Astronomy Test 1 (seasons)

How many constellations are there? A. 30 B. 110 C. 8 D. 88

D. 88

In the northern hemisphere, March 21 marks the day when the sun is highest in the sky at noon for the entire year A. of the winter solstice B. when the sun is lowest in the sky at noon for the entire year C. of the summer solstice D. of the spring equinox E. of the autumnal equinox

D. of the spring equinox

Your shadow at noon is longest on which of the following days? A. summer solstice B. fall equinox C. spring equinox D. winter solstice

D. winter solstice

When is the Sun highest in the sky at noon? A. December 21 B. March 21 C. September 21 D. June 21

D.! June 21

What is meant by the ecliptic? A. It is the apparent path of the Sun in the sky over the course of one year. B. It is the group of constellations Earth's Moon appears to travel through over the course of one year. C. It is the apparent path of Earth's moon in the sky over the course of one year. D. It is the group of constellations the Sun appears to travel through over the course of one year.

A. It is the apparent path of the Sun in the sky over the course of one year.

During the northern hemisphere summer, the Sun sets south of west A. north of west B. Answered due west C. north of east D. due east E. south of east

A. North of west

A constellation is A. a region of sky B. a random collection of stars, planets and galaxies C. a group of stars that form a pattern in the sky

A. a region of sky

If the Sun rises precisely due East, A. it must be the day of either the March or September equinox. B. you must be located at Earth's equator. C. it must be the day of the June solstice.

A. it must be the day of either the March or September equinox

When the Sun rises, it A. moves from below the horizon to above the horizon. B. moves from above the horizon to below the horizon.

A. moves from below the horizon to above the horizon.

Your shadow is shortest at A. noon on the summer solstice B. sunset on the vernal equinox C. sunrise on the autumnal equinox D. sunset on the summer solstice E. noon on the equinoxes F. noon on the winter solstice G. sunrise on the winter solstice

A. noon on the summer solstice

The tilt of the Earth's axis deviates from 23.5 degrees over the time. If the axis tilt becomes 30 degrees (and you continue to live in Joliet) A. the hours of daylight will increase in summer (i.e. summer days will be longer), while daylight hours decrease in winter (i.e. winter days will be shorter). B. the hours of daylight will decrease in summer (i.e. summer days will be shorter), while daylight hours increase in winter (i.e. winter days will be longer). C. There is no change to the length of daylight in summer or winter. the Earth day will become shorter

A. the hours of daylight will increase in summer (i.e. summer days will be longer), while daylight hours decrease in winter (i.e. winter days will be shorter).

The word meridian refers to A. the imaginary half-circle that joins north, the overhead point and south at your location B. the point directly overhead at your location C. the circle that a star traces as it completes one rotation on the celestial sphere

A. the imaginary half-circle that joins north, the overhead point and south at your location

When the Sun is highest in the sky at Joliet, IL, to see it you would have face A. north B. south C. east D. directly overhead E. west

B. south

When the Earth is farthest from the Sun, what season is it in the southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere? A. spring and fall B. winter and summer C. fall and spring D. Summer and winter

B. winter and summer

Why do all stars, solar system planets and the Sun rise in the eastern sky and set in the western sky? A. Because the sky spins around a stationary Earth from west to east B. Because the Earth spins on its rotation axis from east to west. C. Because the Earth spins on its rotation axis from west to east. D. Because the Earth orbits around the Sun counter-clockwise (as seen from above) once a year E. Because the Earth orbits around the Sun clockwise (as seen from above) once a year F. Because the sky spins around a stationary Earth from east to west

Because the Earth spins on its rotation axis from west to east

The word zenith refers to A. the circle that a star traces as it completes one rotation on the celestial sphere B. the imaginary half-circle that joins north, the overhead point and south at your location C. the point directly overhead at your location

C. the point directly overhead at your location

During the northern hemisphere winter, the Sun rises: A. north of west B. due east C. due west D. south of west E. north of east F. south of east

F. south of east

What is meant by the horizon? A. It is the path that the Sun travels through the sky in one year. B. It is the imaginary half-circle in the sky that goes from due north through zenith through due south C. It is the boundary between Earth and sky.

It is the boundary between Earth and sky.

What is the zodiac? A. It is the group of constellations the Sun appears to travel through over the course of one year. B. It is the group of constellations Earth's Moon appears to travel through over the course of one year. C. It is the apparent path of Earth's moon in the sky over the course of one year. D. It is the apparent path of the Sun in the sky over the course of one year

It is the group of constellations the Sun appears to travel through over the course of one year.

In Joliet, IL we experience the maximum number of daylight hours on December 21 September 21 March 21 June 21

June 21

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Although all the known stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west, we might someday discover a star that will appear to rise in the west and set in the east. A. No, this is not sensible, because stars appear to rise as set as a result of Earth spinning on its axis, so all stars have to rise in the eastern sky and set in the western sky. B. This is sensible because stars move around Earth, so some can move in one direction while other can move in the opposite direction.

No, this is not sensible, because stars appear to rise as set as a result of Earth spinning on its axis, so all stars have to rise in the eastern sky and set in the western sky.

Imagine a planet orbiting around a Sun, whose hours of daylight and darkness are equal all through its year. Which of the following conclusions could you reach about this planet? A The planet's rotation axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane (tilt = 0 degrees). B. The planet's rotation is aligned with its orbital plane (tilt = 90 degrees). C. The planet's rotation axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane (tilt = 0 degrees).

The planet's rotation axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane (tilt = 0 degrees).

When it is summer in Australia, the season in the United States is winter summer

Winter

The time period of one year corresponds to A. how long the Sun takes to travel once around the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. B. how long the Earth takes to travel once around the Sun. C. how long the Earth takes to spin once on its rotation axis

how long the Earth takes to travel once around the Sun.

Each day the Sun travels from the eastern sky to the western sky. The Sun is highest in the sky at a. sunrise b. sunset c. noon

noon

If the Sun is just barely above the horizon and is in the due east direction, it is setting in the winter setting on either the spring or fall equinox rising in the summer rising on either the spring or fall equinox rising at the spring equinox rising in the winter rising at the fall equinox setting at the spring equinox setting in the summer setting at the fall equinox

rising on either the spring or fall equinox

If the Sun is low in the south-west, it is: setting in summer setting at the spring equinox setting at the fall equinox rising at the fall equinox rising at the spring equinox rising in winter rising in summer setting in winter

setting in winter

Which of the following best describes the spring equinox for the northern hemisphere? A. when the northern hemisphere receives its least direct sunlight B. When the northern hemisphere goes from being toward the Sun to being tipped slightly away from the Sun C. when the northern hemisphere goes from being tipped slightly away from the sun to being tipped slightly toward the Sun D. when the northern hemisphere receives its most direct sunlight

when the northern hemisphere goes from being tipped slightly away from the sun to being tipped slightly toward the Sun