The Cosmic Distance Ladder

Question 1

Orbital satellite based measurements can see to approximately the nearest _______ stars

Accepted Answer

100 000

Question 2

Apparent magnitude means?

Accepted Answer

How bright a star looks from earth

Question 3

The second "rung" of the cosmic distance ladder is called?

Accepted Answer

Cepheid Variables

Question 4

The maths used to calculate the distances using parallax is called..?

Accepted Answer

Trigonometry

Question 5

The next "rung" on the cosmic distance ladder is called?

Accepted Answer

Supernova

Question 6

Which formula relates decreasing light intensity(L) as the viewer moves further from the light.

Accepted Answer

L = 1/d2

Question 7

Benefits of having a telescope orbiting the earth to measure cosmic distances is...?

Accepted Answer

It allows for a larger range of parallax angles, It removes the distortion of light by the atmosphere

Question 8

Ground based stellar parallax can measure to the nearest few 100 stars.

Accepted Answer

True

Question 9

When objects are closer the effect of parallax is

Accepted Answer

more

Question 10

Absolute magnitude is ?

Accepted Answer

The brightness of a star as viewed from a standard distance

Question 11

What is the first "rung" of the cosmic distance ladder called

Accepted Answer

Stellar Parallax

Question 12

If the absolute magnitude and apparent magnitude are known you can calculate?

Accepted Answer

Distance to the star

Question 13

To increase the distances astronomers can measure using parallax, observers must be

Accepted Answer

further apart

Question 14

Supernova and Cepheid variables are known as

Accepted Answer

Standard Candles

Question 15

What was the name of the largest space telescope launched into earth's orbit in 1990

Accepted Answer

Hubble

Questions 15