Astronomy- Planetary Systems

State the main constituents of the Solar System.

Name the planets in order of increasing distance from the Sun.

Name three dwarf planets in the Solar System.

What is an asteroid?

What is a comet?

What is a centaur?

What is a Trans-Neptunian object?

State the features that qualify an object as a 'planet'.

What is the ecliptic?

What is the Spaced Out project?

What is an astronomical unit?

Describe the orbit of the planets around the Sun.

What is the Zodiac?

What is meant by the term retrograde motion?

Define the terms: perihelion, aphelion.

Define the terms: greatest eastern elongation (GEE), greatest western elongation (GWE).

Define the term: conjunction.

Define the term: opposition.

Define the term: transit.

Define the term: occultation.

Describe the physical characteristics of Mercury.

Describe the physical properties of Venus.

What is the link between Venus and global warming?

Describe the physical properties of Mars.

Describe some of the physical characteristics of Jupiter.

What are some of the physical characteristics of Saturn?

What are the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune made up of?

State some differences in the physical characteristics of Uranus and Neptune.

Name five general techniques by unmanned probes to investigate planets and other Solar System bodies.

State some of the problems associated with manned exploration of the Solar System.

What are the names of the two moons of Mars?

What is the believed origins of the moons of Mars?

What are the names of the 4 Galilean moons of Jupiter?

Which is the only moon in the Solar System which has a dense atmosphere?

What is unusual about the orbit of Triton around Neptune?

What is the proposed origin of Neptune's moon Triton?

How were some of Neptune's small inner moons formed?

What is the proposed origin of Neptune's moon Proteus?

What is unusual about the orbit of Neptune's moon Nereid?

What is the Kuiper Belt?

What is the Oort Cloud?

What is the ring system?

What are the possible origins of ring system?

What is a comet?

What are the two classes of comet?

Where do the two classes of comet originate?

Is the Halley Comet a short-period or a long-period comet?
What is its period?

What is the difference between the nucleus and the coma of a comet?

Explain the two types of tail on a comet.

Define the terms; meteoroid, meteor, meteorite.

What is a fireball?

Name four annual meteor showers.

What is a radiant?

What is a Near Earth Object (NEO)?

What is a Potentially Hazardous Object (PHO)?

What evidence is there for collisions between astronomical bodies?

What scale is used to categorise impact hazards and potential risks?

What are the names of the two models of the Solar System?

What was Copernicus' contribution to the geocentric vs. heliocentric argument?

What was Tycho's contribution to the geocentric vs. heliocentric argument?

What is Kepler's first law of planetary motion?

What is Kepler's second law planetary motion?

(Mathematically) What is Kepler's third law of planetary motion?

What were Galileo's three major astronomical discoveries relating to the Solar System?

Who discovered Uranus and how?

Who discovered Ceres and how?

Who discovered Neptune and how?

Who discovered Pluto and how?

What is gravitation?

(Mathematically) What is Newton's law of gravitation?

What is meant by an inverse square law?

What are the three main techniques for detecting or inferring the presence of exoplanets?

What are the difficulties with detecting individual planets?

What do scientists think are the two essential chemical ingredients for life?

What are the two principle theories for the origin of water on Earth?

What methods have astronomers used to determine the origin of water on Earth?

What factors are included in the Drake equation for assessing the likelihood of life existing elsewhere in our galaxy?

What is meant the term 'habitable zone'?

Name two other bodies in our Solar System that are candidates for micro-organisms to exist.

State some methods astronomers use to search for signs of life on other planets?

What are the benefits and advantages of discovering ET life?