Astronomy Interview Preparation Guide
Elevate your Astronomy interview readiness with our detailed compilation of 97 questions. These questions are specifically selected to challenge and enhance your knowledge in Astronomy. Perfect for all proficiency levels, they are key to your interview success. Dont miss out on our free PDF download, containing all 97 questions to help you succeed in your Astronomy interview. Its an invaluable tool for reinforcing your knowledge and building confidence.97 Astronomy Questions and Answers:
1 :: How far away from earth, is space?
In fact, space is said to begin just 100km above the surface of the earth so if you were in a rocket then you would not need to travel for too long to hit space.
When you look in the sky to the moon for instance you actually only need to travel a tiny, tiny fraction of the way to the moon to enter space.
When you look in the sky to the moon for instance you actually only need to travel a tiny, tiny fraction of the way to the moon to enter space.
2 :: How does gravity affect life on Pluto?
Well, there is much less gravity no Pluto than there is on the planet Earth.
Therefore, it is easier to jump for instance a jump would take you much higher. Your body would also not need the robustness that it needs to deal with gravity here pushing down on your organs and so on, so might need to be less sturdy.
Therefore, it is easier to jump for instance a jump would take you much higher. Your body would also not need the robustness that it needs to deal with gravity here pushing down on your organs and so on, so might need to be less sturdy.
3 :: How do clouds form?
Clouds are formed as part of the water cycle. Effectively, warm air rises. Indeed, water vapor rises, as it is lighter than air.
However, as it rises through the sky, higher and higher up, the air is colder.
This causes the water vapor to condense and it turns to liquid droplets. This is what causes a cloud to form and condense.
When the density is high enough, the water escapes from the cloud and falls to earth as a cloud.
However, as it rises through the sky, higher and higher up, the air is colder.
This causes the water vapor to condense and it turns to liquid droplets. This is what causes a cloud to form and condense.
When the density is high enough, the water escapes from the cloud and falls to earth as a cloud.
4 :: How did the moon form?
Theories abound. The most widely accepted thought at present is that some massive impact on earth in its very formative days was so violent that it sent a chunk of earth rock flying out into space, and this became the moon. Certainly if true, this was very fortuitous for life on earth in the end, as the moon has many effects on the earth that are beneficial for life, e.g. tides.
5 :: How can space expand faster than the speed of light?
Although nothing can travel faster than the speed of light, when space is expanding itself then things can move further than light does in a period - this is because it is not a particle that is traveling it is the fabric of space itself.
Space can expand at a rate that has not been determined but will not expanded to be bound by the movement of light or particles, so if the fabric of space itself expands then things can effectively be moved apart from each other at faster than light speed without themselves exceeding the limit.
Space can expand at a rate that has not been determined but will not expanded to be bound by the movement of light or particles, so if the fabric of space itself expands then things can effectively be moved apart from each other at faster than light speed without themselves exceeding the limit.
6 :: How big is Venus?
In terms of size, Venus is the most like Earth, although not in terms of planetary conditions, climate, or hospitability for life.
Venus is 95% the size of earth. In terms of the density of the planet, it is very close to earth. It is 30% closer to the Sun than the earth is. It is also incredibly hot - around 880 degrees Fahrenheit at times, and sulphuric acid rain. The planet has a runaway greenhouse effect problem.
Venus is 95% the size of earth. In terms of the density of the planet, it is very close to earth. It is 30% closer to the Sun than the earth is. It is also incredibly hot - around 880 degrees Fahrenheit at times, and sulphuric acid rain. The planet has a runaway greenhouse effect problem.
7 :: How big is the universe?
There is an edge to what we are able to see in the universe. The most distant galaxies we can now see are 10 or 12 billion light-years away. We could never see a galaxy that is farther away in light travel time than the universe is old, e.g. estimated 14 billion years. Thus, we are surrounded by a "horizon" that we cannot look beyond that. This horizon describes the visible universe—a region some 28 billion light years in diameter.
8 :: Does time stop at an event horizon?
You may have read that as you approach the event horizon of a black hole, time will stop for you.
Indeed, for any observers, it will appear that you go slower and slower and never quite reach it (ignoring the problems that you would be crushed to death by the gravity!)
However, if your watch were still to work, you would look down and perceive time to be passing as normal.
It is due to the immense gravity that the light you emit takes longer and longer to reach the external observer.
Indeed, for any observers, it will appear that you go slower and slower and never quite reach it (ignoring the problems that you would be crushed to death by the gravity!)
However, if your watch were still to work, you would look down and perceive time to be passing as normal.
It is due to the immense gravity that the light you emit takes longer and longer to reach the external observer.
9 :: Does non-carbon based life exist somewhere in the universe?
No one can say no in answer to this, because we do not know what else is out there.
However, it seems likely that due to its chemical properties that life elsewhere would need to be based on carbon if it was of any size, although we cannot say for sure.
There are not that many elements that seem to have the flexibility that carbon does, the stability and abundance... however it is possible that something like silicon could perhaps be a candidate for life forms elsewhere; for very simple life forms there might be a larger range of candidate elements.
However, it seems likely that due to its chemical properties that life elsewhere would need to be based on carbon if it was of any size, although we cannot say for sure.
There are not that many elements that seem to have the flexibility that carbon does, the stability and abundance... however it is possible that something like silicon could perhaps be a candidate for life forms elsewhere; for very simple life forms there might be a larger range of candidate elements.
10 :: Do galaxies interact?
Of course we have no direct evidence of galaxies interacting but it does appear that they can and do, and are at this very moment, interacting.
Usually a violent and energetic affair, galaxies interacting will cause much destruction of existing material and then result in a product phase of much star formation and activity as the repercussions are felt throughout the galaxy.
Usually a violent and energetic affair, galaxies interacting will cause much destruction of existing material and then result in a product phase of much star formation and activity as the repercussions are felt throughout the galaxy.