Question 1

Because Earth's axis of rotation is inclined 23.4 degrees from vertical, the Sun moves into the northern sky in the spring and into the southern sky in the fall.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A)  nadir 
B)  summer solstice 
C)  vernal equinox 
D)  autumnal equinox 
E)  winter solstice 
A)  nadir 
B)  summer solstice 
C)  vernal equinox 
D)  autumnal equinox 
E)  winter solstice

Question 3

Why can someone in the United States almost always be able to observe the constellations such as Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, and Perseus?

Accepted Answer

These constellations are considered circ

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Betelgeuse 
B)  Sirius 
C)  Vega 
D)  Rigel 
E)  Spica 
A)  Betelgeuse 
B)  Sirius 
C)  Vega 
D)  Rigel 
E)  Spica

Question 5

When can Sirius, a favorite star of the Northern Hemisphere, be observed?

Accepted Answer

A)  during summer 
B)  during spring 
C)  all year long 
D)  during winter 
E)  during fall 
A)  during summer 
B)  during spring 
C)  all year long 
D)  during winter 
E)  during fall

Question 6

The scale of apparent visual magnitudes extends into negative numbers to represent the faintest objects in the sky.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

If star A is 14.5 times brighter than star B, then what is their magnitude difference?

Accepted Answer

A)  1.2 
B)  2.9 
C)  63.1 
D)  800 
E)  6.2 x 105 
A)  1.2 
B)  2.9 
C)  63.1 
D)  800 
E)  6.2 x 105

Question 8

Which is an example of an asterism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Andromeda 
B)  Canis Major 
C)  Ursa Major 
D)  Big Dipper 
E)  Pegasus 
A)  Andromeda 
B)  Canis Major 
C)  Ursa Major 
D)  Big Dipper 
E)  Pegasus

Question 9

Explain why it is difficult to see Mercury in the night sky.

Accepted Answer

Mercury stays near the ecliptic because

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The eastward rotation of Earth causes the...

Question 11

On the day of summer solstice, explain the position of Earth and the light received by each of the hemispheres.

Accepted Answer

On the day of the summer solstice in lat

Question 12

The Sky Around You - Page 18 (For the following questions) 
Review the accompanying figure and identify point C.

Accepted Answer

A)  celestial equator 
B)  north celestial pole 
C)  south celestial pole 
D)  zenith 
E)  nadir 
A)  celestial equator 
B)  north celestial pole 
C)  south celestial pole 
D)  zenith 
E)  nadir

Question 13

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 14

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 15

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Earth's axis is tilted at an angle...

Question 16

Describe the process of precession.

Accepted Answer

If you have ever played with a gyroscope

Question 17

The Sky Around You - Page 19
In the above image, what is the observer measuring?

Accepted Answer

A)  angle 
B)  arc 
C)  distance 
D)  angular distance 
E)  angular momentum 
A)  angle 
B)  arc 
C)  distance 
D)  angular distance 
E)  angular momentum

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Venus 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Mars 
D)  Mercury 
E)  Saturn 
A)  Venus 
B)  Jupiter 
C)  Mars 
D)  Mercury 
E)  Saturn

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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.

Accepted Answer

Milankovit

Exam 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

Because Earth's axis of rotation is inclined 23.4 degrees from vertical, the Sun moves into the northern sky in the spring and into the southern sky in the fall.

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

Why can someone in the United States almost always be able to observe the constellations such as Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, and Perseus?

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

When can Sirius, a favorite star of the Northern Hemisphere, be observed?

The scale of apparent visual magnitudes extends into negative numbers to represent the faintest objects in the sky.

If star A is 14.5 times brighter than star B, then what is their magnitude difference?

Which is an example of an asterism?

Explain why it is difficult to see Mercury in the night sky.

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

On the day of summer solstice, explain the position of Earth and the light received by each of the hemispheres.

The Sky Around You - Page 18 (For the following questions) Review the accompanying figure and identify point C.

What date is the autumnal equinox for the Southern hemisphere?

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

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

Describe the process of precession.

The Sky Around You - Page 19 In the above image, what is the observer measuring?

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

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

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.

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

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth the Active Planet

The Moon and Mercury

Venus and Mars

Jupiter and Saturn

Uranus Neptune Pluto and the Kuiper Belt

Meteorites Asteroids and Comets

Astrobiology

Filters