Question 1

If you see the stars and constellations rotating around a point in the night sky in the clockwise direction, you are looking north.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The sky is flat, like a sheet of paper, and hence angular diameter is the distance measured along that flat sheet of paper.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

An observer on Earth's equator would find

Accepted Answer

A)  Polaris directly overhead. 
B)  Polaris 40° above the northern horizon. 
C)  Polaris on the northern horizon. 
D)  the celestial equator passing directly overhead. 
E)  that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon. 
A)  Polaris directly overhead. 
B)  Polaris 40° above the northern horizon. 
C)  Polaris on the northern horizon. 
D)  the celestial equator passing directly overhead. 
E)  that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon.

Question 4

In one way of naming stars, a(n) ____ letter indicates its brightness relative to the other stars in the constellation.

Accepted Answer

A)  English 
B)  Arabic 
C)  Greek 
D)  Cyrillic 
A)  English 
B)  Arabic 
C)  Greek 
D)  Cyrillic

Question 5

The magnitude difference between Hubble Space Telescope apparent visual magnitude limit and the Sun's apparent visual magnitude is about 55.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Taurus is a summer constellation (i.e., you see the constellation in summer but not in winter).

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  the force of gravity from the Sun and Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge. 
B)  the force of gravity from the Sun and Jupiter on the Earth-Moon system. 
C)  the magnetic field of Earth. 
D)  the formation and subsequent melting of glaciers during the ice-ages. 
E)  the impact of asteroids. 
A)  the force of gravity from the Sun and Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge. 
B)  the force of gravity from the Sun and Jupiter on the Earth-Moon system. 
C)  the magnetic field of Earth. 
D)  the formation and subsequent melting of glaciers during the ice-ages. 
E)  the impact of asteroids.

Question 8

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

Accepted Answer

A)  one of the brighter stars in the sky. 
B)  bright enough that it would be visible even during the day. 
C)  not visible with the unaided eye. 
D)  very far from Earth. 
E)  very close to Earth. 
A)  one of the brighter stars in the sky. 
B)  bright enough that it would be visible even during the day. 
C)  not visible with the unaided eye. 
D)  very far from Earth. 
E)  very close to Earth.

Question 9

A 3rd magnitude star is 3 times brighter than a 1st magnitude star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

____________________ is a measure of the light energy that hits one square meter in one second.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ is a measure of the light...

Question 11

During one day and night in the mid-northern hemisphere, the stars near the north celestial pole

Accepted Answer

A)  rise in the east. 
B)  set in the west. 
C)  circle the north celestial pole counter-clockwise. 
D)  circle the north celestial pole clockwise. 
A)  rise in the east. 
B)  set in the west. 
C)  circle the north celestial pole counter-clockwise. 
D)  circle the north celestial pole clockwise.

Question 12

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere watches the sky for several hours. Due to the motion of Earth, this observer notices that the stars near the north celestial pole appear to move

Accepted Answer

A)  counter-clockwise around the celestial pole. 
B)  clockwise around the celestial pole. 
C)  from left to right. 
D)  from right to left. 
E)  nearly vertically upward. 
A)  counter-clockwise around the celestial pole. 
B)  clockwise around the celestial pole. 
C)  from left to right. 
D)  from right to left. 
E)  nearly vertically upward.

Question 13

The constellation of Orion is currently visible in the evenings in January. Precession will not affect this and Orion will still be visible in January 13,000 years from now.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How are the celestial poles and celestial equator defined by Earth's rotation?

Accepted Answer

The north and south celestial

Question 15

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  90° N 
B)  90° S 
C)  0° 
D)  45° N 
E)  The latitude of the observer cannot be determined from the information given. 
A)  90° N 
B)  90° S 
C)  0° 
D)  45° N 
E)  The latitude of the observer cannot be determined from the information given.

Question 16

What information does a star's Greek-letter designation convey?

Accepted Answer

Modern astronomers often refer to a star

If you see the stars and constellations rotating around a point in the night sky in the clockwise direction, you are looking north.

The sky is flat, like a sheet of paper, and hence angular diameter is the distance measured along that flat sheet of paper.

An observer on Earth's equator would find

In one way of naming stars, a(n) ____ letter indicates its brightness relative to the other stars in the constellation.

The magnitude difference between Hubble Space Telescope apparent visual magnitude limit and the Sun's apparent visual magnitude is about 55.

Taurus is a summer constellation (i.e., you see the constellation in summer but not in winter).

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

A 3rd magnitude star is 3 times brighter than a 1st magnitude star.

____________________ is a measure of the light energy that hits one square meter in one second.

During one day and night in the mid-northern hemisphere, the stars near the north celestial pole

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere watches the sky for several hours. Due to the motion of Earth, this observer notices that the stars near the north celestial pole appear to move

The constellation of Orion is currently visible in the evenings in January. Precession will not affect this and Orion will still be visible in January 13,000 years from now.

How are the celestial poles and celestial equator defined by Earth's rotation?

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

What information does a star's Greek-letter designation convey?

Here and Now

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

If you see the stars and constellations rotating around a point in the night sky in the clockwise direction, you are looking north.

The sky is flat, like a sheet of paper, and hence angular diameter is the distance measured along that flat sheet of paper.

An observer on Earth's equator would find

In one way of naming stars, a(n) ____ letter indicates its brightness relative to the other stars in the constellation.

The magnitude difference between Hubble Space Telescope apparent visual magnitude limit and the Sun's apparent visual magnitude is about 55.

Taurus is a summer constellation (i.e., you see the constellation in summer but not in winter).

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

A 3rd magnitude star is 3 times brighter than a 1st magnitude star.

____________________ is a measure of the light energy that hits one square meter in one second.

During one day and night in the mid-northern hemisphere, the stars near the north celestial pole

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere watches the sky for several hours. Due to the motion of Earth, this observer notices that the stars near the north celestial pole appear to move

The constellation of Orion is currently visible in the evenings in January. Precession will not affect this and Orion will still be visible in January 13,000 years from now.

How are the celestial poles and celestial equator defined by Earth's rotation?

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

What information does a star's Greek-letter designation convey?

Here and Now

Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

Origin of the Solar System and Extrasolar Planets

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters