Space and Astronomy MCQs

Solved Everyday Science MCQs on the solar system, planets, eclipses, space missions and Pakistan's space programme, with short explanations.

1. 1

   Which is the largest planet in our solar system?

   ANeptuneBJupiterCSaturnDEarth

   Correct answer: B. Jupiter

   Jupiter, a gas giant, is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined.

   easyShow answer
2. 2

   Which is the smallest planet in our solar system?

   APlutoBVenusCMarsDMercury

   Correct answer: D. Mercury

   Mercury is the smallest planet and the closest to the Sun. Pluto has been classified as a dwarf planet since 2006.

   easyShow answer
3. 3

   Which planet is the hottest in our solar system?

   AJupiterBVenusCMarsDMercury

   Correct answer: B. Venus

   Venus is hotter than Mercury because its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat. Surface temperatures reach about 465 °C.

   Read details

   mediumShow answer
4. 4

   Which planet is known as the "Red Planet"?

   AVenusBJupiterCSaturnDMars

   Correct answer: D. Mars

   Iron oxide (rust) in its soil and dust gives Mars its reddish colour.

   easyShow answer
5. 5

   How many planets are there in our solar system?

   A7B8C9D10

   Correct answer: B. 8

   There are eight planets. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.

   easyShow answer
6. 6

   Which is the farthest planet from the Sun?

   ASaturnBPlutoCNeptuneDUranus

   Correct answer: C. Neptune

   Neptune is the eighth and outermost planet. Pluto is now a dwarf planet.

   easyShow answer
7. 7

   Which planet rotates on its side, with its axis tilted about 98°?

   ANeptuneBUranusCSaturnDVenus

   Correct answer: B. Uranus

   Uranus's extreme tilt, probably caused by an ancient collision, means it seems to roll around the Sun on its side.

   hardShow answer
8. 8

   Light from the Sun takes approximately how long to reach the Earth?

   A8 secondsB8 minutesC1 dayD8 hours

   Correct answer: B. 8 minutes

   Sunlight travels about 150 million km in roughly 8 minutes 20 seconds.

   easyShow answer
9. 9

   A solar eclipse occurs when:

   AMars blocks the SunBThe Moon comes between the Sun and the EarthCThe Sun comes between the Earth and the MoonDThe Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon

   Correct answer: B. The Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth

   In a solar eclipse the Moon's shadow falls on Earth. In a lunar eclipse the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.

   easyShow answer
10. 10

    A lunar eclipse can only happen at which phase of the Moon?

    AFull MoonBCrescentCFirst quarterDNew Moon

    Correct answer: A. Full Moon

    The Earth lies between the Sun and the Moon only at full moon. Solar eclipses happen at new moon.

    mediumShow answer
12. 11

    The seasons on Earth are mainly caused by:

    AChanging distance from the SunBSunspotsCThe tilt of Earth's axisDThe Moon's gravity

    Correct answer: C. The tilt of Earth's axis

    Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5°, so each hemisphere receives more direct sunlight for part of the year.

    mediumShow answer
13. 12

    The first human to travel into space was:

    AYuri GagarinBNeil ArmstrongCValentina TereshkovaDAlan Shepard

    Correct answer: A. Yuri Gagarin

    Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth aboard Vostok 1 on 12 April 1961.

    easyShow answer
14. 13

    The first person to walk on the Moon was:

    AYuri GagarinBMichael CollinsCNeil ArmstrongDBuzz Aldrin

    Correct answer: C. Neil Armstrong

    Neil Armstrong stepped onto the Moon on 20 July 1969 during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. Buzz Aldrin followed him.

    easyShow answer
15. 14

    The first woman to travel into space was:

    AKalpana ChawlaBMae JemisonCSally RideDValentina Tereshkova

    Correct answer: D. Valentina Tereshkova

    Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova flew aboard Vostok 6 in June 1963.

    mediumShow answer
16. 15

    Pakistan's space and upper atmosphere research agency is called:

    APCSIRBPAECCNESCOMDSUPARCO

    Correct answer: D. SUPARCO

    SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) was set up in 1961. Dr. Abdus Salam played a key role in founding it.

    Read details

    easyShow answer
17. 16

    Pakistan's first satellite, launched in 1990, was named:

    ABadr-1BPakSat-1RCPRSS-1DiCube-1

    Correct answer: A. Badr-1

    Badr-1, an experimental satellite built by SUPARCO, was launched from China in July 1990.

    mediumShow answer
18. 17

    Pakistan's first lunar mission, iCube-Qamar, travelled to the Moon in 2024 aboard which country's spacecraft?

    AUSA's ArtemisBJapan's SLIMCChina's Chang'e-6DIndia's Chandrayaan-3

    Correct answer: C. China's Chang'e-6

    The small iCube-Qamar satellite, developed by the Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, flew on China's Chang'e-6 mission in May 2024.

    Read details

    mediumShow answer
19. 18

    Our solar system is part of which galaxy?

    AMilky WayBTriangulumCAndromedaDWhirlpool

    Correct answer: A. Milky Way

    The Sun is one of hundreds of billions of stars in the Milky Way. Andromeda is our nearest large neighbouring galaxy.

    easyShow answer
20. 19

    The Sun is mainly composed of:

    AOxygen and nitrogenBCarbon and ironCHelium and neonDHydrogen and helium

    Correct answer: D. Hydrogen and helium

    The Sun is about 73% hydrogen and 25% helium by mass. It produces energy by fusing hydrogen into helium.

    easyShow answer
21. 20

    The asteroid belt lies between the orbits of:

    AEarth and MarsBJupiter and SaturnCVenus and EarthDMars and Jupiter

    Correct answer: D. Mars and Jupiter

    Most asteroids orbit the Sun in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter.

    easyShow answer