Astronomy Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the Astronomy Exam with multiple choice questions, complete with explanations and insights for each question. Prepare effectively and enhance your understanding of celestial phenomena.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

During a solar eclipse, which alignment occurs?

Earth, Sun, Moon
Moon, Earth, Sun
Sun, Moon, Earth
Earth, Moon, Sun

The correct answer is: Sun, Moon, Earth

The correct alignment during a solar eclipse is when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun. This configuration allows the Moon to cast its shadow onto the Earth, which is what makes a solar eclipse visible from certain locations on the planet. When the Moon moves in front of the Sun, it obstructs the Sun's light, creating the phenomenon of a solar eclipse. This alignment is crucial because, without the Moon being between the Earth and the Sun, the eclipse would not occur. It is significant to note the distinction between solar and lunar eclipses; in a lunar eclipse, it is the Earth that is between the Sun and the Moon. This indicates that during a solar eclipse, the order of celestial bodies is indeed the Moon, then the Sun, with the Earth being on the opposite side of the Moon relative to the Sun.