Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Although all the known stars appear to rise in the east and set in the west, we might someday discover a star that will appear to rise in the west and set in the east.

The choices below are for the following questions. For each question, choose the letter for the real motion that is responsible for the apparent motion as seen from Earth. -The Big Dipper will look different 100,000 years from now than it does today.

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. At what phase of the Moon would you see sunset? What phase of Earth would you see at this time?

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Jupiter in the constellation Ursa Major.

The choices below are for the following questions. For each question, choose the letter for the real motion that is responsible for the apparent motion as seen from Earth. -The Moon rises in the east and sets in the west.

The choices below are for the following questions. For each question, choose the letter for the real motion that is responsible for the apparent motion as seen from Earth. -A million years from now, Alpha Centauri will no longer be the nearest star system to our own.

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?

An angle of 1 arcsecond is ________.

Why were ancient peoples unable to detect stellar parallax?

Suppose you use the Southern Cross to determine that the south celestial pole appears 40 degrees above your horizon. Then you must be located at ________.

During the time that a planet is in its period of apparent retrograde motion: ________.

Each choice below describes how a few astronomical phenomena are related to time periods. Which list is entirely correct? (Careful: some lists are partially correct.)

If the Sun passes almost in front of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, it does so

If part of the full moon passes through Earth's umbra, we will see a(n)

In any particular place on Earth, certain constellations are visible in the evening only at certain times of the year because ________.

The Sun's path, as viewed from the equator, is highest in the sky on ________.

We can't detect stellar parallax with naked-eye observations. Which of the following would make parallax easier to observe?

The choices below are for the following questions. For each question, choose the letter for the real motion that is responsible for the apparent motion as seen from Earth. -The stars of Orion's belt rise in the east and set in the west.

The choices below are for the following questions. For each question, choose the letter for the real motion that is responsible for the apparent motion as seen from Earth. -In the year A.D. 15,000, Vega will be a better north star than Polaris.

About how many stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear, dark night away from city lights?