Question 1

When the Earth is at ________, it is at its closest point to the Sun in its orbit.

Accepted Answer

A)  aphelion 
B)  precession 
C)  perihelion 
D)  the north celestial pole 
E)  its zenith 
A)  aphelion 
B)  precession 
C)  perihelion 
D)  the north celestial pole 
E)  its zenith

Question 2

What was the purpose of the IAU establishing 88 official constellations?

Accepted Answer

A)  To allow ancient stories of each constellation to be preserved 
B)  To name all constellations the same across any culture 
C)  To identify which constellation was created by which culture 
D)  To define boundaries for constellations including every part of the sky 
E)  To include additional, fainter stars within a constellation 
A)  To allow ancient stories of each constellation to be preserved 
B)  To name all constellations the same across any culture 
C)  To identify which constellation was created by which culture 
D)  To define boundaries for constellations including every part of the sky 
E)  To include additional, fainter stars within a constellation

Question 3

Most individual star names come from Latin and have been altered through passing centuries.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The ecliptic is often called the _______________ of Earth's orbit on the sky.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ecliptic is often called the _______________...

Question 5

What date is the autumnal equinox for the Southern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  December 21 
B)  September 22 
C)  June 22 
D)  March 20 
E)  December 25 
A)  December 21 
B)  September 22 
C)  June 22 
D)  March 20 
E)  December 25

Question 6

Why is Earth's orbit often referred to be a "nearly perfect circle" and not a true ellipse?

Accepted Answer

Earth's orbit is only very slightly elli

Question 7

Why is the term "arc" used to describe units of measure for angular distance?

Accepted Answer

A)  To avoid confusion with the minutes and seconds of time 
B)  To describe the arc-shaped distance between the stars 
C)  To distinguish the base unit of 10 per degree 
D)  To distinguish the difference between northern and southern spheres 
E)  To describe the placement of the stars within each hemisphere 
A)  To avoid confusion with the minutes and seconds of time 
B)  To describe the arc-shaped distance between the stars 
C)  To distinguish the base unit of 10 per degree 
D)  To distinguish the difference between northern and southern spheres 
E)  To describe the placement of the stars within each hemisphere

Question 8

Figure 2-1
Examine the accompanying figure (Figure 2-1). Which term would be the correct scientific designation for Polaris in Ursa Minoris?

Accepted Answer

A)  North Star 
B)    α Ursa Major 
C)  -0.3 Ursa Minoris 
D)  α Ursae Minoris 
E)  β Ursae Minoris 
A)  North Star 
B)    α Ursa Major 
C)  -0.3 Ursa Minoris 
D)  α Ursae Minoris 
E)  β Ursae Minoris

Question 9

What did the IAU establish in 1928?

Accepted Answer

A)  The IAU classified Pluto as a dwarf planet. 
B)  The IAU published official names of all constellations. 
C)  The IAU recorded 88 constellations with defined boundaries. 
D)  The IAU recognized additional orbiting bodies in the Kuiper Belt. 
E)  The IAU recorded all the mythologies associated with 88 constellations. 
A)  The IAU classified Pluto as a dwarf planet. 
B)  The IAU published official names of all constellations. 
C)  The IAU recorded 88 constellations with defined boundaries. 
D)  The IAU recognized additional orbiting bodies in the Kuiper Belt. 
E)  The IAU recorded all the mythologies associated with 88 constellations.

Question 10

If Earth rotated about its axis completely upright, what would we fail to experience?

Accepted Answer

A)  holidays 
B)  seasons 
C)  weather 
D)  day and night 
E)  a 365 day year 
A)  holidays 
B)  seasons 
C)  weather 
D)  day and night 
E)  a 365 day year

Question 11

Earth _______________ once a year around the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Earth _______________ once a year around the...

Question 12

Describe the magnitude scale and compare the ancient method to the current methodology used today.

Accepted Answer

Astronomers describe the brightness of s

When the Earth is at ________, it is at its closest point to the Sun in its orbit.

What was the purpose of the IAU establishing 88 official constellations?

Most individual star names come from Latin and have been altered through passing centuries.

The ecliptic is often called the _______________ of Earth's orbit on the sky.

What date is the autumnal equinox for the Southern hemisphere?

Why is Earth's orbit often referred to be a "nearly perfect circle" and not a true ellipse?

Why is the term "arc" used to describe units of measure for angular distance?

Figure 2-1 Examine the accompanying figure (Figure 2-1). Which term would be the correct scientific designation for Polaris in Ursa Minoris?

What did the IAU establish in 1928?

If Earth rotated about its axis completely upright, what would we fail to experience?

Earth _______________ once a year around the Sun.

Describe the magnitude scale and compare the ancient method to the current methodology used today.

Here and Now

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Interstellar Medium

Formation and Structure of Stars

Stellar Evolution

Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Supermassive Black Holes and Active Galaxies

Modern Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters

Exam 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

When the Earth is at ________, it is at its closest point to the Sun in its orbit.

What was the purpose of the IAU establishing 88 official constellations?

Most individual star names come from Latin and have been altered through passing centuries.

The ecliptic is often called the _______________ of Earth's orbit on the sky.

What date is the autumnal equinox for the Southern hemisphere?

Why is Earth's orbit often referred to be a "nearly perfect circle" and not a true ellipse?

Why is the term "arc" used to describe units of measure for angular distance?

Figure 2-1 Examine the accompanying figure (Figure 2-1). Which term would be the correct scientific designation for Polaris in Ursa Minoris?

What did the IAU establish in 1928?

If Earth rotated about its axis completely upright, what would we fail to experience?

Earth _______________ once a year around the Sun.

Describe the magnitude scale and compare the ancient method to the current methodology used today.

Here and Now

Moon Phases and Eclipses

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Gravity

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Interstellar Medium

Formation and Structure of Stars

Stellar Evolution

Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Supermassive Black Holes and Active Galaxies

Modern Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters