AST 109 Exam
AST 109 Exam Final Questions with
Correct Answers 2025
What is the name of the largest volcano in the solar system and where is it located? -
Correct Ans-Nix Olympus or Olympus Mon on Mars
What and where is the largest valley in the solar system? - Correct Ans-Valles Marineris
on Mars
What are Mars two moons named? - Correct Ans-Phobos and Deimos
Why is the atmosphere on Mars 2x more dense in Spring/Fall than winter/Summer -
Correct Ans-CO2 freezes in the polar cap in winter
Why is mars so cold? - Correct Ans-Further than Earth from the Sun
The color changes in Mars' atmosphere are primarily due to changes in atmospheric: -
Correct Ans-dust
The time scale on Mars that is most similar the same period on Earth is - Correct Ans-
the length of its day
the component of the polar ice caps of Mars that changes with the seasons is
primarily... - Correct Ans-carbon dioxide
What color is the sky on mars? - Correct Ans-Often pink, like no other place in the solar
system
The belts and zones on jupiter are - Correct Ans-alternating bands of rising and falling
air at different latitudes
regions of different colors because of temperature differences
visible, even in a small telescope from the earth
like high and low pressure weather systems on earth but stretched around the planet by
rapid differential rotation
Why is Jupiter's albedo so high (50%)? - Correct Ans-It has very thick, light colored
clouds
Jupiter is composed primarily of: - Correct Ans-Hydrogen
Which moon has a thick water ocean beneath a layer of ice? - Correct Ans-Europa
1|Page
, AST 109 Exam
What are the four Galilean moons? - Correct Ans-Europa, Io, Ganymede, and Callisto
Considering the state of the materials in its interior, Jupiter is mostly - Correct Ans-
liquids
What best explains why Mars has relatively few craters - Correct Ans-Wind erosion on
Mars wore down most of the craters
The moons of Mars differ from the Earth's Moon most noticeably in that: - Correct Ans-
Mars' moons are not spherical
The only moon that rises in the west and sets in the east in its planet's sky is: - Correct
Ans-Phobos
We think that Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field because deep within the planet
there is - Correct Ans-liquid metallic hydrogen carrying electrical currents
Which moon of Jupiter has the lowest density? - Correct Ans-Callisto
Io has a much warmer interior than the other moons of Jupiter. What is the best reason
why? - Correct Ans-It experience tidal flexing from the gravity of Jupiter, Europa, and
Ganymede
The real 'canals' seen on Mars were probably formed by which of the following
mechanisms? - Correct Ans-Water flow
Which of Jupiter's moons has a frozen bullseye? - Correct Ans-Callisto
What is most responsible for shaping Mars' surface? - Correct Ans-Wind Erosion
The moons on Jupiter are - Correct Ans-Rock
Why are Jupiter's inner Galilean moons more dense? - Correct Ans-After moons
formed, heavier ones fell into orbits closer to Jupiter
Below Jupiter's clouds, there is a 20,000 km thick layer of helium and liquid - Correct
Ans-M Hydrogen
Given its tremendous mass but low density (only a little more than water), Jupiter's
composition must be dominated by the lightest of elements? - Correct Ans-Helium and
Hydrogen
Extending far from the planet, filling a volume of space about 30 million kilometers
across is Jupiter's____________, the powerful result of electrical current flows in it's
interior. - Correct Ans-Magnetosphere
2|Page
AST 109 Exam Final Questions with
Correct Answers 2025
What is the name of the largest volcano in the solar system and where is it located? -
Correct Ans-Nix Olympus or Olympus Mon on Mars
What and where is the largest valley in the solar system? - Correct Ans-Valles Marineris
on Mars
What are Mars two moons named? - Correct Ans-Phobos and Deimos
Why is the atmosphere on Mars 2x more dense in Spring/Fall than winter/Summer -
Correct Ans-CO2 freezes in the polar cap in winter
Why is mars so cold? - Correct Ans-Further than Earth from the Sun
The color changes in Mars' atmosphere are primarily due to changes in atmospheric: -
Correct Ans-dust
The time scale on Mars that is most similar the same period on Earth is - Correct Ans-
the length of its day
the component of the polar ice caps of Mars that changes with the seasons is
primarily... - Correct Ans-carbon dioxide
What color is the sky on mars? - Correct Ans-Often pink, like no other place in the solar
system
The belts and zones on jupiter are - Correct Ans-alternating bands of rising and falling
air at different latitudes
regions of different colors because of temperature differences
visible, even in a small telescope from the earth
like high and low pressure weather systems on earth but stretched around the planet by
rapid differential rotation
Why is Jupiter's albedo so high (50%)? - Correct Ans-It has very thick, light colored
clouds
Jupiter is composed primarily of: - Correct Ans-Hydrogen
Which moon has a thick water ocean beneath a layer of ice? - Correct Ans-Europa
1|Page
, AST 109 Exam
What are the four Galilean moons? - Correct Ans-Europa, Io, Ganymede, and Callisto
Considering the state of the materials in its interior, Jupiter is mostly - Correct Ans-
liquids
What best explains why Mars has relatively few craters - Correct Ans-Wind erosion on
Mars wore down most of the craters
The moons of Mars differ from the Earth's Moon most noticeably in that: - Correct Ans-
Mars' moons are not spherical
The only moon that rises in the west and sets in the east in its planet's sky is: - Correct
Ans-Phobos
We think that Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field because deep within the planet
there is - Correct Ans-liquid metallic hydrogen carrying electrical currents
Which moon of Jupiter has the lowest density? - Correct Ans-Callisto
Io has a much warmer interior than the other moons of Jupiter. What is the best reason
why? - Correct Ans-It experience tidal flexing from the gravity of Jupiter, Europa, and
Ganymede
The real 'canals' seen on Mars were probably formed by which of the following
mechanisms? - Correct Ans-Water flow
Which of Jupiter's moons has a frozen bullseye? - Correct Ans-Callisto
What is most responsible for shaping Mars' surface? - Correct Ans-Wind Erosion
The moons on Jupiter are - Correct Ans-Rock
Why are Jupiter's inner Galilean moons more dense? - Correct Ans-After moons
formed, heavier ones fell into orbits closer to Jupiter
Below Jupiter's clouds, there is a 20,000 km thick layer of helium and liquid - Correct
Ans-M Hydrogen
Given its tremendous mass but low density (only a little more than water), Jupiter's
composition must be dominated by the lightest of elements? - Correct Ans-Helium and
Hydrogen
Extending far from the planet, filling a volume of space about 30 million kilometers
across is Jupiter's____________, the powerful result of electrical current flows in it's
interior. - Correct Ans-Magnetosphere
2|Page
