Halley’s Comet Quiz

Halley’s Comet Quiz Questions

Portrait of Edmond Halley painted around 1687 by Thomas Murray (Royal Society, London) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1) Who in 1705 predicted that the comet seen in 1531, 1607 and 1682 would return in 1758?
a) Nicholas Copernicus
b) Edmund Halley
c) James Pettengill
d) Clyde Tombaugh

2) What is the average period of orbit of Halley’s Comet?
a) 22 years
b) 18 years
c) 76 years
d) 100 years

3) When was the most famous appearance of Halley’s Comet?
a) 1066 – Battle of Hastings
b) 1815 – Battle of Waterloo
c) 732 – Battle of Tours
d) 800 – Coronation of Charlemagne

4) When was Halley’s Comet last seen?
a) 1914
b) 1939
c) 1945
d) 1986

5) Which spacecraft obtained close-up photos of nucleus of Halley’s Comet?
a) Pioneer 4
b) Mariner 8
c) Giotto
d) Mariner 10

Comet P/Halley as taken March 8, 1986 by W. Liller, Easter Island, part of the International Halley Watch (IHW) Large Scale Phenomena Network. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

6) When is Halley’s Comet next scheduled to return?

a) 2014
b) 2086
c) 2062
d) 2056

7) Since when Halley’s Comet is regularly observed?
a) 44 B.C.
b) 100 B.C.
c) 160 B.C.
d) 240 B.C.

8) How did the Chinese refer to Halley’s Comet as per their first written reports?
a) Morning Star
b) Evening Star
c) Broom Star
d) Pole Star

The nucleus of Halley’s Comet, imaged by the Giotto probe in 1986. The dark coloration of the nucleus can be observed, as well as the jets of dust and gas erupting from its surface. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

9) Edmund Halley did not see Halley’s Comet in 1758. Why?
a) He forgot.
b) Dark clouds blocked Halley’s Comet.
c) He died in 1742.
d) Seeing comet would have damaged eyes.

10) What is the size of the nucleus of Halley’s Comet?
a) 16 x 8 x 8 km
b) 1 x 1 x 1 km
c) 2 x 4 x 8 km
d) 8 x 4 x 4 km

Halley’s Comet Quiz Questions with Answers

1) Who in 1705 predicted that the comet seen in 1531, 1607 and 1682 would return in 1758?
b) Edmund Halley

2) What is the average period of orbit of Halley’s Comet?
c) 76 years

3) When was the most famous appearance of Halley’s Comet?
a) 1066 – Battle of Hastings

An image of Halley’s Comet taken June 6, 1910. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4) When was Halley’s Comet last seen?
d) 1986

5) Which spacecraft obtained close-up photos of nucleus of Halley’s Comet?
c) Giotto

6) When is Halley’s Comet next scheduled to return?
c) 2062

7) Since when Halley’s Comet is regularly observed?
d) 240 B.C.

8) How did the Chinese refer to Halley’s Comet as per their first written reports?
c) Broom Star

9) Edmund Halley did not see Halley’s Comet in 1758. Why?
c) He died in 1742.

10) What is the size of the nucleus of Halley’s Comet?
a) 16 x 8 x 8 km

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