Quiz Topic Sheet
Light and Shadow in the Sky
Many phenomena offer a unique and spectacular experience for skywatchers, from simple observation with the naked eye to the use of advanced telescopes for the finest details.
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Astronomical phenomena
- Stars and constellations: Fixed points of light forming recognizable patterns.
- Planets: Visible like stars but with a glow that doesn't flicker, often brighter.
- Milky Way: Band of light crossing the sky, made up of billions of distant stars.
- Galaxies and nebulae: Visible to the naked eye under very good conditions or with a telescope, appearing as small luminous clouds.
- Meteors and meteor showers (shooting stars): Streaks of light created by debris entering the Earth's atmosphere.
- Comets : Visible with the naked eye or binoculars, characterized by their shiny hair and sometimes a tail.
Atmospheric phenomena
- Aurora (Boreal and Austral): Colored lights dancing in the sky, caused by the interaction between solar particles and the Earth's magnetic field.
- Rainbows: Spectra of light formed by the refraction, reflection and dispersion of light through water droplets.
- Halos, arcs and pillars of light: Luminous circles or pillars of light appearing around the Sun or Moon, caused by the refraction of light through ice crystals in the atmosphere.
- Lightning: sudden, bright electrical discharges during thunderstorms.
Phenomena related to artificial objects
- Satellites: Points of light moving regularly across the sky, including the International Space Station (ISS), which is particularly visible.
- City lights and light pollution: Although technically not a natural phenomenon, light emanating from urban areas can illuminate the night sky, reducing the visibility of stars.
Occasional events
- Solar and lunar eclipses: Rare occasions when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, or when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow that partially or totally blocks the sunlight.
- Transits and occultations: Moments when one celestial object passes in front of another, such as a transit of Venus in front of the Sun or an occultation of a star by the Moon.
Further Information
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Quiz questions preview
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What's the name given to the Sun's outer atmosphere, visible as a luminous halo during a total solar eclipse?
Sun's aureole | Sun's mantle | Sun's corona | Sun's halo -
In which galaxy are all the stars visible to the naked eye located?
The Hercules Cluster | The Milky Way | The Large Magellanic Cloud | The Andromeda Galaxy -
In which direction do we see comet tails extending?
Opposite the Sun | On its orbit | To the sun | To Earth -
Darkening of the Moon caused by the passage of the Earth between the Moon and the Sun.
Astral transit | Lunar eclipse | Planetary occultation | Solar eclipse -
Why is the Sun brighter at noon than in the morning or evening?
Earth's inclination decreases | The Sun is closer to the Earth | Light has less atmosphere to pass through | Clouds are higher
