Question 1

Approximately what time will the first-quarter Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 A.M. 
B)  midnight 
C)  6 P.M. 
D)  noon 
A)  6 A.M. 
B)  midnight 
C)  6 P.M. 
D)  noon

Question 2

The so-called "pointer stars" in Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, are separated by about 5 degrees on the sky. How many Moon diameters would fit between them? See Figure 1-5 for a diagram of these stars in context.

Accepted Answer

A)  5 
B)  10 
C)  15 
D)  2 
A)  5 
B)  10 
C)  15 
D)  2

Question 3

The accurate prediction of the time and position of a total solar eclipse is

Accepted Answer

A)  difficult because of the varying distances of Earth from the Sun and the Moon from Earth in their elliptical orbits. 
B)  not easy because of inaccurate knowledge of the rotation of Earth on its axis and of the revolution of Earth in its orbit. 
C)  difficult because the Moon's motion is unpredictable, since it is affected in a major way by the tidal ebb and flow of water on Earth. 
D)  relatively easy since the motions of Earth and Moon in space are predictable and accurately known. 
A)  difficult because of the varying distances of Earth from the Sun and the Moon from Earth in their elliptical orbits. 
B)  not easy because of inaccurate knowledge of the rotation of Earth on its axis and of the revolution of Earth in its orbit. 
C)  difficult because the Moon's motion is unpredictable, since it is affected in a major way by the tidal ebb and flow of water on Earth. 
D)  relatively easy since the motions of Earth and Moon in space are predictable and accurately known.

Question 4

The autumnal equinox is the time of the year when the

Accepted Answer

A)  Sun crosses the ecliptic plane, moving north. 
B)  Sun crosses the equatorial plane, moving south. 
C)  Earth is at the closest point to the Sun in its elliptical orbit. 
D)  Sun passes through the galactic plane. 
A)  Sun crosses the ecliptic plane, moving north. 
B)  Sun crosses the equatorial plane, moving south. 
C)  Earth is at the closest point to the Sun in its elliptical orbit. 
D)  Sun passes through the galactic plane.

Question 5

The tropical year is different from the sidereal year because

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth precesses on its axis. 
B)  the Sun moves through the Galaxy. 
C)  Earth moves in its orbit. 
D)  Earth's orbit is elliptical. 
A)  Earth precesses on its axis. 
B)  the Sun moves through the Galaxy. 
C)  Earth moves in its orbit. 
D)  Earth's orbit is elliptical.

Question 6

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line, can the Sun ever rise in the northern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the southern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, for exactly half a year 
B)  no, because the site is in the southern hemisphere 
C)  yes, but only for a few days around midsummer 
D)  yes, for most of the year, since the observing site is in the southern hemisphere 
A)  yes, for exactly half a year 
B)  no, because the site is in the southern hemisphere 
C)  yes, but only for a few days around midsummer 
D)  yes, for most of the year, since the observing site is in the southern hemisphere

Question 7

A particular star is seen to cross the horizon at 10:00 P.M. (22:00 hours) on a particular night. When would this star cross the horizon on the next night, from the same location?

Accepted Answer

A)  This star will not rise the next night and will be seen again only after 1 year. 
B)  10:04 P.M. 
C)  10:00 P.M. 
D)  9:56 P.M. 
A)  This star will not rise the next night and will be seen again only after 1 year. 
B)  10:04 P.M. 
C)  10:00 P.M. 
D)  9:56 P.M.

Question 8

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

Accepted Answer

A)  Moon casts a shadow on Earth. 
B)  Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. 
C)  Sun passes in front of the Moon. 
D)  Moon passes behind the Sun. 
A)  Moon casts a shadow on Earth. 
B)  Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. 
C)  Sun passes in front of the Moon. 
D)  Moon passes behind the Sun.

Question 9

If the polar axis of Earth moves through a full circle in 26,000 years as a result of precession (see Figure 1-22a), how long will it take for the line between the center of the circle and the spin axis to move through 180° (i.e., to the other side of the circle)?

Accepted Answer

A)  26,000 years 
B)  1 year 
C)  about 100 years 
D)  13,000 years 
A)  26,000 years 
B)  1 year 
C)  about 100 years 
D)  13,000 years

Question 10

The alt-azimuth coordinates an observer measures for Polaris are 37, 0. From what longitude was this observation made?

Accepted Answer

A)  37 N 
B)  37, N or S 
C)  53 N 
D)  It is not possible to determine the answer from the information given. 
A)  37 N 
B)  37, N or S 
C)  53 N 
D)  It is not possible to determine the answer from the information given.

Question 11

100 (10 to the power 0) =

Accepted Answer

A)  0 
B)  10 
C)  undetermined; not a real number 
D)  1 
A)  0 
B)  10 
C)  undetermined; not a real number 
D)  1

Question 12

Which of these statements about eclipses in the Sun-Earth-Moon system is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  A total eclipse of the Sun occurs only at first-quarter Moon. 
B)  A total eclipse of the Sun occurs only at new Moon. 
C)  A total eclipse of the Moon occurs only at new Moon. 
D)  A total eclipse of the Sun occurs only at full Moon. 
A)  A total eclipse of the Sun occurs only at first-quarter Moon. 
B)  A total eclipse of the Sun occurs only at new Moon. 
C)  A total eclipse of the Moon occurs only at new Moon. 
D)  A total eclipse of the Sun occurs only at full Moon.

Question 13

What is 1016 divided by a million and multiplied by a hundred?

Accepted Answer

A)  1012. 
B)  1010. 
C)  10-6. 
D)  10-10. 
A)  1012. 
B)  1010. 
C)  10-6. 
D)  10-10.

Question 14

(1/2)4 =

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 
B)  6.25 × 10-2 
C)  16 
D)  0.125 
A)  0.5 
B)  6.25 × 10-2 
C)  16 
D)  0.125

Question 15

To which constellation will the north celestial pole be closest in the year 14,000 A.D. (see Figure 1-22c)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lyra 
B)  Draco 
C)  Ursa Minor, because the north celestial pole never moves, by definition 
D)  Cepheus 
A)  Lyra 
B)  Draco 
C)  Ursa Minor, because the north celestial pole never moves, by definition 
D)  Cepheus

Question 16

Seasonal variations on a planet's surface are caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  clouds that periodically form and disappear as the planet orbits the Sun. 
B)  the tilt of the planet's spin axis with respect to the perpendicular to its orbital plane. 
C)  volcanoes that erupt periodically because of tidal interactions and obscure the atmospheres of planets. 
D)  the variation of the planet's distance from the Sun during its passage along its elliptical orbit. 
A)  clouds that periodically form and disappear as the planet orbits the Sun. 
B)  the tilt of the planet's spin axis with respect to the perpendicular to its orbital plane. 
C)  volcanoes that erupt periodically because of tidal interactions and obscure the atmospheres of planets. 
D)  the variation of the planet's distance from the Sun during its passage along its elliptical orbit.

Question 17

From the northern hemisphere, where in the sky would an observer expect to see true astronomical new Moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  in a direction opposite to that of the Sun 
B)  always in the south 
C)  in a direction at right angles to that of the Sun 
D)  The Moon is not visible at new Moon. 
A)  in a direction opposite to that of the Sun 
B)  always in the south 
C)  in a direction at right angles to that of the Sun 
D)  The Moon is not visible at new Moon.

Question 18

The city of Bristol, England, is located to the west of and in the same time zone as London. Astronomical noon in Bristol, when the Sun is highest in the sky, compared to astronomical noon in London occurs

Accepted Answer

A)  at exactly the same time by definition because both cities are in the same time zone. 
B)  later in time in winter but earlier in time in summer. 
C)  earlier in time. 
D)  later in time. 
A)  at exactly the same time by definition because both cities are in the same time zone. 
B)  later in time in winter but earlier in time in summer. 
C)  earlier in time. 
D)  later in time.

Question 19

Twice per year, when day and night are equal in length, the Sun is at one of two positions in the sky known as equinoxes. These points are the intersections of which two planes in the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  celestial equator and ecliptic 
B)  celestial meridian and celestial equator 
C)  ecliptic and celestial meridian 
D)  ecliptic and arctic circle 
A)  celestial equator and ecliptic 
B)  celestial meridian and celestial equator 
C)  ecliptic and celestial meridian 
D)  ecliptic and arctic circle

Question 20

The reason leap years have an extra day is to account for the fact that the

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's rotation period is slowly increasing because of tidal effects. 
B)  year is not exactly equal to an integral number of days. 
C)  day is not exactly 24 hours because of Earth's periodically varying rotation period. 
D)  length of the year varies with a period of four years because of precession. 
A)  Earth's rotation period is slowly increasing because of tidal effects. 
B)  year is not exactly equal to an integral number of days. 
C)  day is not exactly 24 hours because of Earth's periodically varying rotation period. 
D)  length of the year varies with a period of four years because of precession.

Approximately what time will the first-quarter Moon rise?

The so-called "pointer stars" in Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, are separated by about 5 degrees on the sky. How many Moon diameters would fit between them? See Figure 1-5 for a diagram of these stars in context.

The accurate prediction of the time and position of a total solar eclipse is

The autumnal equinox is the time of the year when the

The tropical year is different from the sidereal year because

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line, can the Sun ever rise in the northern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the southern hemisphere?

A particular star is seen to cross the horizon at 10:00 P.M. (22:00 hours) on a particular night. When would this star cross the horizon on the next night, from the same location?

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

If the polar axis of Earth moves through a full circle in 26,000 years as a result of precession (see Figure 1-22a), how long will it take for the line between the center of the circle and the spin axis to move through 180° (i.e., to the other side of the circle)?

The alt-azimuth coordinates an observer measures for Polaris are 37, 0. From what longitude was this observation made?

10⁰ (10 to the power 0) =

Which of these statements about eclipses in the Sun-Earth-Moon system is correct?

What is 10¹⁶ divided by a million and multiplied by a hundred?

(1/2)⁴ =

To which constellation will the north celestial pole be closest in the year 14,000 A.D. (see Figure 1-22c)?

Seasonal variations on a planet's surface are caused by

From the northern hemisphere, where in the sky would an observer expect to see true astronomical new Moon?

The city of Bristol, England, is located to the west of and in the same time zone as London. Astronomical noon in Bristol, when the Sun is highest in the sky, compared to astronomical noon in London occurs

Twice per year, when day and night are equal in length, the Sun is at one of two positions in the sky known as equinoxes. These points are the intersections of which two planes in the sky?

The reason leap years have an extra day is to account for the fact that the

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

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Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

Approximately what time will the first-quarter Moon rise?

The so-called "pointer stars" in Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, are separated by about 5 degrees on the sky. How many Moon diameters would fit between them? See Figure 1-5 for a diagram of these stars in context.

The accurate prediction of the time and position of a total solar eclipse is

The autumnal equinox is the time of the year when the

The tropical year is different from the sidereal year because

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line, can the Sun ever rise in the northern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the southern hemisphere?

A particular star is seen to cross the horizon at 10:00 P.M. (22:00 hours) on a particular night. When would this star cross the horizon on the next night, from the same location?

A solar eclipse occurs on Earth when the

If the polar axis of Earth moves through a full circle in 26,000 years as a result of precession (see Figure 1-22a), how long will it take for the line between the center of the circle and the spin axis to move through 180° (i.e., to the other side of the circle)?

The alt-azimuth coordinates an observer measures for Polaris are 37, 0. From what longitude was this observation made?

100 (10 to the power 0) =

Which of these statements about eclipses in the Sun-Earth-Moon system is correct?

What is 1016 divided by a million and multiplied by a hundred?

(1/2)4 =

To which constellation will the north celestial pole be closest in the year 14,000 A.D. (see Figure 1-22c)?

Seasonal variations on a planet's surface are caused by

From the northern hemisphere, where in the sky would an observer expect to see true astronomical new Moon?

The city of Bristol, England, is located to the west of and in the same time zone as London. Astronomical noon in Bristol, when the Sun is highest in the sky, compared to astronomical noon in London occurs

Twice per year, when day and night are equal in length, the Sun is at one of two positions in the sky known as equinoxes. These points are the intersections of which two planes in the sky?

The reason leap years have an extra day is to account for the fact that the

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

10⁰ (10 to the power 0) =

What is 10¹⁶ divided by a million and multiplied by a hundred?

(1/2)⁴ =