Moon Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. During a lunar eclipse, which arrangement places the three bodies in the necessary order?
Earth–Moon–Sun
Moon–Sun–Earth
Sun–Earth–Moon
Earth–Sun–Moon
2. A coastal observer expects an especially large difference between high and low tide. Which lunar phases are most associated with this pattern?
First quarter and third quarter
Waxing gibbous and waning gibbous only
Waxing crescent and waning crescent only
New Moon and full Moon
3. What are the dark areas traditionally called lunar maria?
Broad plains formed mainly by ancient basaltic lava flows
Deep basins filled entirely with loose impact dust
Valleys made dark primarily by permanent shadow
Metal-rich deposits exposed by recent impacts
4. Several nights after a new Moon, an observer sees half of the visible disk illuminated, and the illuminated portion is still growing. Which phase is this?
First quarter
Full Moon
Third quarter
Waning crescent
5. Why does a solar eclipse not occur at every new Moon?
The Moon’s orbit is tilted relative to Earth’s orbital plane, so alignment is usually imperfect.
The Sun is too distant to align with the Moon each month.
Earth’s axial tilt prevents the Moon from reaching the new Moon position monthly.
The Moon changes its orbital direction before most new Moons.
6. Why does the Moon appear bright in Earth’s night sky?
It produces visible light through nuclear fusion.
Its surface reflects sunlight toward Earth.
It glows because solar radiation heats its surface.
Earth’s atmosphere projects light onto it.
7. Why are ancient impact craters generally preserved so clearly on the Moon?
A dense atmosphere prevents new material from entering the craters.
Lunar craters are continually rebuilt by volcanic eruptions.
The Moon has little weathering and limited geological resurfacing compared with Earth.
Liquid water freezes inside the craters and holds their walls in place.
8. Mission control sends a radio message from Earth to an astronaut on the Moon. Approximately how long does the signal take to arrive?
About 0.13 seconds
About 1.3 seconds
About 13 seconds
About 1.3 minutes
9. Which Apollo 11 crew members became the first humans to walk on the Moon?
John Glenn and Alan Shepard
Jim Lovell and Fred Haise
Michael Collins and Pete Conrad
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin
10. An observer watches the Moon cover part of the Sun. Where is the Moon positioned?
Behind Earth, inside Earth’s shadow
On the opposite side of the Sun from Earth
Between Earth and the Sun
At a right angle to the Earth–Sun line
11. A lunar explorer moves from direct sunlight into shadow and encounters a major temperature change. Which lunar condition most directly contributes to such extremes?
The Moon is much closer to the Sun than Earth is.
It lacks a substantial atmosphere to redistribute and retain heat.
Its surface is covered by highly reflective liquid water.
The Moon’s core releases more heat than Earth’s core.
12. What mainly causes the Moon’s phases as viewed from Earth?
Earth’s shadow covers changing portions of the Moon each month.
Clouds in Earth’s atmosphere obscure different parts of the Moon.
We see changing portions of the Moon’s sunlit half as it orbits Earth.
The Moon produces different amounts of light during its orbit.
13. A lunar colony always sees Earth in roughly the same part of its sky because it is on the Moon’s near side. What explains this?
The Moon does not rotate on its axis.
Earth’s gravity stops the Moon from moving while facing Earth.
The Moon rotates once during each cycle of Earth’s seasons.
The Moon rotates once in about the same time it takes to orbit Earth.
14. An astronaut and equipment have a combined mass of 60 kilograms on Earth. What changes on the Moon?
Mass remains 60 kilograms, but weight becomes about one-sixth as large.
Mass becomes about one-sixth as large, but weight remains unchanged.
Both mass and weight become about one-sixth as large.
Both mass and weight remain unchanged.
15. Why can astronaut footprints remain on the lunar surface for extremely long periods?
Lunar soil quickly hardens into rock after being compressed.
There is virtually no wind or rain to erase them.
Low gravity prevents dust grains from moving at all.
The footprints are protected by a strong magnetic field.
16. Which statement about the Moon’s far side is accurate?
It has no impact craters because Earth shields it.
It remains permanently dark because Earth blocks the Sun.
It can be seen from Earth during every new Moon.
It receives sunlight, even though it normally faces away from Earth.