Question 1

The first quarter moon will rise about noon,and set about midnight.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

The star Wolf 1061 has a parallax of 2.34 arcseconds,while the star Ross 652 has a parallax of 1.70 arcseconds.What can you correctly conclude?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both stars are outside the Milky Way galaxy. 
B)  Wolf 1061 must have a larger proper motion than Ross 652. 
C)  Ross 652 must have a larger proper motion than Wolf 1061. 
D)  Ross 652 is closer to Earth than Wolf 1061. 
E)  Wolf 1061 is closer to Earth than Ross 652. 
A)  Both stars are outside the Milky Way galaxy. 
B)  Wolf 1061 must have a larger proper motion than Ross 652. 
C)  Ross 652 must have a larger proper motion than Wolf 1061. 
D)  Ross 652 is closer to Earth than Wolf 1061. 
E)  Wolf 1061 is closer to Earth than Ross 652.

Question 3

How far above and below the celestial equator can the Sun move?

Accepted Answer

The Sun never appear

Question 4

On April 8,2005,observers off New Zealand observe an annular eclipse at sunrise,and those in Columbia see an annular eclipse at sunset.Yet in the middle of the path,off the Galapagos Islands,cruise ships are advertising that they will show their guests a total solar eclipse.How can this be possible?

Accepted Answer

The Earth's radius is about 6,000 km (4,

Question 5

A year is defined as:

Accepted Answer

A)  the time it takes for Earth to complete a rotation on its axis. 
B)  the time it takes for the Moon to complete an orbit of Earth. 
C)  the time it takes for the Moon to complete a phase cycle. 
D)  the time it takes for Earth to complete an orbit around the Sun. 
E)  the time it takes for the Sun to complete an orbit around Earth. 
A)  the time it takes for Earth to complete a rotation on its axis. 
B)  the time it takes for the Moon to complete an orbit of Earth. 
C)  the time it takes for the Moon to complete a phase cycle. 
D)  the time it takes for Earth to complete an orbit around the Sun. 
E)  the time it takes for the Sun to complete an orbit around Earth.

Question 6

A lunar eclipse can only happen during a:

Accepted Answer

A)  new moon. 
B)  equinox. 
C)  full moon. 
D)  perigee. 
E)  aphelion. 
A)  new moon. 
B)  equinox. 
C)  full moon. 
D)  perigee. 
E)  aphelion.

Question 7

A light-year is a measurement of time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

What is the significance of the zodiacal signs,and why can all twelve not be seen on a given night?

Accepted Answer

They are twelve constellations

Question 9

This diagram explains:

Accepted Answer

A)  the difference between solar time and sidereal time. 
B)  precession. 
C)  the solar day's relation to the Moon. 
D)  the sidereal day's relation to the seasons. 
E)  the reason for the solstices. 
A)  the difference between solar time and sidereal time. 
B)  precession. 
C)  the solar day's relation to the Moon. 
D)  the sidereal day's relation to the seasons. 
E)  the reason for the solstices.

Question 10

If intending to teach his students the constellations by season,why would an astronomy instructor be advised to always assign the stars in the current western sky at the beginning of each term?

Accepted Answer

As the Earth revolves around t

Question 11

Which of the choices below correctly lists things in order from largest to smallest?

Accepted Answer

A)  Local Group, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe 
B)  Universe, Milky Way, Local Group, Solar System 
C)  Solar System, Local Group, Universe, Milky Way 
D)  Universe, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System 
E)  Milky Way, Universe, Solar System, Local Group 
A)  Local Group, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe 
B)  Universe, Milky Way, Local Group, Solar System 
C)  Solar System, Local Group, Universe, Milky Way 
D)  Universe, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System 
E)  Milky Way, Universe, Solar System, Local Group

Question 12

Where would you be if the Sun sets for six continuous months,beginning on September 23rd?

Accepted Answer

A)  North Pole 
B)  Arctic Circle 
C)  Equator 
D)  Antarctic Circle 
E)  South Pole 
A)  North Pole 
B)  Arctic Circle 
C)  Equator 
D)  Antarctic Circle 
E)  South Pole

Question 13

You note that a particular star is directly overhead.It will be directly overhead again in:

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour. 
B)  12 hours. 
C)  23 hours 56 minutes. 
D)  24 hours. 
E)  24 hours 4 minutes. 
A)  1 hour. 
B)  12 hours. 
C)  23 hours 56 minutes. 
D)  24 hours. 
E)  24 hours 4 minutes.

Question 14

Astronomical objects are viewed against the background of the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Astronomical objects are viewed against the background...

Question 15

When the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky,its phase is:

Accepted Answer

A)  new. 
B)  waxing or waning crescent. 
C)  first or third quarter. 
D)  waxing or waning gibbous. 
E)  full. 
A)  new. 
B)  waxing or waning crescent. 
C)  first or third quarter. 
D)  waxing or waning gibbous. 
E)  full.

Question 16

If your astrological sign is Aries,the Sun should be in the constellation Aries on your birthday.The dates,according to astrological tradition,during which the Sun is in the constellation Aries are March 21 to April 20th.In which constellation is the Sun actually in,during this time period?

Accepted Answer

A)  Aquarius 
B)  Pisces 
C)  Aries 
D)  Taurus 
E)  Gemini 
A)  Aquarius 
B)  Pisces 
C)  Aries 
D)  Taurus 
E)  Gemini

Question 17

Seasons on Earth are primarily caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  the distance from the Earth to the Sun. 
B)  the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis. 
C)  the tilt of the Earth's magnetic axis. 
D)  the precession of the Earth's rotational axis. 
E)  the dates of the solstices and equinoxes. 
A)  the distance from the Earth to the Sun. 
B)  the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis. 
C)  the tilt of the Earth's magnetic axis. 
D)  the precession of the Earth's rotational axis. 
E)  the dates of the solstices and equinoxes.

Question 18

If the angular size of a spherical object is known,along with its distance from Earth,what third quantity can be determined?

Accepted Answer

A)  the object's brightness 
B)  the object's mass 
C)  the baseline 
D)  the object's diameter 
A)  the object's brightness 
B)  the object's mass 
C)  the baseline 
D)  the object's diameter

Question 19

From Earth,the Sun and Moon have about the same angular diameter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

It was Aristotle who used the scientific method to show the Earth was a sphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 1: Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The first quarter moon will rise about noon,and set about midnight.

The star Wolf 1061 has a parallax of 2.34 arcseconds,while the star Ross 652 has a parallax of 1.70 arcseconds.What can you correctly conclude?

How far above and below the celestial equator can the Sun move?

A year is defined as:

A lunar eclipse can only happen during a:

A light-year is a measurement of time.

What is the significance of the zodiacal signs,and why can all twelve not be seen on a given night?

This diagram explains:

If intending to teach his students the constellations by season,why would an astronomy instructor be advised to always assign the stars in the current western sky at the beginning of each term?

Which of the choices below correctly lists things in order from largest to smallest?

Where would you be if the Sun sets for six continuous months,beginning on September 23rd?

You note that a particular star is directly overhead.It will be directly overhead again in:

Astronomical objects are viewed against the background of the ________.

When the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky,its phase is:

If your astrological sign is Aries,the Sun should be in the constellation Aries on your birthday.The dates,according to astrological tradition,during which the Sun is in the constellation Aries are March 21 to April 20th.In which constellation is the Sun actually in,during this time period?

Seasons on Earth are primarily caused by:

If the angular size of a spherical object is known,along with its distance from Earth,what third quantity can be determined?

From Earth,the Sun and Moon have about the same angular diameter.

It was Aristotle who used the scientific method to show the Earth was a sphere.

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information from the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: The Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earth's Sister Planet

Mars: A Near Miss for Life?

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants,Dwarfs,and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust among the Stars

Star Formation: A Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae,Supernovae,and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: A Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone?

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