Question 1

It is possible to see the third-quarter Moon near the western horizon at sunrise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Process of Science: How could you show that the seasons depend on the tilt of the Earth rather than the distance the Earth is from the Sun?

Accepted Answer

You could fly across the equat

Question 3

Suppose you use the Southern Cross to determine that the south celestial pole appears 40 degrees above your horizon.Then you must be located at

Accepted Answer

A) latitude 40 degrees north. 
B) latitude 50 degrees south. 
C) latitude 40 degrees south. 
D) longitude 40 degrees. 
A) latitude 40 degrees north. 
B) latitude 50 degrees south. 
C) latitude 40 degrees south. 
D) longitude 40 degrees.

Question 4

What is the Saros cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) the roughly 6-month period between eclipse seasons 
B) the 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats 
C) the period between total solar eclipses 
D) the period between a total solar eclipse and a total lunar eclipse 
E) the period between eclipses 
A) the roughly 6-month period between eclipse seasons 
B) the 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats 
C) the period between total solar eclipses 
D) the period between a total solar eclipse and a total lunar eclipse 
E) the period between eclipses

Question 5

It's 6 a.m.and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian).What is the Moon's phase?

Accepted Answer

A) new 
B) first quarter 
C) full 
D) third quarter 
A) new 
B) first quarter 
C) full 
D) third quarter

Question 6

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth.During the phase of full Moon,what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Accepted Answer

During the full Moon

Question 7

We can describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its

Accepted Answer

A) altitude and direction (or azimuth). 
B) meridian and longitude. 
C) latitude and direction. 
D) latitude and longitude. 
A) altitude and direction (or azimuth). 
B) meridian and longitude. 
C) latitude and direction. 
D) latitude and longitude.

Question 8

You can find the tilt of Earth's axis by measuring the angle between your horizon and the North Star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Consider the following statement,and explain whether or not it is sensible: Although all the known stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west,we might someday discover a star that will appear to rise in the west and set in the east.

Accepted Answer

This statement does not make s

Question 10

Process of Science: Your friend hypothesizes that the phases of the Moon are produced by Earth's shadow being cast on the Moon's surface.Devise an experiment to prove your friend wrong.Describe an observation you will make (time of day/night,location in sky)and describe what you will see that will clearly demonstrate that your friend's idea cannot be correct.

Accepted Answer

If you observe any time when the Moon an

Question 11

Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The Milky Way can be seen only from the Northern Hemisphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

At approximately what time would a first quarter Moon rise?

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 14

If it is midnight in New York,it is

Accepted Answer

A) daytime in Sydney,Australia. 
B) midnight in Sydney,Australia. 
C) midnight in Los Angeles. 
D) midday in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil. 
E) midnight everywhere. 
A) daytime in Sydney,Australia. 
B) midnight in Sydney,Australia. 
C) midnight in Los Angeles. 
D) midday in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil. 
E) midnight everywhere.

Question 15

Why do we have seasons on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains pointed toward Polaris,the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight. 
B) The tilt of Earth's axis constantly changes between 0 and 23 1/2°,giving us summer when Earth is tilted more and winter when it is straight up. 
C) Earth's distance from the Sun varies,so that it is summer when we are closer to the Sun and winter when we are farther from the Sun. 
D) Seasons are caused by the influence of the planet Jupiter on our orbit. 
A) As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains pointed toward Polaris,the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight. 
B) The tilt of Earth's axis constantly changes between 0 and 23 1/2°,giving us summer when Earth is tilted more and winter when it is straight up. 
C) Earth's distance from the Sun varies,so that it is summer when we are closer to the Sun and winter when we are farther from the Sun. 
D) Seasons are caused by the influence of the planet Jupiter on our orbit.

Question 16

Suppose you live in the United States and you see a crescent Moon in your evening sky tonight.What will a friend in South America see tonight?

Accepted Answer

A) Your friend will see a gibbous Moon. 
B) Your friend will also see a crescent Moon. 
C) Your friend will see a first quarter Moon. 
D) Your friend won't see the Moon tonight,because it is up only in the morning. 
A) Your friend will see a gibbous Moon. 
B) Your friend will also see a crescent Moon. 
C) Your friend will see a first quarter Moon. 
D) Your friend won't see the Moon tonight,because it is up only in the morning.

Question 17

During the time that a planet is in its period of apparent retrograde motion,

Accepted Answer

A) the planet moves backwards (clockwise as viewed from above Earth's north pole)in its orbit of the Sun. 
B) the planet appears to rise in the west and set in the east,rather than the usual rising in the east and setting in the west. 
C) over many days or weeks,the planet moves westward relative to the stars,rather than the usual eastward relative to the stars. 
D) the planet is getting closer to the Sun in its orbit. 
A) the planet moves backwards (clockwise as viewed from above Earth's north pole)in its orbit of the Sun. 
B) the planet appears to rise in the west and set in the east,rather than the usual rising in the east and setting in the west. 
C) over many days or weeks,the planet moves westward relative to the stars,rather than the usual eastward relative to the stars. 
D) the planet is getting closer to the Sun in its orbit.

Question 18

Stars that are visible in the local sky on any clear night of the year,at any time of the night,are called

Accepted Answer

A) bright. 
B) seasonal. 
C) circumpolar. 
D) celestial. 
A) bright. 
B) seasonal. 
C) circumpolar. 
D) celestial.

Question 19

When traveling north from the United States into Canada,you'll see the North Star (Polaris)getting

Accepted Answer

A) brighter. 
B) dimmer. 
C) higher in the sky. 
D) lower in the sky. 
A) brighter. 
B) dimmer. 
C) higher in the sky. 
D) lower in the sky.

Question 20

We can't detect stellar parallax with naked-eye observations.Which of the following would make parallax easier to observe?

Accepted Answer

A) increasing the size of Earth's orbit 
B) speeding up Earth's rotational motion 
C) slowing down Earth's rotational motion 
D) speeding up the precession of Earth's axis 
E) getting away from streetlights 
A) increasing the size of Earth's orbit 
B) speeding up Earth's rotational motion 
C) slowing down Earth's rotational motion 
D) speeding up the precession of Earth's axis 
E) getting away from streetlights

Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

It is possible to see the third-quarter Moon near the western horizon at sunrise.

Process of Science: How could you show that the seasons depend on the tilt of the Earth rather than the distance the Earth is from the Sun?

Suppose you use the Southern Cross to determine that the south celestial pole appears 40 degrees above your horizon.Then you must be located at

What is the Saros cycle?

It's 6 a.m.and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian).What is the Moon's phase?

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth.During the phase of full Moon,what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

We can describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its

You can find the tilt of Earth's axis by measuring the angle between your horizon and the North Star.

Consider the following statement,and explain whether or not it is sensible: Although all the known stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west,we might someday discover a star that will appear to rise in the west and set in the east.

Columbus was the first person to discover that Earth is round.

The Milky Way can be seen only from the Northern Hemisphere.

At approximately what time would a first quarter Moon rise?

If it is midnight in New York,it is

Why do we have seasons on Earth?

Suppose you live in the United States and you see a crescent Moon in your evening sky tonight.What will a friend in South America see tonight?

During the time that a planet is in its period of apparent retrograde motion,

Stars that are visible in the local sky on any clear night of the year,at any time of the night,are called

When traveling north from the United States into Canada,you'll see the North Star (Polaris)getting

We can't detect stellar parallax with naked-eye observations.Which of the following would make parallax easier to observe?

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