Question 1

The Greek letter designation conveys information about a star s location and brightness.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

The moon has an angular diameter of 0.5 . What is the moon s angular diameter in minutes of arc?

Accepted Answer

A)   0.5
B)   30
C)   50
D)   1800
E)   60.5 B

Question 3

A solar eclipse that occurs when the moon s umbra reaches Earth s surface is called

Accepted Answer

A)   a total solar eclipse.
B)   a partial solar eclipse.
C)   an annular solar eclipse.
D)   a penumbral solar eclipse.
E)   an umbral solar eclipse. A

Question 4

On the autumnal equinox the sun is

Accepted Answer

A)    north of the celestial equator.
B)    south of the celestial equator.
C)   on the celestial equator and moving north with respect to the equator.
D)   on the celestial equator and moving south with respect to the equator.
E)   closest to the north celestial pole.

Question 5

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

Accepted Answer

A)   90 N
B)   90 S
C)   0
D)   45 N
E)   The latitude of the observer can not be determined from the information given.

Question 6

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say 9 pm) follow a seasonal pattern?

Accepted Answer

A)   No, the same constellations are visible at 9 pm on any clear night of the year.
B)   No. As the year progresses, the constellations visible at 9 pm are the same but their shapes change.
C)   Yes, at 9 pm during a clearwinter night ALL of the constellations you can see are different from the ones that appear at the same time during a summer night.
D)   Yes, at 9 pm during a summer night most of the constellations you can see are different from those you can see on a winter night. However, there are some constellations that are visible all year long.

Question 7

Earth doesn t experience a solar eclipse every month because

Accepted Answer

A)   of unpredictable weather patterns.
B)   the moon always keeps its same side toward the Earth.
C)   the moon s position is not aligned with the Earth s orbit.
D)   its sometimes nighttime when the eclipse occurs.
E)   sometimes the moon is too far away.

Question 8

Describe the path that a star on the celestial equator follows from the time it rises until it sets for a person at a latitude of 60 N and a person at the equator.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the path that a star on...

Question 9

The sideral period of the moon

Accepted Answer

A)   is about 27.32 days long.
B)   is the period of time for the moon to orbit Earth once with respect to the stars.
C)   is the period of time between successive eclipses at a given location on Earth.
D)   is the period of time from when the moon rises until the moon rises again the next night.
E)   a and b above

Question 10

On average the moon s umbral shadow is

Accepted Answer

A)   to bright to produce a total solar eclipse.
B)   to faint to produce a total solar eclipse.
C)   to wide to produce a total solar eclipse.
D)   too long to produce a total solar eclipse.
E)   to short to produce a total solar eclipse.

Question 11

A waxing crescent moon is visible

Accepted Answer

A)   near the eastern horizon just before sunrise.
B)   near the eastern horizon just after sunset.
C)   near the western horizon just before sunrise.
D)   near the western horizon just after sunset.
E)   from sunset until sunrise.

Question 12

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below?

Accepted Answer

A)   20 N
B)   20 S
C)   70 N
D)   70 S
E)   0

Question 13

Full Moon always occurs

Accepted Answer

A)   on the 15 th of ever month.
B)   when the Moon is at right angles to the direction of the Sun.
C)   when the Moon is closer to Sun than the Earth is.
D)   when the Moon is directly opposite the position of the Sun.

Question 14

In Brazil, the longest period of daylight occurs during the month of

Accepted Answer

A)   December.
B)   March.
C)   September.
D)   June.

Question 15

Why is the eclipse year shorter than 365.25 days?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is the eclipse year shorter than...

Question 16

Describe how a small change in the relative distance of Earth from the sun at perihelion could effect the formation of glaciers on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe how a small change in the...

Question 17

The full moon has an angular diameter of approximately ____________________ arc minutes for an observer located on the surface of Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The full moon has an angular diameter...

Question 18

If you were on the moon during a total lunar eclipse, the sun would be hidden behind Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

An eclipse season is the period of time during which the

Accepted Answer

A)   moon crosses a node in its orbit.
B)   sun crosses a node in the moon s orbit.
C)   line of nodes crosses the moon s orbit.
D)   the moon is new or full.
E)   the moon is visible during the day.

Question 20

The ecliptic is

Accepted Answer

A)   the centerline of the zodiac.
B)   the projection of Earth s orbit on the sky.
C)   the apparent path of the sun around the sky.
D)   all of the above
E)   none of the above

Exam 2: Users Guide to the Sky: Patterns and Cycles