Machine Learning in Astronomy — MCQs August 20, 2025 by u930973931_answers 50 Score: 0 Attempted: 0/50 Subscribe 1. What is the primary role of machine learning in astronomy? (A) Designing spacecraft (B) Automating data classification and analysis (C) Building telescopes (D) Measuring temperature on Earth 2. Which astronomical data type is often analyzed with machine learning? (A) Spectra and images (B) Soil samples (C) Plant tissues (D) Ocean currents 3. Which technique helps classify galaxies in large surveys? (A) Supervised learning (B) Gardening (C) Plumbing (D) Cooking 4. Neural networks are especially useful for: (A) Pattern recognition in astronomical images (B) Building rockets (C) Tracking satellites manually (D) Mining asteroids 5. Which method is commonly applied for anomaly detection in astronomy data? (A) Unsupervised learning (B) Typing (C) Welding (D) Sketching 6. Machine learning is essential in time-domain astronomy because it: (A) Detects transient events like supernovae (B) Polishes telescope mirrors (C) Builds satellites (D) Measures wind speed 7. Which type of machine learning helps in identifying exoplanets from light curves? (A) Classification algorithms (B) Chemical analysis (C) Oil drilling (D) Human sketching 8. Decision trees are used in astronomy for: (A) Feature selection and classification (B) Growing plants in space (C) Cooling telescopes (D) Mapping oceans 9. What is overfitting in astronomical ML models? (A) When models learn noise instead of useful patterns (B) When telescopes overheat (C) When planets overlap (D) When stars collide 10. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are widely applied to: (A) Image recognition tasks in astronomy (B) Heat telescopes (C) Rocket design (D) Satellite orbits 11. Which survey used ML for automatic classification of millions of galaxies? (A) Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) (B) Apollo Mission (C) Viking Program (D) Rosetta Mission 12. What is the purpose of dimensionality reduction in ML astronomy? (A) To simplify high-dimensional data for analysis (B) To shrink telescopes (C) To reduce rocket size (D) To compress mirrors 13. K-means clustering in astronomy is often used for: (A) Grouping similar stars or galaxies (B) Fuel mixing (C) Telescope polishing (D) Weather forecasting 14. Which ML approach is best for predicting star lifetimes? (A) Regression models (B) Coloring books (C) Random guessing (D) Paper maps 15. Deep learning is especially powerful in astronomy for: (A) Processing large-scale image datasets (B) Launching rockets (C) Solar panel building (D) Printing books 16. Which ML technique detects exoplanets in noisy data? (A) Neural networks (B) Painting (C) Clay modeling (D) Woodcutting 17. Why is labeled data important in supervised learning for astronomy? (A) To train models for accurate classification (B) To name stars (C) To map continents (D) To polish mirrors 18. Random forests are often applied to: (A) Classify variable stars and exoplanets (B) Study Earth’s forests (C) Grow plants in labs (D) Cut wood 19. Which ML method is most suited for real-time transient detection? (A) Online learning (B) Baking (C) Hand drawing (D) Knitting 20. Feature extraction in astronomical ML involves: (A) Identifying key characteristics in data (B) Carving telescope mirrors (C) Rocket welding (D) Plant growth 21. Which ML model is used to detect gravitational wave signals? (A) Deep neural networks (B) Oil drills (C) Compasses (D) Hammers 22. Which learning method identifies hidden structures in unlabeled data? (A) Unsupervised learning (B) Supervised learning (C) Cooking (D) Gardening 23. ML algorithms reduce human bias in astronomy by: (A) Automating classification objectively (B) Naming constellations (C) Polishing glass (D) Planting trees 24. Which ML technique improves telescope scheduling? (A) Reinforcement learning (B) Origami (C) Writing (D) Drilling 25. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) are often used for: (A) Separating stars and galaxies in datasets (B) Dividing planets physically (C) Splitting satellites (D) Breaking asteroids 26. Neural networks can be trained to distinguish: (A) Stars, galaxies, and quasars (B) Animals on Earth (C) Weather systems (D) Human handwriting only 27. Which ML method helps predict solar flares? (A) Time series analysis (B) Paper folding (C) Cooking food (D) Metal cutting 28. Semi-supervised learning is useful when: (A) Only part of the dataset is labeled (B) The telescope is half built (C) Planets are half visible (D) Moons are hidden 29. Why is cross-validation important in ML astronomy? (A) To test model performance reliably (B) To cross star names (C) To test mirrors (D) To paint satellites 30. Which ML technique enhances galaxy morphology studies? (A) CNNs (B) Woodwork (C) Sketching (D) Printing 31. The Kepler mission data was analyzed with ML to find: (A) Exoplanets (B) Volcanoes (C) Oceans (D) Fossils 32. Reinforcement learning in astronomy is applied to: (A) Telescope alignment and scheduling (B) Star naming (C) Glass cutting (D) Paper maps 33. Which ML method helps clean noisy astronomical spectra? (A) Autoencoders (B) Coloring (C) Welding (D) Mixing 34. Which is a challenge in applying ML to astronomy? (A) Large, complex datasets (B) Lack of stars (C) Small telescopes (D) Naming planets 35. Why is interpretability important in astronomical ML? (A) To understand why models make predictions (B) To decorate telescopes (C) To rename galaxies (D) To make stars visible 36. Which ML method aids in radio astronomy data analysis? (A) Deep learning (B) Hand sketching (C) Farming (D) Typing 37. Data augmentation in astronomy ML helps to: (A) Expand datasets for better training (B) Build larger telescopes (C) Create new planets (D) Paint stars 38. What role do GPUs play in astronomy ML? (A) Speeding up deep learning computations (B) Powering telescopes with light (C) Building satellites (D) Cooling mirrors 39. Which ML application aids in classifying radio signals as extraterrestrial or noise? (A) Signal classification algorithms (B) Cooking recipes (C) Welding machines (D) Hand painting 40. Active learning is valuable in astronomy because: (A) It reduces the need for large labeled datasets (B) It builds rockets (C) It polishes mirrors (D) It draws maps 41. Which ML approach helps forecast cosmic ray events? (A) Predictive modeling (B) Gardening (C) Cooking (D) Fishing 42. Which survey applied ML to classify millions of variable stars? (A) Gaia (B) Apollo (C) Viking (D) Voyager 43. Why is anomaly detection important in astronomy? (A) To discover rare or unexpected phenomena (B) To polish mirrors (C) To name stars (D) To heat satellites 44. Transfer learning in astronomy ML allows: (A) Using pre-trained models for new tasks (B) Moving planets between systems (C) Switching telescopes (D) Building satellites 45. Which ML approach was used to detect gravitational lensing arcs? (A) Convolutional Neural Networks (B) Paper folding (C) Welding (D) Drawing 46. Which ML framework is commonly used in astronomy research? (A) TensorFlow (B) Photoshop (C) MS Excel only (D) AutoCAD 47. What does unsupervised clustering reveal in astronomy datasets? (A) Natural groupings of celestial objects (B) Mirror defects (C) Rocket fuel amounts (D) Glass cracks 48. Why are large astronomical surveys ideal for ML? (A) They produce massive datasets (B) They reduce star numbers (C) They shrink telescopes (D) They cut costs only 49. Citizen science projects like Galaxy Zoo benefit from ML by: (A) Assisting in galaxy classification (B) Building rockets (C) Polishing lenses (D) Writing books 50. What is the ultimate aim of ML in astronomy? (A) To accelerate discovery and understanding of the universe (B) To decorate observatories (C) To build roads in space (D) To rename planets