1B

The Renaissance astronomer who wrote the pioneering book that suggested the Earth orbits the Sun (instead of the other way around) was: a. Ptolemy b. Newton c. Copernicus d. Halley e. Eratosthenes

c. Copernicus

The scientist who first devised experimental tests to demonstrate the validity of the heliocentric model of the solar system was a. Copernicus b. Lippershey c. Galileo d. Eratosthenes e. Ptolemy

c. Galileo

The strip of the sky through which the Sun, the Moon, and the bright planets appear to move in the course of a year is called: a. the zodiac b. the horizon c. the circumpolar zone d. the celestial equator e. the asteroid belt

a. the zodiac

In Copernicus' day, people were worried about the idea that the celestial sphere seemed to turn around us once a day because the Earth rotates. They argued that if the Earth were to rotate so fast, it should fly apart. According to our textbook, what was one response Copernicus had to this worry? a. Copernicus argued that the idea that the much larger celestial sphere is turning once a day (and the Earth is not) meant that the celestial sphere would be torn apart even more b. Copernicus said that the Earth also orbits the Sun, and the motion around the Sun keeps the many parts of the Earth together c. Copernicus argued that God would never allow a planet with people to be exposed to that kind of danger d. You can't fool me, Copernicus never thought that the Earth was rotating e. Copernicus said that the presence of a large Moon kept the Earth from flying apart

a. Copernicus argued that the idea that he much larger celestial sphere is turning once a day (and the Earth is not) meant that the celestial sphere would be torn apart even more

Every celestial object appears to go around the Earth once a day. In addition to this motion, which celestial object has the fastest motion in the sky? a. the Big Dipper b. the Moon c. Venus d. Mars e. the Sun

b. the Moon

Within a constellation, a smaller, recognizable pattern of stars is often called: a. a Dipper b. a cameo c. an asterism d. a zodiac e. an ecliptic

c. an asterism

Based on the scientific and statistical tests of astrological predictions, which of the following statements is the most reasonable? a. no one has ever tested astrology, so it is not possible to say whether it is a useful predictive test b. astrology has passed about half of the tests that have been devised for it, and it is very controversial; and half the scientists think it works, and the other half do not c. astrology has not passed and clear scientific or statistical test and, as a result, most scientists are very doubtful that it can predict anything meaningful about our lives d. astrology has passed every test with flying colors and scientists now agree that the positions of celestial objects are very important in determining our personalities and future e. because it was Ptolemy who wrote the books on which modern astrology is based, most scientists believe it must be correct, no matter what any tests reveal

c. astrology has not passed any clear scientific of statistical test and, as a result, most scientists are very doubtful that it can predict anything meaningful about our lives

From a city in the U.S., where in the sky would you look to see a star that is not turning with the motion of the sky in the course of a night? a. at your zenith b. on the celestial equator c. at the north celestial pole d. on your horizon e. you can't fool me, all stars appear to turn around the sky from locations in the U.S.

c. at the north celestial pole

Which of the following is NOT an argument for showing that the Earth must be round: a. photographs of the Earth from space always show a round body b. during an eclipse of the Moon, the shadow of the Earth is always seen to be round c. the Sun is seen blocking different constellations in the course of a year d. when ships travel a large distance away, we see their hulls disappear first and their masts disappear last e. the height of the North Star changes as we travel to different latitudes

c. the Sun is seen blocking different constellations in the course of a year

In Ptolemy's system the planets orbit the Earth and not the Sun. How did the system explain the retrograde motion of planets like Jupiter? a. the Sun moved among the planets, and pulled them out of their circular orbits b. the planets were not moving along the ecliptic, but all over the celestial sphere c. the planets moved on a small circle whose center, in turn, circled a point near the Earth d. the planets moved in very elongated eclipses, and their speed in orbit changed radically over the course of a year e. you can't fool me, Ptolemy's system did not include ANY explanation of retrograde motion

c. the planets moved on a small circle whose center, in turn, circled a point near the Earth

The point in the sky directly above your head at any given time is called the a. bald spot b. nadir c. zenith d. celestial pole e, horizon point

c. zenith

From horizon to opposite horizon, the sky takes up how much angular distance? a. 100 degrees b. 90 degrees c. 360 degrees d. 180 degrees e. you can't fool me, this number varies with latitude

d. 180 degrees

Where on Earth do stars always circle the zenith (and never rise and set)? a. at the equator b. everywhere c. at the latitude of Washington D.C. d. at the north pole e. nowhere

d. at the north pole

When it comes to our place in the solar system today, which model do we accept? a. self-centered (Trumpian) b. geocentric c. Ptolemaic d. heliocentric e. Aristotelean

d. heliocentric

The slow tipping of the Earth's axis in a circle with a period of about 26,000 years is called: a. ecliptic motion b. retrograde motion c. deferential motion d. precession e. revolution

d. precession

The south celestial pole and the north celestial pole lie in the sky directly above a. the Earth's equator b. the town of Bayonne, New Jersey c. the observer's zenith d. the Earth's axis e. the ecliptic

d. the Earth's axis

Someone who observes the sky every clear night in Boston for many years will NEVER get to see: a. the north celestial pole b. the observer's zenith point c. the north circumpolar zone d. the couth circumpolar zone the Big Dipper

d. the south circumpolar zone

The great astronomer of ancient times who summarized and improved a system of circles upon circles to explain the complicated motions of the planets (and published the system in a book now called The Almagest) is: a. Pythagoras b. Hipparchus c. Copernicus d. Alfonso the Wise e. Ptolemy

e. Ptolemy

A graduate student in geology who grew up in Florida (near the southernmost tip of the United States) gets to accompany her research professor to the North Pole. What will be different at the North Pole from the way she remembers the sky in Florida? a. the way (and whether) the stars rise or set b. the celestial equator is on the horizon c. all of the above (a-c) would be the same in Florida d. the celestial pole is overhead e. all of the above would be different from the way it is in Florida

e. all of the above would be different from the way it is in Florida

Some Canadian troops are sent (as part of a U.N. peacekeeping force) to a country located on the Earth's equator. At night, when homesickness makes them gaze sleeplessly at the stars, which of the following will be familiar to them ( the same at the equator as in Canada): a. the celestial equator is overhead and passes through the zenith b. all stars are above the horizon exactly half a day c. the celestial poles are on the north and south points of the horizon d. all stars rise and set ( no star remains in the sky all ight long) e. none of the above are the same on the equator as in Canada

e. none of the above are the same on the equator as in Canada