Space Trivia

By: Elizabeth Lavis
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Space Trivia
Image: Wiki Commons by NASA / Neil A. Armstrong

About This Quiz

Most of us played astronaut when we were kids, but for some, the fascination about the big, beautiful expanse of space never left us. We look up at the stars with a sense of adventure and wonder what truly is out there beyond our gaze!

If you have always dreamt of visiting a galaxy far, far away, this space trivia quiz is right up your alley. With questions about our solar system and a few about what lies beyond, we delve deep into the darkest corners of space to test you on whether or not you have the scientific know-how. If you know that the Big Bang Theory is more than just a hit television show and you can tell the difference between a nebula and an asteroid, we challenge you to test your space trivia mettle against these 40 questions.

So let's get down to it! If your knowledge is on-point and truly out of this world, you should have no problem navigating through these brain twisters like an expertly piloted spacecraft through a massive asteroid belt. It's time to see who truly paid attention in high school science class with the supernova of all space trivia quizzes.

Star
Vicki Smith / Moment / Getty Images
A bright ball provides our world with light and warmth. What space term is the sun classified as?
Asteroid
Star
Planet
Nebula
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Our sun is a big beautiful star and the center of the entire solar system! The sun keeps our planet from turning into one big ball of ice out there in space, so we give it mad respect.

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Venus
parameter / E+ / Getty Images
Wow, it's getting hot in here! What is the hottest planet on average?
Venus
Mars
Mercury
Earth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it comes to planets, Venus really knows how to heat things up as its greenhouse gas effect keeps this planet so sizzling all year round. Talk about being way too hot to handle!

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The Big Bang Theory
gremlin / E+ / Getty Images
Which popular theory about the origin of the universe is widely accepted by scientists?
Quantum Game Theory
String Theory
The Theory of Relativity
The Big Bang Theory
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to being a hit television show, The Big Bang Theory is the most popular theory that explains the creation of the universe. It essentially states that the universe exploded into existence.

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The tail
John White Photos / Moment / Getty Images
We all know about Halley's Comet, but who knows what we call the burst of gas and dust that follows a comet?
The debris field
The tail
The head
The spray
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Comet tails are created when the comet passes too close to the sun. They usually consist of gas and dust, and either follow or precede the comet depending on where it is in relation to the sun.

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Io
inhauscreative / E+ / Getty Images
Jupiter has more moons than it can handle. What is the name of one of them?
Io
Orion
Pluto
Jasper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jupiter has 79 known moons! Io is just one of the more famous moons that orbit around this massive planet. We just know about the 79 moons, but there could certainly be more than that!

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Gas
Stocktrek / DigitalVision / Getty Images
What is our sun is made out of?
Rock
Gas
Water
Fluorescent light
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The sun is a giant ball of gas which is comprised mostly of hydrogen and partially of helium. The gas is extraordinarily hot and you couldn't get anywhere near the sun without burning to a crisp.

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Asteroid NEW
Wiki Commons by NASA / NEAR Project
This object is a huge chunk of rock in belt with other huge chunks of rock. What is it?
Planet
Asteroid
Star
Blackhole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Millions of these huge asteroids litter the vast expanse of space. Although they are giant, they are not considered planets, although the larger ones are sometimes called "planetoids."

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4.5 billion years old
Yukinori Hasumi / Moment / Getty Images
How old is the sun?
5.5 thousand years old
2 million years old
100 years old
4.5 billion years old
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Our amazing sun is 4.5 billion years old, give or take a year. This massive star has been around for a long time, and we would be completely lost (and dead) without its warming light.

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East
Artur Debat / Moment / Getty Images
Good morning! What direction do you look in to catch a beautiful sunrise?
North
South
East
West
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you want to catch an amazing sunrise, you will have to look to the east! The sun rises in the east and makes its way across our sky over the course of the day, finally setting in the west.

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Neptune
alxpin / E+ / Getty Images
Which planet is furthest away from the sun?
Neptune
Mars
Earth
Venus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The chilly Neptune is the planet that is furthest away from the sun. This giant has 17 times more mass than our Earth and is known for being dark, icy and totally mysterious.

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A solar eclipse
Matt Anderson Photography / Moment / Getty Images
What do you call it when the sun is momentarily covered by the moon?
A lunar eclipse
A solar eclipse
A blackout
A supernova
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the sun, moon and Earth are aligned in a specific way, the sun can temporarily be blocked out by the shadow of the moon. We call this a solar eclipse, and it's a highly anticipated celestial affair.

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Sol
aryos / E+ / Getty Images
It's the most important star in our galaxy. What is the proper name of the sun?
Sirius
Io
Sol
Orion
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Like many celestial bodies in our galaxy, the sun is named after a Roman god. Sol is the Roman counterpart of the Greek god Helios, who is fittingly the god of the sun. Sol is also "sun" in Spanish!

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Neil Armstrong
Wiki Commons by NASA
Who was the first person to walk on the moon?
Sally Ride
Buzz Aldrin
Yuri Gagarin
Neil Armstrong
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was simply one small step for Neil Armstrong, but one giant leap for all of mankind when this pioneering American astronaut became the very first person to set foot on the moon.

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Aurora Borealis
Posnov / Moment / Getty Images
They light up the sky with gorgeous colors. What is the official name of the northern lights?
Supernova
Aurora Borealis
Milky Way
Pleiades
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Visit Alaska during the winter, and you might get treated to one of the most amazing light shows that you will ever see. The Aurora Borealis is a burst of beautiful color in the sky, caused partially by the solar wind.

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Jupiter
Wiki Commons by NASA, ESA, and A. Simon (NASA Goddard)
Which planet is the largest in our universe?
Earth
Mars
Pluto
Jupiter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jupiter is an absolutely enormous planet. It is twice the size of all other planets in our solar system combined and has 318 more mass than Earth. This giant is the fifth planet from the sun.

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Light takes time to travel
bjdlzx / E+ / Getty Images
Some of the stars we see in the night sky no longer exist. How is this possible?
They are inside a giant black hole.
They are really comets.
Light takes time to travel.
All of the stars we see exist currently.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This might be a tough one for some people to wrap their minds around, but many of the stars that we gaze up at no longer exist. This is because light takes time to travel, and the stars are so far away.

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Mars
Wiki Commons by European Space Agency & Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research for OSIRIS Team ESA/MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
We know it as "The Red Planet." Which planet are we talking about?
Mars
Earth
Jupiter
Neptune
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mars is nicknamed "The Red Planet" because the iron oxide that dusts its surface gives it the unmistakable red hue that makes it stand out in the sky. There is also a blockbuster movie called "The Red Planet."

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Astronomy
dataichi - Simon Dubreuil / Moment / Getty Images
We call it the study of space. What is the proper term for it?
Astrology
Physics
Astronomy
Zodiacalogy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Astronomy mixes together some of the most important scientific practices like math, chemistry and physics to study what is going on in the outer space that surrounds our home planet.

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Venus2
Matt Champlin / Moment / Getty Images
What planet is also known as "The Morning Star"?
Uranus
Venus
Jupiter
Neptune
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Venus is known as "The Morning Star" because it rises just a few hours ahead of the sun and fades away as the day begins. Ancient seafarers used Venus as a way to navigate their ships.

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Galileo Galilei
Wiki Commons by Justus Sustermans, National Maritime Museum
Who is known as the “Father of Observational Astronomy”?
Archimedes
Francis Bacon
Galileo Galilei
René Descartes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Galileo Galilei is one of the most important people when it comes to the study of astronomy. He pioneered the idea that the Earth revolved around the sun, a radical notion at the time.

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Event Horizon
yuanyuan yan / Moment / Getty Images
No time to turn back now! What is the point of no return around a black hole called?
Supernova
Event Horizon
Nebula
Solar flare
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Event Horizon is the absolute last place that you can turn back before getting sucked into a black hole with no escape, but we would advise that you not even get that close to one!

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Orbit
CSA-Archive / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
What is the gravitational curved trajectory of an object?
Atmosphere
Sheen
Nebula
Orbit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An orbit is a path that one celestial body makes around another celestial body because of gravitational pull. Our Earth orbits the sun, and our moon orbits us, making the journey in roughly one month.

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Gravity
Andreas Coerper Mainz / Moment / Getty Images
Without it, we would all fly off into space. What is it?
Gravity
Physics
Orbit
Radiation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gravity is essentially what keeps all objects where they are supposed to be in our universe. The gravity of our planet Earth keeps us from flying off into space, as the Earth attracts us to it.

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Strategic Defense Initiative
Wiki Commons by U.S. Air Force
Which Cold War-era program was put into place to head off nuclear weapons?
Apollo 13 Initiative
Space Exploration Initiative
Strategic Defense Initiative
Bay of Pigs Initiative
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, also known as "Star Wars" was a missile defense system launched up into space to protect the United States from Russian nuclear attack.

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Venus3
Wiki Commons by NASA, image processing by R. Nunes
It was named after the Roman goddess of beauty. What planet are we talking about?
Venus
Mars
Mercury
Pluto
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Venus is the second planet from the sun and is known for its steamy atmosphere and volcanic landscape. It is far too hot to live on and is named for the Roman goddess of beauty. In the real-color image show here, the surface is obscured by thick sulfuric acid clouds.

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Orion
James Stone / Moment / Getty Images
This constellation is named after a great Greek hunter. What is it?
Io
Orion
Scorpius
Galileo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Orion's Belt is a constellation that is made up of three brilliant stars: Alnilam, Mintaka and Alnitak. It is easily visible in the sky and has been traditionally used for navigation.

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Nebulas
K.Muller / Moment / Getty Images
Stars are born from these giant clouds of gas and dust. What are they?
Asteroid belts
Supernovas
Event horizons
Nebulas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nebulas are brilliant clouds of gas and dust that drift around in the sky and act as the birthplace for new stars. They are often very far away from our planet and can only be faintly seen.

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Jupiter2
Wiki Commons by NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute
Which planet famously has a “Great Red Spot”?
Uranus
Jupiter
Neptune
Mercury
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The giant of our galaxy is also home to the "Great Red Spot." Jupiter's trademark spot is likely the case of an anticyclonic storm that wages on the planet due to very high pressure.

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Neptune2
Wiki Commons by NASA
This planet is named after a Roman god of the sea. What is it?
Mars
Pluto
Venus
Neptune
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The ice giant Neptune is named after the Roman god of the sea. It is so far away from Earth, that it is the only other planet in our universe that can't be seen with the naked eye.

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Cosmonauts
Wiki Commons by RIA Novosti archive
They were rivals in the space race, but instead of "astronauts," Russians call their space explorers what term?
Astroflyers
Spacenauts
Cosmonauts
Galaxiers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Russian term for "astronaut" is "cosmonaut." The most famous Russian cosmonaut is Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, the first person to go into space. There have been several notable cosmonauts since then. Shown here is Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space.

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Mercury
Wiki Commons by NASA / JPL
This planet gets nice and toasty because it's closest to the sun. What is it?
Mercury
Mars
Venus
Earth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mercury is the smallest planet in our universe, and also the closest to the sun. Although Mercury is closest to the sun, it's not as hot as Venus because its atmosphere is different.

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The Blue Planet
Wiki Commons by NASA / Apollo 17 crew
Ah, home, sweet home! What is Earth's nickname?
The Red Planet
The Blue Planet
The Human Planet
The Water Planet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Earth is known as "The Blue Planet" because, when seen from space, it appears to be greenish-blue. This is because Earth is mostly covered in water, which appears blue from outer space.

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Black hole
Wiki Commons by Event Horizon Telescope
Nothing can escape from this space feature, including light. What is it?
Supernova
Asteroid belt
Nebula
Blackhole
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Black holes are famous traps for everything imaginable, including light. They are created when stars collapse and are surrounded by an Event Horizon, which you cross at your own risk.

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Stephen Hawking
Wiki Commons by NASA / Paul Alers
Which brilliant person wrote “The Universe in a Nutshell”?
Stephen Hawking
Edwin Hubble
Carl Sagan
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stephen Hawking was a theoretical physicist who penned a number of brilliant books and theories about black holes. He was one of the most influential scientists the world has ever seen.

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Mercury2
Wiki Commons by NASA, ESA, Amy Simon and the OPAL Team, and J. DePasquale
We listed four planets below. Which one does NOT have rings?
Jupiter
Mercury
Saturn
Neptune
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tiny Mercury does not have any rings. It also does not have a moon. It is theorized that any moon or rings would be pulled into the sun since Mercury is so close to that giant star. Shown here is an image of Saturn and its rings taken by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope.

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Leo
Alan Dyer / Stocktrek Images / Getty Images
Look up in the sky. What zodiac constellation is shaped like a lion?
Scorpius
Gemini
Virgo
Leo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Leo is one of the first constellations that was ever discovered and also represents the zodiac Leo sign, a fire sign that represents people born between July 23rd and August 22nd.

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No
Gilbert Rondilla Photography / Moment / Getty Images
Do stars burn forever?
Yes
No
Only stars in the Andromeda Galaxy
Only stars close to the Earth's poles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stars do not burn forever and all of them, including our own sun, will eventually run their course and burn out. When larger stars finally do die they can collapse and form black holes.

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Milky Way Galaxy
Kidsada Manchinda / Moment / Getty Images
Our solar system exists within a galaxy. What is it?
Andromeda Galaxy
Orion Galaxy
Sol Galaxy
Milky Way Galaxy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Our galaxy exists within the massive Milky Way Galaxy, a huge spiral-shaped galaxy that is one of many in the overall universe. Our whole galaxy has not been fully mapped because it's so massive.

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Pluto
Wiki Commons by NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Southwest Research Institute / Alex Parker
What former planet was recently demoted?
Mercury
Mars
Pluto
Venus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Poor Pluto! This tiny planet used to be the ninth in the solar system, but it has since been demoted to a dwarf planet. It happened because the International Astronomical Union changed the qualifications for planethood.

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1969
Wiki Commons by NASA / Neil Armstrong
Finally, when did humans first land on the moon?
1969
1942
2001
1899
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was just one small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind when Neil Armstrong took the first tentative steps on the moon. This game-changing event happened on July 20, 1969. Shown here is Buzz Aldrin in a photo taken by Neil Armstrong, who can be seen in the reflection in Aldrin's visor.

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You Got:
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Wiki Commons by NASA / Neil A. Armstrong