Astrometry

1. Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. By accurately determining the positions of stars relative to each other and observing their apparent motions across the sky, astrometry enables scientists to study the structure and dynamics of the universe, track the orbits of planets and asteroids, and even detect the presence of unseen objects such as exoplanets or black holes. Astrometry plays a fundamental role in astronomy, serving as the foundation for many other fields of research and contributing valuable data to our understanding of the cosmos.

What is a star's position defined by in astrometry?

A) Ecliptic longitude and latitude.
B) Galactic latitude and longitude.
C) Altitude and azimuth.
D) Right ascension and declination.

2. Why is astrometry important in astronomy?

A) To observe black holes.
B) To determine the positions, distances, and motions of celestial objects.
C) To measure the temperature of planets.
D) To study the chemical composition of stars.

3. When was the first precision astrometric satellite launched by the European Space Agency?

A) 1999.
B) 1989.
C) 1979.
D) 2009.

4. What is the goal of Gaia mission by the European Space Agency?

A) To study the origin of comets.
B) To search for extraterrestrial life.
C) To create a precise 3D map of the Milky Way galaxy.
D) To measure the rotation speed of Mars.

5. What does the term 'proper motion' refer to in astrometry?

A) Size of a planet.
B) Brightness of a star.
C) Apparent motion of a star across the sky over time.
D) Distance to a galaxy.

6. Which early astronomer is known for having made significant contributions to astrometry?

A) Kepler.
B) Galileo.
C) Copernicus.
D) Hipparchus.

7. What is the celestial equator in astrometry?

A) A line that connects the North and South celestial poles.
B) A region in space with high concentration of galaxies.
C) A projection of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere.
D) An imaginary line connecting the stars Sirius and Procyon.

8. Which event in history led to the necessity of precise astrometry for navigation?

A) Renaissance.
B) Age of Exploration.
C) Middle Ages.
D) Industrial Revolution.

9. What is the Tycho-2 Catalog in astrometry?

A) A list of exoplanets discovered by NASA.
B) A collection of asteroid names.
C) A compilation of meteorite impact craters.
D) A stellar catalog that provides positions and proper motions of 2.5 million stars.

10. What is the significance of measuring the barycenter in astrometry?

A) Finding the center of a galaxy.
B) Determining the center of mass in a binary star system.
C) Locating the North celestial pole.
D) Calculating the rate of expansion of the universe.

11. Which unit is commonly used to express the distance to stars in astrometry?

A) Miles
B) Kilometers
C) Parsec
D) Light-years

12. What is the term for the apparent path of the Sun in the sky?

A) Zenith
B) Equator
C) Ecliptic
D) Prime meridian

13. Which ancient civilization made significant advancements in astrometry?

A) Romans
B) Babylonians
C) Greeks
D) Egyptians

14. What role does astrometry play in the search for extraterrestrial life?

A) It studies distant quasars.
B) It helps identify habitable exoplanets by studying their orbital parameters.
C) It tracks meteor showers.
D) It observes black hole accretion disks.

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