Question 1

What are the points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator called?

Accepted Answer

Equinoxes

Question 2

If tonight the Moon is in the waxing gibbous phase, in three days the phase of the Moon will be

Accepted Answer

A)  new. 
B)  full. 
C)  third quarter. 
D)  first quarter. 
E)  waxing crescent. 
A)  new. 
B)  full. 
C)  third quarter. 
D)  first quarter. 
E)  waxing crescent.

Question 3

The position of the autumnal equinox lies at the intersection of which two great celestial circles on the celestial sphere?

Accepted Answer

The autumnal equinox

Question 4

Earth experiences seasons due to the tilt of its axis.What are two consequences of this tilt that contribute to the seasons?

Accepted Answer

(1)Variation in the

Question 5

During which season (in the Northern Hemisphere) could you see the Sun rising from the northernmost point on the horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  winter 
B)  spring 
C)  summer 
D)  fall 
E)  The Sun always rises directly in the east. 
A)  winter 
B)  spring 
C)  summer 
D)  fall 
E)  The Sun always rises directly in the east.

Question 6

If a person on Earth views the Moon in a waxing crescent phase, in what phase would Earth appear to a person on the Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  waxing crescent 
B)  waxing gibbous 
C)  waning gibbous 
D)  waning crescent 
E)  new 
A)  waxing crescent 
B)  waxing gibbous 
C)  waning gibbous 
D)  waning crescent 
E)  new

Question 7

A purely lunar calendar is not ideal for our modern world because

Accepted Answer

A)  leap years are more frequent. 
B)  the months line up with the phases of the moon. 
C)  the seasons wouldn't occur on the same month every year. 
D)  high and low tides occur at different times. 
E)  leap years are less frequent. 
A)  leap years are more frequent. 
B)  the months line up with the phases of the moon. 
C)  the seasons wouldn't occur on the same month every year. 
D)  high and low tides occur at different times. 
E)  leap years are less frequent.

Question 8

Your meridian is an imaginary circle on the sky that connects the

Accepted Answer

A)  celestial equator and vernal equinox. 
B)  north and south celestial poles. 
C)  zenith and the north and south directions. 
D)  zenith and the east and west directions. 
E)  celestial equator and summer solstice. 
A)  celestial equator and vernal equinox. 
B)  north and south celestial poles. 
C)  zenith and the north and south directions. 
D)  zenith and the east and west directions. 
E)  celestial equator and summer solstice.

Question 9

If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35$\degree$, then we know that

Accepted Answer

A)  our longitude is +55$\degree$. 
B)  our latitude is +55$\degree$. 
C)  our longitude is -35$\degree$. 
D)  our longitude is+35$\degree$. 
E)  our latitude is +35$\degree$. 
A)  our longitude is +55$\degree$. 
B)  our latitude is +55$\degree$. 
C)  our longitude is -35$\degree$. 
D)  our longitude is+35$\degree$. 
E)  our latitude is +35$\degree$.

Question 10

Draw a picture below showing the Moon's location relative to Earth and the Sun during a lunar eclipse.

Accepted Answer

The Moon,Earth,and Sun should

Question 11

Earth's rotational axis precesses in space and completes one revolution every

Accepted Answer

A)  200 years. 
B)  1,800 years. 
C)  7,300 years. 
D)  26,000 years. 
E)  51,000 years. 
A)  200 years. 
B)  1,800 years. 
C)  7,300 years. 
D)  26,000 years. 
E)  51,000 years.

Question 12

A person riding in a moving car will observe objects moving differently from someone standing still on the side of the road, because

Accepted Answer

A)  the laws of physics are different for moving objects. 
B)  of the precession of the Earth's axis. 
C)  they are in different frames of reference. 
D)  they will have different latitudes on the Earth. 
E)  motion distorts measurements of true values. 
A)  the laws of physics are different for moving objects. 
B)  of the precession of the Earth's axis. 
C)  they are in different frames of reference. 
D)  they will have different latitudes on the Earth. 
E)  motion distorts measurements of true values.

Question 13

Solar and lunar eclipses are rare because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2$\degree$relative to the plane defined by Earth's equator. 
B)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2$\degree$relative to Earth's orbital plane about the Sun. 
C)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5$\degree$relative to the plane defined by Earth's equator. 
D)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5$\degree$relative to Earth's orbital plane about the Sun. 
E)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2$\degree$relative to the galactic plane. 
A)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2$\degree$relative to the plane defined by Earth's equator. 
B)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2$\degree$relative to Earth's orbital plane about the Sun. 
C)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5$\degree$relative to the plane defined by Earth's equator. 
D)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5$\degree$relative to Earth's orbital plane about the Sun. 
E)  the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2$\degree$relative to the galactic plane.

Question 14

The Moon undergoes synchronous rotation, and as a consequence the

Accepted Answer

A)  rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of the Moon around Earth. 
B)  rotational period of the Moon equals the rotational period of Earth. 
C)  rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of Earth around the Sun. 
D)  orbital period of the Moon around Earth equals the rotational period of Earth. 
E)  Moon does not rotate as it orbits Earth. 
A)  rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of the Moon around Earth. 
B)  rotational period of the Moon equals the rotational period of Earth. 
C)  rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of Earth around the Sun. 
D)  orbital period of the Moon around Earth equals the rotational period of Earth. 
E)  Moon does not rotate as it orbits Earth.

Question 15

The apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of a year is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  prime meridian. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  circumpolar plane. 
D)  celestial equator. 
E)  eclipse. 
A)  prime meridian. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  circumpolar plane. 
D)  celestial equator. 
E)  eclipse.

Question 16

Declination is a measure of a star's location relative to the

Accepted Answer

A)  zenith. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  nadir. 
D)  celestial equator. 
E)  line of nodes. 
A)  zenith. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  nadir. 
D)  celestial equator. 
E)  line of nodes.

Question 17

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 18

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40$\degree$.Using the figure below, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at 6 P.M.in mid-May?

Accepted Answer

A)  Scorpius 
B)  Taurus 
C)  Pisces 
D)  Aquarius 
E)  Leo 
A)  Scorpius 
B)  Taurus 
C)  Pisces 
D)  Aquarius 
E)  Leo

Question 19

If you see a full Moon tonight, approximately how long would you have to wait to see the next full Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 week 
B)  2 weeks 
C)  3 weeks 
D)  4 weeks 
E)  5 weeks 
A)  1 week 
B)  2 weeks 
C)  3 weeks 
D)  4 weeks 
E)  5 weeks

Question 20

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun appears to go behind the Moon. 
B)  the Moon passes through part of the Earth's shadow. 
C)  the Moon shadows part of the Sun. 
D)  the Earth passes through part of the Moon's shadow. 
E)  the Moon passes through part of the Sun's shadow. 
A)  the Sun appears to go behind the Moon. 
B)  the Moon passes through part of the Earth's shadow. 
C)  the Moon shadows part of the Sun. 
D)  the Earth passes through part of the Moon's shadow. 
E)  the Moon passes through part of the Sun's shadow.

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

What are the points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator called?

If tonight the Moon is in the waxing gibbous phase, in three days the phase of the Moon will be

The position of the autumnal equinox lies at the intersection of which two great celestial circles on the celestial sphere?

Earth experiences seasons due to the tilt of its axis.What are two consequences of this tilt that contribute to the seasons?

During which season (in the Northern Hemisphere) could you see the Sun rising from the northernmost point on the horizon?

If a person on Earth views the Moon in a waxing crescent phase, in what phase would Earth appear to a person on the Moon?

A purely lunar calendar is not ideal for our modern world because

Your meridian is an imaginary circle on the sky that connects the

If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35 °\degree° , then we know that

Draw a picture below showing the Moon's location relative to Earth and the Sun during a lunar eclipse.

Earth's rotational axis precesses in space and completes one revolution every

A person riding in a moving car will observe objects moving differently from someone standing still on the side of the road, because

Solar and lunar eclipses are rare because

The Moon undergoes synchronous rotation, and as a consequence the

The apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of a year is called the

Declination is a measure of a star's location relative to the

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?

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40 °\degree° .Using the figure below, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at 6 P.M.in mid-May?

If you see a full Moon tonight, approximately how long would you have to wait to see the next full Moon?

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters

If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35 $\degree$ , then we know that