Question 1

An observer measures the angle with the horizon made by stars as they rise and set. As the observer moves northward from the equator, this angle

Accepted Answer

A)  remains the same. 
B)  decreases from 90 to zero. 
C)  increases from zero to 90. 
D)  first increases until it get to middle latitudes and then decreases again. 
A)  remains the same. 
B)  decreases from 90 to zero. 
C)  increases from zero to 90. 
D)  first increases until it get to middle latitudes and then decreases again.

Question 2

What is the lowest latitude above which one would see the Sun for a full 24 hours on at least one day per year?

Accepted Answer

A)  23.5° 
B)  90° 
C)  52° 
D)  66.5° 
A)  23.5° 
B)  90° 
C)  52° 
D)  66.5°

Question 3

When viewed from Earth on a particular night, Jupiter subtends an angle of 42 arcseconds. This angle is

Accepted Answer

A)  more than 1°. 
B)  less than 0.5 arcminute. 
C)  more than 1 arcminute but less than 1°. 
D)  about 1 arcminute. 
A)  more than 1°. 
B)  less than 0.5 arcminute. 
C)  more than 1 arcminute but less than 1°. 
D)  about 1 arcminute.

Question 4

The waxing gibbous phase of the Moon occurs between the two positions of

Accepted Answer

A)  third quarter and new Moon. 
B)  full Moon and third quarter. 
C)  first quarter and full Moon. 
D)  new Moon and first quarter. 
A)  third quarter and new Moon. 
B)  full Moon and third quarter. 
C)  first quarter and full Moon. 
D)  new Moon and first quarter.

Question 5

Which of these points remains fixed in the sky relative to an observer's horizon over a time scale of 100 years?

Accepted Answer

A)  direction to a distant star (e.g., Betelgeuse, in Orion) 
B)  north celestial pole 
C)  winter solstice 
D)  vernal equinox 
A)  direction to a distant star (e.g., Betelgeuse, in Orion) 
B)  north celestial pole 
C)  winter solstice 
D)  vernal equinox

Question 6

In writing a mystery story, the writer has the fictitious villain planning a robbery and needs to use a statement about the timing of the robbery. Which of these statements could accurately describe the Moon's location at the time of the robbery?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Because it is new Moon this evening, we can plan the job for 3 weeks from today, when the night will be moonless." 
B)  "It is now full Moon, so we need to wait for 2 weeks before we get a moonless night." 
C)  "We will do the job about a month from now, when the sky will be moonless, because it is full Moon tonight." 
D)  "It is a first-quarter Moon now, so we have to wait only about a week for a dark, moonless night." 
A)  "Because it is new Moon this evening, we can plan the job for 3 weeks from today, when the night will be moonless." 
B)  "It is now full Moon, so we need to wait for 2 weeks before we get a moonless night." 
C)  "We will do the job about a month from now, when the sky will be moonless, because it is full Moon tonight." 
D)  "It is a first-quarter Moon now, so we have to wait only about a week for a dark, moonless night."

Question 7

An observer is studying the horizon from somewhere in the southern hemisphere, and he sees that the stars are setting, following a slanted path from the observer's upper right to the horizon on his left. Which horizon is he facing?

Accepted Answer

A)  east 
B)  west 
C)  east in the winter, west in the summer 
D)  west in the winter, east in the summer 
A)  east 
B)  west 
C)  east in the winter, west in the summer 
D)  west in the winter, east in the summer

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A)  crescent 
B)  first quarter 
C)  full 
D)  new 
A)  crescent 
B)  first quarter 
C)  full 
D)  new

Question 9

Precession of Earth's axis of rotation is caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  changes in the shape of Earth's orbit due to the gravitational pull of the Moon. 
B)  the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on the equatorial bulge of Earth. 
C)  changes in the rate of rotation (length of the day) of Earth caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the Moon. 
D)  changes in the shape of Earth's orbit due to the gravitational pull of the Sun. 
A)  changes in the shape of Earth's orbit due to the gravitational pull of the Moon. 
B)  the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on the equatorial bulge of Earth. 
C)  changes in the rate of rotation (length of the day) of Earth caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the Moon. 
D)  changes in the shape of Earth's orbit due to the gravitational pull of the Sun.

Question 10

Over the duration of a given night, some stars will be observed to pass through (from one side to the other of) the

Accepted Answer

A)  zodiac. 
B)  celestial equator. 
C)  zenith. 
D)  vernal equinox. 
A)  zodiac. 
B)  celestial equator. 
C)  zenith. 
D)  vernal equinox.

Question 11

The phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes was first reported by

Accepted Answer

A)  Hipparchus, 2nd century B.C. 
B)  Ptolemy, 2nd century A.D. 
C)  Newton, 17th century. 
D)  Herschel, 18th century. 
A)  Hipparchus, 2nd century B.C. 
B)  Ptolemy, 2nd century A.D. 
C)  Newton, 17th century. 
D)  Herschel, 18th century.

Question 12

The full Moon can be on the horizon

Accepted Answer

A)  only at sunrise or sunset. 
B)  only at midnight. 
C)  at any time, day or night. 
D)  only at midday. 
A)  only at sunrise or sunset. 
B)  only at midnight. 
C)  at any time, day or night. 
D)  only at midday.

Question 13

What is the maximum length of totality for a lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour 47 minutes 
B)  about 2 minutes 
C)  several hours 
D)  7 minutes 
A)  1 hour 47 minutes 
B)  about 2 minutes 
C)  several hours 
D)  7 minutes

Question 14

As an observer moves toward increasing latitude, the number of circumpolar stars

Accepted Answer

A)  increases if the location of the observer is east of the prime meridian but decreases if the location is west of this meridian. 
B)  remains approximately constant. 
C)  decreases. 
D)  increases. 
A)  increases if the location of the observer is east of the prime meridian but decreases if the location is west of this meridian. 
B)  remains approximately constant. 
C)  decreases. 
D)  increases.

Question 15

The Sun rises due east in the sky when viewed from any site on Earth's equator

Accepted Answer

A)  at midsummer and midwinter. 
B)  every day of the year. 
C)  on the first day of summer and the first day of winter. 
D)  only on the first day of spring and the first day of fall. 
A)  at midsummer and midwinter. 
B)  every day of the year. 
C)  on the first day of summer and the first day of winter. 
D)  only on the first day of spring and the first day of fall.

Question 16

A particular location in the southern hemisphere experiences the longest day on about

Accepted Answer

A)  September 22. 
B)  June 21. 
C)  March 21. 
D)  December 21. 
A)  September 22. 
B)  June 21. 
C)  March 21. 
D)  December 21.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A)  none 
B)  less than half 
C)  half 
D)  more than half 
A)  none 
B)  less than half 
C)  half 
D)  more than half

Question 18

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 12 hours of right ascension, the phase of the Moon is always

Accepted Answer

A)  first quarter. 
B)  third quarter. 
C)  full. 
D)  either first or third quarter. 
A)  first quarter. 
B)  third quarter. 
C)  full. 
D)  either first or third quarter.

Question 19

The direction of motion of the Moon in the sky, against the background of stars is

Accepted Answer

A)  always eastward. 
B)  mostly eastward, but occasionally (at full Moon) westward. 
C)  always westward, in concert with the stars. 
D)  sometimes eastward but mostly westward. 
A)  always eastward. 
B)  mostly eastward, but occasionally (at full Moon) westward. 
C)  always westward, in concert with the stars. 
D)  sometimes eastward but mostly westward.

Question 20

The Moon does not look completely dark when it is in Earth's shadow during a total solar eclipse because

Accepted Answer

A)  of light reflected from the clouds on Earth, Earthshine. 
B)  atmospheric refraction bends red solar light onto the Moon. 
C)  there are faint emissions from the tenuous lunar atmosphere, excited by solar wind bombardment. 
D)  there is a remnant glow from the hot lunar surface. 
A)  of light reflected from the clouds on Earth, Earthshine. 
B)  atmospheric refraction bends red solar light onto the Moon. 
C)  there are faint emissions from the tenuous lunar atmosphere, excited by solar wind bombardment. 
D)  there is a remnant glow from the hot lunar surface.

An observer measures the angle with the horizon made by stars as they rise and set. As the observer moves northward from the equator, this angle

What is the lowest latitude above which one would see the Sun for a full 24 hours on at least one day per year?

When viewed from Earth on a particular night, Jupiter subtends an angle of 42 arcseconds. This angle is

The waxing gibbous phase of the Moon occurs between the two positions of

Which of these points remains fixed in the sky relative to an observer's horizon over a time scale of 100 years?

In writing a mystery story, the writer has the fictitious villain planning a robbery and needs to use a statement about the timing of the robbery. Which of these statements could accurately describe the Moon's location at the time of the robbery?

An observer is studying the horizon from somewhere in the southern hemisphere, and he sees that the stars are setting, following a slanted path from the observer's upper right to the horizon on his left. Which horizon is he facing?

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

Precession of Earth's axis of rotation is caused by

Over the duration of a given night, some stars will be observed to pass through (from one side to the other of) the

The phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes was first reported by

The full Moon can be on the horizon

What is the maximum length of totality for a lunar eclipse?

As an observer moves toward increasing latitude, the number of circumpolar stars

The Sun rises due east in the sky when viewed from any site on Earth's equator

A particular location in the southern hemisphere experiences the longest day on about

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

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 12 hours of right ascension, the phase of the Moon is always

The direction of motion of the Moon in the sky, against the background of stars is

The Moon does not look completely dark when it is in Earth's shadow during a total solar eclipse because

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

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Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

An observer measures the angle with the horizon made by stars as they rise and set. As the observer moves northward from the equator, this angle

What is the lowest latitude above which one would see the Sun for a full 24 hours on at least one day per year?

When viewed from Earth on a particular night, Jupiter subtends an angle of 42 arcseconds. This angle is

The waxing gibbous phase of the Moon occurs between the two positions of

Which of these points remains fixed in the sky relative to an observer's horizon over a time scale of 100 years?

In writing a mystery story, the writer has the fictitious villain planning a robbery and needs to use a statement about the timing of the robbery. Which of these statements could accurately describe the Moon's location at the time of the robbery?

An observer is studying the horizon from somewhere in the southern hemisphere, and he sees that the stars are setting, following a slanted path from the observer's upper right to the horizon on his left. Which horizon is he facing?

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

Precession of Earth's axis of rotation is caused by

Over the duration of a given night, some stars will be observed to pass through (from one side to the other of) the

The phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes was first reported by

The full Moon can be on the horizon

What is the maximum length of totality for a lunar eclipse?

As an observer moves toward increasing latitude, the number of circumpolar stars

The Sun rises due east in the sky when viewed from any site on Earth's equator

A particular location in the southern hemisphere experiences the longest day on about

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

When the Sun and Moon are separated by 12 hours of right ascension, the phase of the Moon is always

The direction of motion of the Moon in the sky, against the background of stars is

The Moon does not look completely dark when it is in Earth's shadow during a total solar eclipse because

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