Free Astronomy and Space MCQs with Answers

51. The Chandrayaan-3 mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was successfully lifted off from which Space Centre?

• A. Paresh Dhawan Space Centre
• B. Satish Dhawan Space Centre
• C. Ram Dhawan Space Centre
• D. Shiri Dhawan Space Centre

Explanation: Chandrayaan-3 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, India. The other names are not the official name of the launch centre.

52. Which planets are called ice giants?

• A. Outer planets (Uranus and Neptune)
• B. Outer planets (Jupiter and Neptune)
• C. Outer planets (Jupiter and Saturn)
• D. Inner planets (Mercury and Earth)

Explanation: Uranus and Neptune are called ice giants because their interiors contain large amounts of water, ammonia and methane ices. Jupiter and Saturn are classified as gas giants instead.

53. The ice giants are mostly made of 'volatile' substances such as?

• A. Water, mercury and methane
• B. Water, ammonia and mercury
• C. Water, plasma and methane
• D. Water, ammonia and methane

Explanation: The principal volatile materials in the ice giants are water, ammonia and methane. Mercury is a metal, while plasma is an ionised state of matter rather than a characteristic planetary volatile.

54. __________ is the point in solar system at which pressure from the solar wind is equal to the opposing pressure of the interstellar medium.

• A. Seliopause
• B. Meliopause
• C. Heliopause
• D. Beliopause

Explanation: The heliopause is the boundary where the outward pressure of the solar wind balances the pressure of the interstellar medium. It marks the outer edge of the heliosphere.

55. The sun is expected to exhaust its hydrogen fuel in about 5 billion years. What will be its effect?

• A. The sun will then expand into a red giant and possibly swallow the outer planets
• B. The sun will then expand into a red giant and possibly swallow the inner as well as outer planets, including Earth
• C. The sun will then expand into a red giant and possibly swallow the inner planets, including Earth
• D. Sun will stay as it is

Explanation: After exhausting core hydrogen, the Sun is expected to expand into a red giant, probably engulfing or destroying the inner planets, including Earth. The distant outer planets are not expected to be swallowed.

56. How dark matter is detected?

• A. Dark matter is detected through its absorption effects
• B. Dark matter is detected through its gravitational effects on visible matter
• C. Dark matter is detected through its absorption and gravitational effects
• D. Dark matter cannot be detected

Explanation: Dark matter emits and absorbs little or no detectable light, so it is inferred from gravity, such as its effects on galaxy rotation and gravitational lensing. Its gravitational influence on visible matter is therefore the key evidence.

57. What makes dark matter invisible to telescope?

• A. Dark matter interacts with electromagnetic force for very short duration
• B. Dark matter does not interact with electrostatic force
• C. Dark matter does not interact with electromagnetic force
• D. None of the aboveAstronomy

Explanation: Telescope images rely on electromagnetic radiation such as visible light, infrared or radio waves. Dark matter is effectively invisible because it does not interact electromagnetically, although it does exert gravity.

58. NASA's ________ rover landed on Mars in February 2021.

• A. Persistence
• B. Desistance
• C. Perseverance
• D. None of the above

Explanation: NASA's Perseverance rover landed in Jezero Crater on Mars on 18 February 2021. The other names are not NASA Mars rover names.

59. NASA's ________ program aims to land humans on the moon again in 2024.

• A. Artemis
• B. Arshamedis
• C. Arsenimdo
• D. Bertonies

Explanation: Artemis is NASA's programme for returning humans to the Moon and preparing for later missions to Mars. Its original crewed lunar landing target was 2024, though the schedule was subsequently delayed.

60. NASA's _________ is currently studying the sun up close.

• A. Darker Solar Probe
• B. Walker Solar Probe
• C. Parker Solar Probe
• D. Falkner Solar Probe

Explanation: The Parker Solar Probe studies the Sun's corona and solar wind from closer than any previous spacecraft. It is named after physicist Eugene Parker, who helped explain the solar wind.