Astronomy Trivia Challenge: Can You Answer These Questions About the Night Sky?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around an interactive Astronomy Trivia Challenge where participants ask and answer questions related to astronomy. Key topics include the brightest star in the Northern Sky (Sirius), the Caloris Basin on Mercury, and the concept of supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies. Participants also discuss stellar processes such as helium burning and the significance of cold dark matter in cosmology. The discussion fosters engagement and learning among astronomy enthusiasts.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic knowledge of astronomy terminology, including terms like "apparent magnitude" and "absolute magnitude."
  • Understanding of stellar processes, particularly nuclear fusion and the triple-alpha process.
  • Familiarity with celestial bodies, including stars, planets, and specific features like the Caloris Basin.
  • Awareness of cosmological concepts such as cold dark matter and supermassive black holes.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties and significance of the brightest stars in different constellations.
  • Explore the formation and characteristics of planetary basins, focusing on Mercury's Caloris Basin.
  • Study the mechanisms of nuclear fusion in stars, particularly the triple-alpha process and helium flash.
  • Investigate the role of cold dark matter and dark energy in the universe's structure and evolution.
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, students of astrophysics, educators teaching astronomy, and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of celestial phenomena and cosmological concepts.

Nicool002
[SOLVED] Astronomy Q&A Game

Hi guys! Most of you know how this works but for the newcomers:

The rules are this: someone will ask a question and if the question is not answered correctly within 3 days then a new question will be posted. If an answer to a question is posted and the person that posted the question does not respond to the answer within 2 to 3 days, then the first person to have answered the question will then be able to post their own question. HAVE FUN AND LEARN!

I will start:

Question: What is the brightest star in the Northern Sky? (excluding the sun)
 
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I'm making an educated guess here:

Alpha Canis Majoris (Sirius)?


Techincally, I think Deneb is the "brightest" but only in absolute magnitude. It's so far away that it really doesn't make much of a difference since its apparent magnitude is not as bright as Sirius.

Hey it's only a guess.
 
oh, man. I better lock this now before you guys swamp our server resources again.
-jk
 
haha *hurt look* us? Phobos why ever would you say that? hehe


Yes sting you are correct, your go.
 
My go? My turn to ask a question (I never participated in the original thread so I have no idea how this works)?

Okay, my question: What is the name of the large multiringed basin located on Mercury at a longitude of 180 degrees?
 
I believe that it is the Caloris Basin. Am I correct?
 
$#%^! I sure pick easy questions don't I?

Yes, you got it right. I guess, it's "your go"
 
I knew that from when I studied Astronomy for Science Olympiad (By the way guys I got a gold medal in Astronomy for the Competition )


Ok. True Or False

Do we havea supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy?
 
Shoot, that was quick...

Uhhh truefalse...

Actually, I don't know if it was ever "proven" but I'm going with "true"
 
  • #10
Correct, it is true. On Discover, they lookd at something like 37 galaxies and in each one, they found a supermassive black hole. Then, they looked at our galaxy and guesss what they found... Oh wait, sting already said it.
 
  • #11
Yippee!

Okay, I guess it's my turn:

What is the name given to the energy generation in which a stellar object initiates helium burning by the triple-alpha process?
 
  • #12
OK I don't think I know this one but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Nuclear Fusion that a star relies on to live... but I am not sure if that's right.
 
  • #13
for how many years does pluto enter into neptune's orbit, and how many years does it take pluto to make one revolution around the sun?

no cheating...
 
  • #14
Kerrie I'm going to answer your question but first The way I put it in the rules was that one question had to be answered before the next was asked that way you don't have a bunch of questions going on at once :smile:

Answer: Pluto takes 247 years that is the first answer. The second is... well I am not sure but I think it is around 100 years although that is basicaly just a guess.
 
  • #15
OK I don't think I know this one but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Nuclear Fusion that a star relies on to live... but I am not sure if that's right.

Generally, yes, but I was thinking more of a specific name but I'll give you a clue (two words)
 
  • #16
helium fusion...?
 
Last edited:
  • #17
What is the 'helium flash'?
 
  • #18
how many years does it take pluto to make one revolution around the sun

Well if I was being tricky I would say exactly 1. Plutonian year that is :wink:

Raavin
 
  • #19
Darn, I do believe damgo got it.
 
  • #20
Originally posted by Raavin
Well if I was being tricky I would say exactly 1. Plutonian year that is :wink:

Raavin

It takes pluto 250 Earth years to make one revolution around the sun.
 
  • #21
I think Damgo got it too. The 'initiation' would seem to be the helium flash which continues into helium fusion. I think that's right, as the helium fuses to carbon 12, then you then have carbon flash and I assume you could have oxygen and neon flash but, for reasons that elude me, it would seem that it is naturally unlikely do to the changes/reduction in pressure until it gets to iron.

Raavin
 
Last edited:
  • #22
Yep, he's right.

Helium flash was the answer I was looking for.
 
  • #23
:) Hmm... okay, what does /\-CDM stand for, and what is it?
 
  • #24
Can we have a normal Astronomy category

This may sound a bit sour but... now we are starting a new leaf, how about you starting a separate topic called "Astronomy Questions Game" so we can use the word "Astronomy" for a general topic of Astronomy without turning it into a sort of "Who wants to be a Millionaire" (an Aussie TV program :)

By the way, what happened to all the old posts, have they been classified due to the impending war or something?

[ome]
 
  • #25
...cold dark matter...
...cold dark matter is composed of objects massive enough to move at sub-relativistic velocities...
 
  • #26
Originally posted by damgo
:) Hmm... okay, what does /\-CDM stand for, and what is it?

As the previous poster pointed out CDM stands for cold dark matter, but the /\ stands for the dark energy or cosmological constant. I couldn't begin to tell you what cold dark matter is or what dark energy is, because no one knows! :smile:
 
  • #27
I have turned to the darkside...
For I have tasted the truth...
(CEO Morgan's Recycling Tanks of Humour)
 
  • #28
Yep, cragwolf got it... it's the cosmological model with large lamda, omega_matter mostly dark.
 
  • #29
Well first off JJalexand were you on the old PF? and second off it's because this was the name on the old PF and I didn't want to change it and this thread IS about astronomy. I made it a game so it would be more fun.


(as you can see I had to change my name having login troubles seeing what we can do about it)
 
  • #30
Originally posted by damgo
Yep, cragwolf got it... it's the cosmological model with large lamda, omega_matter mostly dark.

Hi damgo, can you award the prize to Bogdan, since he got most of the question right, and I'm feeling generous? :smile:
 

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