1. What is a solar eclipse?
A) The Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun
B) The Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon
C) The Sun passes between the Earth and the Moon
D) The Moon passes behind the Sun
Answer: A
2. What is a lunar eclipse?
A) The Sun passes between the Earth and the Moon
B) The Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon
C) The Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon
D) The Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun
Answer: C
3. What is the darkest part of the shadow during an eclipse called?
A) Penumbra
B) Umbra
C) Corona
D) Halo
Answer: B
4. What is the lighter, outer part of a shadow called?
A) Umbra
B) Penumbra
C) Antumbra
D) Corona
Answer: B
5. Which eclipse can be viewed safely with the naked eye only during totality?
A) Lunar eclipse
B) Partial solar eclipse
C) Total solar eclipse
D) Annular solar eclipse
Answer: C
6. How often do total solar eclipses occur at any specific location?
A) Every year
B) Every 18 months
C) About once every 375 years
D) Every 10 years
Answer: C
7. What is an annular solar eclipse?
A) The Moon completely covers the Sun
B) The Moon passes through Earth’s shadow
C) The Moon appears smaller, leaving a ring of sunlight
D) The Sun passes behind the Moon
Answer: C
8. During a lunar eclipse, what color does the Moon often appear?
A) Blue
B) Green
C) Red
D) Yellow
Answer: C
9. What is the path called where a total solar eclipse is visible?
A) Path of the Moon
B) Path of the Sun
C) Path of Totality
D) Path of Umbra
Answer: C
10. Which type of eclipse happens more frequently?
A) Solar
B) Lunar
C) Both are equal
D) Neither
Answer: B
11. What phase must the Moon be in for a solar eclipse to occur?
A) Full Moon
B) New Moon
C) First Quarter
D) Last Quarter
Answer: B
12. What phase must the Moon be in for a lunar eclipse to occur?
A) Full Moon
B) New Moon
C) First Quarter
D) Last Quarter
Answer: A
13. What is the name for a partial shadow during an eclipse?
A) Umbra
B) Penumbra
C) Antumbra
D) Corona
Answer: B
14. What is the “diamond ring” effect?
A) A ring around the Moon
B) A bright spot seen at the beginning or end of totality
C) A ring around the Sun
D) A type of lunar eclipse
Answer: B
15. What is syzygy?
A) The alignment of three celestial bodies
B) The shadow cast by the Earth
C) The path of the Moon
D) The tilt of the Earth
Answer: A
16. What is the Saros cycle?
A) The orbit of the Moon
B) The period between similar eclipses
C) The time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun
D) The time between lunar phases
Answer: B
17. Which country experienced the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century (2009)?
A) USA
B) India
C) China
D) Australia
Answer: C
18. What is a hybrid eclipse?
A) An eclipse that is both lunar and solar
B) An eclipse that changes from annular to total along its path
C) An eclipse seen only at the poles
D) An eclipse with two moons
Answer: B
19. What is the maximum possible duration of totality during a solar eclipse?
A) 1 minute
B) 7.5 minutes
C) 20 minutes
D) 15 minutes
Answer: B
20. What causes the reddish color of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse?
A) Sunlight passing through Earth’s atmosphere
B) The Moon’s own light
C) Reflection from Mars
D) Sunspots
Answer: A
21. What is the corona?
A) The Moon’s surface
B) The Sun’s outer atmosphere visible during a total solar eclipse
C) The Earth’s shadow
D) The Moon’s shadow
Answer: B
22. What safety device is recommended for viewing a solar eclipse?
A) Sunglasses
B) Solar viewing glasses
C) Binoculars
D) None
Answer: B
23. What is the antumbra?
A) The darkest shadow
B) The area where an annular eclipse is visible
C) The outer shadow
D) The path of totality
Answer: B
24. Can a lunar eclipse be seen by more people than a solar eclipse?
A) Yes
B) No
C) Only during a full moon
D) Only at night
Answer: A
25. What is the minimum number of eclipses (solar + lunar) that can occur in a year?
A) 1
B) 2
C) 4
D) 12
Answer: C
