Comet Orbits: Elliptical Journeys

Description: Test your knowledge about the elliptical orbits of comets, their characteristics, and their behavior in our solar system.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: astronomy comets orbits solar system
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What is the shape of a comet's orbit around the Sun?

  1. Circular

  2. Elliptical

  3. Parabolic

  4. Hyperbolic


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Comets have elliptical orbits, meaning they follow an elongated path around the Sun.

What is the closest point in a comet's orbit to the Sun called?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Node

  4. Inclination


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Perihelion is the point in a comet's orbit when it is closest to the Sun.

What is the farthest point in a comet's orbit from the Sun called?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Node

  4. Inclination


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Aphelion is the point in a comet's orbit when it is farthest from the Sun.

What is the term used to describe the angle between a comet's orbital plane and the plane of Earth's orbit?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Inclination

  4. Eccentricity


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Inclination is the angle between a comet's orbital plane and the plane of Earth's orbit.

What is the term used to describe how elongated a comet's orbit is?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Inclination

  4. Eccentricity


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Eccentricity is the term used to describe how elongated a comet's orbit is.

What is the name of the famous comet that has a highly elliptical orbit and is visible from Earth every 76 years?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Hyakutake Comet


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Halley's Comet is a famous comet with a highly elliptical orbit and is visible from Earth every 76 years.

What is the name of the comet that collided with Jupiter in 1994, providing valuable insights into cometary structure and composition?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Hyakutake Comet


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet collided with Jupiter in 1994, providing valuable insights into cometary structure and composition.

Which comet was discovered in 1995 and became known for its spectacular tail and close approach to Earth?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Hyakutake Comet


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Hale-Bopp Comet was discovered in 1995 and became known for its spectacular tail and close approach to Earth.

What is the name of the comet that was discovered in 1996 and had a very bright outburst, making it visible to the naked eye?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Hyakutake Comet


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Hyakutake Comet was discovered in 1996 and had a very bright outburst, making it visible to the naked eye.

Which comet was discovered in 2013 and gained attention for its unusual interstellar origin?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Oumuamua


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Oumuamua was discovered in 2013 and gained attention for its unusual interstellar origin.

What is the term used to describe the point in a comet's orbit where it crosses the plane of Earth's orbit?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Node

  4. Inclination


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Node is the term used to describe the point in a comet's orbit where it crosses the plane of Earth's orbit.

What is the term used to describe the distance between a comet's perihelion and aphelion?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Semi-major axis

  4. Eccentricity


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Semi-major axis is the term used to describe the distance between a comet's perihelion and aphelion.

What is the term used to describe the time it takes for a comet to complete one orbit around the Sun?

  1. Perihelion

  2. Aphelion

  3. Orbital period

  4. Eccentricity


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Orbital period is the term used to describe the time it takes for a comet to complete one orbit around the Sun.

What is the name of the comet that was discovered in 2020 and gained attention for its extremely long orbital period of over 10,000 years?

  1. Halley's Comet

  2. Hale-Bopp Comet

  3. Shoemaker-Levy 9 Comet

  4. Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein was discovered in 2020 and gained attention for its extremely long orbital period of over 10,000 years.

What is the name of the space mission that was launched in 2014 to study Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko?

  1. Rosetta

  2. New Horizons

  3. Voyager 1

  4. Cassini-Huygens


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Rosetta was the space mission that was launched in 2014 to study Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

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