Question 1

What are three common misconceptions about the Moon and how would you provide the correct explanation for those misconceptions?

Accepted Answer

Misconception: the "dark side of the Moon" is always dark.  There is no permanently dark side. There is a far side.  The Moon rotates at the same rate it revolves around Earth, so one side will illuminate light for two weeks, the other side will be dark for two weeks, and repeat. 
Misconception: shouldn't see the Moon during daylight hours.  The gibbous (not quite full Moon is often visible during the daytime hours.  Quarter moons, and especially crescent moons, can also be visible in the daytime sky, but they are harder to see when the Sun is above the horizon and the sky is bright. 
Misconception: The full Moon causes lunatic behavior.  There are scientific studies proving that a person's behavior is not linked to the lunar phases. 
Misconception: the Moon is larger when on the horizon.  It is an optical illusion. Try viewing it from a different angle.

Question 2

At what point is the Moon closest to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  apogee 
B)  perigee 
C)  umbra 
D)  penumbra 
E)  prominence 
A)  apogee 
B)  perigee 
C)  umbra 
D)  penumbra 
E)  prominence B

Question 3

When the full Moon passes through Earth's shadow, the eclipse is visible from anywhere on Earth's dark side.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

What is the length of time half of the Moon stays in sunlight per full rotation?

Accepted Answer

A)  29.53 days 
B)  27.3 days 
C)  two weeks 
D)  one month 
E)  two months 
A)  29.53 days 
B)  27.3 days 
C)  two weeks 
D)  one month 
E)  two months

Question 5

What are the two parts of a shadow during an eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  total and partial 
B)  apogee and perigee 
C)  sidereal and synodic 
D)  waxing and waning 
E)  umbra and penumbra 
A)  total and partial 
B)  apogee and perigee 
C)  sidereal and synodic 
D)  waxing and waning 
E)  umbra and penumbra

Question 6

What is an eclipse season?

Accepted Answer

An eclipse can occur only in a period ca

Question 7

A "larger" Moon on the horizon is an optical illusion.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Since the Moon is about 0.5 degrees in angular diameter, about how far does it move in 24 hours across the background of the constellations?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 degrees 
B)  1.0 degree 
C)  2 degrees 
D)  9 degrees 
E)  13 degrees 
A)  0.5 degrees 
B)  1.0 degree 
C)  2 degrees 
D)  9 degrees 
E)  13 degrees

Question 9

The diamond ring effect is a characteristic of which phenomena?

Accepted Answer

A)  full moon 
B)  new moon 
C)  lunar eclipse 
D)  solar eclipse 
E)  solar prominence 
A)  full moon 
B)  new moon 
C)  lunar eclipse 
D)  solar eclipse 
E)  solar prominence

Question 10

Eclipses can occur only when, viewed from Earth, the Sun is near one of the ____ of the Moon's orbit.

Accepted Answer

A)  nodes 
B)  points 
C)  phases 
D)  paths 
E)  ecliptics 
A)  nodes 
B)  points 
C)  phases 
D)  paths 
E)  ecliptics

Question 11

What unit would best describe the linear diameter of a planetary body?

Accepted Answer

A)  arc seconds 
B)  arc minutes 
C)  degrees 
D)  kilometers 
E)  radians 
A)  arc seconds 
B)  arc minutes 
C)  degrees 
D)  kilometers 
E)  radians

Question 12

Why can't the Moon always pass through the center of the umbra?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Moon's rotation is slightly faster than its revolution around Earth. 
B)  The Moon's orbit is inclined by 5 degrees to the plane of Earth's orbit. 
C)  The Moon's synodic cycle changes a few minutes per cycle. 
D)  The Moon's orbit changes with the seasons. 
E)  The Moon is not in its full moon lunar phase. 
A)  The Moon's rotation is slightly faster than its revolution around Earth. 
B)  The Moon's orbit is inclined by 5 degrees to the plane of Earth's orbit. 
C)  The Moon's synodic cycle changes a few minutes per cycle. 
D)  The Moon's orbit changes with the seasons. 
E)  The Moon is not in its full moon lunar phase.

Question 13

Match between columns
                        Premises: The illuminated portion of the Moon decreases
A completely eclipsed moon
The region of total shadow
The orbital period with respect to the stars of about 27 days
The farthest point in the Moon's orbit
The illuminated portion of the Moon increases
The two points at which the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic
The closest point in the Moon's orbit
The region of partial shadow where sunlight is dimmed
A complete cycle of lunar phases of 29.53 days

Accepted Answer

The Answer of nodes and apogee and wanes and perigee is...

Question 14

What gives the Moon a coppery glow during a total eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere 
B)  Sunlight reflected from Earth's surface 
C)  Not all of the sunlight is blocked out 
D)  The artificial light reflected up from Earth's surface 
E)  The spectral emissions of the gases that make up Earth's atmosphere. 
A)  Sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere 
B)  Sunlight reflected from Earth's surface 
C)  Not all of the sunlight is blocked out 
D)  The artificial light reflected up from Earth's surface 
E)  The spectral emissions of the gases that make up Earth's atmosphere.

Question 15

Because the _______________ of the Moon and the Sun vary slightly, the disk of the Moon is sometimes too small to cover the disk of the Sun.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because the _______________ of the Moon and...

Question 16

What happens during a partial lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth only partially enters the penumbra. 
B)  The Sun only partially enters the umbra. 
C)  The Moon only partially enters the penumbra. 
D)  Earth only partially enters the umbra. 
E)  The Moon only partially enters the umbra. 
A)  Earth only partially enters the penumbra. 
B)  The Sun only partially enters the umbra. 
C)  The Moon only partially enters the penumbra. 
D)  Earth only partially enters the umbra. 
E)  The Moon only partially enters the umbra.

Question 17

Why do prominences appear pink during a solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because of the high temperature of the gases 
B)  Because the photosphere being blocked out 
C)  Because of the placement of the lunar disk over the Sun 
D)  Because the prominences interact with Earth's magnetic field 
E)  Because different gases are being combined in the chromosphere 
A)  Because of the high temperature of the gases 
B)  Because the photosphere being blocked out 
C)  Because of the placement of the lunar disk over the Sun 
D)  Because the prominences interact with Earth's magnetic field 
E)  Because different gases are being combined in the chromosphere

Question 18

The ____ of the Moon and Sun vary slightly because the orbits of the Moon and Earth are slightly elliptical.

Accepted Answer

A)  angular distance 
B)  linear diameter 
C)  linear distance 
D)  angular diameter 
E)  angular momentum 
A)  angular distance 
B)  linear diameter 
C)  linear distance 
D)  angular diameter 
E)  angular momentum

Question 19

Which part of the Sun is observable during a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  core 
B)  solar disk 
C)  sun spots 
D)  photosphere 
E)  chromosphere 
A)  core 
B)  solar disk 
C)  sun spots 
D)  photosphere 
E)  chromosphere

Question 20

A(n) _______________ is the changing phase the week between first quarter and full moon.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) _______________ is the changing phase the...

Exam 3: Moon Phases and Eclipses

What are three common misconceptions about the Moon and how would you provide the correct explanation for those misconceptions?

At what point is the Moon closest to Earth?

When the full Moon passes through Earth's shadow, the eclipse is visible from anywhere on Earth's dark side.

What is the length of time half of the Moon stays in sunlight per full rotation?

What are the two parts of a shadow during an eclipse?

What is an eclipse season?

A "larger" Moon on the horizon is an optical illusion.

Since the Moon is about 0.5 degrees in angular diameter, about how far does it move in 24 hours across the background of the constellations?

The diamond ring effect is a characteristic of which phenomena?

Eclipses can occur only when, viewed from Earth, the Sun is near one of the ____ of the Moon's orbit.

What unit would best describe the linear diameter of a planetary body?

Why can't the Moon always pass through the center of the umbra?

What gives the Moon a coppery glow during a total eclipse?

Because the _______________ of the Moon and the Sun vary slightly, the disk of the Moon is sometimes too small to cover the disk of the Sun.

What happens during a partial lunar eclipse?

Why do prominences appear pink during a solar eclipse?

The ____ of the Moon and Sun vary slightly because the orbits of the Moon and Earth are slightly elliptical.

Which part of the Sun is observable during a total solar eclipse?

A(n) _______________ is the changing phase the week between first quarter and full moon.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

Origins of Modern Astronomy

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Modern Cosmology

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth the Active Planet

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