Question 1

What is stellar parallax?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the daily rise and set of the stars. 
B)  It describes the fact that stars are actually moving relative to one another, even though to our eyes the stars appear fixed in the constellations. 
C)  It is the slight back-and-forth shifting of star positions that occurs as we view the stars from different positions in Earth's orbit of the Sun. 
D)  It is the change in the set of constellations that we see at different times of year in the evening sky. 
A)  It is the daily rise and set of the stars. 
B)  It describes the fact that stars are actually moving relative to one another, even though to our eyes the stars appear fixed in the constellations. 
C)  It is the slight back-and-forth shifting of star positions that occurs as we view the stars from different positions in Earth's orbit of the Sun. 
D)  It is the change in the set of constellations that we see at different times of year in the evening sky.

Question 2

A lunar eclipse occurs only when the Moon is new.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

Accepted Answer

A)  60 
B)  360 
C)  3,600 
D)  100 
E)  10,000 
A)  60 
B)  360 
C)  3,600 
D)  100 
E)  10,000

Question 4

For most of history, the lack of observable stellar parallax was interpreted to mean that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  stars must all lie at the same distance from Earth, on the celestial sphere 
B)  stars were too far away for parallax to be measured with available technology 
C)  Earth is stationary at the center of the universe 
D)  Galileo's theories of the universe were essentially correct 
A)  stars must all lie at the same distance from Earth, on the celestial sphere 
B)  stars were too far away for parallax to be measured with available technology 
C)  Earth is stationary at the center of the universe 
D)  Galileo's theories of the universe were essentially correct

Question 5

What is the saros cycle?

Accepted Answer

A)  The 26,000-year cycle of the Earth's precession 
B)  The roughly 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats 
C)  The roughly one-month cycle of lunar phases in the sky 
D)  The annual cycle of the seasons 
A)  The 26,000-year cycle of the Earth's precession 
B)  The roughly 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats 
C)  The roughly one-month cycle of lunar phases in the sky 
D)  The annual cycle of the seasons

Question 6

If it is midnight in New York, it is

Accepted Answer

A)  daytime in Sydney, Australia. 
B)  midnight in Sydney, Australia. 
C)  midnight in Los Angeles. 
D)  midday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
E)  midnight everywhere. 
A)  daytime in Sydney, Australia. 
B)  midnight in Sydney, Australia. 
C)  midnight in Los Angeles. 
D)  midday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 
E)  midnight everywhere.

Question 7

Which of the following situations would result in the longest days during the summer? (Assume an axis tilt of 0 degrees is an axis perpendicular to the ecliptic plane.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Axis tilt -10 degrees 
B)  Axis tilt 23.5 degrees 
C)  Axis tilt 90 degrees 
D)  Axis tilt 0 degrees 
A)  Axis tilt -10 degrees 
B)  Axis tilt 23.5 degrees 
C)  Axis tilt 90 degrees 
D)  Axis tilt 0 degrees

Question 8

"Gibbous" means a nearly full moon. If I see a waxing gibbous moon tonight, what moon phase will I see in one week?

Accepted Answer

A)  Waning crescent 
B)  Waxing gibbous 
C)  Waning gibbous 
D)  Waxing crescent 
A)  Waning crescent 
B)  Waxing gibbous 
C)  Waning gibbous 
D)  Waxing crescent

Question 9

What would you see if you were on the near side of the Moon during a lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

During a lunar eclipse, you wo

Question 10

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?

Accepted Answer

A)  It doesn't-Earth's orbital distance plays no significant role in the seasons. 
B)  It makes summer warmer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. 
C)  It is responsible for the fact that the seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 
D)  It causes the seasons to be more extreme than they would be if the Earth's distance from the Sun were always the same. 
A)  It doesn't-Earth's orbital distance plays no significant role in the seasons. 
B)  It makes summer warmer in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. 
C)  It is responsible for the fact that the seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 
D)  It causes the seasons to be more extreme than they would be if the Earth's distance from the Sun were always the same.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the equinoxes. 
B)  Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the solstices. 
C)  The Northern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
D)  The Southern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
E)  Both A and C are true. 
A)  Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the equinoxes. 
B)  Both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight on the solstices. 
C)  The Northern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
D)  The Southern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight on the summer solstice. 
E)  Both A and C are true.

Question 12

What would you see if you were on the near side of the Moon during a solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

During a solar eclipse, you wo

Question 13

The Andromeda Galaxy is faintly visible to the naked eye in the constellation Andromeda. Suppose instead it were located in the same direction in space as the center of the Milky Way Galaxy (but still at its current distance). How would it appear to the eye in that case?

Accepted Answer

A)  We could not see it at all. 
B)  It would look about the same, but would be in the constellation Sagittarius instead of Andromeda. 
C)  It would be much brighter because it would be illuminated by the many stars in the center of our galaxy. 
D)  It would look about the same, but it would be harder to pick out because its cloud-like appearance would make it blend in with the cloud-like appearance of the Milky Way in our sky. 
A)  We could not see it at all. 
B)  It would look about the same, but would be in the constellation Sagittarius instead of Andromeda. 
C)  It would be much brighter because it would be illuminated by the many stars in the center of our galaxy. 
D)  It would look about the same, but it would be harder to pick out because its cloud-like appearance would make it blend in with the cloud-like appearance of the Milky Way in our sky.

Question 14

Answer each of the following questions for our local sky.
A. Where is the north celestial pole in our sky?
B. Is Polaris a circumpolar star in our sky? Explain.
C. Describe the meridian in our sky.
D. Describe the celestial equator in our sky.

Accepted Answer

A. Answers will vary with latitude; here

Question 15

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: My sign is Ursa Major because the Sun was in Ursa Major when I was born.

Accepted Answer

Not sensible: The Sun appears

Question 16

Which planet is moving most slowly around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are all moving with the same speed around the Sun. 
B)  Earth 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Venus 
A)  They are all moving with the same speed around the Sun. 
B)  Earth 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Venus

Question 17

Suppose Earth's axis tilt was significantly greater than its current 23.5 degrees, but Earth's rotation period and orbital period were unchanged. Which statement below would not be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Summers and winters would be more severe (for example, hotter and colder, respectively) than they are now. 
B)  The region of Earth where the Sun does not rise on the winter solstice would be larger (extending farther south) than it is now. 
C)  The length of each season (for example, the number of days from the summer solstice to the fall equinox) would be significantly longer than it is now. 
D)  Polaris would not be our North star. 
A)  Summers and winters would be more severe (for example, hotter and colder, respectively) than they are now. 
B)  The region of Earth where the Sun does not rise on the winter solstice would be larger (extending farther south) than it is now. 
C)  The length of each season (for example, the number of days from the summer solstice to the fall equinox) would be significantly longer than it is now. 
D)  Polaris would not be our North star.

Question 18

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, what Moon shape does it have in the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  A quarter circle 
B)  A full circle 
C)  A half circle 
D)  Nothing (it is impossible to view a 3ʳᵈ quarter moon). 
A)  A quarter circle 
B)  A full circle 
C)  A half circle 
D)  Nothing (it is impossible to view a 3ʳᵈ quarter moon).

Question 19

What conditions are required for a lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. 
B)  The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. 
C)  The phase of the Moon can be new or full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. 
D)  The phase of the Moon must be new, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. 
E)  The phase of the Moon must be full, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. 
A)  The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. 
B)  The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. 
C)  The phase of the Moon can be new or full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. 
D)  The phase of the Moon must be new, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. 
E)  The phase of the Moon must be full, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic.

Question 20

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. During the phase of new moon, what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Accepted Answer

During the new moon,

What is stellar parallax?

A lunar eclipse occurs only when the Moon is new.

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

For most of history, the lack of observable stellar parallax was interpreted to mean that ________.

What is the saros cycle?

If it is midnight in New York, it is

Which of the following situations would result in the longest days during the summer? (Assume an axis tilt of 0 degrees is an axis perpendicular to the ecliptic plane.)

"Gibbous" means a nearly full moon. If I see a waxing gibbous moon tonight, what moon phase will I see in one week?

What would you see if you were on the near side of the Moon during a lunar eclipse?

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?

Which of the following statements is true?

What would you see if you were on the near side of the Moon during a solar eclipse?

The Andromeda Galaxy is faintly visible to the naked eye in the constellation Andromeda. Suppose instead it were located in the same direction in space as the center of the Milky Way Galaxy (but still at its current distance). How would it appear to the eye in that case?

Answer each of the following questions for our local sky. A. Where is the north celestial pole in our sky? B. Is Polaris a circumpolar star in our sky? Explain. C. Describe the meridian in our sky. D. Describe the celestial equator in our sky.

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: My sign is Ursa Major because the Sun was in Ursa Major when I was born.

Which planet is moving most slowly around the Sun?

Suppose Earth's axis tilt was significantly greater than its current 23.5 degrees, but Earth's rotation period and orbital period were unchanged. Which statement below would not be true?

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, what Moon shape does it have in the sky?

What conditions are required for a lunar eclipse?

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. During the phase of new moon, what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Our Place in the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

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Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

What is stellar parallax?

A lunar eclipse occurs only when the Moon is new.

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

For most of history, the lack of observable stellar parallax was interpreted to mean that ________.

What is the saros cycle?

If it is midnight in New York, it is

Which of the following situations would result in the longest days during the summer? (Assume an axis tilt of 0 degrees is an axis perpendicular to the ecliptic plane.)

"Gibbous" means a nearly full moon. If I see a waxing gibbous moon tonight, what moon phase will I see in one week?

What would you see if you were on the near side of the Moon during a lunar eclipse?

How does Earth's varying distance from the Sun affect our seasons?

Which of the following statements is true?

What would you see if you were on the near side of the Moon during a solar eclipse?

The Andromeda Galaxy is faintly visible to the naked eye in the constellation Andromeda. Suppose instead it were located in the same direction in space as the center of the Milky Way Galaxy (but still at its current distance). How would it appear to the eye in that case?

Answer each of the following questions for our local sky. A. Where is the north celestial pole in our sky? B. Is Polaris a circumpolar star in our sky? Explain. C. Describe the meridian in our sky. D. Describe the celestial equator in our sky.

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: My sign is Ursa Major because the Sun was in Ursa Major when I was born.

Which planet is moving most slowly around the Sun?

Suppose Earth's axis tilt was significantly greater than its current 23.5 degrees, but Earth's rotation period and orbital period were unchanged. Which statement below would not be true?

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, what Moon shape does it have in the sky?

What conditions are required for a lunar eclipse?

Suppose you lived on the Moon near the center of the face that we see from Earth. During the phase of new moon, what phase would you see for Earth? Would it be day or night at your home?

Our Place in the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters