Question 1

The full Moon always occurs:

Accepted Answer

A)   on the first of the month.
B)   when the Moon is at right angles to the direction of the Sun.
C)   when the Moon is closer to the Sun than Earth is.
D)   when the Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is.E) All of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 2

What will be the elevation angle of the Sun above the horizon at midday on June 21 every year at latitude 66.5° S?

Accepted Answer

A)   90°, in the zenith
B)   23.5°
C)   The Sun will not appear above the horizon at all on this date at this location.
D)   0°E) All of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 3

A lunar eclipse does NOT occur at every full Moon because the:

Accepted Answer

A)   eclipse cannot occur after sunset.
B)   plane of the Moon's orbit is at an angle to the plane of Earth's orbit.
C)   path of the Sun is inclined at an angle of 5° to the ecliptic plane.
D)   orbit of the Moon is not a perfect circle.E) All of the above
F) C) and D)

Question 4

A given star will reach its highest point in the sky for a particular observer in the southern hemisphere when it passes through the:

Accepted Answer

A)   ecliptic plane.
B)   zodiac.
C)   celestial equator.
D)   region of the sky due north.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 5

If the polar axis of Earth moves through a full circle in 26,000 years as a result of precession (see Figure 1-19c,Comins,Discovering the Essential Universe,6th ed.) ,how long will it take for the line between the center of the circle and the spin axis to move through 180° (i.e.,to the other side of the circle) ?

Accepted Answer

A)   26,000 years
B)   1 year
C)   about 100 years
D)   13,000 yearsE) B) and C)
F) A) and B)

Question 6

You face the Moon from a position in the northern hemisphere and observe that the right half is illuminated and the left half is dark.What phase are you observing?

Accepted Answer

A)   waxing crescent
B)   first quarter
C)   third quarter
D)   waning gibbousE) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 7

The Moon is seen to keep one face toward Earth at all times.If viewed from a point directly above the plane of the planetary system,how does it have to rotate to maintain this alignment?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Moon must rotate once per day to maintain its direction toward Earth.
B)   The Moon must not rotate at all because we always see the same face from Earth.
C)   The Moon must rotate once per year, as Earth and the Moon orbit the Sun together.
D)   The Moon must rotate once per month, or once per orbit around Earth.E) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 8

The most readily observed east-to-west motion of objects in the night sky is caused by the:

Accepted Answer

A)   relative motions of stars with respect to each other in the sky.
B)   rotation of Earth on its axis.
C)   rotation of the whole universe around a fixed axis near the Great Attractor.
D)   revolution of Earth in its orbit around the Sun.E) A) and D)
F) A) and C)

Question 9

Are the constellations seasonal?

Accepted Answer

A)   No. If you wait long enough, you can see all the constellations on any clear night of the year.
B)   Yes. On a summer night, all the constellations you can see are different from the constellations you can see on a winter night.
C)   Yes. On a summer night, many of the constellations you can see are different from the constellations you can see on a winter night. But there are some constellations you can see all year long.
D)   Yes. As the year progresses, the constellations change their positions with respect to each other, so every night brings a different mixture of summer and winter constellations.E) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 10

The bright stars Vega,Deneb,and Altair form:

Accepted Answer

A)   the summer triangle.
B)   the winter triangle.
C)   the Big Dipper.
D)   Orion, the Hunter.E) None of the above
F) B) and C)

Question 11

About how much time passes between a new Moon and the first quarter?

Accepted Answer

A)   one day
B)   one week
C)   one sidereal month
D)   one synodic monthE) B) and D)
F) A) and B)

Question 12

To someone on Earth who is watching a total lunar eclipse,the:

Accepted Answer

A)   Sun is hidden behind the Moon.
B)   Sun is hidden below the horizon.
C)   Sun is relatively high in the sky because the Earth-Moon line is at right angles to the Earth-Sun line.
D)   Moon is hidden behind the Sun.E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

Question 13

(0.5) ³ =

Accepted Answer

A)   0.125
B)   125
C)   1.25 × 10-²
D)   1.5E) A) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 14

The length of Earth's year at the present time is:

Accepted Answer

A)   exactly 365 days.
B)   between 365 and 366 days over a period of about 400 years.
C)   between 364 and 365 days over a period of about 200 years.
D)   approximately 365 days.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 15

What is the lowest latitude above which one would see the Sun for a full 24 hours on at least one day per year?

Accepted Answer

A)   23.5°
B)   90°
C)   52°
D)   66.5°E) C) and D)
F) B) and D)

Question 16

Which of the following points remains fixed in the sky relative to an observer's horizon over a time scale of 100 years?

Accepted Answer

A)   the direction to a distant star (e.g., Betelgeuse, in Orion) 
B)   the north celestial pole
C)   the winter solstice
D)   the vernal equinoxE) A) and D)
F) C) and D)

Question 17

What is the equivalent angle along the celestial equator of 1 hour in the right ascension coordinate direction?

Accepted Answer

A)   30°
B)   variable, depending on the declination of the star, but not greater than 15°
C)   1°
D)   15°E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 18

The maximum number of eclipses (both solar and lunar) that can occur in one calendar year is:

Accepted Answer

A)   five.
B)   one.
C)   seven.
D)   two.E) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 19

The bright star at the base of the backward question mark that forms the head of Leo,the Lion,is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Arcturus.
B)   Regulus.
C)   Rigel.
D)   Fomalhaut.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 20

The true orbital period of Earth around the Sun,defined as the time taken to complete one orbit with respect to the background stars,is one:

Accepted Answer

A)   sidereal year.
B)   Gregorian year.
C)   tropical year.
D)   solar day.E) C) and D)
F) A) and B)

Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

You face the Moon from a position in the northern hemisphere and observe that the right half is illuminated and the left half is dark.What phase are you observing?

Correct Answer
verified

The true orbital period of Earth around the Sun,defined as the time taken to complete one orbit with respect to the background stars,is one:

Correct Answer
verified

The bright star at the base of the backward question mark that forms the head of Leo,the Lion,is:

Correct Answer
verified

The full Moon always occurs:

Correct Answer
verified

What will be the elevation angle of the Sun above the horizon at midday on June 21 every year at latitude 66.5° S?

Correct Answer
verified

About how much time passes between a new Moon and the first quarter?

Correct Answer
verified

What is the lowest latitude above which one would see the Sun for a full 24 hours on at least one day per year?

Correct Answer
verified

Are the constellations seasonal?

Correct Answer
verified

The length of Earth's year at the present time is:

Correct Answer
verified

A given star will reach its highest point in the sky for a particular observer in the southern hemisphere when it passes through the:

Correct Answer
verified

A lunar eclipse does NOT occur at every full Moon because the:

Correct Answer
verified

The maximum number of eclipses (both solar and lunar) that can occur in one calendar year is:

Correct Answer
verified

The most readily observed east-to-west motion of objects in the night sky is caused by the:

Correct Answer
verified

The Moon is seen to keep one face toward Earth at all times.If viewed from a point directly above the plane of the planetary system,how does it have to rotate to maintain this alignment?

Correct Answer
verified

What is the equivalent angle along the celestial equator of 1 hour in the right ascension coordinate direction?

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following points remains fixed in the sky relative to an observer's horizon over a time scale of 100 years?

Correct Answer
verified

(0.5) ³ =

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

To someone on Earth who is watching a total lunar eclipse,the:

Correct Answer
verified

The bright stars Vega,Deneb,and Altair form:

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

You face the Moon from a position in the northern hemisphere and observe that the right half is illuminated and the left half is dark.What phase are you observing?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The true orbital period of Earth around the Sun,defined as the time taken to complete one orbit with respect to the background stars,is one:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The bright star at the base of the backward question mark that forms the head of Leo,the Lion,is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The full Moon always occurs:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What will be the elevation angle of the Sun above the horizon at midday on June 21 every year at latitude 66.5° S?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

About how much time passes between a new Moon and the first quarter?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the lowest latitude above which one would see the Sun for a full 24 hours on at least one day per year?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Are the constellations seasonal?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The length of Earth's year at the present time is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A given star will reach its highest point in the sky for a particular observer in the southern hemisphere when it passes through the:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A lunar eclipse does NOT occur at every full Moon because the:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The maximum number of eclipses (both solar and lunar) that can occur in one calendar year is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The most readily observed east-to-west motion of objects in the night sky is caused by the:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The Moon is seen to keep one face toward Earth at all times.If viewed from a point directly above the plane of the planetary system,how does it have to rotate to maintain this alignment?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

What is the equivalent angle along the celestial equator of 1 hour in the right ascension coordinate direction?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following points remains fixed in the sky relative to an observer's horizon over a time scale of 100 years?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

(0.5) ³ =

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

To someone on Earth who is watching a total lunar eclipse,the:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The bright stars Vega,Deneb,and Altair form:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified