Question 1

Based on the location of the moon in the diagram below, draw a picture of how the moon would appear to an observer located on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The drawing should show a third-quarter moon, where the left half of the moon's face will be lit up and the right half will be in darkness.

Question 2

Draw a picture below showing the Moon's location relative to the Earth and the Sun during a solar eclipse.

Accepted Answer

The Moon, Earth, and Sun should all be drawn in a straight line with the Moon in between the Earth and the Sun.

Question 3

The meridian is half of an imaginary circle in the sky that passes through an observer's zenith and both celestial poles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

There are _________ constellations in the entire sky.

Accepted Answer

A)  12 
B)  13 
C)  88 
D)  hundreds of 
E)  thousands of 
A)  12 
B)  13 
C)  88 
D)  hundreds of 
E)  thousands of

Question 5

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown below. What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

Accepted Answer

A)  north 
B)  east 
C)  south 
D)  west 
E)  directly overhead 
A)  north 
B)  east 
C)  south 
D)  west 
E)  directly overhead

Question 6

How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator, the North Pole, and latitude = +45°.)

Accepted Answer

The observed height of Polaris above the

Question 7

What would be the effect on the seasons if the tilt of the Earth's axis were 10° rather than 23.5°?

Accepted Answer

If the tilt of the Earth's axis were sma

Question 8

Earth revolves around the Sun in the same direction Earth spins about its axis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

If you go out at exactly 9 P.M. each evening over the course of one month, the position of a given star will move westward by tens of degrees. What causes this motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Earth's rotation on its axis 
B)  the revolution of the Earth around the Sun 
C)  the revolution of the Moon around the Earth 
D)  the revolution of the Sun around the Earth 
E)  the speed of the star through space 
A)  the Earth's rotation on its axis 
B)  the revolution of the Earth around the Sun 
C)  the revolution of the Moon around the Earth 
D)  the revolution of the Sun around the Earth 
E)  the speed of the star through space

Question 10

Which of the following is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Everyone on Earth observes the same phase of the Moon on a given night. 
B)  The phases of the Moon cycle with a period that is longer than its sidereal period. 
C)  In some phases, the Moon can be observed during the day. 
D)  The observed phase of the Moon changes over the course of one night. 
E)  A full Moon can be seen on the eastern horizon at sunset. 
A)  Everyone on Earth observes the same phase of the Moon on a given night. 
B)  The phases of the Moon cycle with a period that is longer than its sidereal period. 
C)  In some phases, the Moon can be observed during the day. 
D)  The observed phase of the Moon changes over the course of one night. 
E)  A full Moon can be seen on the eastern horizon at sunset.

Question 11

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown below. What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

Accepted Answer

A)  north 
B)  east 
C)  south 
D)  west 
E)  directly overhead 
A)  north 
B)  east 
C)  south 
D)  west 
E)  directly overhead

Question 12

During which season (in the Northern Hemisphere) could you see the Sun rising from the furthest north?

Accepted Answer

A)  winter 
B)  spring 
C)  summer 
D)  fall 
E)  The Sun always rises directly in the east. 
A)  winter 
B)  spring 
C)  summer 
D)  fall 
E)  The Sun always rises directly in the east.

Question 13

Consider an observer located on the equator. If the observer sees a star directly overhead at 10 P.M., where will that star be located in the night sky at 3 A.M.?

Accepted Answer

The star will be vis

Question 14

The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on the summer solstice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

For an observer in Seattle, Washington, which is located at latitude = +47°, what is the lowest possible altitude one might see the Sun on the meridian over the course of the year? Approximately what time of the day and year will this occur?

Accepted Answer

For an observer in Seattle, Washington,

Question 16

The fact that we always see the same side of the Moon indicates that the Moon does not rotate about an axis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Figure 1
-Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40°. Using Figure 1, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at midnight in mid-September?

Accepted Answer

A)  Scorpius 
B)  Taurus 
C)  Pisces 
D)  Aquarius 
E)  Leo 
A)  Scorpius 
B)  Taurus 
C)  Pisces 
D)  Aquarius 
E)  Leo

Question 18

What makes the equinoxes and solstices special?

Accepted Answer

The equinoxes occur when the Sun is dire

Question 19

The direction directly overhead of an observer defines his or her:

Accepted Answer

A)  meridian 
B)  celestial pole 
C)  nadir 
D)  circumpolar plane 
E)  zenith 
A)  meridian 
B)  celestial pole 
C)  nadir 
D)  circumpolar plane 
E)  zenith

Question 20

When a solar eclipse occurs, the Sun lies between the Earth and Moon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 2: Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth

Based on the location of the moon in the diagram below, draw a picture of how the moon would appear to an observer located on Earth.

Draw a picture below showing the Moon's location relative to the Earth and the Sun during a solar eclipse.

The meridian is half of an imaginary circle in the sky that passes through an observer's zenith and both celestial poles.

There are _________ constellations in the entire sky.

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown below. What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator, the North Pole, and latitude = +45°.)

What would be the effect on the seasons if the tilt of the Earth's axis were 10° rather than 23.5°?

Earth revolves around the Sun in the same direction Earth spins about its axis.

If you go out at exactly 9 P.M. each evening over the course of one month, the position of a given star will move westward by tens of degrees. What causes this motion?

Which of the following is FALSE?

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown below. What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

During which season (in the Northern Hemisphere) could you see the Sun rising from the furthest north?

Consider an observer located on the equator. If the observer sees a star directly overhead at 10 P.M., where will that star be located in the night sky at 3 A.M.?

The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on the summer solstice.

For an observer in Seattle, Washington, which is located at latitude = +47°, what is the lowest possible altitude one might see the Sun on the meridian over the course of the year? Approximately what time of the day and year will this occur?

The fact that we always see the same side of the Moon indicates that the Moon does not rotate about an axis.

Figure 1 -Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40°. Using Figure 1, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at midnight in mid-September?

What makes the equinoxes and solstices special?

The direction directly overhead of an observer defines his or her:

When a solar eclipse occurs, the Sun lies between the Earth and Moon.

Why Learn Astronomy

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Tools of the Astronomer

The Birth and Evolution of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquid the Giant Planets

Planetary Adornmentsmoons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

The Expanding Universe

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

Modern Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

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