Space IQ Challenge: How Much Do You Really Know?

The questions

All 10 questions in this quiz. Correct answers stay hidden until you finish.

1. 1

   What is Jupiter's Great Red Spot?

   • An active volcano taller than Everest
   • A giant storm that has lasted at least 400 years
2. 2

   How much would a sugar-cube-sized piece of a neutron star weigh?

   • About a billion tons, roughly the weight of a mountain
   • A few grams, just like regular sugar
3. 3

   What is unusual about Venus's rotation?

   • It rotates faster than any other planet
   • It spins backwards, so the Sun rises in the west
4. 4

   How long do astronaut footprints last on the Moon?

   • Millions of years, because there is no wind to erase them
   • A few years at most before they weather away
5. 5

   If you placed Saturn in a giant bathtub, what would happen?

   • It would immediately sink to the bottom
   • It would float, because it is less dense than water

Score bands

Your final score places you in one of these bands.

Space Newbie0–30 points

To you, space is just pretty lights in the night sky and the occasional shooting star. That is okay — looking up is half the fun.

Stargazer31–60 points

You have watched your share of science documentaries and know the solar system better than most. Dig a little deeper and you will be unstoppable.

Cosmic Expert61–80 points

Your space knowledge beats most people you know. Friends look to you whenever astronomy comes up. Your trivia arsenal is impressive.

Interstellar Navigator81–100 points

Near-perfect or perfect — your cosmic knowledge is at pro level. NASA might actually want your resume.

How this quiz works

Each question has one correct answer. When you finish, you get your score and can review every question with the correct answer and, where we have one, a short explanation.