Question 1

The difference between an umbral eclipse and a penumbral eclipse is

Accepted Answer

A)  entirely dependent on viewing position on Earth. 
B)  whether the Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is or whether it is closer to the Sun than Earth is. 
C)  dependent on the distance of the Moon above or below the ecliptic. 
D)  whether Earth's rotation axis is tilted toward or away from the Moon during the eclipse. 
A)  entirely dependent on viewing position on Earth. 
B)  whether the Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is or whether it is closer to the Sun than Earth is. 
C)  dependent on the distance of the Moon above or below the ecliptic. 
D)  whether Earth's rotation axis is tilted toward or away from the Moon during the eclipse.

Question 2

We can occasionally see a total eclipse of the Sun on Earth because the

Accepted Answer

A)  Moon is cooler than the Sun. 
B)  angular sizes of Sun and Moon, when viewed from Earth, are almost the same. 
C)  Moon and the Sun both move precisely along the ecliptic plane. 
D)  physical sizes of the Sun and the Moon are almost the same. 
A)  Moon is cooler than the Sun. 
B)  angular sizes of Sun and Moon, when viewed from Earth, are almost the same. 
C)  Moon and the Sun both move precisely along the ecliptic plane. 
D)  physical sizes of the Sun and the Moon are almost the same.

Question 3

If one follows the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper, the first moderately bright star one comes to is

Accepted Answer

A)  Polaris, the North Star. 
B)  Spica, in Virgo. 
C)  Arcturus, in Bootes. 
D)  Vega, in Lyra. 
A)  Polaris, the North Star. 
B)  Spica, in Virgo. 
C)  Arcturus, in Bootes. 
D)  Vega, in Lyra.

Question 4

The pattern of stars that is visible from one position on Earth gradually shifts from east to west across the sky over one night. This shift is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  the motion of Earth around the Sun. 
B)  the rotation of Earth about its own north-south axis. 
C)  individual motions of the stars themselves with respect to the more distant galaxies. 
D)  precession of the spin axis of Earth. 
A)  the motion of Earth around the Sun. 
B)  the rotation of Earth about its own north-south axis. 
C)  individual motions of the stars themselves with respect to the more distant galaxies. 
D)  precession of the spin axis of Earth.

Question 5

The bright star at the base of the backward question mark that forms the head of Leo the Lion is

Accepted Answer

A)  Arcturus. 
B)  Regulus. 
C)  Rigel. 
D)  Fomalhaut. 
A)  Arcturus. 
B)  Regulus. 
C)  Rigel. 
D)  Fomalhaut.

Question 6

0.034 meter is

Accepted Answer

A)  3.4 mm. 
B)  0.34 mm. 
C)  340 mm. 
D)  34 mm. 
A)  3.4 mm. 
B)  0.34 mm. 
C)  340 mm. 
D)  34 mm.

Question 7

The present position of the vernal equinox in the sky is in the constellation

Accepted Answer

A)  Pisces. 
B)  Ursa Minor. 
C)  Aquarius. 
D)  Aries. 
A)  Pisces. 
B)  Ursa Minor. 
C)  Aquarius. 
D)  Aries.

Question 8

The phase of the Moon at the time of a solar eclipse

Accepted Answer

A)  is full. 
B)  can be any phase: new, quarter, or full. 
C)  is new. 
D)  is third quarter. 
A)  is full. 
B)  can be any phase: new, quarter, or full. 
C)  is new. 
D)  is third quarter.

Question 9

The phenomenon of precession of Earth's spin axis is caused by the

Accepted Answer

A)  variation of the spin rate of Earth. 
B)  tidal ebb and flow of ocean waters on Earth. 
C)  varying intensity and hence pressure of sunlight on Earth throughout the year. 
D)  gravitational pull of Moon and Sun on Earth's equatorial bulge. 
A)  variation of the spin rate of Earth. 
B)  tidal ebb and flow of ocean waters on Earth. 
C)  varying intensity and hence pressure of sunlight on Earth throughout the year. 
D)  gravitational pull of Moon and Sun on Earth's equatorial bulge.

Question 10

The present-day calendar, which includes leap years and century year exclusion, was introduced by

Accepted Answer

A)  Karl Marx in 1917. 
B)  Julius Caesar in 50 B.C. 
C)  Ptolemy in the second century B.C. 
D)  Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. 
A)  Karl Marx in 1917. 
B)  Julius Caesar in 50 B.C. 
C)  Ptolemy in the second century B.C. 
D)  Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Question 11

When the Moon is in its gibbous phase, the positions of the Moon, Earth, and the Sun are such that the

Accepted Answer

A)  Moon is closer to the Sun than Earth is. 
B)  relative distances of Earth and the Moon from the Sun are irrelevant because this phase can occur at any time. 
C)  Earth and the Moon are at almost the same distance from the Sun. 
D)  Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is. 
A)  Moon is closer to the Sun than Earth is. 
B)  relative distances of Earth and the Moon from the Sun are irrelevant because this phase can occur at any time. 
C)  Earth and the Moon are at almost the same distance from the Sun. 
D)  Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is.

Question 12

Since antiquity astronomers have counted 12 zodiac constellations. But during the past century this number has increased to 13. What caused this change?

Accepted Answer

A)  Precession has caused the path of the Sun to shift against the background of the stars. 
B)  The boundaries of the constellations have been redefined. 
C)  Proper motions of stars have caused the constellations to shift. 
D)  New constellations have been invented within the past century. 
A)  Precession has caused the path of the Sun to shift against the background of the stars. 
B)  The boundaries of the constellations have been redefined. 
C)  Proper motions of stars have caused the constellations to shift. 
D)  New constellations have been invented within the past century.

Question 13

At approximately what time does the crescent Moon that occurs soon after the new Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

Any star (except the Sun), when viewed from low latitudes and mid-latitudes, will rise in the east about

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour later each evening. 
B)  4 minutes earlier each evening. 
C)  4 minutes later each evening. 
D)  the same time each evening. 
A)  1 hour later each evening. 
B)  4 minutes earlier each evening. 
C)  4 minutes later each evening. 
D)  the same time each evening.

Question 15

The nightly motion of objects across the sky from horizon to horizon is caused by the

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

What are the alt-azimuth coordinates of Polaris, the North Star?

Accepted Answer

A)  0°, 0° 
B)  90°, 0° 
C)  90°, any azimuth 
D)  The answer depends on where the observer is on Earth. 
A)  0°, 0° 
B)  90°, 0° 
C)  90°, any azimuth 
D)  The answer depends on where the observer is on Earth.

Question 17

In the system of celestial coordinates that matches latitude and longitude on Earth, which is the coordinate that is equivalent to longitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  declination 
B)  elongation angle 
C)  precession 
D)  right ascension 
A)  declination 
B)  elongation angle 
C)  precession 
D)  right ascension

Question 18

Over what typical time scale will the particular pattern of stars in a specific constellation appear to change, as viewed from Earth, because of celestial motions?

Accepted Answer

A)  a human lifetime, because of motions of individual stars 
B)  millions of years because stars move very slowly with respect to each other 
C)  a few hours because of Earth's rotation 
D)  a year because of Earth's orbital motion 
A)  a human lifetime, because of motions of individual stars 
B)  millions of years because stars move very slowly with respect to each other 
C)  a few hours because of Earth's rotation 
D)  a year because of Earth's orbital motion

Question 19

The time interval from seeing the bright star Regulus rise over the eastern horizon until it rises again the following evening is

Accepted Answer

A)  a solar day. 
B)  a sidereal day. 
C)  neither a solar day nor a sidereal day. 
D)  both a solar day and a sidereal day because these are the same for objects other than the Sun. 
A)  a solar day. 
B)  a sidereal day. 
C)  neither a solar day nor a sidereal day. 
D)  both a solar day and a sidereal day because these are the same for objects other than the Sun.

Question 20

How often does the Sun cross the celestial equator in a given year?

Accepted Answer

A)  never because it is always on the celestial equator and follows it throughout the year 
B)  only once 
C)  twice 
D)  365 times; it does this every day 
A)  never because it is always on the celestial equator and follows it throughout the year 
B)  only once 
C)  twice 
D)  365 times; it does this every day

The difference between an umbral eclipse and a penumbral eclipse is

We can occasionally see a total eclipse of the Sun on Earth because the

If one follows the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper, the first moderately bright star one comes to is

The pattern of stars that is visible from one position on Earth gradually shifts from east to west across the sky over one night. This shift is caused by

The bright star at the base of the backward question mark that forms the head of Leo the Lion is

0.034 meter is

The present position of the vernal equinox in the sky is in the constellation

The phase of the Moon at the time of a solar eclipse

The phenomenon of precession of Earth's spin axis is caused by the

The present-day calendar, which includes leap years and century year exclusion, was introduced by

When the Moon is in its gibbous phase, the positions of the Moon, Earth, and the Sun are such that the

Since antiquity astronomers have counted 12 zodiac constellations. But during the past century this number has increased to 13. What caused this change?

At approximately what time does the crescent Moon that occurs soon after the new Moon rise?

Any star (except the Sun), when viewed from low latitudes and mid-latitudes, will rise in the east about

The nightly motion of objects across the sky from horizon to horizon is caused by the

What are the alt-azimuth coordinates of Polaris, the North Star?

In the system of celestial coordinates that matches latitude and longitude on Earth, which is the coordinate that is equivalent to longitude?

Over what typical time scale will the particular pattern of stars in a specific constellation appear to change, as viewed from Earth, because of celestial motions?

The time interval from seeing the bright star Regulus rise over the eastern horizon until it rises again the following evening is

How often does the Sun cross the celestial equator in a given year?

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

The difference between an umbral eclipse and a penumbral eclipse is

We can occasionally see a total eclipse of the Sun on Earth because the

If one follows the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper, the first moderately bright star one comes to is

The pattern of stars that is visible from one position on Earth gradually shifts from east to west across the sky over one night. This shift is caused by

The bright star at the base of the backward question mark that forms the head of Leo the Lion is

0.034 meter is

The present position of the vernal equinox in the sky is in the constellation

The phase of the Moon at the time of a solar eclipse

The phenomenon of precession of Earth's spin axis is caused by the

The present-day calendar, which includes leap years and century year exclusion, was introduced by

When the Moon is in its gibbous phase, the positions of the Moon, Earth, and the Sun are such that the

Since antiquity astronomers have counted 12 zodiac constellations. But during the past century this number has increased to 13. What caused this change?

At approximately what time does the crescent Moon that occurs soon after the new Moon rise?

Any star (except the Sun), when viewed from low latitudes and mid-latitudes, will rise in the east about

The nightly motion of objects across the sky from horizon to horizon is caused by the

What are the alt-azimuth coordinates of Polaris, the North Star?

In the system of celestial coordinates that matches latitude and longitude on Earth, which is the coordinate that is equivalent to longitude?

Over what typical time scale will the particular pattern of stars in a specific constellation appear to change, as viewed from Earth, because of celestial motions?

The time interval from seeing the bright star Regulus rise over the eastern horizon until it rises again the following evening is

How often does the Sun cross the celestial equator in a given year?

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Exoplanets and the Formation of Planetary Systems

Formation of the Solar System

Earth and the Moon

The Other Terrestrial Planets

The Outer Planets

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Death of Stars

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Other Active Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters