Question 1

Over an interval of 6 months,the tilt of Earth's spin axis with respect to the background stars will change by:

Accepted Answer

A)   0°.
B)   23.5°.
C)   47°.
D)   180°.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 2

10⁵/10⁵ =

Accepted Answer

A)   1
B)   10¹²
C)   0
D)   10E) A) and C)
F) B) and C)

Question 3

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator:

Accepted Answer

A)   at two points, known as equinoxes.
B)   on the meridian.
C)   at two points, known as solstices.
D)   at one point only, known as the vernal equinox.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 4

Which of the following parameters is the MAJOR factor in determining whether a particular solar eclipse appears as a total or as an annular eclipse to an observer on the center line of the Moon's shadow?

Accepted Answer

A)   phase of the Moon, whether it is new, quarter, or full
B)   time of day or night
C)   distance of the Moon from Earth
D)   distance of Earth from the SunE) C) and D)
F) All of the above

Question 5

How many constellations are there in modern-day usage by astronomers?

Accepted Answer

A)   52
B)   88
C)   125
D)   None. Constellations have no place in modern-day astronomy.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 6

The constellation whose stars are used as pointers to the north celestial pole in the northern hemisphere at this time in history is:

Accepted Answer

A)   Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, containing the bright star Polaris.
B)   Leo, the Lion, containing the bright star Regulus.
C)   Boötes, the Herdsman, containing the bright star Arcturus.
D)   Ursa Major, the Big Dipper.E) C) and D)
F) A) and D)

Question 7

In the system of celestial coordinates that matches latitude and longitude on Earth,which is the coordinate that is equivalent to longitude?

Accepted Answer

A)   declination
B)   elongation angle
C)   precession
D)   right ascensionE) B) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 8

The plane of the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator:

Accepted Answer

A)   everywhere because these are two different names for the same plane.
B)   at two points, the summer and winter solstices.
C)   at two points, the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
D)   along the Prime Meridian.E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

Question 9

As Earth rotates,the apparent motion of the pole star,Polaris,in a period of a day is:

Accepted Answer

A)   a circle with a radius of 23.5°.
B)   a small circle with a radius of less than 1°.
C)   zero; there is no motion of the pole star, by definition.
D)   a slow but noticeable drift across the sky.E) A) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 10

In which direction does the Sun appear to move along the ecliptic over the course of a year,relative to the background stars?

Accepted Answer

A)   west
B)   northwest
C)   southwest
D)   eastE) A) and B)
F) None of the above

Question 11

The elevation angle between the northern horizon of a fixed observer and the north celestial pole is:

Accepted Answer

A)   equal to the right ascension of the vernal equinox.
B)   equal to the observer's longitude.
C)   a variable value, depending on the time of year.
D)   equal to the observer's latitude.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 12

A total lunar eclipse can last more than an hour and a half,but a total solar eclipse never lasts more than 7 1/2 minutes.Why the difference?

Accepted Answer

A)   A total solar eclipse always occurs when the Moon is at perigee; it is moving fastest at that time.
B)   A total solar eclipse always occurs when Earth is at perihelion; it is moving fastest at that time.
C)   Both Earth and the Moon move clockwise in their orbits, as seen from the north. Thus, during a solar eclipse Earth and the Moon are moving in opposite directions, and during a lunar eclipse they are moving in the same direction.
D)   Earth's shadow at the Moon's distance is much larger than the Moon's shadow at Earth's distance. As Earth rotates, this narrow lunar shadow sweeps quickly over any given spot.E) A) and D)
F) B) and C)

Question 13

10⁰ (10 to the power 0) =

Accepted Answer

A)   0
B)   10
C)   undetermined; not a real number
D)   1E) None of the above
F) All of the above

Question 14

The angle between an observer's horizon and the north celestial pole is governed by:

Accepted Answer

A)   longitude.
B)   local time.
C)   latitude.
D)   sidereal time.E) B) and C)
F) All of the above

Question 15

In modern astronomy,the constellations are:

Accepted Answer

A)   specific patterns of stars that point to certain directions that are useful for navigation.
B)   13 specific regions of stars through which the planets and Moon appear to move in our sky.
C)   a small number of well-defined and separate groups of stars in our sky.
D)   88 non-overlapping sky regions, covering the whole sky.E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Question 16

The average distance from Earth to the Sun,149,600,000 km,can be written in shorthand notation as:

Accepted Answer

A)   1.496 × 10⁸ km.
B)   1.496 × 10⁶ km.
C)   1.496 × 10⁹ km.
D)   1.496 × 10⁷ km.E) A) and B)
F) B) and D)

Question 17

If you are at the north pole,how would you describe the angle with the horizon made by stars as they rise and set?

Accepted Answer

A)   It is perpendicular to the horizon.
B)   It is variable but never more than 23.5°.
C)   It is variable but never more than 66.5°.
D)   The stars do not rise and set when viewed from the north pole but instead move parallel to the horizon.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

Question 18

The constellations:

Accepted Answer

A)   are 88 in number and cover the entire sky.
B)   that the ancients imagined are constantly being augmented by newly invented constellations, as new stars are always being discovered.
C)   are of historical interest only and play no role at all in modern astronomy.
D)   consist of groups of stars that are all about the same distance from us.E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

Question 19

The nightly motion of objects across our sky from horizon to horizon is caused by the:

Accepted Answer

A)   motion of the solar system around the Galaxy.
B)   revolution of Earth around the Sun.
C)   rotation of the whole celestial sphere of stars around the fixed Earth.
D)   rotation of Earth on its axis.E) All of the above
F) A) and D)

Question 20

If observed carefully night after night,a particular star will be seen to rise:

Accepted Answer

A)   at a different time every night, sometimes earlier, sometimes later than a specified time, because of Earth's differing orbital speed.
B)   about 4 minutes earlier every night.
C)   about 4 minutes later every night.
D)   at the same time every night.E) A) and B)
F) A) and D)

Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator:

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If you are at the north pole,how would you describe the angle with the horizon made by stars as they rise and set?

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10⁰ (10 to the power 0) =

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In modern astronomy,the constellations are:

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A total lunar eclipse can last more than an hour and a half,but a total solar eclipse never lasts more than 7 1/2 minutes.Why the difference?

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The elevation angle between the northern horizon of a fixed observer and the north celestial pole is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The constellations:

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Over an interval of 6 months,the tilt of Earth's spin axis with respect to the background stars will change by:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

As Earth rotates,the apparent motion of the pole star,Polaris,in a period of a day is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The constellation whose stars are used as pointers to the north celestial pole in the northern hemisphere at this time in history is:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The angle between an observer's horizon and the north celestial pole is governed by:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In which direction does the Sun appear to move along the ecliptic over the course of a year,relative to the background stars?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

10⁵/10⁵ =

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

If observed carefully night after night,a particular star will be seen to rise:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following parameters is the MAJOR factor in determining whether a particular solar eclipse appears as a total or as an annular eclipse to an observer on the center line of the Moon's shadow?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The nightly motion of objects across our sky from horizon to horizon is caused by the:

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In the system of celestial coordinates that matches latitude and longitude on Earth,which is the coordinate that is equivalent to longitude?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

How many constellations are there in modern-day usage by astronomers?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The plane of the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The average distance from Earth to the Sun,149,600,000 km,can be written in shorthand notation as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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