1000+ Astronomy MCQ for UPSC CSE [Solved]

1. Sunspots are
A. undulations on the solar surface
B. huge magnetic storms on the solar surface
C. places with adequate sunshine
D. places of tourist importance
Answer : B

2. Which of the following is 'the cruel planet' in Indian astrology?
A. Jupiter
B. Saturn
C. Uranus
D. Neptune
Answer : B

3. The tail of a comet is directed away from the Sun because
A. as the comet rotates around the Sun, the light mass of the comet is pushed away due to the centrifugal force alone
B. as the comet rotates, the lighter mass of the comet is attracted by some star situated in the direction of its tail
C. the radiation emitted by the Sun exerts a radial pressure on the comet throwing its tail away from the Sun
D. the tail of the comet always exists in the same orientation
Answer : A

4. How much time does earth take in making one rotation on its axis with respect to a fixed star at infinite distance?
A. 23 hours 56 minutes
B. 24 hours
C. 23 hours 46 minutes
D. 24 hours 4 minutes
Answer : A

5. Deimos and Phobos are the satellites of
A. Earth
B. Mars
C. Uranus
D. Neptune
Answer : B

6. Average density of the Earth is ( relative to water) __.
A. 5.5
B. 4.5
C. 9.5
D. 6.5
Answer : A

7. What is the direction of rotation of the earth on its axis?
A. East to West
B. South to North
C. North to South
D. West to East
Answer : D

8. What meridian is the International Date Line?
A. The 180° meridian
B. The O° meridian
C. The 90° meridian
D. The 135° meridian
Answer : A

9. The word 'planet' means ____.
A. wanderer
B. pollution
C. celestial body
D. heavenly body
Answer : A

10. Relatively cool spots of the Sun are called __ while relatively hot spots of the Sun are called __.
A. Fusionspot, Facu1ae
B. Sunspot, Faculae
C. Faculae, Sunspot
D. Sunspot, Hotspot
Answer : B

11. What do you call a narrow neck oC land that connects two larger landmasses?
A. Peninsula
B. Isthmus
C. Cape
D. Strait
Answer : B

12. What is the most accurate description of the shape of the earth?
A. a geoid
B. a spherical
C. an oblate sphere
D. a flat disc
Answer : A

13. What is siderial day?
A. Time taken by the earth to complete one rotation with respect to a fixed star at infinity
B. Time taken by the earth to complete one revolution with respect to the Moon
C. Time taken by the earth to complete one rotation with respect to the Moon
D. Time taken by the earth to complete one rotation with respect to the Sun
Answer : A

14. Planet with nearly equal rotation and revolution time to the earth is _____.
A. Venus
B. Mercury
C. Uranus
D. Mars
Answer : A

15. Outside Antarctica, which is the deepest part of the earth?
A. The Dead Sea
B. The Aral Sea
C. The Caspian Sea
D. Lake Baikal
Answer : A

16. On which date is the Earth in 'perihelion'?
A. January-3
B. June-21
C. July-4
D. December-22
Answer : A

17. What is the name of 'brightest Planet'?
A. Venus
B. Mercury
C. Mars
D. Saturn
Answer : A

18. When dees the Summer Solstice occur?
A. July 23
B. June 21
C. May 20
D. April 31
Answer : B

19. What are the Pleides?
A. Constellation
B. Asteroides
C. Meteores
D. Comets
Answer : A

20. What is the name of the planet which takes 88 days to make one revolution of the Sun?
A. Venus
B. Mercury
C. Pluto
D. Neptune
Answer : B

21. How many satellites does the largest planet have?
A. Sixteen
B. Ten
C. Six
D. Nine
Answer : A

22. What is the Southern Cross?
A. Position of the Sun during summer solstice
B. Position of the vertical Sun during winter solstice
C. A star showing the position of the South Pole
D. Point of intersection of Antarctic Circle and the Prime Meridian
Answer : C

23. Our Solar System is an orderly community of _____.
A. One star
B. Two stars
C. Three stars
D. Four stars
Answer : A

24. Orion and Great Bear stand for ______.
A. star
B. planet
C. Solar System
D. Constellation
Answer : D

25. Hale Bopp' is a newly discovered ____.
A. Planet
B. Meteore
C. Satellite
D. Comet
Answer : D

26. An imaginary belt of 12 constellations or group of stars la called
A. Zodiac
B. Steller group
C. Pulsar
D. Zodiacal light
Answer : A

27. Equatorial diameter of the Earth is __.
A. 12757 km
B. 17257 km
C. 17527 km
D. 17572 km
Answer : A

28. Which two planets do not have any satellites?
1. Mercury
2. Venus
3. Saturn
4. Pluto
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 WtQ 3
C. 3 and 4
D. 1 and 4
Answer : A

29. Which planet la known as a 'Morning Star' as well as an 'Evening Star'?
A. Venus
B. Uranus
C. Mercury
D. Mars
Answer : A

30. Charon' is the satellite of _____.
A. Earth
B. Saturn
C. Pluto
D. Neptune
Answer : C

31. Which planet rotates on its axis from east to west?
A. Venus
B. Uranus
C. Earth
D. Jupiter
Answer : A

32. Largest planet of our Solar System is _____.
A. Jupiter
B. Mars
C. Saturn
D. Uranus
Answer : A

33. What does perigee mean?
A. The position of the moon farthest from the earth
B. The position of the earth nearest to the Sun
C. The position of the moon nearest to the earth
D. The position of the earth farthest from the Sun
Answer : C

34. What is the position of the moon called when it la farthest from the earth?
A. Perigee
B. Perihelion
C. Aphelion
D. Apogee
Answer : D

35. The inclination of the earth's axis, i.e. the earth's axis is tilted at an angle from perpendicular to the orbital plane or makes an angle with the plane of the earth's orbit. What are these respective angles?
A. ${90}^0$
B. $23{\frac{1}{2}}^0$
C. $0^0$
D. $66{\frac{1}{2}}^0$
Answer : B

36. All asteroids collectively revolve around the
A. Sun
B. Planet
C. Satellite
D. Moon
Answer : A

37. To a space traveller stationed in Moon, during the day time the lunar sky will appear
A. Blue
B. White
C. Black
D. Crimson Red
Answer : C

38. What is a 'synodic month'?
A. Moon's period of rotation on its axis with respect to the earth.
B. Moon's period of revolution around the earth.
C. Moon's period of revolution with respect to a star at infinity
D. Moon's period of revolution with respect to the Sun
Answer : D

39. Which of the following is the largest ocean?
A. Indian
B. Pacific
C. Atlantic
D. Arctic
Answer : B

40. Nearest star to the earth is _____.
A. Alfa Centaury
B. Sun
C. Proxima Centaury
D. Dog Star
Answer : B

41. A swarm of small bodies in between the two Planets of Solar System is called 'asteroids' which are those two Planets?
A. Mars and Jupiter
B. Earth and Venus
C. Neptune and Pluto
D. Jupiter and Saturn
Answer : A

42. Polar diameter of the Eearth is.
A. 17214 km
B. 12741 km
C. 12714 km
D. 17124 km
Answer : C

43. Which star la called the brightest star (Dog star)?
A. Sirius
B. Proxima Centaury
C. Orion
D. Pole Star
Answer : A

44. Rapidly rotating stars emitting intense radio waves are called ___.
A. Pulsars
B. Quasuars
C. Neutron stars
D. All of the above
Answer : A

45. How many planets does our Solar System consist of?
A. 9
B. 6
C. 7
D. 10
Answer : A

46. Big Bang Theory' explains
A. the formation of universe
B. the origin and evolution of earth's crust
C. formation of Solar System
D. formation of constellation
Answer : A

47. What proportion of the mass of the earth does the mass of the Moon equal?
A. 1/81
B. 1/18
C. 1/27
D. 1/72
Answer : A

48. What is the geographical term for land's end, that tip of land which projects into the sea?
A. A headland
B. A spit
C. A peninsula
D. A cape
Answer : D

49. A celestial body having its own heat and light is called
A. Planet
B. Moon
C. Star
D. Satellite
Answer : C

50. When does the Vernal Equinox occur?
A. December 25
B. March 21
C. February 28
D. January 14
Answer : B