Deck 1: Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon

Question 1

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth's shadow.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

An important part of a scientific theory is its ability to make predictions that can be verified by other scientists.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A scientific theory is the same as a universal law.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

The Sun,the planets,all of their moons,and smaller bodies such as dwarf planets,asteroids,and comets make up the Milky Way Galaxy.

Question 5

If you stand at the North Pole,all of the visible stars,except the North Star,appear to move parallel to the horizon.

Question 6

A body of related and rigorously tested theories can be pieced together into a much larger description of nature called a hypothesis.

Question 7

The summer triangle is an asterism that connects the brightest stars in three different constellations.

Question 8

All of the stars in a given constellation are about the same distance away from Earth.

Question 9

Circumpolar stars are near the north or south celestial pole and do not appear to rise or set from the perspective of people in the northern or southern hemispheres,respectively.

Question 10

The phases of the Moon are caused by Earth's shadow falling on the surface of the Moon.

Question 11

Most of the stars in a constellation are nowhere near one other.

Question 12

Totality for a lunar eclipse lasts longer than totality for a solar eclipse.

Question 13

The Sun follows the path of the celestial equator.

Question 14

There are 60 arcseconds in 1 degree.

Question 15

There is a single scientific method with specific steps that every scientist follows.

Question 16

If you use a commercial firm to name a star for a fee,professional astronomers will recognize that star by your given name.

Question 17

Seasons are caused by variations in the distance from Earth to the Sun.

Question 18

Without binoculars or a telescope,the unaided human eye can see millions of stars in the night sky.

Question 19

We can see only one side of the Moon from Earth because the Moon does not rotate.

Question 20

The Sun moves in the sky along the path of the ecliptic.

Question 21

A scientist observes a new phenomenon that disagrees with the scientist's own explanation or hypothesis.Following the scientific method,the correct procedure is to

A) accept the disagreement as part of the fundamental incomprehensibility of the universe.
B) modify the hypothesis.
C) wait until someone develops an adequate explanation before announcing the new observation.
D) discard the observation as erroneous.

Question 22

Forms of radiation that are not visible

A) are,by definition,not part of scientific theories because they cannot be seen.
B) have been detected only since the 1970s.
C) probably hold great promise for the future,but we have not been able to make any scientific use of them with present technologies.
D) have allowed us to determine much of what we now know about the universe.

Question 23

In modern astronomy,the constellations are

A) clusters of stars that are held together by the mutual gravitational attractions of the individual stars in the cluster.
B) nearby galaxies to which astronomers have given specific names.
C) 12 regions of sky through which the Sun,Moon,and planets move as seen from Earth.
D) 88 regions of sky,covering the entire sky.

Question 24

The summer triangle,a group of three bright stars in the summer sky,consists of Deneb,Altair,and

A) Betelgeuse.
B) Vega.
C) Pollux.
D) Polaris.

Question 25

The intellectual foundation of science is

A) rejection of all observations that disagree with theory.
B) observation,faith,and acceptance.
C) logical derivation entirely from fundamental principles.
D) observation,logic,and skepticism.

Question 26

Which one of the following statements about angle is correct?

A) 50 arcseconds is half of a degree.
B) 50 arcminutes is half of a degree.
C) 30 arcminutes is half of a degree.
D) 30 arcseconds is half of a degree.

Question 27

In science,if new observations disagree with a well-established theory,then

A) the new observations should be accepted as part of the overall incomprehensibility of the universe,and both the observations and the theory should be retained.
B) the theory must be discarded immediately.
C) the theory must be modified.
D) the observations must be discarded.

Question 28

Which one of the following statements about constellations is correct?

A) If you point randomly to some direction in the sky,you are pointing at some constellation.
B) Only if you point in the vicinity of one of the brighter stars are you pointing at a constellation.
C) Astronomers are seeking to discover new constellations.
D) Astronomers are constantly inventing new constellations.

Question 29

One important characteristic of a scientific theory is that it

A) is mathematical.
B) consists of at least three separate hypotheses.
C) can be tested by observation.
D) need not have a connection with physical reality.

Question 30

New stars appear to be formed in

A) nebulae.
B) supernovae.
C) black holes.
D) pulsars.

Question 31

One arcminute is equal to

A) 1/60 of a full circle.
B) 60 degrees.
C) 1/60 degree.
D) 1/60 arcsecond.

Question 32

Astronomers sometimes announce that they have discovered a new solar system beyond our own,or a new galaxy beyond our own.Which choice correctly describes the terms "solar system" and "galaxy"?

A) A solar system is a large assemblage of stars similar to the Sun,whereas a galaxy is much larger and consists of all different types of stars.
B) A solar system consists of an immense number of stars (i.e. ,suns),and a galaxy is a cluster of many such systems.
C) A galaxy consists of planets and other objects orbiting around a single star,whereas a solar system is a system consisting of an immense number of stars (i.e. ,suns).
D) A solar system consists of planets and other objects orbiting around a star,whereas a galaxy is a system consisting of an immense number of stars.

Question 33

The winter triangle,a group of three bright stars in the winter sky,consists of Sirius,Procyon,and

A) Betelgeuse.
B) Vega.
C) Castor.
D) Polaris.

Question 34

Modern science is founded

A) in part on the myths and legends of antiquity.
B) in part on the philosophical approach of the ancient Greeks.
C) only upon developments since Isaac Newton and his contemporaries.
D) only upon developments during the past hundred years.

Question 35

The constellation whose stars are used as pointers to the north celestial pole in the northern hemisphere is

A) Leo,the lion,containing the bright star Regulus.
B) Ursa Major,the Big Dipper.
C) Ursa Minor,the Little Bear,containing the bright star Polaris.
D) Boes,the Shepherd,containing the bright star Arcturus.

Question 36

The nightly motion of objects across our sky is caused by the

A) revolution of Earth around the Sun.
B) rotation of the whole celestial sphere of stars around the fixed Earth.
C) rotation of Earth on its axis.
D) motion of the solar system around the Galaxy.

Question 37

What basic pattern do stars seem to trace out in our sky if you watch (or photograph)stars near the north celestial pole for a period of several hours?

A) Circles,with the north celestial pole at the center
B) Spirals,as the stars move while Earth rotates
C) Almost straight lines,rising from the horizon toward the zenith
D) Ellipses,with the north pole at one focus

Question 38

Which of the following statements best represents the overall rationale for scientific investigation?

A) Reality is comprehensible,and a limited number of fundamental principles governs the nature and behavior of the universe.
B) There are certain patterns in nature from which future events can be predicted,but there are no underlying basic principles or laws.
C) The universe is a hodgepodge of unrelated things behaving in unpredictable ways,but we must continue to observe it in case this behavior threatens Earth.
D) The behavior of the whole universe is governed by our observation of it in such a way as to hide the fundamental truth.

Question 39

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

A) Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations.
B) Only the brighter stars are in constellations.
C) Only stars within the zodiac close to the ecliptic,Earth's orbital plane,are located in constellations.
D) Every star is located in a constellation.

Question 40

Describing a star as being in the constellation Cygnus (the Swan)tells a modern astronomer that the star is

A) in a distant galaxy located in a particular direction from Earth.
B) inside our solar system.
C) somewhere in a particular region of sky having definite boundaries.
D) one of a set of bright stars that make up a particular "picture" in the sky.

Question 41

At what approximate time will the new Moon rise?

A) Midday
B) Sunset
C) Sunrise
D) Midnight

Question 42

Earth's shadow falling on the Moon is the reason we see

A) solar eclipses.
B) Earth's shadow cannot fall on the Moon.
C) lunar eclipses.
D) the phases of the Moon.

Question 43

If you were going to send a spacecraft to circle the Moon and photograph the entire far side (the side not visible from Earth),during which lunar phase (as seen from Earth)would you do the photography?

A) New moon
B) First or third quarter
C) Full moon
D) It really doesn't make any difference.

Question 44

In the northern hemisphere,where can you see the true astronomical new moon?

A) Always in the south
B) In a direction opposite to that of the Sun
C) The Moon is not visible at new moon.
D) In a direction at right angles to that of the Sun

Question 45

The apparent path of the Sun across our sky,day-by-day,throughout the year,is known as the

A) celestial meridian.
B) zenith.
C) ecliptic.
D) celestial equator.

Question 46

The equinoxes are located at the intersections of the

A) ecliptic and the horizon.
B) ecliptic and the celestial equator.
C) ecliptic and the Moon's orbit.
D) horizon and the celestial equator.

Question 47

Astronomers living north of the Arctic Circle around the time of summer solstice will experience which of the following?

A) 24 hours of sunlight
B) Continuous observation of the full moon for several weeks
C) A period of several weeks during which the Moon does not appear,allowing uninterrupted views of faint objects in the background sky
D) 24 hours of continuous darkness

Question 48

Which of the following phases of the Moon is most easily seen during the daytime (mid-morning or mid-afternoon,not near sunrise or sunset)?

A) The Moon is never visible in daylight.
B) New
C) Full
D) Quarter

Question 49

On a particular night,Jupiter subtends an angle of 42 arcseconds as seen from Earth.This angle is

A) roughly three-quarters of an arcminute.
B) less than half an arcminute.
C) more than an arcminute,but less than a degree.
D) more than a degree.

Question 50

When the Sun is at one of the equinoxes,

A) day and night are of equal length only for people on the equator.
B) the day is longer than the night in one hemisphere of Earth and shorter in the other hemisphere.
C) people on the equator have perpetual daylight.
D) day and night are of equal length everywhere on Earth.

Question 51

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator at

A) two points,known as solstices.
B) one point only,known as the vernal equinox.
C) the meridian.
D) two points,known as equinoxes.

Question 52

How many arcseconds are there in a full circle?

A) 60
B) 360
C) 3600
D) 360 × 3600

Question 53

From the North Pole,

A) only stars within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen.
B) only half the celestial sphere can be seen on every clear night.
C) only stars 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen.
D) the whole celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year.

Question 54

It is warmer in summer than winter because

A) the Sun is higher in the sky and the days are shorter.
B) the Sun is lower in the sky and sunlight passes through more atmosphere,thereby warming it more during summer.
C) Earth is closer to the Sun in summer.
D) the Sun is higher in the sky and the days are longer.

Question 55

What is the one major difference between the Sun and the Moon in our sky?

A) Their apparent motion across the sky with respect to the horizon in one day is very different.
B) Their diameters subtend at very different angles.
C) The spectrum of their light is very different.
D) The Sun emits light whereas the Moon merely reflects it.

Question 56

One required condition for seasons to occur is that a planet's

A) spin axis be tilted with respect to the perpendicular to its orbital plane.
B) axis be perpendicular to its orbital plane.
C) atmosphere be thick.
D) distance from the Sun vary.

Question 57

Where would you have to be to see the south celestial pole on your horizon?

A) At the north pole
B) About 1° away from the south pole,to allow for precession
C) At the south pole
D) On the equator

Question 58

How much of the total surface of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun when it is at quarter phase?

A) One-quarter
B) Very little
C) All of it
D) One-half

Question 59

During one complete year,an observer at the south pole would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

A) 50%
B) A variable amount,depending on the year
C) 100%
D) A variable amount,depending on the observer's longitude

Question 60

When the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and the Sun and Moon are almost in line,we call its phase

A) new moon.
B) full moon.
C) The Moon can never get between the Sun and Earth.
D) gibbous.

Question 61

At what approximate time does a full moon rise?

A) Midnight
B) Sunrise
C) Noon
D) Sunset

Question 62

What is the phase of the Moon during a total lunar eclipse?

A) New
B) Gibbous
C) Full
D) First quarter

Question 63

The term "sidereal month" refers to the

A) time from new moon to new moon.
B) time over which the Moon completes one orbit around Earth,relative to the stars.
C) time from one lunar eclipse to the next.
D) month containing Easter,as defined by the ecclesiastical calendar.

Question 64

You are standing in the middle of the far side of the Moon.Which one of the following statements about what you can and cannot see would be true?

A) You could never see the Sun from that location.
B) You could never see Earth from that location.
C) The stars visible from that location would be very different from the stars visible from Earth at that time of year.
D) Earth would set about 14 days after rising.

Question 65

The Moon is visible in the sky in the daytime from most places on Earth

A) almost never: only during solar eclipses when the sky is dark.
B) some time every day,but it is difficult to see because of the blue sky.
C) only at full moon phases,when it is very bright.
D) about half the time,or for 2 weeks in every month.

Question 66

During a solar eclipse,the

A) Sun comes between Earth and the Moon.
B) Moon comes between Earth and the Sun.
C) Sun goes below the horizon.
D) Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon.

Question 67

During a lunar eclipse the

A) Sun goes below the horizon.
B) Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon.
C) Sun comes between Earth and the Moon.
D) Moon comes between Earth and the Sun.

Question 68

One synodic month is longer than one sidereal month by about

A) 1 week.
B) 1 hour.
C) 4 minutes.
D) 2.2 days.

Question 69

Which of the following statements is correct for eclipses in the Sun-Earth-Moon system?

A) An eclipse of the Moon occurs only at new moon.
B) An eclipse of the Sun occurs only at first quarter moon.
C) An eclipse of the Sun occurs only at full moon.
D) An eclipse of the Sun occurs only at new moon.

Question 70

A lunar eclipse is caused by the

A) Sun passing behind the Moon.
B) Moon passing into the shadow of Earth.
C) Moon passing behind the Sun.
D) Earth moving into the Moon's shadow.

Question 71

Which of the following statements is NOT correct for eclipses in the Sun-Earth-Moon system?

A) Eclipses of Moon and Sun do not occur at quarter moon phases.
B) An eclipse of the Sun occurs only at new moon.
C) An eclipse of the Moon occurs only at full moon.
D) An eclipse of the Sun occurs only at full moon.

Question 72

A full moon is always at its highest in our sky at

A) midnight.
B) sunset.
C) midday.
D) sunrise.

Question 73

The Moon rotates around its own axis in the same length of time that it takes to orbit once around Earth.This equality of rotation period and orbital period,which results in the same side of the Moon facing Earth at all times,is called

A) coincidental rotation.
B) precession.
C) synchronous rotation.
D) relative motion.

Question 74

The term "synodic month" refers to the

A) time from one lunar eclipse to the next.
B) time from new moon to new moon.
C) month containing Easter,as defined by the ecclesiastical calendar.
D) time over which the Moon completes one orbit around Earth,relative to the stars.

Question 75

A full moon always occurs

A) on the first of every month.
B) when the Moon is at right angles to the direction of the Sun.
C) when the Moon is closer to the Sun than is Earth.
D) when the Moon is farther from the Sun than is Earth.

Question 76

When viewed from a point directly above the plane of the planetary system,the Moon would appear to rotate on its axis

A) once per day to maintain its direction toward Earth.
B) once per year as Earth and Moon orbit the Sun together.
C) once per month,or once per revolution about Earth.
D) not at all,because on Earth we always see the same face.

Question 77

Why is the period between two successive full moons not equal to the Moon's orbital period,or sidereal month?

A) The Moon's orbit is elliptical,and the Moon therefore moves irregularly around Earth.
B) The Moon's orbit is inclined at about 5° to Earth's orbital plane.
C) The two time intervals are not related because full moon time depends on the Moon's rotation period about its own axis.
D) The Earth-Moon system is also orbiting the Sun.

Question 78

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

A) Sun passes in front of the Moon.
B) Moon passes behind the Sun.
C) Moon casts a shadow on Earth.
D) Earth casts a shadow on the Moon.

Question 79

The time for the Moon to rotate around its own axis,relative to the stars,is about

A) 1 year.
B) 1 month.
C) 1 day.
D) infinite,because the Moon never rotates.

Question 80

To observers on Earth,the Moon shows

A) its whole surface once per year as Earth moves around the Sun.
B) its whole surface once per month as it rotates.
C) only one side to Earth at all times.
D) only the sunlit side at all times.