Question 1

The ecliptic is the path produced by the apparent motion of ________ in the sky.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon 
B)  the Sun 
C)  the celestial equator 
D)  Polaris 
E)  the stars 
A)  the Moon 
B)  the Sun 
C)  the celestial equator 
D)  Polaris 
E)  the stars

Question 2

Right ascension is a measure of a star's location on the celestial sphere that is most similar to which measurement of location on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  meters 
B)  longitude 
C)  latitude 
D)  degrees 
E)  radians 
A)  meters 
B)  longitude 
C)  latitude 
D)  degrees 
E)  radians

Question 3

How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator, the North Pole, and latitude =+45 $\degree$.)

Accepted Answer

The observed height of Polaris above the

Question 4

Based on the location of the Moon shown in the figure below, draw a picture of how the moon would appear to an observer located on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The drawing should show a thir

Question 5

How often would we have leap years if Earth's orbital period were 365.1 days?

Accepted Answer

A)  every year 
B)  every 2 years 
C)  every 4 years 
D)  every 10 years 
E)  We would not need to have leap years. 
A)  every year 
B)  every 2 years 
C)  every 4 years 
D)  every 10 years 
E)  We would not need to have leap years.

Question 6

Circumpolar stars are stars that are

Accepted Answer

A)  always below the horizon. 
B)  always on the celestial equator. 
C)  always at the north celestial pole. 
D)  sometimes above the horizon. 
E)  always above the horizon. 
A)  always below the horizon. 
B)  always on the celestial equator. 
C)  always at the north celestial pole. 
D)  sometimes above the horizon. 
E)  always above the horizon.

Question 7

If you are above the arctic circle, the majority of the stars in your sky are

Accepted Answer

A)  near the ecliptic. 
B)  stationary. 
C)  near the horizon. 
D)  circumpolar. 
E)  pole stars. 
A)  near the ecliptic. 
B)  stationary. 
C)  near the horizon. 
D)  circumpolar. 
E)  pole stars.

Question 8

A solar-powered spacecraft is traveling through the Moon's shadow.Which part(s), if any, of the Moon's shadow will cause the spacecraft to completely lose power?

Accepted Answer

A)  umbra 
B)  penumbra 
C)  annulus 
D)  both umbra and penumbra 
E)  The spacecraft will never lose power. 
A)  umbra 
B)  penumbra 
C)  annulus 
D)  both umbra and penumbra 
E)  The spacecraft will never lose power.

Question 9

At which of the possible times below could the waxing gibbous moon be seen rising?

Accepted Answer

A)  3 P.M. 
B)  9 A.M. 
C)  11 P.M. 
D)  5 A.M. 
E)  8 P.M. 
A)  3 P.M. 
B)  9 A.M. 
C)  11 P.M. 
D)  5 A.M. 
E)  8 P.M.

Question 10

If Earth's axis were tilted by 35$\degree$ instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?

Accepted Answer

A)  The seasons would remain the same. 
B)  Summers would be colder. 
C)  Winters would be shorter. 
D)  Winters would be colder. 
E)  Summers would be shorter. 
A)  The seasons would remain the same. 
B)  Summers would be colder. 
C)  Winters would be shorter. 
D)  Winters would be colder. 
E)  Summers would be shorter.

Question 11

Earth is closest to the Sun when the Northern Hemisphere experiences

Accepted Answer

A)  spring. 
B)  summer. 
C)  fall. 
D)  winter. 
E)  none of these; the Earth is always the same distance from the Sun. 
A)  spring. 
B)  summer. 
C)  fall. 
D)  winter. 
E)  none of these; the Earth is always the same distance from the Sun.

Question 12

The sidereal period of the moon is closest to

Accepted Answer

A)  1 month. 
B)  27 days. 
C)  28 days. 
D)  29 days. 
E)  31 days. 
A)  1 month. 
B)  27 days. 
C)  28 days. 
D)  29 days. 
E)  31 days.

Question 13

For a person living in Vancouver, Canada, at latitude of +49$\degree$, the maximum altitude of the Sun above the southern horizon on the day of the winter solstice is

Accepted Answer

A)  41.0$\degree$. 
B)  17.5$\degree$. 
C)  25.5$\degree$. 
D)  37.0$\degree$. 
E)  64.5$\degree$. 
A)  41.0$\degree$. 
B)  17.5$\degree$. 
C)  25.5$\degree$. 
D)  37.0$\degree$. 
E)  64.5$\degree$.

Question 14

Explain the type of solar eclipse that would be observed by an observer on Earth if they were in each respective part (A, B, C, and D) of the shadow of the moon, as shown in the figure below.

Accepted Answer

An observer in part A would ob

Question 15

In the figure below, at which position must the Moon be located in order for a solar eclipse to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  None of these is correct. 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  None of these is correct.

Question 16

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown in the figure below.What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

Accepted Answer

A)  north 
B)  east 
C)  south 
D)  west 
E)  directly overhead 
A)  north 
B)  east 
C)  south 
D)  west 
E)  directly overhead

Question 17

On what day(s) of the year does the Sun set due west?

Accepted Answer

The Sun will set due

Question 18

If you are standing on the equator and shoot a cannonball directly north such that it lands a few degrees latitude away from your position, where would you expect it to land?

Accepted Answer

The cannonball would land to the northea

Question 19

In the figure below, at which position must the Moon be located in order for a lunar eclipse to occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  None of these is correct. 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  None of these is correct.

Question 20

If you are observing a partial solar eclipse, you must be standing in the

Accepted Answer

A)  Moon's umbra. 
B)  Moon's penumbra. 
C)  Earth's umbra. 
D)  Earth's penumbra. 
E)  Sun's umbra. 
A)  Moon's umbra. 
B)  Moon's penumbra. 
C)  Earth's umbra. 
D)  Earth's penumbra. 
E)  Sun's umbra.

Exam 2: Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

The ecliptic is the path produced by the apparent motion of ________ in the sky.

Right ascension is a measure of a star's location on the celestial sphere that is most similar to which measurement of location on Earth?

How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator, the North Pole, and latitude =+45 °\degree° .)

Based on the location of the Moon shown in the figure below, draw a picture of how the moon would appear to an observer located on Earth.

How often would we have leap years if Earth's orbital period were 365.1 days?

Circumpolar stars are stars that are

If you are above the arctic circle, the majority of the stars in your sky are

A solar-powered spacecraft is traveling through the Moon's shadow.Which part(s), if any, of the Moon's shadow will cause the spacecraft to completely lose power?

At which of the possible times below could the waxing gibbous moon be seen rising?

If Earth's axis were tilted by 35 °\degree° instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?

Earth is closest to the Sun when the Northern Hemisphere experiences

The sidereal period of the moon is closest to

For a person living in Vancouver, Canada, at latitude of +49 °\degree° , the maximum altitude of the Sun above the southern horizon on the day of the winter solstice is

Explain the type of solar eclipse that would be observed by an observer on Earth if they were in each respective part (A, B, C, and D) of the shadow of the moon, as shown in the figure below.

In the figure below, at which position must the Moon be located in order for a solar eclipse to occur?

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown in the figure below.What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

On what day(s) of the year does the Sun set due west?

If you are standing on the equator and shoot a cannonball directly north such that it lands a few degrees latitude away from your position, where would you expect it to land?

In the figure below, at which position must the Moon be located in order for a lunar eclipse to occur?

If you are observing a partial solar eclipse, you must be standing in the

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How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator, the North Pole, and latitude =+45 $\degree$ .)

If Earth's axis were tilted by 35 $\degree$ instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?

For a person living in Vancouver, Canada, at latitude of +49 $\degree$ , the maximum altitude of the Sun above the southern horizon on the day of the winter solstice is