Space news quiz: From Starliner to solar storms, do you know the year's top space stories?

The silhouette of a man stepping out on a space shuttle with Earth visible behind him — (Image credit: SpaceX)

From dazzling auroras not seen in decades to ambitious missions to other worlds, 2024 was a jam-packed year for space that got millions of Earthlings looking to the sky.

The moon got a little more crowded thanks to a parade of lunar landing missions. The sun kicked into high gear as it reached the peak of its sunspot cycle, spitting out solar storms that fueled colorful displays in Earth's skies. UFOs came to Washington (again), while NASA launched a new spacecraft to hunt for potential aliens in the solar system.

Old missions ended, new missions began, and two stranded astronauts briefly became the most famous celebrities on Earth (or, well, above it). Simply put: Space was the place.

How well did you follow along with this year's top space news stories? Take our year-end quiz to find out if you deserve a place among the stars. Don't be afraid to use the hint button if you get stuck — even astronauts need to call for help now and then.

More science quizzes

—Moon landing quiz: How quickly can you name all 12 Apollo astronauts that walked on the moon?

—Constellations quiz: Can you name all the animals, objects and mythological figures hiding in the night sky?

—Black hole quiz: How supermassive is your knowledge of the universe?

Brandon is the space / physics editor at Live Science. With more than 20 years of editorial experience, his writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Reader's Digest, CBS.com, the Richard Dawkins Foundation website and other outlets. He holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from the University of Arizona, with minors in journalism and media arts. His interests include black holes, asteroids and comets, and the search for extraterrestrial life.