Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

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.

Suppose you see a photo showing Jupiter half in sunlight and half in shadow (that is, a first quarter Jupiter). This photo might have been taken by .

Tonight, your telescope shows you RXJ1800, a galaxy, very near in the sky to the bright star Vega. What can you conclude from this observation?

During a lunar eclipse the Moon's phase must be

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: My sign is Ursa Major because the Sun was in Ursa Major when I was born.

If part of the full moon passes through Earth's umbra, we will see a(n)

We describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its _.

All the following statements are true. Which one explains the reason that there is not a solar eclipse at every new moon?

Stars that are visible in the local sky on any clear night of the year, at any time of the night, are called .

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. At what phase of the Moon would you see sunrise? What phase of Earth would you see at this time?

If the Moon is setting at noon, then it rose at

It is possible to view the Moon in first- quarter phase the day after a total lunar eclipse.

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?

Which of the following statements about constellations is false?

In which direction does a quarter moon rise?

The Sidereal Day: Using your wristwatch and observations of the night sky over the course of a few weeks, how can you demonstrate to a friend that 24 hours cannot be the true rotation period of the Earth (often called the sidereal day)? What assumptions do you make in this argument?

You experience night- time when

What is the ecliptic?

If the Moon rises around 3 A.M., its phase must be

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. At what phase of the Moon would you see sunset? What phase of Earth would you see at this time?