Question 1

We cannot see a new moon in our sky because

Accepted Answer

A) it is obscured by Earth's shadow. 
B) no sunlight is illuminating the Moon. 
C) a new moon is quite near the Sun in the sky. 
D) it is above the horizon during the daytime. 
A) it is obscured by Earth's shadow. 
B) no sunlight is illuminating the Moon. 
C) a new moon is quite near the Sun in the sky. 
D) it is above the horizon during the daytime. C

Question 2

Each choice below describes how a few astronomical phenomena are related to time periods.Which list is entirely correct? (Careful: some lists are partially correct. )

Accepted Answer

A) Earth's rotation defines a day. The cycle of the Moon's phases takes about a month.
Earth's orbit defines a year.
Earth's cycle of axis precession takes 26,000 years. 
B) Earth's rotation defines a day. The cycle of the Moon's phases takes about a week.
Earth's orbit defines a year.
Earth's cycle of axis precession defines a month. 
C) Earth's rotation defines a day. The Sun's rotation defines a week.
The Moon's rotation defines a month.
Earth's orbit defines a year. 
D) Earth's rotation defines a day. The saros cycle of eclipses defines a month.
Earth's orbit defines a year.
Earth's cycle of axis precession takes 26,000 years. 
A) Earth's rotation defines a day. The cycle of the Moon's phases takes about a month.
Earth's orbit defines a year.
Earth's cycle of axis precession takes 26,000 years. 
B) Earth's rotation defines a day. The cycle of the Moon's phases takes about a week.
Earth's orbit defines a year.
Earth's cycle of axis precession defines a month. 
C) Earth's rotation defines a day. The Sun's rotation defines a week.
The Moon's rotation defines a month.
Earth's orbit defines a year. 
D) Earth's rotation defines a day. The saros cycle of eclipses defines a month.
Earth's orbit defines a year.
Earth's cycle of axis precession takes 26,000 years. A

Question 3

An angle of 1 arcsecond is

Accepted Answer

A) about the width of your fist held at arm's length. 
B) about the width of a finger held at arm's length. 
C) less than the thickness of a human hair held at arm's length. 
D) slightly more than the width of a basketball held at arm's length. 
A) about the width of your fist held at arm's length. 
B) about the width of a finger held at arm's length. 
C) less than the thickness of a human hair held at arm's length. 
D) slightly more than the width of a basketball held at arm's length. C

Question 4

At approximately what time would a full Moon be on your meridian?

Accepted Answer

A) 6 A.M. 
B) 9 A.M. 
C) noon 
D) 6 P.M. 
E) midnight 
A) 6 A.M. 
B) 9 A.M. 
C) noon 
D) 6 P.M. 
E) midnight

Question 5

If the Moon is setting at noon,the phase of the Moon must be

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse,what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra. 
B) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra. 
C) Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun. 
D) The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. 
E) The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located. 
A) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's umbra. 
B) Earth must lie completely within the Moon's penumbra. 
C) Earth must be near aphelion in its orbit of the Sun. 
D) The Moon's umbra must touch the area where you are located. 
E) The Moon's penumbra must touch the area where you are located.

Question 7

If the Moon is relatively far from Earth,so that the umbra does not reach Earth,someone directly behind the umbra will see

Accepted Answer

A) a penumbral lunar eclipse. 
B) a partial lunar eclipse. 
C) a partial solar eclipse. 
D) an annular eclipse. 
E) no eclipse. 
A) a penumbral lunar eclipse. 
B) a partial lunar eclipse. 
C) a partial solar eclipse. 
D) an annular eclipse. 
E) no eclipse.

Question 8

Which of the following never appears to exhibit retrograde motion?

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun 
B) Venus 
C) Mars 
D) Jupiter 
E) Saturn 
A) the Sun 
B) Venus 
C) Mars 
D) Jupiter 
E) Saturn

Question 9

Consider the following statement,and explain whether or not it is sensible: My sign is Ursa Major because the Sun was in Ursa Major when I was born.

Accepted Answer

Not sensible: The Sun appears

Question 10

Why is the Moon not completely invisible (it appears as a very deep red color)to the naked eye during a total lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

The Moon shines through reflected light

Question 11

Which of the following statements about constellations is false?

Accepted Answer

A) There are only 88 official constellations. 
B) Some constellations can be seen from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 
C) Some constellations can be seen in both the winter and summer. 
D) It is possible to see all the constellations from Earth's equator. 
E) Most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years from now. 
A) There are only 88 official constellations. 
B) Some constellations can be seen from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 
C) Some constellations can be seen in both the winter and summer. 
D) It is possible to see all the constellations from Earth's equator. 
E) Most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years from now.

Question 12

The Sun's path,as viewed from the equator,is highest in the sky on

Accepted Answer

A) the winter solstice. 
B) the spring and fall equinoxes. 
C) the summer solstice. 
D) the day when Earth is closest to the Sun. 
A) the winter solstice. 
B) the spring and fall equinoxes. 
C) the summer solstice. 
D) the day when Earth is closest to the Sun.

Question 13

How many arcseconds are in 1°?

Accepted Answer

A) 60 
B) 360 
C) 3,600 
D) 100 
E) 10,000 
A) 60 
B) 360 
C) 3,600 
D) 100 
E) 10,000

Question 14

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth.At what phase of the Moon would you see sunrise? What phase of Earth would you see at this time?

Accepted Answer

Sunrise would occur at the Moo

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A) It lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way. 
B) It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. 
C) It cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half. 
D) It extends from your horizon due east,through your zenith,to your horizon due west. 
E) It extends from your horizon due north,through your zenith,to your horizon due south. 
A) It lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way. 
B) It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. 
C) It cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half. 
D) It extends from your horizon due east,through your zenith,to your horizon due west. 
E) It extends from your horizon due north,through your zenith,to your horizon due south.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) The tilt of Earth's axis causes different portions of the Earth to receive more or less direct sunlight at different times of year. 
B) Earth's elliptical orbit means we are closer to the Sun and therefore receive more intense sunlight at some times of year than at others. 
C) The tilt of Earth's axis causes the northern hemisphere to be closer to the Sun than the southern hemisphere in summer,and visa versa in winter. 
D) The varying speed of Earth in its orbit around the Sun gives us summer when we are moving fastest and winter when we are moving slowest. 
A) The tilt of Earth's axis causes different portions of the Earth to receive more or less direct sunlight at different times of year. 
B) Earth's elliptical orbit means we are closer to the Sun and therefore receive more intense sunlight at some times of year than at others. 
C) The tilt of Earth's axis causes the northern hemisphere to be closer to the Sun than the southern hemisphere in summer,and visa versa in winter. 
D) The varying speed of Earth in its orbit around the Sun gives us summer when we are moving fastest and winter when we are moving slowest.

Question 17

All of the following statements are true.Which one explains the reason why there is not a solar eclipse at every new Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) The nodes of the Moon's orbit precess with an 18-year period. 
B) The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic plane. 
C) The Moon rotates synchronously with its revolution about Earth. 
D) The sidereal month is shorter than the lunar month. 
E) The Moon is the primary cause of tides on Earth. 
A) The nodes of the Moon's orbit precess with an 18-year period. 
B) The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic plane. 
C) The Moon rotates synchronously with its revolution about Earth. 
D) The sidereal month is shorter than the lunar month. 
E) The Moon is the primary cause of tides on Earth.

Question 18

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?

Accepted Answer

A) It doesn't-Earth's orbital distance plays no significant role in the seasons. 
B) It makes summer warmer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. 
C) It is responsible for the fact that the seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 
D) It causes the seasons to be more extreme than they would be if the Earth's distance from the Sun were always the same. 
A) It doesn't-Earth's orbital distance plays no significant role in the seasons. 
B) It makes summer warmer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. 
C) It is responsible for the fact that the seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 
D) It causes the seasons to be more extreme than they would be if the Earth's distance from the Sun were always the same.

Question 19

Suppose it is full Moon.What phase of Earth would someone on the Moon see at this time?

Accepted Answer

A) Full Earth 
B) New Earth 
C) First quarter Earth 
D) Earth does not go through phases as seen from the Moon. 
A) Full Earth 
B) New Earth 
C) First quarter Earth 
D) Earth does not go through phases as seen from the Moon.

Question 20

If Earth's axis had no tilt,would we still have seasons? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

We would no longer have seasons,because

Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

We cannot see a new moon in our sky because

Each choice below describes how a few astronomical phenomena are related to time periods.Which list is entirely correct? (Careful: some lists are partially correct. )

An angle of 1 arcsecond is

At approximately what time would a full Moon be on your meridian?

If the Moon is setting at noon,the phase of the Moon must be

In addition to the conditions required for any solar eclipse,what must also be true in order for you to observe a total solar eclipse?

If the Moon is relatively far from Earth,so that the umbra does not reach Earth,someone directly behind the umbra will see

Which of the following never appears to exhibit retrograde motion?

Consider the following statement,and explain whether or not it is sensible: My sign is Ursa Major because the Sun was in Ursa Major when I was born.

Why is the Moon not completely invisible (it appears as a very deep red color)to the naked eye during a total lunar eclipse?

Which of the following statements about constellations is false?

The Sun's path,as viewed from the equator,is highest in the sky on

How many arcseconds are in 1°?

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth.At what phase of the Moon would you see sunrise? What phase of Earth would you see at this time?

Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes?

Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth?

All of the following statements are true.Which one explains the reason why there is not a solar eclipse at every new Moon?

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?

Suppose it is full Moon.What phase of Earth would someone on the Moon see at this time?

If Earth's axis had no tilt,would we still have seasons? Why or why not?

A Modern View of the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

Filters