Question 1

In a penumbral lunar eclipse,

Accepted Answer

A)  no points on the Moon are shaded from the Sun, either totally or partially. 
B)  all parts of the Moon are partially (not totally) shaded from the Sun. 
C)  the entire Moon is shaded from the Sun. 
D)  some points on the Moon are totally shaded from the Sun while others are only partially shaded. 
A)  no points on the Moon are shaded from the Sun, either totally or partially. 
B)  all parts of the Moon are partially (not totally) shaded from the Sun. 
C)  the entire Moon is shaded from the Sun. 
D)  some points on the Moon are totally shaded from the Sun while others are only partially shaded.

Question 2

The change in the right ascension of the Sun between June 21 and December 21 is approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  18 hours 0 minutes. 
B)  0 hours 0 minutes. 
C)  6 hours 0 minutes. 
D)  12 hours 0 minutes. 
A)  18 hours 0 minutes. 
B)  0 hours 0 minutes. 
C)  6 hours 0 minutes. 
D)  12 hours 0 minutes.

Question 3

Precession makes the spin axis of Earth move in a slow coning pattern. The end of the axis covers a complete circle in a period of

Accepted Answer

A)  2600 years. 
B)  26 million years. 
C)  26,000 years. 
D)  1 year. 
A)  2600 years. 
B)  26 million years. 
C)  26,000 years. 
D)  1 year.

Question 4

In the southern hemisphere, summertime occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  sunlight falls more directly on this hemisphere, heating it more than at other times of the year. 
B)  Earth's equator is parallel to the plane of its orbit. 
C)  sunlight falls less directly on this hemisphere, spreading the heat out over a greater area and thereby heating it more. 
D)  Earth is farthest from the Sun in its elliptical orbit. 
A)  sunlight falls more directly on this hemisphere, heating it more than at other times of the year. 
B)  Earth's equator is parallel to the plane of its orbit. 
C)  sunlight falls less directly on this hemisphere, spreading the heat out over a greater area and thereby heating it more. 
D)  Earth is farthest from the Sun in its elliptical orbit.

Question 5

What was the approximate value of the right ascension of the Sun this year on March 21?

Accepted Answer

A)  no particular value because it can vary between 0 hours and 24 hours 
B)  0 hours 0 minutes 
C)  12 hours 0 minutes 
D)  1 hour 0 minutes 
A)  no particular value because it can vary between 0 hours and 24 hours 
B)  0 hours 0 minutes 
C)  12 hours 0 minutes 
D)  1 hour 0 minutes

Question 6

1 arcminute is equal to

Accepted Answer

A)  1/60 of a full circle. 
B)  1/60 arcsecond. 
C)  1/3600°. 
D)  1/60°. 
A)  1/60 of a full circle. 
B)  1/60 arcsecond. 
C)  1/3600°. 
D)  1/60°.

Question 7

The summer triangle, a group of three bright stars in the summer sky, consists of Deneb, Altair, and

Accepted Answer

A)  Betelgeuse. 
B)  Vega. 
C)  Pollux. 
D)  Polaris. 
A)  Betelgeuse. 
B)  Vega. 
C)  Pollux. 
D)  Polaris.

Question 8

Which way do observers move with respect to the background stars because of the revolution of Earth in its orbit around the Sun?

Accepted Answer

A)  westward 
B)  northeastward 
C)  northwestward 
D)  eastward 
A)  westward 
B)  northeastward 
C)  northwestward 
D)  eastward

Question 9

A full Moon will always be at its highest in the sky at about

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

In general, a sundial is NOT a good timekeeper because the

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's orbital speed around the ecliptic is variable. 
B)  Earth's rotation rate changes throughout the year. 
C)  Sun's large angular diameter produces a fuzzy shadow. 
D)  sky is often cloudy. 
A)  Earth's orbital speed around the ecliptic is variable. 
B)  Earth's rotation rate changes throughout the year. 
C)  Sun's large angular diameter produces a fuzzy shadow. 
D)  sky is often cloudy.

Question 11

In which direction does the Sun appear to move along the ecliptic over the course of a year, relative to the background stars?

Accepted Answer

A)  west 
B)  northwest 
C)  southwest 
D)  east 
A)  west 
B)  northwest 
C)  southwest 
D)  east

Question 12

During which type of lunar eclipse does the Moon remain longest in Earth's shadow?

Accepted Answer

A)  penumbral 
B)  partial 
C)  total 
D)  For all three types of eclipse, the Moon remains in Earth's shadow the same length of time. 
A)  penumbral 
B)  partial 
C)  total 
D)  For all three types of eclipse, the Moon remains in Earth's shadow the same length of time.

Question 13

Because of precession, how long will it be before the spin axis of Earth points toward the present pole star again?

Accepted Answer

A)  at least 1 million years 
B)  13,000 years 
C)  26,000 years 
D)  9 years 
A)  at least 1 million years 
B)  13,000 years 
C)  26,000 years 
D)  9 years

Question 14

Why do the precise astronomical coordinates of right ascension and declination of a star change systematically night by night?

Accepted Answer

A)  precession of Earth's spin axis 
B)  bending of light by Earth's atmosphere 
C)  They do not change because they are fixed positions on a star chart. 
D)  motion of Earth in its orbit around the Sun 
A)  precession of Earth's spin axis 
B)  bending of light by Earth's atmosphere 
C)  They do not change because they are fixed positions on a star chart. 
D)  motion of Earth in its orbit around the Sun

Question 15

From Earth's North Pole,

Accepted Answer

A)  the whole of the celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year. 
B)  only stars that are within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen. 
C)  only half the celestial sphere can be seen on any clear night. 
D)  only stars that are 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen. 
A)  the whole of the celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year. 
B)  only stars that are within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen. 
C)  only half the celestial sphere can be seen on any clear night. 
D)  only stars that are 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen.

Question 16

Where would an observer have to be to see the south celestial pole on the horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 1° away from the South Pole, to allow for Earth's precession 
B)  at the South Pole of Earth 
C)  at the North Pole of Earth 
D)  on the equator 
A)  about 1° away from the South Pole, to allow for Earth's precession 
B)  at the South Pole of Earth 
C)  at the North Pole of Earth 
D)  on the equator

Question 17

If an observer starts at Earth's South Pole and moves northward, at what latitude would Polaris first become visible?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would always be visible. 
B)  66.5S 
C)  23.5S 
D)  at the equator 
A)  It would always be visible. 
B)  66.5S 
C)  23.5S 
D)  at the equator

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

The daily and annual rhythms of the sky and Earth arise from all of these celestial motions EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's spin around its axis. 
B)  Earth's orbit around the Sun. 
C)  Moon's spin around its axis. 
D)  Moon's orbit around Earth. 
A)  Earth's spin around its axis. 
B)  Earth's orbit around the Sun. 
C)  Moon's spin around its axis. 
D)  Moon's orbit around Earth.

Question 20

By what approximate factor, in scientific notation, is a human being (height about 2 m) larger than the nucleus of a hydrogen atom, or proton (diameter about 10-15 m)?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 × 1013 
B)  2 × 1030 
C)  2 × 10-15 
D)  2 × 1015 
A)  2 × 1013 
B)  2 × 1030 
C)  2 × 10-15 
D)  2 × 1015

In a penumbral lunar eclipse,

The change in the right ascension of the Sun between June 21 and December 21 is approximately

Precession makes the spin axis of Earth move in a slow coning pattern. The end of the axis covers a complete circle in a period of

In the southern hemisphere, summertime occurs when

What was the approximate value of the right ascension of the Sun this year on March 21?

1 arcminute is equal to

The summer triangle, a group of three bright stars in the summer sky, consists of Deneb, Altair, and

Which way do observers move with respect to the background stars because of the revolution of Earth in its orbit around the Sun?

A full Moon will always be at its highest in the sky at about

In general, a sundial is NOT a good timekeeper because the

In which direction does the Sun appear to move along the ecliptic over the course of a year, relative to the background stars?

During which type of lunar eclipse does the Moon remain longest in Earth's shadow?

Because of precession, how long will it be before the spin axis of Earth points toward the present pole star again?

Why do the precise astronomical coordinates of right ascension and declination of a star change systematically night by night?

From Earth's North Pole,

Where would an observer have to be to see the south celestial pole on the horizon?

If an observer starts at Earth's South Pole and moves northward, at what latitude would Polaris first become visible?

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

The daily and annual rhythms of the sky and Earth arise from all of these celestial motions EXCEPT

By what approximate factor, in scientific notation, is a human being (height about 2 m) larger than the nucleus of a hydrogen atom, or proton (diameter about 10^-15 m)?

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

Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

In a penumbral lunar eclipse,

The change in the right ascension of the Sun between June 21 and December 21 is approximately

Precession makes the spin axis of Earth move in a slow coning pattern. The end of the axis covers a complete circle in a period of

In the southern hemisphere, summertime occurs when

What was the approximate value of the right ascension of the Sun this year on March 21?

1 arcminute is equal to

The summer triangle, a group of three bright stars in the summer sky, consists of Deneb, Altair, and

Which way do observers move with respect to the background stars because of the revolution of Earth in its orbit around the Sun?

A full Moon will always be at its highest in the sky at about

In general, a sundial is NOT a good timekeeper because the

In which direction does the Sun appear to move along the ecliptic over the course of a year, relative to the background stars?

During which type of lunar eclipse does the Moon remain longest in Earth's shadow?

Because of precession, how long will it be before the spin axis of Earth points toward the present pole star again?

Why do the precise astronomical coordinates of right ascension and declination of a star change systematically night by night?

From Earth's North Pole,

Where would an observer have to be to see the south celestial pole on the horizon?

If an observer starts at Earth's South Pole and moves northward, at what latitude would Polaris first become visible?

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

The daily and annual rhythms of the sky and Earth arise from all of these celestial motions EXCEPT

By what approximate factor, in scientific notation, is a human being (height about 2 m) larger than the nucleus of a hydrogen atom, or proton (diameter about 10-15 m)?

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

By what approximate factor, in scientific notation, is a human being (height about 2 m) larger than the nucleus of a hydrogen atom, or proton (diameter about 10^-15 m)?