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Beyond Earth – Class 6 Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Science, chapter 12. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Earth is one of eight planets moving around the Sun. Stars, constellations, the Moon and artificial satellites are part of the wider universe we observe.

The solar system

Planets in order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Jupiter is the largest; Mercury is the smallest and nearest to the Sun; Venus is the hottest and brightest.
The Moon is Earth's natural satellite; it has no light of its own.

Stars and space exploration

Stars are huge balls of hot gas; the Sun is our nearest star. Constellations: Great Bear (Saptarishi), Orion.
The Pole Star appears fixed in the north sky.
India's missions: Chandrayaan (Moon), Mangalyaan (Mars), Aditya-L1 (Sun); artificial satellites help in weather forecasting and communication.

Key terms

Planet: large body moving around the Sun
Constellation: group of stars forming a recognisable pattern
Satellite: body moving around a planet (natural or artificial)

Formulas

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos = planet order

Important questions with answers

What is a constellation? Name two.2 marks

A group of stars that forms a recognisable pattern in the night sky. Examples: Ursa Major (Saptarishi), Orion.

Why does the Moon shine though it has no light of its own?3 marks

The Moon reflects sunlight that falls on it. We see the part lit by the Sun, which is why the Moon shows phases.

Name the eight planets in order from the Sun. Write two facts about Earth that make life possible and name India's two Moon missions.5 marks

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Earth has liquid water and an atmosphere with oxygen, and a suitable temperature because of its distance from the Sun. India's Moon missions include Chandrayaan-1 (2008) and Chandrayaan-3 (2023, landed near the lunar south pole).

Quick revision

Eight planets.
Sun is a star.
Moon shines by reflected sunlight.

Exam tips

Planets do not twinkle; stars do.
Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth.

Practice MCQs

The largest planet is
1. Earth
2. Jupiter
3. Saturn
4. Mars
Show answer
Answer: (b) Jupiter. Jupiter.
The Sun is a
1. planet
2. satellite
3. star
4. comet
Show answer
Answer: (c) star. Star.
The planet nearest to the Sun is
1. Venus
2. Mercury
3. Earth
4. Mars
Show answer
Answer: (b) Mercury. Mercury.
The Moon is Earth's
1. planet
2. star
3. comet
4. natural satellite
Show answer
Answer: (d) natural satellite. Natural satellite.
The planet closest to the Sun is
1. Venus
2. Mercury
3. Earth
4. Mars
Show answer
Answer: (b) Mercury. Mercury.
Which star helps find the north direction at night?
1. Sirius
2. Alpha Centauri
3. Sun
4. Pole Star
Show answer
Answer: (d) Pole Star. It stays nearly fixed.
India's mission to study the Sun is
1. Aditya-L1
2. Mangalyaan
3. Chandrayaan
4. Gaganyaan
Show answer
Answer: (a) Aditya-L1. Aditya-L1.
The Pole Star appears fixed in the sky because it lies
1. near the Sun
2. inside the Moon's orbit
3. almost along the Earth's axis of rotation
4. very close to Earth
Show answer
Answer: (c) almost along the Earth's axis of rotation. Above the North Pole.

All chapters of Class 6 Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.