Astronomy PHYS 1340 Olson Texas State
How many degrees is the diameter of a pencil at arms length?
1/2
How many days did the Catholics skip when they adopted the Gregorian Calendar?
10
How many degrees is a fist at arms length?
10
How many days did the british skip when they adopted the Gregorian Calendar?
11
What is one lunar year?
12 full moons
What year was the Gregorian calendar created?
1582
Which century years have leap years in the Gregorian Calendar?
1600, 2000, 2400
What year did the British adopt the Gregorian Calendar?
1752
How Many Full Moons From Horizon to Zenith?
180
What year did Russia adopt the Gregorian Calendar?
1917
How many degrees is a thumb at arms length?
2
How many degrees is the halo around the moon?
22
What is the tilt of the earth's axis?
23.5 degrees
How long is a lunar month?
29.5 days
What is the latitude of San Marcos?
30 degrees
How many years will the Gregorian calendar run before it is off by a day?
3300
How many days in a year?
365 1/4
length of a tropical year
365.24 days
Length of a sidereal year
365.25 days
What is the angle of the primary bow of a rainbow?
42 degrees
What year was the Julian calendar created?
46 BC
What is the angle of the secondary bow of a rainbow?
51 degrees
How many constellations are there?
88
What is the latitude of the north pole?
90 degrees
What does Cassiopeia look like?
A "W"
What were the guards of the pole used as?
A clock
What is an asterism?
A grouping of stars close in actual space
What is the name of the area between the bows of a rainbow?
Alexander's Dark Band
Which stars are circumpolar at the north pole?
All visible stars
Latest possible Easter
April 25th
Hyades
Asterism in the face of TAU
Pleiades
Asterism in the shoulder of TAU
Who is responsible for a 360 degree circle?
Babylonians
Name of CNC
Cancer
Name of CMa
Canis Major
Name of CMi
Canis Minor
What are the three smallest constellations, from smallest to largest?
Crux, Equuleus, Sagitta
When is the winter solstice?
Dec 21, 22
What is located on the inner and outer edges of the rainbow?
Diffuse White Glow
Name of DOR
Dorado
Alcor and Mizar
False binary, actually far away from each other
What are the three largest constellations from largest down?
Hydra, Virgo, Ursa Major
How can you tell your latitude on earth?
It is the same as the altitude of polaris
Who invented the leap year?
Julius Caesar
When is the summer solstice?
June 20, 21
What month did some cultures start their new year in?
March
When is the Vernal (spring) equinox?
March 20, 21
Earliest possible Easter
March 22nd
Mizar
Mizar A, Mizar B, true binary star
What is a lunar rainbow called?
Moonbow
Name of MUS
Musca
What is the 13th zodiac constellation?
Ophiuchus
Name of ORI
Orion
What is the term for the shifting of the earth's axis?
Precession of the equinoxes
Name of SGE
Sagitta
Name of SGR
Sagittarius
Name of SCO
Scorpion
When is the Autumnal equinox
Sept 22, 23
Which is longer: a tropical year or a sidereal year?
Sidereal year
What color are moonbows to the naked eye?
Silver and white
Name of TAU
Taurus
Who created the boundaries of constellations?
The IAU
What is M42?
The Orion Nebula
Why are a sidereal year and a tropical year different lengths?
The earth's axis is slowly shifting
When is Easter?
The first sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox
Where does the perseus meteor shower emenate from?
The sword of perseus
What is special about circumpolar stars?
They never set
Name of TUC
Tucana
Where is the point of the anti-sun located?
opposite the sun
