Ast. Exam 1
All the following statements are true. Which one follows directly from Kepler's third law (p2 = a3)? a. Venus orbits the Sun at a slower average speed than Mercury. B. Venus is more massive than Mercury. C. Venus takes longer to rotate than it does to orbit the Sun. D. Venus has a thicker atmosphere than Mercury.
A.
An angle of 1 arcsecond is _________. A. less than the thickness of a human hair held at arm's length B. about the width of your fist held at arm's length C. about the width of a finger held at arm's length D. slightly more than the width of a basketball held at arm's length
A.
Galileo challenged the idea that objects in the heavens were perfect by _________. A. observing sunspots on the Sun and mountains on the Moon B. inventing the telescope C. proving Kepler's laws were correct D. showing that heavy objects fall at the same rate as lighter objects
A.
If our year were twice as long (that is, if Earth took twice as many days to complete each orbit around the Sun), but Earth's rotation period and axis tilt were unchanged, then _________. A. the four seasons would each be twice as long as they are now B. the cycle of precession would take 13,000 years instead of 26,000 years C. stars would take twice as long to rise and set D. the Earth would not have seasons
A.
If there is going to be a total lunar eclipse tonight, then you know that: A. the Moon's phase is full. B. the Moon's phase is new. C. the Moon is unusually close to Earth.
A.
In science, a broad idea that has been repeatedly verified so as to give scientists great confidence that it represents reality is called _________. A. a theory B. a paradigm C. a Ptolemaic model D. a hypothesis
A.
Scientific thinking is _____________ A. based on everyday ideas of observation and trial-and-error experiments B. completely different from any other type of thinking C. an ancient mode of thinking first invented in Egypt D. a difficult process that only a handful of people can do well
A.
Stars that are visible in the local sky on any clear night of the year, at any time of the night, are called _________. A. circumpolar B. celestial C. seasonal D. bright
A.
Start at the beginning of the Moon Orbit video, which shows the Sun and part of Earth's orbit. If we wanted to show the Moon's orbit on the scale of this starting frame, we would need to draw a circle that __________. A. is smaller than one of the green dashes that show Earth's orbit B. has a diameter that is about half the distance between Earth's orbit and Venus's orbit C. has a diameter that is about a quarter of the distance between Earth's orbit and Venus's orbit
A.
Suppose Earth's axis tilt was significantly greater than its current 23.5 degrees, but Earth's rotation period and orbital period were unchanged. Which statement below would not be true? A. The length of each season (for example, the number of days from the summer solstice to the fall equinox) would be significantly longer than it is now. B. Polaris would not be our North star. C. Summers and winters would be more severe (for example, hotter and colder, respectively) than they are now. D. The region of Earth where the Sun does not rise on the winter solstice would be larger (extending farther south) than it is now.
A.
The star Betelgeuse is about 600 light-years away. If it explodes tonight, A. we won't know about it until about 600 years from now. B. we'll know because it will be brighter than the full Moon in the sky. C. we'll know because debris from the explosion will rain down on us from space.
A.
We describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its _________. A. latitude and longitude B. altitude and direction (or azimuth) C. meridian and longitude D. latitude and direction
A.
What do the structures of Stonehenge, the Templo Mayor, and the Sun Dagger all have in common? A. They were all used by ancient peoples for astronomical observations. B. They were all built on the orders of ancient Mediterranean kings. C. They all can be used as lunar calendars. D. They were all places used for religious sacrifice. E. all of the above
A.
What do we mean by a geocentric model of the universe? A. a model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having Earth located in the center of the universe B. a model designed to explain what we see in the sky while having Earth orbit the Sun C. the name given to sphere-shaped models that show all the constellations as they appear in our sky on the celestial sphere D. a model of the Milky Way Galaxy that has our solar system located at its center
A.
What is really happening in space during the periods when we see Mars going through apparent retrograde motion? A. Earth is passing by Mars in its orbit around the Sun. B. Mars is moving along its orbit in the opposite direction from the way it usually moves. C. Mars and the Sun both appear to be in the same constellation as viewed from Earth. D. Earth and Mars are moving in opposite directions around the Sun.
A.
What is the ecliptic? A. The path the Sun appears to trace around the celestial sphere each year B. A half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south C. The Sun's daily path from east to west in our sky D. The path traced by the Moon's shadow on Earth during a solar eclipse
A.
When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting _________. A. higher in the sky B. dimmer C. lower in the sky D. brighter
A.
Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes? A. It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. B. It extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south. C. It lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way. D. It cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half. E. It extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west.
A.
According to Kepler's third law: A. All the planets have nearly circular orbits. B. Jupiter orbits the Sun at a faster speed than Saturn. C. Mercury travels fastest in the part of its orbit in which it is closest to the Sun.
B.
Earth is farthest from the Sun in July and closest to the Sun in January. During which Northern Hemisphere season is Earth moving fastest in its orbit? A. Summer B. Winter C. Fall D. Spring
B.
Galileo observed all of the following. Which observation offered direct proof of a planet orbiting the Sun? A. Four moons of Jupiter. B. Phases of Venus C. Patterns of shadow and sunlight near the dividing line between the light and dark portions of the Moon's face D. The Milky Way is composed of many individual stars.
B.
He was the first to prove that comets lie beyond Earth's atmosphere A. Kepler B. Tycho Brahe C. Galileo D. Aristotle E. Copernicus
B.
Jupiter orbits the Sun at an average distance of 5.203 AU and takes 11.86years to complete each orbit. Based on these facts, which statement is true? A. 5.2032=11.863 B. 11.862=5.2033 C. Jupiter's orbital period is 5.2032 times Earth's orbital period. D. Jupiter's orbital period is 5.2033 times Earth's orbital period.
B.
Ptolemy was important in the history of astronomy because he _________. A. developed the first scientific model of the universe B. developed a model of the solar system that made sufficiently accurate predictions of planetary positions to remain in use for many centuries C. was the first to create a model of the solar system that placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center D. was the first to believe that all orbits are perfect circles
B.
The controversial book of the famous person, published in 1543 (the year of his death). suggested that Earth and other planets orbit the Sun. A. Tycho Brahe B. Copernicus C. Galileo D. Kepler E. Ptolemy
B.
What was the Ptolemaic model? A. a Sun-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy B. an Earth-centered model of planetary motion published by Ptolemy C. the first scientific model to successfully predict solar and lunar eclipses D. the Earth-centered model of the cosmos in which Earth was surrounded by seven perfect spheres, one each for the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
B.
Which of the following is not true about scientific progress? A. Science progresses through the creation and testing of models of nature. B. Science advances only through the scientific method. C. Science avoids explanations that invoke the supernatural.
B.
According to Kepler's third law (p2 = a3), how does a planet's mass affect its orbit around the Sun? A. A more massive planet must have a larger semimajor axis. B. More massive planets must have more circular orbits. C. A planet's mass has no effect on its orbit around the Sun. D. More massive planets orbit the Sun at higher average speed.
C.
As you play the Moon Orbit video, notice how the arrows representing the Sun's rays are at first spread apart but become parallel as the video zooms in on the Moon's orbit. Why do the Sun's rays become parallel at the end of the video? A. The video is incorrect; the Sun's rays actually converge on the Moon from all directions, not just as parallel rays. B. Rays from the Sun that start out going in different directions turn toward Earth as they travel away from the Sun. C. The Sun is so far away compared to the size of the Moon's orbit that all the rays reaching the orbit come from essentially the same direction. D. The rays that reach Earth and the Moon come from only one very small spot on the Sun.
C.
For most of history, the lack of observable stellar parallax was interpreted to mean that _________. A. stars must all lie at the same distance from Earth, on the celestial sphere B. stars were too far away for parallax to be measured with available technology C. Earth is stationary at the center of the universe D. Galileo's theories of the universe were essentially correct
C.
He developed a system for predicting planetary positions that remained in use for some 1,500 years. A. Tycho Brahe B. Kepler C. Ptolemy D. Copernicus E. Galileo
C.
How far would it be from the Milky Way Galaxy to the most distant galaxies in the observable universe on this scale? A. 14 m B. 140 m C. 1.4 km D. 140 km
C.
If we have a new moon today, when we will have the next full moon? A. In about six months B. In about one week C. In about two weeks D. In about a month
C.
The Moon always shows nearly the same face to Earth because ________. A. the Moon rotates once in the same amount of time that it takes Earth to orbit the Sun once B. the Moon does not rotate C. the Moon rotates once in the same amount of time that it takes the Moon to orbit Earth once D. sunlight always hits the same face of the Moon
C.
The ancient Greeks get a lot of attention for their contributions to science because ________ A. they were the only ancient culture that kept written records of their astronomical observations B. they were the first people to realize that Earth is a planet orbiting the Sun C. they were the first people known to try to explain nature with models based on reason and mathematics, without resort to the supernatural D. the books of every other culture were lost in the destruction of the library of Alexandria
C.
The point directly over your head is called _________. A. the North Star B. the north celestial pole C. the zenith D. the meridian
C.
Which of the following is not consistent with the major hallmarks of science? A. Science progresses through the creation and testing of models that explain observation as simply as possible. B. Scientific explanations should be based solely on natural causes. C. Science consists of proven theories that are understood to be true explanations of reality. D. A scientific model must make testable predictions.
C.
Which of the following is not true about a scientific theory? A. Even the strongest theories can never be proved true beyond all doubt. B. A theory must explain a wide range of observations or experiments. C. A theory is essentially an educated guess.
C.
How does a 12-month lunar calendar differ from our 12-month solar calendar? A. Its new year always occurs in February instead of on January 1. B. It uses a 23-hour rather than a 24-hour day. C. It does not have seasons. D. It has about 11 fewer days.
D.
Suppose the planet Uranus were much brighter in the sky, so that it was as easily visible to the naked eye as Jupiter or Saturn. Which one of the following statements would most likely be true in that case? A. Its gravity would cause the tides to be much higher than they actually are. B. Its brightness would make it possible to read by starlight at night. C. The discovery that the Earth is a planet going around the Sun would have come hundreds of years earlier. D. A week would have 8 days instead of 7. E. Its slow motion through the sky would have led it to be named after the Goddess of Procrastination.
D.
The ancient goal of astrology was to A. make a more accurate model of the universe. B. understand the origin of Earth. C. antagonize astronomers. D. predict human events. E. predict the passing of the seasons.
D.
The names of the 7 days of the week are based on _________. A. the names of prophets in the Bible B. the seven most prominent constellations in the summer sky C. the names of the seven planets closest to the Sun D. the seven naked-eye objects that appear to move among the constellations
D.
What practical value did astronomy offer to ancient civilizations? A. It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge. B. It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. C. It helped them understand our cosmic origins. D. It helped them keep track of time and seasons, and it was used by some cultures for navigation.
D.
Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the universe? A. to properly account for the varying distances of the planets from Earth B. to explain why Venus goes through phases as seen from Earth C. to explain why the Greeks were unable to detect stellar parallax D. to explain the fact that planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward, relative to the stars in our sky E. to explain why more distant planets take longer to make a circuit through the constellations of the zodiac
D.
The Milky Way can be seen only from the Northern Hemisphere. - True - False
False
The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are among a few dozen galaxies that make up our
Local Group
Our entire soloar system orbits the center of the _______________________ about once every 230 million years
Milky Way Galaxy
You are one year older each time Earth _____ about the Sun.
Orbits
The Sun appears to rise and set in our sky because Earth _____ once each day.
Rotates
Our_____ is moving toward the star Vega at about 70,000 km/hr
Solar System
Rank the following items according to their size (diameter) from left to right, from largest to smallest. Our Solar System, Jupiter, The Sun, Earth, The local Group, The Milkey Way, The Universe, The Local supercluster
The Universe, The Local Supercluster, The Local Group, The Milky Way, Our Solar System, The Sun, Jupiter, Earth
On average, galaxies are getting farther apart with time, which is why we say our ______ is expanding.
Universe
If you wanted to document the apparent retrograde motion of Mars, you would need to measure and record mars ________________________ over a period of ______________
position among the constellations, several months
Look again at the Causes of Lunar Phases video. As the Moon orbits, notice how the astronaut's head always points toward Earth. What do we see from Earth that occurs for the same reason? (Be sure you are viewing the first portion of the video, with the rotating Moon, not the hypothetical, non-rotating view, shown afterward.) A. We see phases of the Moon. B. We always see the same face of the Moon. C. We see different faces of the Moon at different times. D. Astronauts on the Moon sometimes appear to hang upside-down.
B.
Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true? A. The "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe. B. Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere. C. From any location on Earth, we can see only half the celestial sphere at any one time. D. The celestial sphere does not exist physically. E. When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere.
A.
Look again at the Causes of Lunar Phases video. At what position(s) in the Moon's orbit would we see exactly half of the Moon's daylight face and exactly half of its night face? A. at the point on the far left B. at the two points at the top and bottom C. at the two points on the far left and far right D. at the point on the far right
B.
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a single year, about when did life arise on Earth? A.in late January B. in mid-August C. in September D. in mid-December E. just a few hours before midnight on December 31
C.
A week after full moon, the Moon's phase is: A. first quarter. B.third quarter. C. new.
B.
About how many stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear, dark night away from city lights? A. several million B. a couple thousand C. a few dozen D. a few hundred billion
B.
According to current scientific estimates, when did the Big Bang occur? A. about 20 billion years ago B. about 14 billion years ago C. about 10 billion years ago D. about 4 1/2 billion years ago E. about 65 million years ago
B.
All the following statements are true. Which one explains the reason that there is not a solar eclipse at every new moon? A. The Moon is only about one fourth as large as Earth in diameter. B. The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted slightly (by about 5 degrees) to the ecliptic plane. C. The Moon goes through a complete cycle of phases about every 29 1/2 days.
B.
Historians trace the origins of a 24-hour day to A. the druids of Stonehenge. B. the ancient Egyptians. C. the Babylonian astronomer, Meton. D. the Aztecs. E. the Mayans
B.
How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons? A. It causes the seasons to be more extreme than they would be if the Earth's distance from the Sun were always the same. B. It doesn't; Earth's orbital distance plays no significant role in the seasons. c. It is responsible for the fact that the seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. D. It makes summer warmer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere
B.
How far from the Milky Way Galaxy would the Andromeda Galaxy be on this scale? A. 25 mm B. 25 cm C. 25 m D. 25 km
B.
How far would the Sun be from Alpha Centauri on this scale? A. 4.4×10−7cm B. 4.4×10−5cm C. 4.4×10−2cm D. 4.4cm
B.
How would a star's parallax change as its distance from Earth increases? A. The parallax shift increases as the star's distance from Earth increases. B. The parallax shift decreases as the star's distance from Earth increases. C. The parallax shift does not change; it is independent of the star's distance from Earth.
B.
If we have a new moon today, when we will have the next full moon? A. in about a month B. in about 2 weeks C. in about 1 week D. in about 6 months
B.
If you are located in the Northern Hemisphere, which of the following correctly describes a relationship between the sky and your location? A. The altitude of the celestial equator equals your latitude. B. The altitude of the north celestial pole equals your latitude. C. The altitude of the north celestial pole equals your longitude.
B.
In January, Earth's rotation axis points in the direction of the star Polaris. Where does it point in July? A. Toward a star 47° away from Polaris B. Toward the star Polaris C. Toward the star Sirius D. Toward a star 23 ½° away from Polaris
B.
In order to tell time at night the ancient Egyptians of 3000 B.C. used A. water clocks, measuring the flow of water through an opening. B. star clocks, which measured time based on the positions of stars at particular times of night and particular times of year. C. Moon clocks, which measured time based on the Moon's position relative to the stars. D. hourglasses, measuring the flow of sand through an opening. E. sundials, with light provided by the Moon.
B.
Stars that are visible in the local sky on any clear night of the year, at any time of the night, are called _________. A. seasonal B. bright C. circumpolar D. celestial
C.
Play the Moon Orbit video through to where you see the Moon orbiting Earth at correctly scaled sizes. Notice that Earth's daylight side (white) is on the right in this view, and its night side (gray) is on the left. Where along its orbit would the Moon also have its daylight side on the right and its night side on the left? A. only at the point on the far right (the new moon position) B. everywhere along its orbit C. only at the point on the far left (the full moon position) D. only at the two points at the top and bottom (the first- and third-quarter positions) E. only at the two points on the far left and far right (the new and full moon positions)
B.
Suppose that someone in the Andromeda galaxy had a super-telescope through which they were looking at Earth right now. They would see Earth ______. A. as it is right now B. as it was about 2 ½ million years ago C. as it will be about 2 ½ million years from now D. as it was about 100,000 years ago
B.
The Sun-centered system pictured in the lower window of the video offers a simple explanation for observations of apparent retrograde motion. Should these facts alone have been enough to convince the ancient Greeks that Earth really does go around the Sun? A. Yes, but the Greeks did not realize it because they never even considered a Sun-centered model. B. No, because the Greeks had an Earth-centered model that also accounted for apparent retrograde motion. C. Yes, but the Greeks were unable to detect apparent retrograde motion and therefore didn't know that it ruled out an Earth-centered universe. D. No, because apparent retrograde motion still happens in an Earth-centered system as the Sun passes by a planet in its orbit around Earth.
B.
The term observable universe refers to _________. A.that portion of the universe that we have so far photographed through telescopes B. that portion of the universe that we can see in principle, given the current age of the universe C.the portion of the universe that can be seen by the naked eye D. the portion of the universe that is not hidden from view by, for example, being below the horizon
B.
Watch the Causes of Lunar Phases video. To understand phases of the Moon, you must imagine the view from Earth looking out to the Moon as it orbits. At what position(s) in its orbit would we see all of the Moon's daylight side and none of its night side? A. at the two points on the far left and far right B. at the point on the far left C. at the two points at the top and bottom D. at the point on the far right
B.
We cannot see a new moon in our sky because _________. A. it is obscured by Earth's shadow B. a new moon is quite near the Sun in the sky C. no sunlight is illuminating the Moon D. it is above the horizon during the daytime
B.
What is a circumpolar star? A. a star that is visible from the Arctic or Antarctic circles B. a star that always remains above your horizon and appears to rotate around the celestial pole C. a star that makes a daily circle around the celestial sphere D. a star that is close to the north celestial pole E.a star that is close to the south celestial pole
B.
What is the saros cycle? A. The annual cycle of the seasons B. The roughly 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats C. The 26,000-year cycle of the Earth's precession D. The roughly one-month cycle of lunar phases in the sky
B.
When we see Saturn going through a period of apparent retrograde motion, it means: A. Saturn is temporarily moving backward in its orbit of the Sun. B. Earth is passing Saturn in its orbit, with both planets on the same side of the Sun. C. Saturn and Earth must be on opposite sides of the Sun.
B.
Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your local sky? A. A half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west B. A half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south C. A half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west
B.
Which of the following is a general difference between a planet and a star? A. All planets are made of rock and all stars are made of gas. B. Stars glow in infrared and visible light, while planets glow only in the infrared. C. Planets are brighter than stars. D. Planets are larger than stars
B.
Which of the following lies in the ecliptic plane? A. Earth's equator B. Earth's orbital path around the Sun C. A line connecting Earth's north and south poles D. A line connecting Earth and Polaris
B.
Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true? A. The Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere. B. The celestial sphere is another name for our universe. C. When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere. D. The celestial sphere does not exist physically.
B.
Consider a time when mars is in the middle of one of its periods of apparent retrograde motion. During this time, Mars appears ______________ in our night sky and crosses the meridian around _________________
Brightest, midnight
The Andromeda Galaxy is faintly visible to the naked eye. When you look at the Andromeda Galaxy, the retina of your eye is absorbing light that has traveled through space for ______ to reach you. A. about 100,000 years B. about 250 years C. about 2 ½ million years D. a few minutes
C
Suppose it is full Moon. What phase of Earth would someone on the Moon see at this time? A. full Earth B. Earth does not go through phases as seen from the Moon. C. new Earth D. first-quarter Earth
C.
If stars existed but galaxies did not: A. We would probably still exist anyway. B. We would not exist because life on Earth depends on the light produced by galaxies. C. We would not exist because we are made of material that required recycling in galaxies.
C.
It's 6 a.m. and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian). What is the Moon's phase? A. new B. full C. third quarter D. first quarter
C.
The Andromeda Galaxy is faintly visible to the naked eye in the constellation Andromeda. Suppose instead it were located in the same direction in space as the center of the Milky Way Galaxy (but still at its current distance). How would it appear to the eye in that case? A. It would look about the same, but it would be harder to pick out because its cloud-like appearance would make it blend in with the cloud-like appearance of the Milky Way in our sky. B. It would look about the same but would be in the constellation Sagittarius instead of Andromeda. C. We could not see it at all. D. It would be much brighter because it would be illuminated by the many stars in the center of our galaxy.
C.
Two stars that are in the same constellation: A. must both be part of the same cluster of stars in space. B. must both have been discovered at about the same time. C. may actually be very far away from each other.
C.
What do we mean when we talk about the Milky Way in our sky? A. The whitish patch of light we see when we look toward the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. B. The bright stars of the constellations that lie along the ecliptic in our sky. C. The patchy band of light that outlines the plane of the Milky Way Galaxy as seen from Earth. D. The spiral-shaped galaxy in which we live.
C.
What pratical value did astronomy offer to ancient cililizations? A. It allowed them to predict eclipses with great accuracy. B. It helped them find uses for ancient structures like Stonehenge. C. It helped them keep track of time and seasons, and it was used by some cultures for navigation. D. It helped them understand our cosmic origins.
C.
Which of the following statements does not use the term angular size or angular distance correctly? A, The angular size of the Sun is about the same as that of the Moon. B. The angular distance between those two houses in the distance is 30 degrees. C. The angular distance between those two bright stars in the sky is about 2 meters. D. You can use your outstretched hand against the sky to estimate angular sizes and angular distances.
C.
You observe a full Moon rising at sunset. What will you see at midnight? A. A waning gibbous moon B. A third-quarter moon C. A full moon high in the sky D. A first-quarter moon
C.
What do astronomers mean by a constellation? A.A constellation is any random grouping of stars in the sky. B. A constellation is a group of stars related through an ancient story. C. A constellation is a group of stars that are all located in about the same place in space. D. A constellation is a region in the sky as seen from Earth.
D.
Diagrams like this one are commonly used in discussions of seasons and they can be quite useful. However, this diagram greatly exaggerates: A. the size of Earth relative to the size of Earth's orbit around the Sun. B. the size of the Sun relative to the size of Earth's orbit around the Sun. C. the amount by which Earth's orbit differs from a perfect circle. D. all of the answers listed E. only the first and third choices
D.
During the period each year when we see Mars undergoing apparent retrograde motion in our sky, what is really going on in space? A. Mars is moving around the Sun in the opposite direction from which Earth is moving around the Sun. B. Earth and Mars are getting closer together. C. Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun. D. Earth is catching up with and passing by Mars in their respective orbits.
D.
During the time that a planet is in its period of apparent retrograde motion: _________ A. The planet appears to rise in the west and set in the east, rather than the usual rising in the east and setting in the west. B. The planet is getting closer to the Sun in its orbit. C. The planet moves backwards (clockwise as viewed from above Earth's north pole) in its orbit of the Sun. D. Over many days or weeks, the planet moves westward relative to the stars, rather than the usual eastward relative to the stars
D.
Each choice describes how a few astronomical phenomena are related to time periods. Which list is entirely correct? (Careful: some lists are partially correct.) A. Earth's rotation defines a day. The saros cycle of eclipses defines a month. Earth's orbit defines a year. Earth's cycle of axis precession takes 26,000 years. B. Earth's rotation defines a day. The cycle of the Moon's phases takes about a week. Earth's orbit defines a year. Earth's cycle of axis precession defines a month. C. Earth's rotation defines a day. The Sun's rotation defines a week. The Moon's rotation defines a month. Earth's orbit defines a year. D. Earth's rotation defines a day. The cycle of the Moon's phases takes about a month. Earth's orbit defines a year. Earth's cycle of axis precession takes 26,000 years.
D.
How many arcseconds are in 1°? A. 60 B. 360 C. 10,000 D. 3,600 E. 100
D.
In any particular place on Earth, certain constellations are visible in the evening only at certain times of the year because _________. A. on any particular night, we can only see stars that are directly opposite (180 degrees away from) the Sun in the sky B. some constellations are circumpolar C. during some times of year, some constellations drop below the southern horizon D. our evening view of space depends on where Earth is located in its orbit around the Sun
D.
Lunar eclipses can occur only during a _________. A. first-quarter moon B. third-quarter moon C. new moon D. full moon
D.
On a scale where the Sun is about the size of a grapefruit and the Earth is about 15 meters away, how far away are the nearest stars besides the Sun? A. about the distance across 50 football fields B. about the distance across the state of Delaware C. 100 meters D. about the distance across the United States
D.
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a single year, about when did Earth form? A. very early in January B. in mid-February C. in June D. in early September E.in mid-December
D.
Suppose you are facing north and you see the Big Dipper close to your northern horizon, with Polaris (and the Little Dipper) above it. Where will you see the Big Dipper in six hours? A. To the left of Polaris; that is, 90 degrees clockwise from its current position B. Directly above Polaris C. Still in the same place, below Polaris D. To the right of Polaris; that is, 90 degrees counterclockwise from its current position
D.
Suppose you live in the United States and you see a crescent moon in your evening sky tonight. What will a friend in South America see tonight? A. Your friend will see a gibbous moon. B. Your friend will see a first-quarter moon. C. Your friend won't see the Moon tonight because it is up only in the morning. D. Your friend will also see a crescent moon.
D.
Suppose you see a photo showing Jupiter half in sunlight and half in shadow (that is, a first-quarterJupiter). This photo might have been taken by _________. A. the Keck telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii B. the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico C. the Hubble Space Telescope (which orbits Earth) D. the Galileo spacecraft that orbited Jupiter in the 1990s
D.
Suppose you use the Southern Cross to determine that the south celestial pole appears 40 degrees above your horizon. Then you must be located at _________. A. latitude 40 degrees north B. latitude 50 degrees south C. longitude 40 degrees D. latitude 40 degrees south
D.
The Sun's path, as viewed from the equator, is highest in the sky on _________. A. the December solstice B. the day when Earth is closest to the Sun C. the June solstice D. the March and September equinoxes
D.
What is stellar parallax? A. It describes the fact that stars are actually moving relative to one another, even though to our eyes the stars appear fixed in the constellations. B. It is the daily rise and set of the stars. C. It is the change in the set of constellations that we see at different times of year in the evening sky. D. It is the slight back-and-forth shifting of star positions that occurs as we view the stars from different positions in Earth's orbit of the Sun.
D.
What is the celestial sphere? A. The celestial sphere is a model of how the stars are arranged in the sky relative to our Sun, which is in the middle of the sphere. B. It represents a belief in an Earth-centered universe, and hence is no longer considered to have any use. C. The celestial sphere is a model that shows the true locations in space of the Sun and a few thousand of the nearest stars. D. The celestial sphere is a representation of how the entire sky looks as seen from Earth.
D.
What makes the North Star, Polaris, special? A. It is the star directly on your northern horizon. B. It is the brightest star in the sky. C. It can be used to determine your longitude on Earth. D. It appears very near the north celestial pole. E. It is the star straight overhead.
D.
Which of the following best describes what we mean by the universe? A.a vast collection of stars that number as many as the grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth B. all the galaxies in all the superclusters C.our Milky Way Galaxy D. the sum total of all matter and energy
D.
Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth? A. Earth's elliptical orbit means we are closer to the Sun and therefore receive more intense sunlight at some times of year than at others. B. The tilt of Earth's axis causes the Northern Hemisphere to be closer to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere in summer, and visa versa in winter. C. The varying speed of Earth in its orbit around the Sun gives us summer when we are moving fastest and winter when we are moving slowest. D. The tilt of Earth's axis causes different portions of the Earth to receive more or less direct sunlight at different times of year.
D.
Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your sky? A. a half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west B. the point directly over your head C. the boundary between the portion of the celestial sphere you can see at any moment and the portion that you cannot see D. a half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south E.a half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west
D.
By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude? A. The azimuth of the NCP is the angular distance from the North Pole. B. The azimuth of the NCP is the same as your latitude. C. The altitude of the NCP is the same as your distance from the North Pole. D. The altitude of the NCP is your angular distance from the North Pole. E. The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude.
E.
How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the planets? A. It varied the motion of the celestial sphere so that it sometimes moved backward. B. It held that sometimes the planets moved backward along their circular orbits. C. It held that the planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles around the Sun. D. It placed the Sun at the center so that the planets' apparent retrograde motion was seen as Earth passed each one in its orbit. E. It held that the planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles, also known as epicycles, around Earth.
E.
How many stars can you see with your naked eye on a clear, moonless night from a dark location? A. fewer than a thousand B. about ten thousand C. about a hundred thousand D. more than you could count in your lifetime E. a few thousand
E.
If it is midnight in New York, it is A. midday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. B. midnight everywhere. C. midnight in Sydney, Australia. D. midnight in Los Angeles. E. daytime in Sydney, Australia.
E.
On the cosmic calendar, which compresses the history of the universe into a single year, about when did early humans first walk on Earth? A. in June B. in September C. in mid-December D. on December 30 E. just a few hours before midnight on December 31
E.
We can describe a position on Earth's surface by stating its A. altitude and direction. B. altitude and azimuth. C. meridian and longitude. D. latitude and direction. E. latitude and longitude.
E.
What is the ecliptic? A. the Moon's apparent path along the celestial sphere B. the Sun's daily path across the sky C. the constellations commonly used in astrology to predict the future D. when the Moon passes in front of the Sun E. the Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere
E.
Which of the following celestial objects do NOT rise in the east and set in the west, as viewed from the Earth? (Assume that all of these objects are visible from your location on Earth, and that none of them are circumpolar.) A. the Sun B. galaxies C. the Moon D. stars E. All of these objects rise in the east and set in the west
E.
At most times, Mars appears to move ___________ relative to the stars. The expectations are during its periods of apparent retrograde motion when Mars appears to move ___________ relative to the stars
Eastward, Westward
