Question 1

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Accepted Answer

A)  45° 
B)  23.5° 
C)  39° 
D)  51° 
E)  The answer depends on the day of the year. 
A)  45° 
B)  23.5° 
C)  39° 
D)  51° 
E)  The answer depends on the day of the year. C

Question 2

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  the force of gravity from the sun and moon on Earth's equatorial bulge. 
B)  the force of gravity from the sun and Jupiter on the Earth-moon system. 
C)  the magnetic field of Earth. 
D)  the formation and subsequent melting of glaciers during the ice-ages. 
E)  the impact of asteroids. 
A)  the force of gravity from the sun and moon on Earth's equatorial bulge. 
B)  the force of gravity from the sun and Jupiter on the Earth-moon system. 
C)  the magnetic field of Earth. 
D)  the formation and subsequent melting of glaciers during the ice-ages. 
E)  the impact of asteroids. A

Question 3

An observer on Earth's geographic north pole would find

Accepted Answer

A)  Polaris directly overhead. 
B)  Polaris 40° above the northern horizon. 
C)  that the celestial equator coincides with the horizon. 
D)  that the celestial equator passing directly overhead. 
E)  that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon. 
A)  Polaris directly overhead. 
B)  Polaris 40° above the northern horizon. 
C)  that the celestial equator coincides with the horizon. 
D)  that the celestial equator passing directly overhead. 
E)  that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon. A

Question 4

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.

Accepted Answer

A)  2 times fainter 
B)  2 times brighter 
C)  6.3 times fainter 
D)  6.3 times brighter 
E)  29.8 times fainter 
A)  2 times fainter 
B)  2 times brighter 
C)  6.3 times fainter 
D)  6.3 times brighter 
E)  29.8 times fainter

Question 5

Hipparchus devised the magnitude system in the late 1700's.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

Accepted Answer

A)  one of the brighter stars in the sky. 
B)  bright enough that it would be visible even during the day. 
C)  not visible with the unaided eye. 
D)  very far from Earth. 
E)  very close to Earth. 
A)  one of the brighter stars in the sky. 
B)  bright enough that it would be visible even during the day. 
C)  not visible with the unaided eye. 
D)  very far from Earth. 
E)  very close to Earth.

Question 8

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

Accepted Answer

A)  62° 
B)  28° 
C)  40° 
D)  23° 
E)  5° 
A)  62° 
B)  28° 
C)  40° 
D)  23° 
E)  5°

Question 9

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below?

Accepted Answer

A)  90° N 
B)  90° S 
C)  50° N 
D)  50° S 
E)  0° 
A)  90° N 
B)  90° S 
C)  50° N 
D)  50° S 
E)  0°

Question 10

How are the celestial poles and equator defined by Earth's rotation?

Accepted Answer

The celestial poles and the celestial eq

Question 11

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

Accepted Answer

A)  18 
B)  (-14) 
C)  3 
D)  (-3) 
E)  5 
A)  18 
B)  (-14) 
C)  3 
D)  (-3) 
E)  5

Question 12

During the month of June the north celestial pole points towards Polaris, but during the month of December it points

Accepted Answer

A)  just north of Polaris. 
B)  just south of Polaris. 
C)  towards the star Vega. 
D)  towards the star Thuban. 
E)  still towards Polaris. 
A)  just north of Polaris. 
B)  just south of Polaris. 
C)  towards the star Vega. 
D)  towards the star Thuban. 
E)  still towards Polaris.

Question 13

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  90° N 
B)  90° S 
C)  0° 
D)  45° N 
E)  The latitude of the observer cannot be determined from the information given. 
A)  90° N 
B)  90° S 
C)  0° 
D)  45° N 
E)  The latitude of the observer cannot be determined from the information given.

Question 14

Earth's rotation axis ____________________ slowly so that in a few thousand years Polaris will no longer be the North Star.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Earth's rotation axis ____________________ slowly so that...

Question 15

At the Earth's north pole, the north celestial pole is directly overhead and stars near the horizon travel in straight lines

Accepted Answer

A)  straight up from the horizon. 
B)  straight up from the horizon slanting toward the right. 
C)  straight up from the horizon slanting toward the left. 
D)  parallel to the horizon. 
A)  straight up from the horizon. 
B)  straight up from the horizon slanting toward the right. 
C)  straight up from the horizon slanting toward the left. 
D)  parallel to the horizon.

Question 16

A scientific model is a mental conception that provides a framework that helps us think about some aspect of nature.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth takes ____ to complete a cycle.

Accepted Answer

A)  24 hours 
B)  one year 
C)  260 years 
D)  26,000 years 
E)  260,000 years 
A)  24 hours 
B)  one year 
C)  260 years 
D)  26,000 years 
E)  260,000 years

Question 19

The celestial equator always crosses the horizon at the east point and west point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only stars close to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane) are located in constellations. 
B)  Every star is located in a constellation. 
C)  Only the brighter stars are in constellations. 
D)  Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations. 
A)  Only stars close to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane) are located in constellations. 
B)  Every star is located in a constellation. 
C)  Only the brighter stars are in constellations. 
D)  Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations.

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

An observer on Earth's geographic north pole would find

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.

Hipparchus devised the magnitude system in the late 1700's.

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

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below?

How are the celestial poles and equator defined by Earth's rotation?

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

During the month of June the north celestial pole points towards Polaris, but during the month of December it points

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

Earth's rotation axis ____________________ slowly so that in a few thousand years Polaris will no longer be the North Star.

At the Earth's north pole, the north celestial pole is directly overhead and stars near the horizon travel in straight lines

A scientific model is a mental conception that provides a framework that helps us think about some aspect of nature.

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

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth takes ____ to complete a cycle.

The celestial equator always crosses the horizon at the east point and west point.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Here and Now

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

An observer on Earth's geographic north pole would find

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.

Hipparchus devised the magnitude system in the late 1700's.

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

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below?

How are the celestial poles and equator defined by Earth's rotation?

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

During the month of June the north celestial pole points towards Polaris, but during the month of December it points

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

Earth's rotation axis ____________________ slowly so that in a few thousand years Polaris will no longer be the North Star.

At the Earth's north pole, the north celestial pole is directly overhead and stars near the horizon travel in straight lines

A scientific model is a mental conception that provides a framework that helps us think about some aspect of nature.

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

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth takes ____ to complete a cycle.

The celestial equator always crosses the horizon at the east point and west point.

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Here and Now

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters