Question 1

At which of the following times is the azimuth of the rising Sun the greatest for observers in the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A) The winter solstice 
B) The summer solstice 
C) The spring equinox 
D) The autumnal equinox

Question 2

The time kept by a sundial is

Accepted Answer

A) Apparent solar time 
B) Mean solar time 
C) Sidereal time 
D) Greenwich mean time

Question 3

If sunset is at 6:00 p.m. ,at what time does the waning quarter Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

A) Noon 
B) Midnight 
C) 3:00 a.m. 
D) 3:00 p.m.

Question 4

If the Earth's equator were in the plane of the ecliptic,which of the following phenomena would not occur?

Accepted Answer

A) Day and night 
B) The appearance of different constellations at different times of year 
C) The seasons 
D) The appearance of the planet Mercury in the sky

Question 5

Local noon corresponds to the time when the Sun is on the

Accepted Answer

A) Zenith 
B) Meridian 
C) Nadir 
D) Ecliptic

Question 6

In which of the following circumstances is it possible to observe the first quarter Moon?

Accepted Answer

A) Setting at noon 
B) Rising at sunset 
C) High in the sky at dawn 
D) Setting at midnight

Question 7

The line that divides the celestial sphere into northern and southern hemispheres is the

Accepted Answer

A) Ecliptic 
B) Celestial equator 
C) Meridian 
D) Horizon

Question 8

Which of the following is true of the motion of the planet Mars among the stars?

Accepted Answer

A) All retrograde loops occur in the same constellation. 
B) All retrograde loops have the same shape. 
C) Retrograde loops always are separated by the same interval of time. 
D) Retrograde loops occur when Mars is in conjunction (near the Sun in the sky)

Question 9

The sun reaches its highest high point in the sky at the beginning of which season?

Accepted Answer

A) spring 
B) summer 
C) winter 
D) fall

Question 10

Relative to the stars,the Moon

Accepted Answer

A) Remains stationary 
B) Moves eastward,then westward during a month 
C) Moves westward 
D) Moves eastward

Question 11

The planet Jupiter has an orbital period of 12 years and a rotation period of 10 hours.Relative to the Earth,the difference between a solar and sidereal day is

Accepted Answer

A) Much smaller for Jupiter 
B) Much larger for Jupiter 
C) Exactly the same as for Earth 
D) Zero in the case of Jupiter

Question 12

What is the phase of the Moon when it sets at dawn?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

During retrograde motion,the motion of a planet relative to the stars is generally

Accepted Answer

A) Westward 
B) Eastward 
C) Northward 
D) Southward

Question 14

On the first day of Spring,the Sun is on the

Accepted Answer

A) Zenith 
B) Meridian 
C) Celestial equator 
D) Nadir

Question 15

If you measure the angle of the north star above the horizon,what position coordinate do you have?

Accepted Answer

A) North longnitude 
B) South longnitude 
C) North latitude 
D) South latitude

Question 16

How does the planet Mars move with respect to the stars?

Accepted Answer

A) Always eastward 
B) Always westward 
C) It stays in the same place at all times 
D) Sometimes eastward,sometimes westward

Question 17

What is the altitude of the Sun at noon on the day of the autumnal equinox at 41 degrees north latitude?

Accepted Answer

A) 41 degrees 
B) 23 degrees 
C) 49 degrees 
D) 18 degrees

Question 18

The Sun moves eastward among the stars at the rate of about 30 degrees per

Accepted Answer

A) Hour 
B) Month 
C) Year 
D) Day 
E) Minute

Question 19

Approximately how long does it take for the Sun to move 1 degree with respect to the stars?

Accepted Answer

A) 1 minute 
B) 1 hour 
C) 1 day 
D) 1 week

Exam 2: Patterns in the Sky