The Solar System is a fascinating part of our universe that has intrigued humans for centuries. From the blazing Sun at its center to the icy comets at its edge, each planet, moon, and celestial body holds a story. In this blog post, we have compiled the Top 100 General Knowledge Questions and Answers about the Solar System to help you enhance your knowledge, prepare for competitive exams, and satisfy your curiosity about the mysteries of space. Whether you're a student, a space enthusiast, or simply love learning new things, this comprehensive set of questions is designed to make your learning journey exciting and easy.

🌎 Top 100 Solar System GK Questions and Answers

Basic Solar System Facts

Q: What is the center of the Solar System?
A: The Sun.
Q: How many planets are there in the Solar System?
A: 8 planets.
Q: Which is the largest planet in the Solar System?
A: Jupiter.
Q: Which is the smallest planet in the Solar System?
A: Mercury.
Q: Which planet is closest to the Sun?
A: Mercury.
Q: Which planet is farthest from the Sun?
A: Neptune.
Q: Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
A: Mars.
Q: Which planet is called the "Earth’s Twin"?
A: Venus.
Q: What is the hottest planet in the Solar System?
A: Venus.
Q: What is the coldest planet in the Solar System?
A: Neptune.

About the Sun

Q: What type of star is the Sun?
A: A yellow dwarf (G-type main-sequence star).
Q: What is the surface temperature of the Sun approximately?
A: About 5,500°C (9,932°F).
Q: What is the Sun mostly made of?
A: Hydrogen and Helium.
Q: What is the outermost layer of the Sun called?
A: Corona.
Q: In which process does the Sun produce energy?
A: Nuclear fusion.

Planet Specific Questions

Q: Which planet has the longest day (rotation period)?
A: Venus.
Q: Which planet has the most moons?
A: Saturn.
Q: What is the largest moon of Saturn?
A: Titan.
Q: Which planet has the Great Red Spot?
A: Jupiter.
Q: What is the Great Red Spot?
A: A giant storm.

Earth's Relation to Solar System

Q: What is Earth's only natural satellite?
A: The Moon.
Q: What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by water?
A: About 71%.
Q: What protects Earth from solar radiation?
A: The atmosphere and magnetic field.
Q: Which layer of Earth’s atmosphere protects from UV rays?
A: Ozone layer.
Q: How long does Earth take to orbit the Sun?
A: 365.25 days.

Moons and Satellites

Q: Which planet has a moon named Phobos?
A: Mars.
Q: Which planet has moons named Europa and Ganymede?
A: Jupiter.
Q: Name the largest moon in the Solar System.
A: Ganymede.
Q: Which planet's moon is Triton?
A: Neptune.
Q: What is a natural satellite?
A: A celestial body that orbits a planet.

Dwarf Planets and Asteroids

Q: Name a famous dwarf planet in the Solar System.
A: Pluto.
Q: Where is the asteroid belt located?
A: Between Mars and Jupiter.
Q: Name the largest object in the asteroid belt.
A: Ceres.
Q: What are asteroids made of?
A: Rock and metal.
Q: What are comets mostly made of?
A: Ice, dust, and rocky material.

Comets and Meteors

Q: Name a famous comet visible from Earth every 76 years.
A: Halley’s Comet.
Q: What is a meteor shower?
A: A series of meteors from a single point in the sky.
Q: What are shooting stars actually?
A: Meteors burning in Earth's atmosphere.
Q: What is a meteorite?
A: A meteor that reaches Earth’s surface.
Q: What is the tail of a comet made of?
A: Gas and dust.

Orbits and Rotation

Q: What shape are most planetary orbits?
A: Elliptical.
Q: Which planet rotates on its side?
A: Uranus.
Q: Which planet has the fastest orbit around the Sun?
A: Mercury.
Q: Which planet has the slowest orbit around the Sun?
A: Neptune.
Q: How many Earth days does Venus take to rotate once on its axis?
A: About 243 Earth days.

Missions and Discoveries

Q: Who was the first person to observe planets through a telescope?
A: Galileo Galilei.
Q: What was the first artificial satellite sent into space?
A: Sputnik 1.
Q: Which spacecraft was the first to leave the Solar System?
A: Voyager 1.
Q: Name NASA’s mission that landed humans on the Moon.
A: Apollo 11.
Q: Who was the first human to walk on the Moon?
A: Neil Armstrong.

Fun and Unique Facts

Q: Which is the densest planet in the Solar System?
A: Earth.
Q: Which planet is famous for its rings?
A: Saturn.
Q: How many rings does Saturn have (approximately)?
A: 7 main rings.
Q: What are Saturn’s rings made of?
A: Ice and rock particles.
Q: Which planet is tilted about 98 degrees?
A: Uranus.

More Dwarf Planets

Q: Name two dwarf planets besides Pluto.
A: Eris and Haumea.
Q: Which dwarf planet is named after a Hawaiian goddess?
A: Haumea.
Q: Which dwarf planet lies beyond Neptune?
A: Eris.
Q: What is the Kuiper Belt?
A: A region beyond Neptune filled with icy bodies.
Q: What is the Oort Cloud?
A: A theoretical cloud of icy objects surrounding the Solar System.

Solar System Formation

Q: How old is the Solar System?
A: About 4.6 billion years.
Q: What theory explains the formation of the Solar System?
A: The Nebular Hypothesis.
Q: What is the term for a planet outside our Solar System?
A: Exoplanet.
Q: What is the habitable zone around a star called?
A: The Goldilocks zone.
Q: Which planet is in the Sun’s habitable zone along with Earth?
A: Mars (partially).

Planetary Atmospheres

Q: Which planet has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid?
A: Venus.
Q: Which gas dominates Jupiter’s atmosphere?
A: Hydrogen.
Q: Which planet’s atmosphere contains methane giving it a blue color?
A: Neptune.
Q: Which planet has a surface pressure 90 times that of Earth?
A: Venus.
Q: What planet has an atmosphere thin enough to cause extreme temperatures?
A: Mercury.

Distances and Sizes

Q: What is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun?
A: About 150 million kilometers (93 million miles).
Q: What is the largest volcano in the Solar System?
A: Olympus Mons on Mars.
Q: What is the largest canyon in the Solar System?
A: Valles Marineris on Mars.
Q: What unit is commonly used to measure distances in the Solar System?
A: Astronomical Unit (AU).
Q: 1 AU is approximately equal to how many kilometers?
A: About 150 million km.

Unique Features

Q: Which planet has the most eccentric orbit?
A: Mercury.
Q: Which is the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon?
A: Venus.
Q: What is the second smallest planet in the Solar System?
A: Mars.
Q: Which planet has the shortest year?
A: Mercury.
Q: Which planet has no moons?
A: Mercury and Venus.

Space Phenomena

Q: What is a solar eclipse?
A: When the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun.
Q: What is a lunar eclipse?
A: When Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon.
Q: What is an aurora?
A: Natural lights in the sky caused by solar wind interacting with Earth's magnetic field.
Q: Which planet is known for having the fastest winds?
A: Neptune.
Q: What is the Sun’s gravitational role in the Solar System?
A: It keeps all planets and objects in orbit.

Latest Discoveries

Q: Which space telescope has provided deep views of planets and stars?
A: Hubble Space Telescope.
Q: What is the latest telescope launched to study deep space?
A: James Webb Space Telescope.
Q: Which mission is currently studying Jupiter’s moon Europa?
A: Europa Clipper (launch planned for 2024–25).
Q: Which Mars mission successfully launched a helicopter on another planet?
A: NASA’s Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity helicopter.
Q: Which planet was recently found to possibly have signs of phosphine gas, hinting at potential life?
A: Venus.

Trivia and Quick Facts

Q: Which planet has seasons like Earth?
A: Mars.
Q: What color is Mars’ sky during the day?
A: Yellow-brown.
Q: What planet was once thought to have canals and civilizations?
A: Mars.
Q: Which moon may have a subsurface ocean and potential for life?
A: Europa.
Q: What is the thickest atmosphere among the terrestrial planets?
A: Venus.

Final Stretch

Q: What planet has a day longer than its year?
A: Venus.
Q: What is a planetary nebula?
A: An expanding shell of ionized gas from a dying star.
Q: What is the term for planets outside our Solar System?
A: Exoplanets.
Q: What is the common name for a "falling star"?
A: Meteor.
Q: Which planet is named after the Roman god of the sea?
A: Neptune.

Conclusion

The Solar System is full of wonders, from the fiery surface of the Sun to the icy edges of the distant Kuiper Belt. Through these 100 GK questions and answers, we have journeyed across planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, uncovering many fascinating facts. Whether you're preparing for a quiz, a competitive exam, or simply expanding your knowledge, understanding our Solar System is an essential step toward appreciating the universe we live in. Keep exploring, stay curious, and remember—there is always more to discover beyond the stars!

Top 100 General Knowledge (GK) Questions and Answers about the Solar System