Question 1

If the Earth s period of rotation doubled, but the period of revolution stayed the same

Accepted Answer

A)  the night would be twice as long. 
B)  the night would be half as long. 
C)  the year would be half as long. 
D)  the year would be twice as long. 
E)  the length of the day would be unchanged

Question 2

A solar or lunar eclipse will occur

Accepted Answer

A)  when the sun is near the line of nodes of the moon and the moon is new or full. 
B)  any time the moon is new or full. 
C)  when the sun is near the solstice and the moon is new or full. 
D)  half way through an eclipse year. 
E)  when the sun is near the equinox and the moon is new or full.

Question 3

A lunar eclipse can only occur during the full phase.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

A total solar eclipse occurred in Wolf Point, Montana on Feb. 26, 1979. When was (will) this eclipse again (be) visible in Montana?

Accepted Answer

A)  August of 1979 
B)  March of 2033 
C)  March of 1997 
D)  March of 1979 
E)  January of 2000

Question 5

The diagram below shows three approximate locations of the sun along the western horizon. Which number indicates the location of the sun at sunset on the vernal equinox for an observer at a latitude of 48 S?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  The sun will set in the east for an observer in the southern hemisphere. 
E)  The sun will not set on vernal equinox at this latitude.

Question 6

If the Moon s orbital plane was aligned with the celestial equator we could

Accepted Answer

A)  have eclipses every month. 
B)  never have eclipses. 
C)  have eclipses only at solstice. 
D)  have eclipses only at the equinoxes.

Question 7

During the month of June the north celestial pole points towards Polaris but during the month of December it points

Accepted Answer

A)  just north of Polaris. 
B)  just south of Polaris. 
C)  towards the star Vega. 
D)  towards the star Thuban. 
E)  still towards Polaris.

Question 8

The ____________________ is the point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer, regardless of where the observer is located on Earth.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ is the point on the...

Question 9

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

The moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

If an observer walks north toward increasing latitude, the number of circumpolar stars would

Accepted Answer

A)  remain constant. 
B)  decrease. 
C)  increase. 
D)  Unknown unless you also state the longitude of the observer.

Question 12

____________________ is a measure of the light energy that hits one square meter in one second.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ is a measure of the light...

Question 13

If you are standing at the Earth s North Pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nadir 
B)  The star Vega 
C)  The celestial equator 
D)  The north celestial pole

Question 14

Table 2-1 
 
-Refer to Table 2-1. Based on the information in the table, what is the ratio of the intensity of Dra to that of Nim?

Accepted Answer

A)  2.512 
B)  5 
C)  8.07 
D)  11.14 
E)  100

Question 15

A totally eclipsed moon glows coppery red because

Accepted Answer

A)  the moon surface is made of iron ore which is red in color. 
B)  red light is cooler than blue light. 
C)  during a lunar eclipse the sun is cooler than normal and its light is more red. 
D)  only red light is able to pass completely through Earth s atmosphere and reach the moon. 
E)  the moon appears red during a total solar eclipse, not a total lunar eclipse.

Question 16

You live at a latitude of 39 S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Accepted Answer

A)  45 
B)  23.5 
C)  39 
D)  51 
E)  The answer depends on the day of the year.

Question 17

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

Accepted Answer

A)  18 
B)  - 14 
C)  3 
D)  - 3 
E)  5

Question 18

During a total lunar eclipse,

Accepted Answer

A)  the moon must be new. 
B)  the observer must be in the path of totality. 
C)  the moon s color will be affected by Earth s atmosphere. 
D)  the moon must be at about its greatest distance from Earth. 
E)  it must be near the time of one of the equinoxes.

Question 19

If you lived on the Moon how often would the Earth set below your horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  Every 24 hours 
B)  Once a sidereal period (27.3 days) 
C)  Once a synodic period (29.5 days) 
D)  Every year 
E)  Never

Question 20

Why have more people seen total lunar eclipses than total solar eclipses?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why have more people seen total lunar...

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