Test your knowledge with 50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on the Solar System, covering planets, moons, asteroids, comets, stars, constellations, and key astronomical facts. This quiz is useful for NCERT students, college learners, and aspirants of UPSC Prelims, State PSC, UGC NET, SSC, Banking exams, and other competitive exams. Each question is designed to strengthen conceptual clarity and improve exam performance.
1. The Sun, the Moon, and all objects visible in the night sky are called
a) Planet
b) Asteroids
c) Meteoroids
d) Celestial bodies
Answer. d) Celestial bodies
Celestial bodies include all natural objects found in outer space, such as stars, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.
2. The study of celestial objects and associated phenomena is called?
a) Philosophy
b) Astronomy
c) Astrology
d) Geometry
Answer. b) Astronomy
Astronomy is a branch of science that studies stars, planets, galaxies, and the universe.
3. The average distance between the Earth and the Sun is
a) 15 million km
b) 150 million km
c) 15 billion km
d) 150 billion km
Answer. b) 150 million km
This distance is called one Astronomical Unit (AU), used to measure distances in space.
4. The nearest star to the Sun is
a) Proxima Centauri
b) Alpha Centauri
c) North Star
d) Polaris
Answer. a) Proxima Centauri
Proxima Centauri is about 4.24 light-years away and is part of the Alpha Centauri system.
5. A group of stars forming a recognizable pattern in the sky is called
a) Galaxy
b) Universe
c) Solar System
d) constellation
Answer. d) constellation
Constellations help astronomers locate stars and navigate the night sky. Orion, Ursha, etc., are some examples.
6. How many planets are there in our solar system?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
Answer. b) 8
Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet, leaving eight recognized planets.
7. Which planet is nearest to the Sun?
a) Mercury
b) Earth
c) Jupiter
d) Neptune
Answer. a) Mercury
Mercury has the shortest orbit and the highest temperature variation.
8. Which planet is farthest from the Sun?
a) Mercury
b) Earth
c) Jupiter
d) Neptune
Answer. d) Neptune
Neptune is the most distant planet and has extremely cold temperatures.
9. Which planet is the smallest in our solar system?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Mars
d) Neptune
Answer. a) Mercury
Mercury is the smallest planet in terms of diameter and mass
10. Which planet has the largest number of satellites?
a) Saturn
b) Uranus
c) Jupiter
d) Earth
Answer. c) Jupiter
Jupiter has the strongest gravitational pull, allowing it to capture and retain the highest number of moons, including the famous Galilean moons.
11. Which planet is the least dense in our solar system?
a) Saturn
b) Uranus
c) Jupiter
d) Earth
Answer. a) Saturn
Saturn has a very low density due to its gaseous composition. It is so light that it could float on water if a body of water large enough existed.
12. Which planet does not have any natural satellite (moon)?
a) Mercury
b) Earth
c) Mars
d) Neptune
Answer. a) Mercury and Venus do not have any moons
Mercury and Venus have no moons due to their weak gravitational pull and proximity to the Sun, which makes it difficult for them to capture or retain satellites.
13. Which planet is very close to the Earth?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Mars
d) moon
Answer. b) Venus
Venus is the closest planet to Earth in terms of average distance and is often referred to as Earth’s “sister planet” due to its similar size and structure.
14. Which is the brightest planet in the night sky?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Mars
d) moon
Answer. b) Venus
Venus appears brightest because it is close to Earth and has a thick cloud cover that reflects a large amount of sunlight.
15. Which planet rotates from east to west?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Uranus
d) Both Venus and Uranus
Answer. d) Both Venus and Uranus; Only Venus and Uranus planets of our solar system rotate east to west, and the rest rotate from west to east.
16. Which factor is responsible for the change of seasons on Earth?
a) axis of rotation of the Earth
b) Revolution of Earth on an elongated orbit
c) Earth's tilt
d) right distance from the Sun
Answer. c) Earth's tilt
Earth is tilted at about 23.5° on its axis. As Earth revolves around the Sun, this tilt causes varying sunlight intensity, resulting in different seasons.
17. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
a) Mercury
b) Venus
c) Uranus
d) Mars
Answer. d) Mars
Mars appears red due to the presence of iron oxide (rust) on its surface, giving it a reddish color.
18. Which planet is the largest planet in our solar system?
a) Saturn
b) Uranus
c) Jupiter
d) Earth
Answer. c) Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet by mass and volume. It is so massive that it could fit all other planets inside it.
19. Which planet is known as “Earth’s Twin”?
a) Jupiter
b) Saturn
c) Venus
d) Mars
Answer. c) Venus
Venus is called Earth’s twin because it is similar in size, mass, and composition, although its atmosphere and surface conditions are very different.
20. Which is the third nearest planet to the Sun?
a) Venus
b) Earth
c) Mercury
d) Mars
Answer. b) Earth
The sequence of planets from the Sun places Earth in the third position, after Mercury and Venus.
21. Which planet is not part of the inner planets?
a) Earth
b) Jupiter
c) Mars
d) Venus
Answer. b) Jupiter
Inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
Outer Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
The inner (terrestrial) planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are rocky, smaller in size, and lie between the Sun and the asteroid belt.
Jupiter lies beyond the asteroid belt and is a gas giant, making it an outer planet.
22. Which planet is the sixth nearest to the Sun?
a) Mars
b) Jupiter
c) Saturn
d) Uranus
Answer. c) Saturn
The order of planets from the Sun is:
Mercury → Venus → Earth → Mars → Jupiter → Saturn → Uranus → Neptune
Since Saturn is sixth in this sequence, it is the sixth nearest planet to the Sun.
23. What occupies the large gap between Mars and Jupiter?
a) Comets
b) Asteroids
c) Meteoroids
d) Rock debris
Answer. b) Asteroids
The region between Mars and Jupiter contains the asteroid belt, made up of millions of rocky objects called asteroids that revolve around the Sun.
24. Which celestial body appears as a bright head with a long tail?
a) Comets
b) Asteroids
c) Meteoroids
d) Rock debris
Answer. a) Comets
Comets are icy bodies that develop a glowing head (coma) and a tail when they approach the Sun. The tail forms due to solar heat and radiation pressure.
25. A small celestial object that occasionally enters Earth’s atmosphere is
a) Comets
b) Asteroids
c) Meteoroids
d) Rock debris
Answer. c) Meteoroids
Meteoroids are small rocky or metallic objects in space. When they enter Earth’s atmosphere, they produce a streak of light called a meteor.
26. Which of the following is NOT a member of the solar system?
a) An asteroid
b) A satellite
c) A constellation
d) A comet
Answer. c) A constellation
A constellation is a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern and lies far outside our solar system. Asteroids, satellites, and comets are all part of the solar system.
27 . Which of the following is NOT a planet of the sun?
a) Sirius
b) Mercury
c) Saturn
d) Earth
Answer. a) Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky.
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and lies far beyond the solar system. Mercury, Saturn, and Earth are planets that revolve around the Sun.
28. "Phases of the moon" occur because
a) We see only the part of the Moon that reflects sunlight towards Earth.
b) Our distance from the Moon keeps changing.
c) the shadow of the Earth covers only a part of the moon’s surface.
d) the thickness of the moon’s atmosphere is not constant.
Answer. a) We can see only that part of the moon that reflects light toward us.
As the Moon revolves around Earth, the portion illuminated by the Sun that is visible to us changes, causing different phases such as new moon, half moon, and full moon.
29. Which represents the inner planets?
a) Planets between the sun and the Earth
b) Planets between the sun and the belt of asteroids
c) Planets in the gaseous state
d) Planets without satellite(s)
Answer. b) Planets between the sun and the belt of asteroids
30. Life on Earth appeared approximately how many years ago?
a) 13.7 billion
b) 3.8 million
c) 4.6 billion
d) 3.8 billion
Answer. d) 3.8 billion
Scientific evidence suggests that life originated on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago, soon after the planet cooled and oceans formed.
31. Which planet is the hottest planet?
a) Mercury
b) Mars
c) Jupiter
d) Venus
Answer. d) Venus
Despite being farther from the Sun than Mercury, Venus is the hottest planet due to a strong greenhouse effect that traps heat.
32. Which planet is also known as the "Yellow Planet" in our solar system?
a) Mercury
b) Neptune
c) Jupiter
d) Venus
Answer. d) Venus
Venus appears yellowish due to its thick cloud cover of sulfuric acid, reflecting sunlight strongly.
33. All the planets move around the sun in a
a) Circular path
b) Rectangular path
c) Elongated path
d) Linear Path
Answer. c) Elongated path
Planets revolve around the Sun in elliptical (elongated) orbits, not perfect circles. This was explained by Kepler’s First Law of Planetary Motion, which states that the Sun lies at one focus of the ellipse.
34. The Pole Star indicates the direction to the
a) South
b) North
c) East
d) West
Answer. b) North
The Pole Star (Polaris) lies almost directly above the Earth’s North Pole, so it always points toward the north direction and is used for navigation.
35. Asteroids are found between the orbits of
a) Saturn and Jupiter
b) Mars and Jupiter
c) The Earth and Mars
d) The Earth and Venus
Answer. b) Mars and Jupiter
The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter and contains millions of rocky bodies revolving around the Sun.
36. A huge system of stars is called
a) Universe
b) Galaxy
c) Constellation
d) Black hole
Answer. b) Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive system containing billions of stars, planets, gas, and dust, all held together by gravity. Our solar system lies in the Milky Way galaxy.
37. Big bear, Ursa Major, Orion, Cassiopeia, and Leo Major are names of?
a) Star
b) Galaxy
c) Constellation
d) Planet
Answer. c) Constellation
These are all constellations, groups of stars that form identifiable shapes used for astronomical observation and navigation
38. Which planet is made up of thick clouds of Sulfuric acid?
a) Mercury
b) Neptune
c) Jupiter
d) Venus
Answer. d) Venus has a white and yellowish thick cloud comprised of sulfuric acid, which is why it is also called a Veiled Planet.
39. Which planet is known as the "morning star" or the "evening star"?
a) Mercury
b) Earth
c) Venus
d) Mars
Answer. c) Venus
Venus appears very bright in the sky and is visible shortly before sunrise or after sunset, earning it the names Morning Star and Evening Star.
40. Which planet has the biggest moon in the solar system?
a) Saturn
b) Jupiter
c) Uranus
d) Neptune
Answer. b ) Jupiter
Jupiter has the largest moon, Ganymede, which is even larger than the planet Mercury.
41. Which is the biggest moon in the solar system?
a) Ganymede
b) Titan
c) Callisto
d) Earth's moon
Answer. a) Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system; Titan ( Saturn) is the second-largest moon in our solar system. Callisto (Jupiter ) is the third-largest moon in our solar system.
Ganymede (Jupiter) is the largest moon.
Titan (Saturn) – second largest
Callisto (Jupiter) – third largest
42. Which one of the following is the moon of Mars
a) Callisto
b) Phobos
c) Deimos
d) Both b & c
Answer. d) Both b & c
Mars has two moons: Phobos and Deimos, both small and irregular in shape.
43. Which planet/planets have rings around them?
a) Saturn and Jupiter
b) Uranus and Neptune
c) Saturn
d) All of the above
Answer. d) All of the above
All four gas giants—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—have ring systems, although Saturn’s rings are the most prominent.
44. Which planet is known as the “Green Planet”?
a) Earth
b) Jupiter
c) Saturn
d) Uranus
Answer. d) Uranus
Uranus appears greenish due to the presence of methane gas in its atmosphere, which absorbs red light and reflects blue and green light.
45. The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere is:
a) Photosphere
b) Chromosphere
c) Corona
d) Crust
Answer. c) Corona
The corona is the Sun’s outermost layer and is visible during a total solar eclipse. It has extremely high temperatures.
46. The innermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere is:
a) Photosphere
b) Chromosphere
c) Corona
d) Radioactive Zone
Answer.d) Radioactive Zone
The radiative zone lies between the core and the convective zone and transfers energy outward through radiation.
47. Which planet takes the shortest time to rotate?
a) Mercury
b) Neptune
c) Jupiter
d) Venus
Answer. c) Jupiter; 9 hours 55 minutes and 30 seconds
Jupiter rotates once in about 9 hours and 55 minutes, making it the fastest-spinning planet in the solar system.
48. Which planet takes the longest time to rotate?
a) Mercury
b) Neptune
c) Jupiter
d) Venus
Answer. d) Venus; 243 days
Venus takes about 243 Earth days to complete one rotation, making it the slowest-rotating planet.
49. Why does Mercury experience extreme temperatures between day and night?
a) It has no rotation
b) It has no atmosphere to retain heat
c) It is the smallest planet
d) It is very close to Jupiter
Answer: b) It has no atmosphere to retain heat
Mercury lacks a significant atmosphere, so it cannot trap heat. As a result, daytime temperatures can reach 430°C, while nighttime temperatures can drop to –180°C, causing extreme temperature variations.
50. Which planet has the strongest gravitational pull among all planets in the solar system?
a) Saturn
b) Earth
c) Jupiter
d) Neptune
Answer: c) Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest and most massive planet in the solar system. Due to its enormous mass, it has the strongest gravitational pull, which helps it capture many moons and influence nearby asteroids.
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