Exoplanet Missions Trivia
Exoplanet Missions trivia explores the telescopes, probes, and observing campaigns that revealed thousands of worlds orbiting distant stars. From early milestone missions to modern planet-hunters like Kepler, TESS, and the James Webb Space Telescope, the topic traces how space-based astronomy transformed exoplanets into one of the most dynamic areas of science. Expect a mix of accessible facts, surprising milestones, and deeper challenges for curious fans of space.
Easy Exoplanet Missions Trivia
13 questions
These easy Exoplanet Missions trivia questions are great for beginners and kids around age 12 and under.
Question 1
In what year did NASA's Kepler Space Telescope launch?
Answer: 2009
NASA launched the Kepler Space Telescope in 2009.
Question 2
What does the acronym TESS stand for?
- A.Targeted Exoplanet Search Satellite
- B.Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
- C.Terrestrial Exoplanet Scanning System
- D.Transit Explorer Space Survey
Answer: Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
TESS stands for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.
Question 3
TESS blasted off in which year?
Answer: 2018
TESS launched in 2018.
Question 4
From which Florida launch site did TESS lift off?
Answer: Cape Canaveral
TESS launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Question 5
Kepler found most of its planets using what method?
Answer: the transit method
Kepler discovered planets mainly by the transit method.
Question 6
The first confirmed exoplanets around a Sun-like star were announced in what year?
Answer: 1995
That announcement was made in 1995.
Question 7
Which scientist shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for exoplanet work along with Didier Queloz?
Answer: Michel Mayor
Michel Mayor shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics for exoplanet work.
Question 8
What is the name of the first exoplanet found around a Sun-like star?
Answer: 51 Pegasi b
51 Pegasi b was the first exoplanet found around a Sun-like star.
Question 9
Which French-led space mission searched for exoplanets?
Answer: CoRoT
CoRoT was a French-led space mission that searched for exoplanets.
Question 10
CoRoT launched in which year?
Answer: 2006
CoRoT launched in 2006.
Question 11
From which launch site in Kazakhstan did CoRoT depart?
Answer: Baikonur Cosmodrome
CoRoT launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Question 12
Which ESA mission focuses on known exoplanets?
Answer: CHEOPS
CHEOPS is an ESA mission focused on known exoplanets.
Question 13
CHEOPS launched in what year?
Answer: 2019
CHEOPS launched in 2019.
Exoplanet Missions Family Trivia
12 questions
These family Exoplanet Missions trivia questions are built for mixed-age game nights, classrooms, and groups.
Question 1
Who co-discovered the first confirmed exoplanets in 1992?
Answer: Aleksander Wolszczan
Aleksander Wolszczan co-discovered the first confirmed exoplanets in 1992.
Question 2
The first confirmed exoplanets found in 1992 orbited what object?
Answer: PSR B1257+12
Those 1992 exoplanets orbited the pulsar PSR B1257+12.
Question 3
Which scientist was part of the team that detected an exoplanet atmosphere in 2002?
Answer: David Charbonneau
David Charbonneau was part of the team that detected an exoplanet atmosphere in 2002.
Question 4
Which exoplanet became the first one observed transiting its star?
Answer: HD 209458 b
HD 209458 b was the first exoplanet observed transiting its star.
Question 5
What nickname was given to HD 209458 b?
Answer: Osiris
The nickname 'Osiris' refers to HD 209458 b.
Question 6
At La Silla Observatory in Chile, which instrument is installed to help search for planets?
Answer: HARPS
The HARPS spectrograph is installed at La Silla Observatory in Chile.
Question 7
HARPS found planets by making very precise measurements of what?
Answer: radial velocity
HARPS found planets using precise radial-velocity measurements.
Question 8
Which observatory has been closely associated with major exoplanet discoveries?
Answer: Geneva Observatory
Geneva Observatory has been closely associated with major exoplanet discoveries.
Question 9
Which scientist has worked on exoplanet searches with HARPS?
Answer: Christophe Lovis
Christophe Lovis has worked on exoplanet searches with HARPS.
Question 10
Who was a leading planet hunter in radial-velocity surveys?
Answer: Geoffrey Marcy
Geoffrey Marcy was a leading planet hunter in radial-velocity surveys.
Question 11
Which researcher contributed to both exoplanet detection and theory?
Answer: Greg Laughlin
Greg Laughlin has contributed to exoplanet detection and theory.
Question 12
Who is known for work on exoplanet atmospheres and mission concepts?
Answer: Sara Seager
Sara Seager is known for work on exoplanet atmospheres and mission concepts.
Fun Exoplanet Missions Trivia
13 questions
These fun Exoplanet Missions trivia questions highlight surprising moments and playful facts for game-night groups.
Question 1
Which Kepler world made history as the missionâs first confirmed rocky exoplanet?
Answer: Kepler-10b
Kepler-10b was the first confirmed rocky exoplanet found by Kepler.
Question 2
What was the first confirmed circumbinary planet found through transit observations?
Answer: Kepler-16b
Kepler-16b is noted is the first confirmed circumbinary planet found by transit observations.
Question 3
A circumbinary planet is a planet that orbits what?
- A.One star and one moon
- B.A black hole
- C.Three stars
- D.Two stars
Answer: Two stars
By definition, a circumbinary planet orbits two stars.
Question 4
Which exoplanet was the first Earth-size planet discovered in the habitable zone of another star?
Answer: Kepler-186f
Kepler-186f holds that milestone in the provided facts.
Question 5
Which star system is famous for hosting seven known Earth-size planets?
Answer: TRAPPIST-1
TRAPPIST-1 has seven known Earth-size planets.
Question 6
In what year were three TRAPPIST-1 planets announced to be in their starâs habitable zone?
Answer: 2017
This announcement was made in 2017.
Question 7
Which exoplanet is so close to its star that its year lasts only about 1.1 days?
Answer: WASP-12b
WASP-12b completes an orbit in about 1.1 days.
Question 8
Which star has a planet, Beta Pictoris b, that was directly imaged around it?
Answer: Beta Pictoris
Beta Pictoris b was directly imaged around the star Beta Pictoris.
Question 9
Who helped lead the imaging discovery of the HR 8799 planets?
Answer: Christian Marois
Christian Marois helped lead the imaging discovery of the HR 8799 planets.
Question 10
Which instrument was built specifically to directly image exoplanets?
Answer: Gemini Planet Imager
The Gemini Planet Imager was built to directly image exoplanets.
Question 11
SPHERE is an exoplanet imager mounted on which observatory?
Answer: The Very Large Telescope
SPHERE is an exoplanet imager on the Very Large Telescope.
Question 12
Which space telescope has observed exoplanet atmospheres?
Answer: The James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope has observed exoplanet atmospheres.
Question 13
Which exoplanetâs atmosphere was among the first highlighted by JWST in 2022?
Answer: WASP-96b
WASP-96b was among the first exoplanets whose atmosphere was highlighted by JWST in 2022.
Funny Exoplanet Missions Trivia
13 questions
These funny Exoplanet Missions trivia questions highlight playful moments, odd facts, and inside jokes.
Question 1
Which exoplanet looks deep blue but definitely does not offer a calm beach vacation, thanks to its extreme weather?
- A.OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb
- B.HD 189733 b
- C.WASP-76b
- D.CoRoT-7b
Answer: HD 189733 b
HD 189733 b is known for its extreme weather and deep-blue appearance.
Question 2
What kind of particles were reported in the atmosphere of HD 189733 b, giving it a very unfriendly kind of sparkle?
Answer: Silicate particles
HD 189733 b was reported to have silicate particles in its atmosphere.
Question 3
Which exoplanet became famous for reports of iron vapor on its dayside, basically turning 'metal' into a weather theme?
- A.CoRoT-7b
- B.CHEOPS
- C.WASP-76b
- D.HD 189733 b
Answer: WASP-76b
WASP-76b is famous for reports of iron vapor on its dayside.
Question 4
The study of WASP-76b used which instrument whose name sounds more like a caffeine order than a spectrograph?
Answer: ESPRESSO
WASP-76b was studied with the ESPRESSO spectrograph.
Question 5
OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb was discovered by a method that depends on gravity acting like a cosmic magnifying trick. What was that method?
Answer: Gravitational microlensing
OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb was discovered by gravitational microlensing.
Question 6
In what year was OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb discovered, as hinted pretty loudly by its own name tag?
Answer: 2005
OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb was discovered in 2005.
Question 7
Microlensing discoveries often rely on what kind of stellar setup: a permanent arrangement or a brief cosmic lineup that happens once?
- A.Daily eclipses
- B.Polar star flares
- C.One-time alignments
- D.Long-term orbital resonances
Answer: Brief one-time alignments of stars
Microlensing discoveries often come from brief one-time alignments of stars.
Question 8
Which planet got its designation directly from the mission name, saving everyone from a branding meeting?
Answer: CoRoT-7b
The exoplanet designation CoRoT-7b came from the CoRoT mission.
Question 9
CoRoT-7b was notable for being one of the first known examples of what kind of world crossing in front of its star?
Answer: A transiting rocky exoplanet
CoRoT-7b was one of the first known transiting rocky exoplanets.
Question 10
If a giant planet hugs its star so closely that personal space is basically gone, what nickname does astronomy give it?
Answer: Hot Jupiter
A hot Jupiter is a giant planet orbiting very close to its star.
Question 11
A 'super-Earth' is bigger than Earth but lighter than which planet?
- A.Neptune
- B.Mars
- C.Jupiter
- D.Saturn
Answer: Neptune
The term 'super-Earth' refers to a planet more massive than Earth but lighter than Neptune.
Question 12
What term is used for a small gaseous exoplanet that sounds like Neptune ordered in a compact size?
Answer: Mini-Neptune
The term 'mini-Neptune' is used for small gaseous exoplanets.
Question 13
Transit surveys are basically watching for stars to do what tiny dramatic move over and over again?
Answer: Tiny repeated dips in brightness
Transit surveys look for tiny repeated dips in a star's brightness.
Hard Exoplanet Missions Trivia
14 questions
These hard Exoplanet Missions trivia questions are for expert fans who want a real challenge.
Question 1
Before becoming associated with later exoplanet work, who served as project scientist for ESA's Hipparcos mission?
Answer: Michael Perryman
Michael Perryman was the project scientist for ESA's Hipparcos mission before later exoplanet work.
Question 2
Which earlier ESA mission supplied stellar data that later proved useful when selecting exoplanet targets?
Answer: Hipparcos
Hipparcos provided stellar data useful for later exoplanet target selection.
Question 3
Which mission contributes to exoplanet science by delivering extremely precise astrometry of stars?
Answer: Gaia
Gaia can help exoplanet science through precise astrometry of stars.
Question 4
What observing method looks for planets by tracking tiny shifts in a star's position on the sky?
- A.microlensing
- B.astrometry
- C.transit photometry
- D.radial velocity
Answer: astrometry
Astrometry detects planets by measuring tiny shifts in a star's position.
Question 5
In what year did Kepler lose its second reaction wheel, forcing the transition to the K2 mission?
Answer: 2013
Kepler lost a second reaction wheel in 2013, leading to K2.
Question 6
K2's observing campaigns were arranged as a sequence of fields near what reference plane?
Answer: the ecliptic plane
K2 observed a sequence of fields near the ecliptic plane.
Question 7
Which planetary system became especially notable for reaching a count of eight known planets?
Answer: Kepler-90
Kepler-90 is notable for having eight known planets.
Question 8
AI-assisted analysis in 2017 helped uncover which specific world in the Kepler-90 system?
Answer: Kepler-90i
AI-assisted analysis helped identify Kepler-90i in 2017.
Question 9
How many wide-field cameras does the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite use?
Answer: four cameras
TESS uses four wide-field cameras.
Question 10
TESS cruises in a high Earth orbit locked in what resonance with the Moon?
Answer: 2:1 resonance with the Moon
TESS follows a high Earth orbit in 2:1 resonance with the Moon.
Question 11
CHEOPS was built to pin down what property of already known transiting exoplanets?
Answer: their precise sizes
CHEOPS is designed to measure precise sizes of known transiting exoplanets.
Question 12
Which ESA mission is planned specifically to survey exoplanet atmospheres?
Answer: ARIEL
ARIEL is the ESA mission planned to survey exoplanet atmospheres.
Question 13
Which future observatory is expected to carry out a microlensing exoplanet survey?
Answer: Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to conduct a microlensing exoplanet survey.
Question 14
Roman's exoplanet microlensing survey is aimed toward which dense region of the Milky Way?
Answer: the Galactic bulge
The Roman microlensing survey will target the Galactic bulge.
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