Question 1

The Earth's equator can be found

Accepted Answer

A)  exactly halfway between the Earth's poles. 
B)  where the ground is the warmest. 
C)  aligned with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. 
D)  aligned with the Moon's orbit around the Earth. 
E)  None of these options is correct. 
A)  exactly halfway between the Earth's poles. 
B)  where the ground is the warmest. 
C)  aligned with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. 
D)  aligned with the Moon's orbit around the Earth. 
E)  None of these options is correct.

Question 2

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 waxi

Question 3

Explain why the eclipse seasons occur roughly twice every 11 months, rather than twice per year.

Accepted Answer

This happens because the plane of the Mo

Question 4

How does today's Gregorian calendar differ from the calendars of ancient civilizations, such as the Chinese, the Egyptians, and the Babylonians?

Accepted Answer

The Gregorian calendar is based on the t

Question 5

Living in the Northern Hemisphere, you see the Moon with exactly its right half illuminated.This phase is

Accepted Answer

A)  full moon. 
B)  first quarter. 
C)  waning crescent. 
D)  third quarter. 
E)  waxing gibbous. 
A)  full moon. 
B)  first quarter. 
C)  waning crescent. 
D)  third quarter. 
E)  waxing gibbous.

Question 6

If you go out at exactly 9 P.M.each evening over the course of one month, the position of a given star will move westward by tens of degrees.What causes this motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's rotation on its axis 
B)  the revolution of Earth around the Sun 
C)  the revolution of the Moon around Earth 
D)  the revolution of the Sun around Earth 
E)  the speed of the star through space 
A)  Earth's rotation on its axis 
B)  the revolution of Earth around the Sun 
C)  the revolution of the Moon around Earth 
D)  the revolution of the Sun around Earth 
E)  the speed of the star through space

Question 7

During a lunar eclipse the Moon can appear red.This is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  the moon glowing red. 
B)  oxidation of the lunar crust. 
C)  solar flares. 
D)  light traveling through the Earth's atmosphere. 
E)  light being reddened as it is reflected by Moon dust. 
A)  the moon glowing red. 
B)  oxidation of the lunar crust. 
C)  solar flares. 
D)  light traveling through the Earth's atmosphere. 
E)  light being reddened as it is reflected by Moon dust.

Question 8

What place(s) on Earth can you stand and have the entire celestial equator be at the same altitude for all 360 degrees of its circumference?

Accepted Answer

You can stand at eit

Question 9

When the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer, the Southern Hemisphere experiences

Accepted Answer

A)  spring. 
B)  summer. 
C)  fall. 
D)  winter. 
E)  none of these 
A)  spring. 
B)  summer. 
C)  fall. 
D)  winter. 
E)  none of these

Question 10

Approximately how large is the umbra on the surface of Earth?

Accepted Answer

The largest it can be is when

Question 11

Approximately how often do lunar eclipses occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  twice every year 
B)  three times every year 
C)  once per month 
D)  twice every 11 months 
E)  once every 11 years 
A)  twice every year 
B)  three times every year 
C)  once per month 
D)  twice every 11 months 
E)  once every 11 years

Question 12

If you are lucky enough to see a total 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.

Question 13

What is the difference between the terms solar day and sidereal day?

Accepted Answer

A solar day is the time it takes for the

Question 14

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-September?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

What makes the equinoxes and solstices special?

Accepted Answer

The equinoxes occur when the Sun is dire

Question 16

If Earth's axis were tilted by 5$\degree$ 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 warmer. 
C)  Winters would last longer. 
D)  Winters would be warmer. 
E)  Summers would last longer. 
A)  The seasons would remain the same. 
B)  Summers would be warmer. 
C)  Winters would last longer. 
D)  Winters would be warmer. 
E)  Summers would last longer.

Question 17

At which of the following latitudes is it possible for the Sun's rays to hit the ground perpendicular to the ground at some point during the year?

Accepted Answer

A)  87$\degree$ 
B)  55$\degree$ 
C)  42$\degree$ 
D)  33$\degree$ 
E)  20$\degree$ 
A)  87$\degree$ 
B)  55$\degree$ 
C)  42$\degree$ 
D)  33$\degree$ 
E)  20$\degree$

Question 18

At approximately what time does a full Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  midnight 
B)  noon 
C)  6 A.M. 
D)  6 P.M. 
E)  3 P.M. 
A)  midnight 
B)  noon 
C)  6 A.M. 
D)  6 P.M. 
E)  3 P.M.

Question 19

At what latitude is the north celestial pole at your horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  0$\degree$ 
B)  (+30$\degree$) 
C)  (+60$\degree$) 
D)  (+90$\degree$) 
E)  This can never happen. 
A)  0$\degree$ 
B)  (+30$\degree$) 
C)  (+60$\degree$) 
D)  (+90$\degree$) 
E)  This can never happen.

Question 20

The day with the smallest number of daylight hours over the course of the year for a person living in the Southern Hemisphere is the

Accepted Answer

A)  summer solstice (June 21). 
B)  vernal equinox (March 20). 
C)  winter solstice (Dec.21). 
D)  autumnal equinox (Sept.23). 
E)  The number of daylight hours is always the same. 
A)  summer solstice (June 21). 
B)  vernal equinox (March 20). 
C)  winter solstice (Dec.21). 
D)  autumnal equinox (Sept.23). 
E)  The number of daylight hours is always the same.

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

The Earth's equator can be found

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.

Explain why the eclipse seasons occur roughly twice every 11 months, rather than twice per year.

How does today's Gregorian calendar differ from the calendars of ancient civilizations, such as the Chinese, the Egyptians, and the Babylonians?

Living in the Northern Hemisphere, you see the Moon with exactly its right half illuminated.This phase is

If you go out at exactly 9 P.M.each evening over the course of one month, the position of a given star will move westward by tens of degrees.What causes this motion?

During a lunar eclipse the Moon can appear red.This is caused by

What place(s) on Earth can you stand and have the entire celestial equator be at the same altitude for all 360 degrees of its circumference?

When the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer, the Southern Hemisphere experiences

Approximately how large is the umbra on the surface of Earth?

Approximately how often do lunar eclipses occur?

If you are lucky enough to see a total solar eclipse, you must be standing in the

What is the difference between the terms solar day and sidereal day?

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-September?

What makes the equinoxes and solstices special?

If Earth's axis were tilted by 5 °\degree° instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?

At which of the following latitudes is it possible for the Sun's rays to hit the ground perpendicular to the ground at some point during the year?

At approximately what time does a full Moon rise?

At what latitude is the north celestial pole at your horizon?

The day with the smallest number of daylight hours over the course of the year for a person living in the Southern Hemisphere is the

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 Earth's axis were tilted by 5 $\degree$ instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?