ScienceAges 8+15 questions

Solar System Quiz

From the scorching surface of Venus to the icy edge of Neptune, this quiz takes a tour of our solar system. It covers the planets, the Sun, the Moon and a few surprising facts about space that make great talking points.

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The questions

  1. 1.Which planet is closest to the Sun?

    • AMercury
    • BVenus
    • CEarth
    • DMars
    Show the answer

    Mercury. Mercury orbits closest to the Sun and is also the smallest of the eight planets.

  2. 2.Which planet is known as the Red Planet?

    • AJupiter
    • BVenus
    • CMars
    • DSaturn
    Show the answer

    Mars. Iron oxide (rust) in the dust and rocks on Mars gives it a reddish colour.

  3. 3.The Sun is a star.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. The Sun is a star, a huge ball of hot gas that makes energy by nuclear fusion.

  4. 4.How many planets are there in our solar system?

    • ASeven
    • BEight
    • CNine
    • DTen
    Show the answer

    Eight. There are eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

  5. 5.Which is the largest planet in our solar system?

    • AJupiter
    • BSaturn
    • CNeptune
    • DEarth
    Show the answer

    Jupiter. Jupiter is so big that all the other planets could fit inside it.

  6. 6.Which planet is best known for its large, bright rings?

    • AMars
    • BMercury
    • CVenus
    • DSaturn
    Show the answer

    Saturn. Saturn's rings are made of countless pieces of ice and rock.

  7. 7.Roughly how long does Earth take to travel once around the Sun?

    • AAbout 24 hours
    • BAbout 365 days
    • CAbout 30 days
    • DAbout 1,000 days
    Show the answer

    About 365 days. One orbit takes about 365 and a quarter days, which is why we add a leap day every four years.

  8. 8.Pluto is one of the eight planets of the solar system.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. Since 2006 Pluto has been classed as a dwarf planet, not one of the eight planets.

  9. 9.Which planet is the hottest on average?

    • AMercury
    • BMars
    • CVenus
    • DJupiter
    Show the answer

    Venus. Venus is farther from the Sun than Mercury, but its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat.

  10. 10.The main asteroid belt lies between which two planets?

    • AMars and Jupiter
    • BEarth and Mars
    • CJupiter and Saturn
    • DVenus and Earth
    Show the answer

    Mars and Jupiter. Most asteroids orbit the Sun in a wide belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

  11. 11.Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?

    • ABuzz Aldrin
    • BYuri Gagarin
    • CJohn Glenn
    • DNeil Armstrong
    Show the answer

    Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon on 20 July 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission.

  12. 12.The Great Red Spot is a giant storm on which planet?

    • AMars
    • BJupiter
    • CSaturn
    • DNeptune
    Show the answer

    Jupiter. The Great Red Spot is a storm wider than Earth that has been watched for more than 150 years.

  13. 13.Roughly how long does sunlight take to reach Earth?

    • AAbout 8 seconds
    • BAbout 8 minutes
    • CAbout 8 hours
    • DAbout 8 days
    Show the answer

    About 8 minutes. Light travels about 150 million kilometres from the Sun to Earth in roughly 8 minutes and 20 seconds.

  14. 14.Which planet spins tipped over on its side?

    • AUranus
    • BNeptune
    • CVenus
    • DMars
    Show the answer

    Uranus. Uranus is tilted by about 98 degrees, so it rolls around the Sun on its side.

  15. 15.Which planet is farthest from the Sun?

    • AUranus
    • BSaturn
    • CNeptune
    • DJupiter
    Show the answer

    Neptune. Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet, about 30 times farther from the Sun than Earth.

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