(Stnd 24) Quiz-Celestial Observation Tech WS

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Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

NASA and other space programs have sent numerous robotic probes to explore celestial objects and phenomena throughout our solar system.

New Horizons Space Probe	Spirit: Mars Rover

What is the advantage of sending robot probes instead of humans, and what information have these probes provided to us?

a.	Humans are more intelligent and can perform more complex experiments than robots. Therefore, robotic probes are rarely used for space missions in our solar system.
b.	Robot technology is highly advanced, and robots can explore better than human beings. These probes have explored the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, and they have landed on Sol.
c.	Using their artificial intelligence, robot probes, unlike humans, do not require any supervision. These probes have created detailed maps of Earth, and they help us study weather patterns on our planet.
d.	Robotic probes are used when missions are especially hazardous and/or tedious. These probes have given us chemical and atmospheric data about Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter.

Located about 62 million light years from Earth is the Antennae galaxy which is a combination of two galaxies that collided in the distant past. This collision has triggered the formation of millions of stars in huge nebulae. Astronomers have been studying these stars in the Antennae galaxy by using Spectrographic technology.
Which of the following statements best describes the type of information that astronomers gathered by using spectrographs?

a.	They detected radio waves being emitted from the Antennae galaxy stars.
b.	They examined infrared images from objects in the Antennae galaxy.
c.	They gathered data about the location of the galaxy based on the red shift effect.
d.	They collected data about the chemical composition of the stars in this galaxy.

Astronomers use telescopes that observe across all portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, from low-energy radio and microwaves to high-energy gamma rays and x-rays. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large space telescope scheduled to launch in 2021, and it will mainly detect infrared radiation.

James Webb Space Telescope

JWST is designed to examine red shifted celestial objects by collecting infrared radiation which will help us learn more about the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang.
How can red-shifted images from distant galaxies help us better understand how they formed after the Big Bang?

a.	The James Webb Space Telescope will collect data about the visible spectrum range.
b.	This type of telescope uses a convex lens to gather and focus electromagnetic waves.
c.	JWST is designed to land on Mars and to analyze the composition of this red planet.
d.	The data collected by JWST will enable us to look back in time billions of years ago.

Spectroscopes allow scientists to examine the composition of stars and galaxies, determining the types of atom/elements present in the star and the quantities (amounts)..
How would this information be useful in providing evidence for the big bang theory?

a.	By examining light emitted from stars, we can determine how the universe looked close to the beginning of the universe.
b.	By examining quasars, we can gather evidence for the big bang theory. By also looking at gravitation forces, we can learn more about star’s composition.
c.	The big bang theory states that the early universe was composed of mostly hydrogen and helium. So, stars should mainly consist of these two elements.
d.	By examining the amount of red-shift or blue-shift effect a star exhibits, we can determine the composition.

Advances in telescopic technology allows us to examine radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum that is invisible to us with the naked eye. Three space telescopes shown below have provided us with large amounts of data about celestial objects by detecting gamma rays, ultraviolet rays, and infrared rays.

Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE Space Telescope)	Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope	Spektr-Ultraviolet Space Telescope
Launched: Dec 2009	Launched: June 2008	Planned launch: 2025

Space Telescope	Mainly Detects	Frequency Range
WISE	Infrared rays	10¹⁰ to 10¹²Hertz (medium to lower frequency)
Fermi	Gamma Rays	10²⁰ to 10²⁴Hertz (high frequency)
Spektr-UV	Ultraviolet rays	10¹⁶ to 10¹⁸Hertz (medium to high frequency)
Hubble (HST)	Visible light	10¹⁶ to 10¹²Hertz (medium to lower frequency)

Teams of astronomers in Europe, Russia, and China have detected a higher than usual amount of high energy/high frequency bursts from the Andromeda galaxy. Your team of scientists wants to examine this phenomenon in greater detail, and you have the opportunity to reserve several days of observation time on one of the four space telescopes listed in the chart above.
Which space telescope will you use and why?

a.	Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) These energy bursts are primarily red shifted, and WISE detects infrared radiation.
b.	Hubble Space Telescope (HST) This telescope launched in 1990 has examined more celestial phenomena than others.
c.	Spektr-UV Space Telescope This newest telescope from Russia has the most advanced hardware and software.
d.	Fermi Space Telescope: These energy bursts are in the gamma ray part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

The Hubble space telescope was placed in Earth’s orbit in 1990 by NASA’s space shuttle.

Space Shuttle	Hubble Telescope

Since ground-based telescopes are much less expensive than space-based telescopes, what was the main reason for placing this telescope in space?

a.	Space shuttle crews needed practice placing satellites in orbit around our planet.
b.	This telescope was needed to examine the Moon to prepare for the 1st moon landings.
c.	The Hubble telescope was an experiment paid for by donations (not taxpayer funded.)
d.	Beyond our atmosphere, telescopes can produce better images without weather issues.

Even in the ancient past, observers were able to identify patterns in the movements of celestial objects. In fact, an ancient Greek man named Ptolemy, is the first person who recorded the retrograde motion of our planets in 150 A.D. Retrograde motion is a phenomenon where planets appear to go backwards for a short period of time as they complete a revolution (orbit) around the Sun (Sol).
Which kind of modern celestial observation technology would work best to observe the motion of planets in our solar system as the orbit Sol?

a.	Spectroscopes	c.	Magnometer
b.	Optical Telescope	d.	Satellites

Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.

Scientists use both ground-based telescopes and space-based telescopes (in orbit) to examine celestial objects.

Ground-Based Telescopes	Space-Based Telescopes

Multi-Select Question
Identify three cause and effect relationships that explains why space-based telescopes have significant advantages over ground-based telescopes.
(Select 3 choices)

a.	Earth’s atmosphere filters out much of the infrared radiation from space.
b.	Air absorbs most of the ultraviolet light radiating to our planet from outer space.
c.	Light pollution degrades the clarity of space images with ground-based telescopes.
d.	Space-based telescopes are in motion, but ground-based telescopes are stationary.

One famous space-based observatory is the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) that was launched in 1990. HST has provided many significant images, but its hardware and software have degraded with the passing of time. Hubble’s replacement, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is scheduled to be launched in 2021. The HST is located in a close orbit to Earth, but the JWST will be located much farther out in an orbit beyond the Moon which will enable it to capture ever more radiation.

HST	JWST

	Detect Ultraviolet	Detect Visible Light	Detect Infrared	Mirror Diameter
Hubble Space Telescope	Yes	Yes	Some	2.4 m
James Webb Telescope	No	Some	Yes	6.5 m

(Multi-Select)
What are three factors that will enable the James Webb Space Telescope to provide better data than the older Hubble Space Telescope? (Select 3 choices)

a.	The JWST will have newer/more advanced hardware and software than the HST.
b.	Orbiting farther from the Earth, JWST’s detection range is greater than HST’s range.
c.	JWST will have enhanced technology for detecting low frequency radio waves.
d.	JWST has a larger mirror. (6.5 m diameter contrasted with HST’s 2.4 m diameter.)

10.

(Multi-Select)
What are two advantages that terrestrial telescopes (ground based) have over space based telescopes? (select 2 choices)

a.	Terrestrial telescopes are readily accessible to a larger population of scientists.
b.	By staying in Earth’s atmosphere, terrestrial telescopes can capture better images.
c.	Space based telescopes do not have interference from light pollution or air pollution.
d.	Terrestrial telescopes are less expensive to build and operate.