Planetary Trivia

On August 24, we mark the day Pluto was reclassified. Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto held the title of planet until it was redefined as a dwarf planet in 2006. Personally, I support this decision to reclassify Pluto!

To commemorate the reclassification of Pluto, I present a trivia quiz focusing on the eight recognized planets and significant moons within our solar system.

Questions

1. 1. Which planet is the smallest within our solar system?
2. 2. Can you identify the largest moon in the solar system and the planet it orbits?
3. 3. Which is greater in size: the largest moon or the smallest planet?
4. 4. What are the names of Jupiter's four major moons?
5. 5. Excluding Earth, how many planets can be viewed with the naked eye?
6. 6. How many planets have no moons?
7. 7. How many planets have rings?
8. 8. Which planet rotates in a direction that is opposite to Earth's rotation?
9. 9. Apart from Pluto, can you name four additional dwarf planets?
10. 10. Which planet rotates on its side?
11. 11. When is the upcoming total solar eclipse that will be visible in the United States?
12. 12. How many Apollo missions successfully landed on the lunar surface?
13. 13. What is the term used to describe the hypothetical planet the size of Neptune, located far beyond Pluto’s orbit?
14. 14. Why is Mars red?
15. 15. Which is the hottest planet?
16. 16. Which is the coldest planet?
17. 17. Which moon is volcanically active?
18. 18. Which planet or moon do scientists consider the most promising candidate for hosting life, aside from Earth?
19. 19. Which planet boasts the tallest mountain in the solar system?
20. 20. Which planet holds the record for the highest number of confirmed moons, and what is that total?

Answers

1. 1. Mercury
2. 2. Ganymede, which orbits Jupiter
3. 3. Largest moon
4. 4. Europa, Ganymede, Io, and Callisto
5. 5. There are five visible planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.
6. 6. Two -- Mercury and Venus
7. 7. There are four major gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
8. 8. Venus
9. 9. Ceres, Eris, Makemake, Haumea
10. 10. Uranus
11. 11. April 8, 2024
12. 12. Six
13. 13. Planet X or Planet 9
14. 14. High iron content
15. 15. Venus
16. 16. Uranus.
17. 17. Io (of Jupiter)
18. 18. Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, is believed to contain liquid water beneath its icy crust.
19. 19. The highest mountain is Olympus Mons on Mars, which is comparable in size to the state of Arizona.
20. 20. Jupiter and Saturn each have 53 confirmed moons, but Saturn also has 29 additional provisional moons, while Jupiter has 26.

Written by: Michael Shackleford