Instructions
Read each section carefully and complete the activities to test your knowledge of the universe. Use what you know about planets, stars, and galaxies to find the answers. Good luck, future astronomer!
Part 1: Cosmic Vocabulary Match-Up
Match the space term on the left with its correct definition on the right. Write the letter of the definition in the blank space next to the term.
Terms
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Definitions A. The spectacular and massive explosion of a dying star. B. A planet that orbits a star outside of our solar system. C. A vast system of stars, stellar remnants, gas, and dust held together by gravity. D. A giant cloud of dust and gas in space, often where new stars are born. E. A region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing—not even light—can escape. F. The distance that light travels in one year (about 9.5 trillion kilometers). |
Part 2: Who Am I in the Solar System?
Read the clues below and write the name of the planet or celestial object being described on the line provided.
- I am known as the "Red Planet" because of my rusty, iron-rich soil. A rover named Perseverance is currently exploring my surface.
I am: _________________________ - I am the largest planet in the solar system, and my Great Red Spot is a storm bigger than Earth that has been raging for centuries.
I am: _________________________ - I am famous for the thousands of beautiful rings that orbit me. Though other planets have rings, mine are the most spectacular and complex.
I am: _________________________ - A day on my surface is actually longer than my year! My thick, toxic atmosphere traps heat, making me the hottest planet in the solar system.
I am: _________________________
Part 3: The Life of a Star
The life stages of an average star (like our Sun) are listed below in a random order. Number them from 1 (the beginning) to 5 (the end) to show the correct sequence.
- ( ) Red Giant
- ( ) White Dwarf
- ( ) Stellar Nebula
- ( ) Average Star (Main Sequence)
- ( ) Planetary Nebula
Part 4: Space: Fact or Fiction?
Read each statement below. Is it a scientific fact or a common piece of fiction? Circle your answer.
-
Statement: There is zero gravity in space.
FACT / FICTION -
Statement: The Sun is a solid ball of fire.
FACT / FICTION -
Statement: There are more stars in the observable universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth.
FACT / FICTION -
Statement: A black hole is a giant empty hole in space.
FACT / FICTION
Answer Key
Part 1: Cosmic Vocabulary Match-Up
- D - Nebula
- F - Light-Year
- E - Black Hole
- A - Supernova
- C - Galaxy
- B - Exoplanet
Part 2: Who Am I in the Solar System?
- I am: Mars
- I am: Jupiter
- I am: Saturn
- I am: Venus
Part 3: The Life of a Star
- ( 3 ) Red Giant
- ( 5 ) White Dwarf
- ( 1 ) Stellar Nebula
- ( 2 ) Average Star (Main Sequence)
- ( 4 ) Planetary Nebula
Part 4: Space: Fact or Fiction?
- FICTION. There is gravity everywhere in space, it's just much weaker the farther you get from a large object. Astronauts on the International Space Station experience "microgravity" as they are continuously falling toward Earth.
- FICTION. The Sun is not solid; it's a giant ball of hot gas, mostly hydrogen and helium. The intense heat and light are produced by nuclear fusion reactions at its core.
- FACT. While it's impossible to count either one exactly, astronomers estimate there are sextillions of stars (a 1 followed by 21 zeros), which far outnumbers the estimated grains of sand on Earth.
- FICTION. A black hole is not empty. It is an incredible amount of matter packed into a very small space, creating an object with immense gravitational pull.