Exam 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

In ancient times, constellation boundaries were well defined.

Scientists constructed a history of ocean temperatures using deep ocean cores that convincingly matched the predictions of the _______________, describing the cause of multiple ice ages on Earth.

Describe the process of precession.

Betelgeuse is the brightest star of which constellation?

Which planet is often called our most brilliant "morning star"?

Earth spins completely upright like a giant top.

The nadir marks the point of the celestial sphere directly above your head.

Which is a unit used to measure angular distance?

Due to the cycle of precession, in 12,000 years, which star will replace Polaris as the guiding North Star?

During which event does the Sun reach its most southern point in the celestial sphere within the Northern hemisphere?

Astronomers use the _______________ alphabet to identify the bright stars in a constellation in approximate order of brightness.

Which ancient astronomer recorded the magnitude of stars in his star catalog and was used successfully by astronomers for generations?

What is the cause for the slow movement of reference marks, such as the celestial poles and equator, to move across the sky?

The eastward rotation of Earth causes the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars to move _______________ in the sky.

Why do many people think stars are not in the sky during the daytime?

Figure 2-3 In the above image (Figure 2-3), what is the observer measuring?

Earth's rotation is connected with a very slow celestial motion that can be detected only over _____

Astronomers describe the brightness of stars using the brilliance scale.

On the day of the _______________ in late June, Earth's Northern Hemisphere is inclined toward  the Sun.

Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of _______________ degrees.