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Comet Exploration: Unraveling the Mysteries of Icy Wanderers

Description: Journey through the cosmos and explore the fascinating world of comets, those enigmatic wanderers of the solar system. Test your knowledge about their composition, behavior, and the missions that have been undertaken to unravel their secrets.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: comets solar system space exploration astronomy
Attempted 0/15 Correct 0 Score 0

What is the primary component of a comet's nucleus?

  1. Rock and Metal

  2. Ice and Dust

  3. Gas and Plasma

  4. Water and Carbon Dioxide


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

A comet's nucleus is predominantly composed of ice, such as water ice, carbon monoxide ice, and methane ice, mixed with dust particles.

What is the term for the bright, glowing head of a comet?

  1. Coma

  2. Nucleus

  3. Tail

  4. Corona


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The coma is the luminous region surrounding the comet's nucleus, formed by the sublimation of ices and the release of gas and dust.

Which comet was the first to be successfully visited by a spacecraft?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Giotto spacecraft, launched by the European Space Agency, made the first successful encounter with Halley's Comet in 1986.

What is the name of the spacecraft that landed on the nucleus of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko?

  1. Philae

  2. Rosetta

  3. New Horizons

  4. Voyager 1


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Philae, a lander carried by the Rosetta spacecraft, successfully touched down on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014.

Which comet was responsible for the spectacular Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact on Jupiter in 1994?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet broke apart into multiple fragments before colliding with Jupiter, creating a series of dramatic impacts.

What is the name of the comet that was discovered in 1995 and became known for its exceptionally long tail?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Hale-Bopp Comet, discovered in 1995, had a tail that stretched for millions of kilometers, making it one of the most spectacular comets in recent history.

Which spacecraft was launched in 2004 to explore Comet Tempel 1 and impact its surface with a copper projectile?

  1. Deep Impact

  2. Stardust

  3. New Horizons

  4. Voyager 2


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Deep Impact mission successfully impacted Comet Tempel 1 with a copper projectile in 2005, providing valuable insights into the comet's composition.

What is the name of the comet that was visited by the Stardust spacecraft in 2004, allowing for the collection of cometary dust samples?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Wild 2 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Stardust spacecraft successfully collected cometary dust samples from Wild 2 Comet in 2004, which were later returned to Earth for analysis.

Which comet was targeted by the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission, which successfully orbited and landed on the comet's surface?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Rosetta mission successfully orbited and landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, providing unprecedented data and insights into cometary activity.

What is the name of the comet that was visited by the New Horizons spacecraft during its journey to Pluto?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Comet

  4. Ultima Thule


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The New Horizons spacecraft conducted a flyby of the Kuiper Belt object Ultima Thule in 2019, providing valuable information about the composition and structure of these distant bodies.

Which comet was targeted by the Deep Impact mission, which successfully impacted its surface with a copper projectile in 2005?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Tempel 1 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Deep Impact mission successfully impacted Comet Tempel 1 with a copper projectile in 2005, providing valuable insights into the comet's composition.

What is the name of the comet that was visited by the Giotto spacecraft in 1986, making it the first comet to be successfully visited by a spacecraft?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Giotto spacecraft successfully encountered Halley's Comet in 1986, marking a significant milestone in cometary exploration.

Which comet was visited by the Stardust mission in 2004, allowing for the collection of cometary dust samples that were later returned to Earth for analysis?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Wild 2 Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Stardust mission successfully collected cometary dust samples from Wild 2 Comet in 2004, which were later returned to Earth for analysis.

What is the name of the comet that was targeted by the Rosetta mission, which successfully orbited and landed on the comet's surface, providing unprecedented data and insights into cometary activity?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Comet

  4. Borrelly Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Rosetta mission successfully orbited and landed on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, providing unprecedented data and insights into cometary activity.

Which comet was visited by the New Horizons spacecraft during its journey to Pluto, providing valuable information about the composition and structure of these distant bodies?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Comet

  4. Ultima Thule


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The New Horizons spacecraft conducted a flyby of the Kuiper Belt object Ultima Thule in 2019, providing valuable information about the composition and structure of these distant bodies.

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