Question 1

If you were standing at the Earth's North Pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?

Accepted Answer

A)  the nadir 
B)  the star Vega 
C)  the celestial equator 
D)  the north celestial pole 
A)  the nadir 
B)  the star Vega 
C)  the celestial equator 
D)  the north celestial pole

Question 2

Why does a totally eclipsed Moon glow coppery red?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only red light can pass through the Earth's shadow and reach the Moon. 
B)  During a lunar eclipse the Moon reflects only red light from the Sun. 
C)  During a lunar eclipse the Sun is cooler than normal, so its light is redder. 
D)  Only red light is able to pass completely through the Earth's atmosphere and reach the Moon. 
A)  Only red light can pass through the Earth's shadow and reach the Moon. 
B)  During a lunar eclipse the Moon reflects only red light from the Sun. 
C)  During a lunar eclipse the Sun is cooler than normal, so its light is redder. 
D)  Only red light is able to pass completely through the Earth's atmosphere and reach the Moon.

Question 3

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say, 9 p.m.) follow a seasonal pattern?

Accepted Answer

A)  No; the same constellations are visible at 9 p.m. on any clear night of the year. 
B)  No; as the year progresses, the constellations visible at 9 p.m. are the same but their shapes change. 
C)  Yes; at 9 p.m. on a clear winter night, ALL of the constellations you can see are different from the ones that appear at the same time on a summer night. 
D)  Yes; at 9 p.m. on a summer night, MOST of the constellations you can see are different from those you can see on a winter night. Some constellations are visible all year long. 
A)  No; the same constellations are visible at 9 p.m. on any clear night of the year. 
B)  No; as the year progresses, the constellations visible at 9 p.m. are the same but their shapes change. 
C)  Yes; at 9 p.m. on a clear winter night, ALL of the constellations you can see are different from the ones that appear at the same time on a summer night. 
D)  Yes; at 9 p.m. on a summer night, MOST of the constellations you can see are different from those you can see on a winter night. Some constellations are visible all year long.

Question 4

-The diagram shows three approximate locations of the Sun along the western horizon. Which number indicates the location of the Sun at sunset on the vernal equinox (March 21) for an observer at a latitude of 48° South?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  The Sun will not set on the vernal equinox at this latitude. 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  The Sun will not set on the vernal equinox at this latitude.

Question 5

If someone on Earth observes the Moon in the third quarter phase, what phase would someone on the Moon facing Earth observe Earth in?

Accepted Answer

A)  the full Earth phase 
B)  the third quarter Earth phase 
C)  the first quarter Earth phase 
D)  the new Earth phase 
A)  the full Earth phase 
B)  the third quarter Earth phase 
C)  the first quarter Earth phase 
D)  the new Earth phase

Question 6

If you were standing on the Earth's equator, which of the following in the sky would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours)?

Accepted Answer

A)  the north celestial pole 
B)  the south celestial pole 
C)  the celestial equator 
D)  circumpolar constellations 
A)  the north celestial pole 
B)  the south celestial pole 
C)  the celestial equator 
D)  circumpolar constellations

Question 7

What aspect of an object depends on both the size of the object and the distance to the object?

Accepted Answer

A)  apparent brightness 
B)  apparent magnitude 
C)  angular diameter 
D)  proper motion 
A)  apparent brightness 
B)  apparent magnitude 
C)  angular diameter 
D)  proper motion

Question 8

In Brazil, in what month does the longest period of daylight occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  March 
B)  June 
C)  September 
D)  December 
A)  March 
B)  June 
C)  September 
D)  December

Question 9

Why doesn't the Earth experience a solar eclipse every month?

Accepted Answer

A)  Unpredictable weather patterns obscure the Moon. 
B)  The Moon always keeps its same side toward the Earth. 
C)  The Moon's orbit is not aligned with the Earth's orbit. 
D)  Sometimes the Moon is too far away. 
A)  Unpredictable weather patterns obscure the Moon. 
B)  The Moon always keeps its same side toward the Earth. 
C)  The Moon's orbit is not aligned with the Earth's orbit. 
D)  Sometimes the Moon is too far away.

Question 10

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.3 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 5.3. Star A is ____________________ than star B.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Star A has an apparent visual magnitude...

Question 11

An observer in the northern hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Accepted Answer

A)  due north 
B)  due south 
C)  due west 
D)  straight up, directly overhead 
A)  due north 
B)  due south 
C)  due west 
D)  straight up, directly overhead

Question 12

In what season is the constellation of Orion most visible in Canada?

Accepted Answer

A)  spring 
B)  summer 
C)  fall 
D)  winter 
A)  spring 
B)  summer 
C)  fall 
D)  winter

Question 13

How long would you have to wait to see a change in the pattern of stars in the night sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  several decades 
B)  thousands of years 
C)  millions of years 
D)  forever, the pattern of stars will never change 
A)  several decades 
B)  thousands of years 
C)  millions of years 
D)  forever, the pattern of stars will never change

Question 14

Relative to the stars, the Moon moves eastward in the sky each night. About how far does it move?

Accepted Answer

A)  1° 
B)  13° 
C)  27.3° 
D)  29.5° 
A)  1° 
B)  13° 
C)  27.3° 
D)  29.5°

Question 15

Which of the following is a prominent constellation in the Canadian winter sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  Taurus 
B)  Aquila 
C)  Cygnus 
D)  Virgo 
A)  Taurus 
B)  Aquila 
C)  Cygnus 
D)  Virgo

Question 16

What is the term for a set of beliefs that appears to be based on scientific ideas, but which fails to obey the most basic rules of science?

Accepted Answer

A)  theory 
B)  hypothesis 
C)  pseudoscience 
D)  scientific model 
A)  theory 
B)  hypothesis 
C)  pseudoscience 
D)  scientific model

Question 17

What is the purpose of the magnitude scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  It measures the apparent location of objects that appear in the sky. 
B)  It measures the apparent size of objects that appear in the sky. 
C)  It measures the apparent brightness of objects that appear in the sky. 
D)  It measures the apparent speed of objects that appear in the sky. 
A)  It measures the apparent location of objects that appear in the sky. 
B)  It measures the apparent size of objects that appear in the sky. 
C)  It measures the apparent brightness of objects that appear in the sky. 
D)  It measures the apparent speed of objects that appear in the sky.

Question 18

For an observer at the North Pole, what is the angular distance between a star at a declination of +30° and the zenith?

Accepted Answer

A)  30° 
B)  60° 
C)  90° 
D)  150° 
A)  30° 
B)  60° 
C)  90° 
D)  150°

Question 19

The Moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Where is an observer's nadir?

Accepted Answer

A)  the east point on the observer's horizon 
B)  the north point on the observer's horizon 
C)  the point directly opposite the observer's zenith 
D)  the point directly opposite the north celestial pole 
A)  the east point on the observer's horizon 
B)  the north point on the observer's horizon 
C)  the point directly opposite the observer's zenith 
D)  the point directly opposite the north celestial pole

If you were standing at the Earth's North Pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?

Why does a totally eclipsed Moon glow coppery red?

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say, 9 p.m.) follow a seasonal pattern?

-The diagram shows three approximate locations of the Sun along the western horizon. Which number indicates the location of the Sun at sunset on the vernal equinox (March 21) for an observer at a latitude of 48° South?

If someone on Earth observes the Moon in the third quarter phase, what phase would someone on the Moon facing Earth observe Earth in?

If you were standing on the Earth's equator, which of the following in the sky would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours)?

What aspect of an object depends on both the size of the object and the distance to the object?

In Brazil, in what month does the longest period of daylight occur?

Why doesn't the Earth experience a solar eclipse every month?

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.3 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 5.3. Star A is ____________________ than star B.

An observer in the northern hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

In what season is the constellation of Orion most visible in Canada?

How long would you have to wait to see a change in the pattern of stars in the night sky?

Relative to the stars, the Moon moves eastward in the sky each night. About how far does it move?

Which of the following is a prominent constellation in the Canadian winter sky?

What is the term for a set of beliefs that appears to be based on scientific ideas, but which fails to obey the most basic rules of science?

What is the purpose of the magnitude scale?

For an observer at the North Pole, what is the angular distance between a star at a declination of +30° and the zenith?

The Moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

Where is an observer's nadir?

The Scale of the Cosmos: Space and Time

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments: Extending Humanitys Vision

The Sun: the Closest Star

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Planet Formation and Exoplanets

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Solar System

Life on Other Worlds

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Exam 2: Users Guide to the Sky: Patterns and Cycles

If you were standing at the Earth's North Pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?

Why does a totally eclipsed Moon glow coppery red?

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say, 9 p.m.) follow a seasonal pattern?

-The diagram shows three approximate locations of the Sun along the western horizon. Which number indicates the location of the Sun at sunset on the vernal equinox (March 21) for an observer at a latitude of 48° South?

If someone on Earth observes the Moon in the third quarter phase, what phase would someone on the Moon facing Earth observe Earth in?

If you were standing on the Earth's equator, which of the following in the sky would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours)?

What aspect of an object depends on both the size of the object and the distance to the object?

In Brazil, in what month does the longest period of daylight occur?

Why doesn't the Earth experience a solar eclipse every month?

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.3 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 5.3. Star A is ____________________ than star B.

An observer in the northern hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

In what season is the constellation of Orion most visible in Canada?

How long would you have to wait to see a change in the pattern of stars in the night sky?

Relative to the stars, the Moon moves eastward in the sky each night. About how far does it move?

Which of the following is a prominent constellation in the Canadian winter sky?

What is the term for a set of beliefs that appears to be based on scientific ideas, but which fails to obey the most basic rules of science?

What is the purpose of the magnitude scale?

For an observer at the North Pole, what is the angular distance between a star at a declination of +30° and the zenith?

The Moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

Where is an observer's nadir?

The Scale of the Cosmos: Space and Time

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments: Extending Humanitys Vision

The Sun: the Closest Star

The Family of Stars

The Structure and Formation of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology in the 21st Century

Planet Formation and Exoplanets

Comparative Planetology of the Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Solar System

Life on Other Worlds

Filters