturn

  4. Jupiter


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Neptune is the planet that is farthest from the Sun, with an average distance of 4.5 billion kilometers. It is a large, icy planet with a diameter of 49,528 kilometers and a mass of 1.0243 x 10^26 kilograms.

What is the name of the dwarf planet that was once considered the ninth planet of our solar system?

  1. Pluto

  2. Eris

  3. Makemake

  4. Haumea


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Pluto was once considered the ninth planet of our solar system, but it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. It has a diameter of 2,302 kilometers and a mass of 1.303 x 10^22 kilograms.

What is the name of the comet that was visible in the night sky in 1997?

  1. Hale-Bopp

  2. Hyakutake

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9

  4. Wild 2


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Hale-Bopp was a comet that was visible in the night sky in 1997. It had a very bright tail and was visible for 18 months.

What is the name of the meteor shower that occurs every year in August?

  1. Perseids

  2. Leonids

  3. Geminids

  4. Ursids


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Perseids are a meteor shower that occurs every year in August. They are caused by the debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle.

What is the name of the spacecraft that landed on Mars in 2012?

  1. Curiosity

  2. Opportunity

  3. Spirit

  4. Sojourner


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Curiosity is a spacecraft that landed on Mars in 2012. It is a car-sized rover that is exploring the surface of Mars and searching for signs of past or present life.

What is the name of the spacecraft that is currently orbiting Jupiter?

  1. Juno

  2. Galileo

  3. Voyager 1

  4. Voyager 2


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Juno is a spacecraft that is currently orbiting Jupiter. It is studying the planet's interior, atmosphere, and magnetic field.

What is the name of the spacecraft that is currently exploring the outer solar system?

  1. New Horizons

  2. Voyager 1

  3. Voyager 2

  4. Cassini-Huygens


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

New Horizons is a spacecraft that is currently exploring the outer solar system. It flew by Pluto in 2015 and is now on its way to the Kuiper Belt.

What is the name of the telescope that is located in Chile and is the largest optical telescope in the world?

  1. Very Large Telescope

  2. Keck Telescope

  3. Subaru Telescope

  4. Gran Telescopio Canarias


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Very Large Telescope is located in Chile and is the largest optical telescope in the world. It consists of four 8.2-meter telescopes that can be used together to create a single image with a resolution that is 10 times better than the Hubble Space Telescope.

What is the name of the telescope that is located in space and is studying the early universe?

  1. Hubble Space Telescope

  2. James Webb Space Telescope

  3. Spitzer Space Telescope

  4. Chandra X-ray Observatory


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The James Webb Space Telescope is located in space and is studying the early universe. It is the most powerful and expensive space telescope ever built.

- Hide questions