The solar system. It is the name for the collective body that is composed of the Sun and everything that revolves around it, including our own planet Earth. Take these 39 trivia Solar System Quiz Questions and Answers to test your knowledge on it.
Solar System Quiz Questions and Answers
1 How many planets are in our solar system?
A 7
B 8
C 9
Click to see the correct answer
There are eight planets in our solar system.
2 Pluto is…
A a planet
B a dwarf planet
C an asteroid
Click to see the correct answer
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006.
3 The two largest planets in our solar system are made mostly of…
A hydrogen and helium
B iron and potassium
C ammonia and methane
Click to see the correct answer
Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in our solar system, are made of hydrogen and helium.
4 Earth is the __ planet from the Sun.
A 1st
B 2nd
C 3rd
Click to see the correct answer
Earth is the 3rd planet from the Sun.
5 Distance from the Sun most affects…
A surface temperature
B size
C orbit
Click to see the correct answer
A planet’s distance from the Sun most affects its surface temperature.
6 How long ago did the solar system form?
A 3 million years ago
B 4.5 billion years ago
C 15 billion years ago
Click to see the correct answer
The solar system formed around 4.5 billion years ago.
7 What causes the Earth’s seasons?
A Its rotational tilt
B Its orbit around the Sun
C Its distance from the Sun
Click to see the correct answer
The Earth’s rotational tilt causes differing temperatures throughout a year in an area, which cause the seasons.
8 Which galaxy is our solar system located in?
A Milky Way galaxy
B Andromeda galaxy
C Triangulum galaxy
Click to see the correct answer
Our solar system is located in the Milky Way galaxy, which is a spiral galaxy.
9 Which spiral arm of our galaxy is the solar system located in?
A Perseus arm
B Orion arm
C Sagittarius arm
Click to see the correct answer
Spiral arms are the parts of a spiral galaxy that wind outwards from the center. Our solar system is located in the Orion arm of our galaxy.
10 How far away is the Earth from the Sun?
A 150,000,000 km (93,000,000 mi)
B 320,000 km (200,000 mi)
C 9,000 km (5,600 mi)
Click to see the correct answer
The Earth is 150,000,000 kilometers, or 93,000,000 miles away from the Sun.
11 What is the tallest mountain on a planet in the solar system?
A Olympus Mons
B Mount Everest
C Janiculum Dorsa
Click to see the correct answer
Olympus Mons, in Mars, is the tallest known planetary mountain at 22 km (14 mi) high.
12 When did the phrase “solar system” first appear in English?
A 1704
B 1556
C 1191
Click to see the correct answer
”Solar system” first appeared in English in 1704.
13 What separates the inner planets from the outer planets?
A Asteroid Belt
B Kuiper Belt
C Oort Cloud
Click to see the correct answer
The Asteroid Belt, a circumstellar disc, lies between the orbits of the inner planets and the outer planets. It is made mostly of asteroids, but also contains other celestial bodies.
14 How many inner planets are in the solar system?
A 3
B 4
C 8
Click to see the correct answer
There are 4 inner planets. They are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
15 How many outer planets are in the solar system?
A 2
B 4
C 6
Click to see the correct answer
The same number as inner planets, there are 4 outer planets in the solar system.
16 Jupiter and Saturn account for ___ of the solar system’s (excluding the Sun) mass.
A 90%
B 50%
C 10%
Click to see the correct answer
Excluding the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn account for over 90% of the solar system’s mass.
17 ______’s Laws best describe the motion of planets around the Sun.
A Kepler
B Newton
C Einstein
Click to see the correct answer
Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion describe the motion of planets around the Sun.
18 Halley’s Comet becomes visible to Earth every ____ years.
A 2
B 75-76
C 1000
Click to see the correct answer
Halley’s Comet becomes visible to Earth every 76-76 years.
19 What is the smallest planet in the solar system?
A Neptune
B Pluto
C Mercury
Click to see the correct answer
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system. Pluto used to be, before it was demoted to dwarf planet status.
20 What are Saturn’s rings mostly made of?
A Frozen lava
B Rock
C Ice
Click to see the correct answer
Saturn’s rings are made mostly of ice.
21 What are the names of Mars’ moons?
A Ceres and Aries
B Atlas and Deimos
C Ganymede and Dione
Click to see the correct answer
Atlas and Deimos are the two moons of Mars.
22 Which of these are all planets that have rings?
A Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
B Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, and Venus
C Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Venus
Click to see the correct answer
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all have rings.
23 Which planet has a day longer than its year?
A Venus
B Earth
C Mars
Click to see the correct answer
Venus is the only planet in the solar system whose day is longer than its year!
24 What is the largest permanent scale model of the solar system?
A Sweden Solar System
B Titius-Bode Scale
C EMI Model
Click to see the correct answer
The Sweden Solar System is the largest permanent scale model of our solar system, with parts of it being located in various locations in Sweden to represent the distances.
25 How many Earth days is a day on Venus?
A 74
B 225
C 243
Click to see the correct answer
A day on Venus is approximately 243 Earth days long.
26 The Sun of the largest permanent scale model of the solar system is represented by the…
A Vetenskapens Hus
B Stockholm City Museum
C Ericsson Globe
Click to see the correct answer
The Sun, in the largest permanent scale model of the solar system, is represented by the Ericsson Globe, an indoor arena in Stockholm.
27 How many Earth days long is a year on Venus?
A 78.10
B 110.92
C 224.65
Click to see the correct answer
A year on Venus lasts for about 224.65 Earth days./su_spoiler]
28 The first two moons of Uranus were discovered in…
A 1787
B 1811
C 1942
Click to see the correct answer
29 The Sun makes up ___ of all mass in the solar system.
A 54%
B 74%
C 99%
Click to see the correct answer
The Sun makes up over 99% of all mass in the solar system.
30 How much matter is fused within the Sun every second?
A 600 million tons
B 500,000 tons
C 10 tons
Click to see the correct answer
Over 600 million tons of hydrogen is fused into helium every second.
31 As a result, _________ tons of matter is converted into energy every second.
A 4 million
B 400,000
C 4
Click to see the correct answer
As a result, 4 million tons of matter is converted into energy every second.
32 Which two planets in our solar system are known as ice giants?
A Venus and Mars
B Mercury and Pluto
C Uranus and Neptune
Click to see the correct answer
Uranus and Neptune are the two ice giants in our solar system.
33 The heliosphere is made from...
A the magnetic field
B solar wind
C dark matter
Click to see the correct answer
The heliosphere is made of charged particles emitted from solar winds.
34 The Sun is a _____ star.
A medium-sized
B yellow dwarf
C giant
Click to see the correct answer
Contrary to popular belief, the Sun is a yellow dwarf star (also known as a G-type main sequence star).
35 What marks the outer edges of our solar system?
A Oort Cloud
B Kuiper Belt
C Sagittarius B2
Click to see the correct answer
The Oort Cloud marks the outer edges of our solar system.
36 What is actually the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?
A. An ocean
B. A storm
C. A volcano
Click to see the correct answer
Answer: B. A storm
37 What does the Sun primarily consist of?
A. Gas
B. Rock
C. Liquid lava
Click to see the correct answer
Answer: A. Gas
38 How is the atmosphere surrounding Venus?
A. Wet and windy
B. Cold and dry
C. Poisonous and hot
Click to see the correct answer
Answer: C. Poisonous and hot
39 Which of the following is a gas planet?
A. Mars
B. Neptune
C. Mercury
Click to see the correct answer
Answer: B. Neptune
If you learned a lot from taking these Solar System Quiz Questions and Answers, take this math and numbers quiz, or this trivia wrestling trivia quiz from us.
Javi
I failed horribly, you learn this stuff in school and years later can barely recall that same material. I’m ashamed.
Trinushka
@Javi, since when do kids learn this stuff in school?
ant
i learnt all this stuff in school thanks
Mia Hendler
I past most of the questions! 😀