Class 6 Science · Original EZT practice
Beyond Earth (Class 6 Chapter 12): summary and practice
Step outside on a clear night and the sky is full of patterns. Chapter 12 starts with stars and constellations, moves to our solar system, and zooms out to the Milky Way and the universe. All questions are original EZT tutor practice following the chapter's own section order. Edition note: this page covers the new NCERT book Curiosity (Grade 6). Older Class 6 books numbered this chapter differently - check your chapter title, not just the number.
8 original worked examples, 8 fresh self-check questions and 4 mixed questions, with explained answers. These are not copied textbook exercises, an official chapter index or a full answer key. No affiliation with NCERT is claimed.
Official sources for topic and edition context, checked 20 October 2026:
1. Stars and constellations
Stars are huge balls of hot gas that make their own light; the Sun is our nearest star. A group of stars that appears to form a pattern in the sky is a constellation, such as Ursa Major (Saptarishi) and Orion. The Pole Star (Polaris) appears almost fixed in the northern sky and helps find the north direction.
2. Night sky watching
To watch the sky well, choose a dark place away from bright lights, let your eyes adjust and use a sky map. The stars seem to move across the sky during the night because the Earth spins.
3. Our solar system
The solar system is the Sun with the eight planets and other bodies that go around it: moons, dwarf planets, asteroids and comets. In order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Planets do not make light; they shine by reflecting sunlight.
4. The Milky Way and the universe
Billions of stars together form a galaxy; our own is the Milky Way. The universe contains countless galaxies.
Choose, solve, check, then try a fresh question.
Before calculating, read the method prompt and name the condition that makes it useful. Write your own attempt. Open the steps only when you need them, and use the check to catch a wrong sign, unit or interpretation. Finish with the fresh question before reading its answer.
Use the Pole Star to find direction
Choose the method: Ask what makes one star special for travellers at night.
EZT practice question
Which star appears nearly fixed in the sky and how does it help?
Show the worked solution
- Most stars seem to move across the sky during the night.
- The Pole Star stays almost fixed in the northern sky.
- Its position marks the north direction.
Answer: The Pole Star - it appears nearly fixed in the northern sky, so it shows the north direction at night.
Check: The answer names the star and the direction it marks.
Watch for this: Do not say the brightest star; the useful one is the nearly fixed Pole Star.
Now try it yourself
Name one constellation.
Check your answer
Ursa Major (Saptarishi) or Orion.
Both are named in the chapter as familiar constellations.
Say what a constellation really is
Choose the method: Check whether the pattern is one star or many.
EZT practice question
Is a constellation a single star?
Show the worked solution
- A constellation looks like one picture in the sky.
- But the picture is made by several stars seen together from Earth.
Answer: No - a constellation is a pattern formed by a group of stars as seen from Earth.
Check: The answer includes both key words: group of stars, pattern.
Watch for this: Do not treat the stars of a constellation as neighbours in space; they only look grouped from Earth.
Now try it yourself
What is the Sun, in terms of what it is?
Check your answer
A star - the nearest one to us.
The Sun makes its own light like every other star.
Explain why dark places show more stars
Choose the method: Compare what bright surroundings do to faint starlight.
EZT practice question
Why is a village sky better for stargazing than a bright city?
Show the worked solution
- Cities have many bright artificial lights.
- The glow hides fainter stars - this is light pollution.
- A dark village sky lets even faint stars show.
Answer: Less light pollution in the village, so fainter stars are visible.
Check: The answer connects darkness to the visibility of faint stars.
Watch for this: Do not say village air is cleaner as the main reason; the chapter's point is light pollution.
Now try it yourself
Give one tip for night sky watching.
Check your answer
Choose a dark place away from bright lights (or let your eyes adjust, or use a sky map).
All three are the chapter's tips for seeing the sky well.
Explain the apparent movement of stars
Choose the method: Ask what is really moving - the stars or us.
EZT practice question
Why do stars appear to move during the night?
Show the worked solution
- The Earth spins on its axis.
- As it turns, our view of the sky shifts.
- The stars only seem to move across the sky.
Answer: The Earth rotates, so our view of the sky shifts and the stars appear to move.
Check: The cause given is the Earth's rotation, not the stars' own motion.
Watch for this: Do not say the stars travel across the sky each night; the motion is apparent.
Now try it yourself
What causes the apparent movement of stars?
Check your answer
The rotation of the Earth.
Our spinning viewpoint makes the whole sky seem to wheel around.
Place planets in order from the Sun
Choose the method: Recite the order and count positions.
EZT practice question
Which planet is closest to the Sun and which is third?
Show the worked solution
- Order from the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
- First is Mercury; third is Earth.
Answer: Mercury is closest to the Sun; Earth is third.
Check: Both positions match the standard order from the Sun.
Watch for this: Do not start counting from Venus; Mercury is the closest planet.
Now try it yourself
How many planets are in the solar system?
Check your answer
Eight.
The chapter lists eight planets from Mercury to Neptune.
Count planets lying between two others
Choose the method: Write the order and count only what lies strictly between.
EZT practice question
Count the planets between Earth and Saturn.
Show the worked solution
- Order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
- Between Earth and Saturn sit Mars and Jupiter.
Answer: Two planets - Mars and Jupiter.
Check: Only planets strictly between the two are counted.
Watch for this: Do not include Earth or Saturn themselves in the count.
Now try it yourself
Do planets make their own light?
Check your answer
No - they shine by reflecting sunlight.
Only stars make their own light; planets reflect it.
Describe the Milky Way
Choose the method: Place the Sun inside a much larger collection of stars.
EZT practice question
What is the Milky Way?
Show the worked solution
- Billions of stars together form a galaxy.
- Our Sun belongs to one such galaxy.
- That galaxy is the Milky Way.
Answer: The Milky Way is our galaxy - a huge collection of stars, including the Sun.
Check: The answer says galaxy and includes the Sun in it.
Watch for this: Do not call the Milky Way a constellation; it is a whole galaxy, far bigger.
Now try it yourself
Name our galaxy.
Check your answer
The Milky Way.
Our solar system sits inside the Milky Way galaxy.
Tell the solar system from the galaxy
Choose the method: Compare the sizes: one star family versus billions of stars.
EZT practice question
Is the solar system the same as the Milky Way?
Show the worked solution
- The solar system is the Sun with its eight planets and smaller bodies.
- The Milky Way holds billions of stars, including the Sun.
- So the solar system is only a tiny part of the Milky Way.
Answer: No - the solar system is a tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy.
Check: The answer states the part-whole relationship correctly.
Watch for this: Do not use solar system and galaxy as if they mean the same thing.
Now try it yourself
Define galaxy.
Check your answer
A huge collection of billions of stars held together.
The universe contains countless such galaxies.
Try a mixed set
Choose a method or explanation before opening each answer.
1. What is a constellation?
Show answer and reason
A group of stars that appears to form a pattern.
Ursa Major and Orion are the chapter's examples.
2. Why is the Pole Star useful?
Show answer and reason
It appears nearly fixed in the northern sky, so it shows north.
Travellers have used it for direction at night.
3. How many planets are in the solar system?
Show answer and reason
Eight.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
4. What is the Milky Way?
Show answer and reason
The galaxy that contains our solar system.
Billions of stars together form a galaxy.
Try it yourself
Work these on paper before checking any notes. Answers are deliberately not shown here.
- Why do planets not twinkle like stars? Start from how each shines.
- Name the planets that lie between the Sun and Earth.
- Would the Pole Star help you find south? Explain your answer.
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Questions about this practice page
- What is a constellation?
- A group of stars that appears to form a pattern, such as Ursa Major or Orion.
- Why is the Pole Star useful?
- It appears nearly fixed in the northern sky, so it shows the north direction.
- How many planets are in the solar system?
- Eight: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
- What is the Milky Way?
- The galaxy that contains our solar system - a huge collection of stars including the Sun.
- Are these the NCERT exercise questions for Beyond Earth?
- No. EZT pages are original practice following the chapter's section order - use them to prepare for the textbook exercises, not as a substitute for your book.