Question 1

In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse, what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra. 
B) The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located. 
C) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra. 
D) The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. 
E) Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun. 
A) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra. 
B) The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located. 
C) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra. 
D) The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. 
E) Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun.

Question 2

The Greeks rejected the notion that the Earth orbits the Sun. Why?

Accepted Answer

A) They could not measure how big the Earth was. 
B) They could not measure a change in stars' positions on the sky. 
C) They believed that the Sun is a God. 
D) They weren't as smart as we are. 
A) They could not measure how big the Earth was. 
B) They could not measure a change in stars' positions on the sky. 
C) They believed that the Sun is a God. 
D) They weren't as smart as we are.

Question 3

Lunar eclipses can occur only during a .

Accepted Answer

A) new moon 
B) full moon 
C) third quarter moon 
D) first quarter moon 
A) new moon 
B) full moon 
C) third quarter moon 
D) first quarter moon

Question 4

The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

It is possible to see the full moon rising just before sunrise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. During the phase of full moon, what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Accepted Answer

During the full moon

Question 7

Suppose the distance to the Moon were twice its actual value. Could we still have solar eclipses? If so, what type(s)?

Accepted Answer

If the Moon were twice its actual distan

Question 8

If you see Polaris directly overhead at midnight, you must be at

Accepted Answer

A) the South Pole. 
B) the North Pole. 
C) the Tropic of Cancer. 
D) the equator. 
A) the South Pole. 
B) the North Pole. 
C) the Tropic of Cancer. 
D) the equator.

Question 9

If the Moon is relatively far from Earth, so that its umbra does not reach Earth, someone directly behind the umbra will see

Accepted Answer

A) a partial solar eclipse. 
B) a penumbral lunar eclipse. 
C) no eclipse. 
D) an annular eclipse. 
E) a partial lunar eclipse. 
A) a partial solar eclipse. 
B) a penumbral lunar eclipse. 
C) no eclipse. 
D) an annular eclipse. 
E) a partial lunar eclipse.

Question 10

During the period each year when we see Mars undergoing apparent retrograde motion in our sky, what is really going on in space?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun. 
B) Mars is moving around the Sun in the opposite direction from which Earth is moving around the Sun. 
C) Earth is catching up with and passing by Mars in their respective orbits. 
D) Earth and Mars are getting closer together. 
A) Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of the Sun. 
B) Mars is moving around the Sun in the opposite direction from which Earth is moving around the Sun. 
C) Earth is catching up with and passing by Mars in their respective orbits. 
D) Earth and Mars are getting closer together.

Question 11

When we look into the band of light in our sky that we call the Milky Way, can we see distant galaxies? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because there are only galaxies above and below the plane of the Milky Way. 
B) Yes, there are many other galaxies that we see inside the Milky Way. 
C) No, because the stars, gas, and dust of the Milky Way block us from seeing them. 
D) Yes, they appear as small, fuzzy patches on the other side of our galaxy. 
A) No, because there are only galaxies above and below the plane of the Milky Way. 
B) Yes, there are many other galaxies that we see inside the Milky Way. 
C) No, because the stars, gas, and dust of the Milky Way block us from seeing them. 
D) Yes, they appear as small, fuzzy patches on the other side of our galaxy.

Question 12

Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) third- quarter moon 
B) full moon 
C) first- quarter moon 
D) half moon 
E) new moon 
A) third- quarter moon 
B) full moon 
C) first- quarter moon 
D) half moon 
E) new moon

Question 13

At midnight it is sometimes possible to observe the crescent moon on the meridian.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your local sky?

Accepted Answer

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) a half- circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west 
D) a half- circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south 
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) a half- circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west 
D) a half- circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south

Question 15

What effect or effects would be most significant if the Moon's orbital plane were exactly the same as the ecliptic plane?

Accepted Answer

A) Solar eclipses would be much rarer. 
B) Solar eclipses would be much more frequent. 
C) Total solar eclipses would last much longer. 
D) both A and C 
E) both B and C 
A) Solar eclipses would be much rarer. 
B) Solar eclipses would be much more frequent. 
C) Total solar eclipses would last much longer. 
D) both A and C 
E) both B and C

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the equinoxes. 
B) The Southern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
C) The Northern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
D) Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the solstices. 
E) Both A and C are true. 
A) Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the equinoxes. 
B) The Southern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
C) The Northern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
D) Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the solstices. 
E) Both A and C are true.

Question 17

Why were ancient peoples unable to detect stellar parallax?

Accepted Answer

A) They did not have the ability to measure very small angles. 
B) They did not observe for long enough periods of time. 
C) They could not see distant stars. 
D) They did not look for it. 
E) They did detect it, but they rejected the observations. 
A) They did not have the ability to measure very small angles. 
B) They did not observe for long enough periods of time. 
C) They could not see distant stars. 
D) They did not look for it. 
E) They did detect it, but they rejected the observations.

In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse, what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse?

The Greeks rejected the notion that the Earth orbits the Sun. Why?

Lunar eclipses can occur only during a .

The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit around the Sun.

It is possible to see the full moon rising just before sunrise.

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. During the phase of full moon, what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Suppose the distance to the Moon were twice its actual value. Could we still have solar eclipses? If so, what type(s)?

If you see Polaris directly overhead at midnight, you must be at

If the Moon is relatively far from Earth, so that its umbra does not reach Earth, someone directly behind the umbra will see

During the period each year when we see Mars undergoing apparent retrograde motion in our sky, what is really going on in space?

When we look into the band of light in our sky that we call the Milky Way, can we see distant galaxies? Why or why not?

Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon?

At midnight it is sometimes possible to observe the crescent moon on the meridian.

Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your local sky?

What effect or effects would be most significant if the Moon's orbital plane were exactly the same as the ecliptic plane?

Which of the following statements is true?

Why were ancient peoples unable to detect stellar parallax?

A Modern View of the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

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Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse, what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse?

The Greeks rejected the notion that the Earth orbits the Sun. Why?

Lunar eclipses can occur only during a .

The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit around the Sun.

It is possible to see the full moon rising just before sunrise.

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. During the phase of full moon, what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Suppose the distance to the Moon were twice its actual value. Could we still have solar eclipses? If so, what type(s)?

If you see Polaris directly overhead at midnight, you must be at

If the Moon is relatively far from Earth, so that its umbra does not reach Earth, someone directly behind the umbra will see

During the period each year when we see Mars undergoing apparent retrograde motion in our sky, what is really going on in space?

When we look into the band of light in our sky that we call the Milky Way, can we see distant galaxies? Why or why not?

Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon?

At midnight it is sometimes possible to observe the crescent moon on the meridian.

Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your local sky?

What effect or effects would be most significant if the Moon's orbital plane were exactly the same as the ecliptic plane?

Which of the following statements is true?

Why were ancient peoples unable to detect stellar parallax?

A Modern View of the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet System

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: the New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

A Universe of Galaxies

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Filters