Question 1

(8.0 × 105)/(2.0 × 103) =

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 × 102 or 50 
B)  400 
C)  16 × 1015 
D)  4 × 10-2 
A)  0.5 × 102 or 50 
B)  400 
C)  16 × 1015 
D)  4 × 10-2

Question 2

Approximately when does a full Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

The celestial coordinate system of declination and right ascension

Accepted Answer

A)  can be used to assign coordinates to any direction in the sky. 
B)  is an extension of the latitude-longitude system used on Earth. The celestial equator is an extension of Earth's equator, and the location for the zero of right ascension is an extension of the prime meridian through Greenwich, England. 
C)  rotates along with Earth. 
D)  is centered at the Sun rather than at Earth. 
A)  can be used to assign coordinates to any direction in the sky. 
B)  is an extension of the latitude-longitude system used on Earth. The celestial equator is an extension of Earth's equator, and the location for the zero of right ascension is an extension of the prime meridian through Greenwich, England. 
C)  rotates along with Earth. 
D)  is centered at the Sun rather than at Earth.

Question 4

(0.5)3 =

Accepted Answer

A)  0.125 
B)  125 
C)  1.25 × 10-2 
D)  1.5 
A)  0.125 
B)  125 
C)  1.25 × 10-2 
D)  1.5

Question 5

The precessional motion of the north celestial pole of Earth is a circle of 47° diameter across the northern sky over a period of 26,000 years. The equivalent motion of the south celestial pole is a

Accepted Answer

A)  circle of 47° diameter, covered in a much shorter time, about 1000 years. 
B)  circle of 47° diameter, covered in 26,000 years. 
C)  much smaller circle, covered in 26,000 years. 
D)  The south celestial pole does not move at all during precession. 
A)  circle of 47° diameter, covered in a much shorter time, about 1000 years. 
B)  circle of 47° diameter, covered in 26,000 years. 
C)  much smaller circle, covered in 26,000 years. 
D)  The south celestial pole does not move at all during precession.

Question 6

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator

Accepted Answer

A)  at two points, known as equinoxes. 
B)  on the meridian. 
C)  at two points, known as solstices. 
D)  at one point only, known as the vernal equinox. 
A)  at two points, known as equinoxes. 
B)  on the meridian. 
C)  at two points, known as solstices. 
D)  at one point only, known as the vernal equinox.

Question 7

When viewed from Earth, Venus subtends an angle of about 1 arcminute (1/60°) when it is at the closest point to Earth in its orbit. If we are watching Venus set in the west over a clear horizon (e.g., ocean), how long would Venus take from the time it first reached the horizon to completely disappear below the horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  almost instantaneous (much less than 1 second) 
B)  1 second 
C)  about 4 minutes 
D)  about 4 seconds 
A)  almost instantaneous (much less than 1 second) 
B)  1 second 
C)  about 4 minutes 
D)  about 4 seconds

Question 8

At what time of the year in the northern hemisphere will a particular object's shadow in sunlight at midday be shortest?

Accepted Answer

A)  midwinter, in early January 
B)  midsummer, about August 5 
C)  first day of summer, about June 21 
D)  first day of spring, about March 21 
A)  midwinter, in early January 
B)  midsummer, about August 5 
C)  first day of summer, about June 21 
D)  first day of spring, about March 21

Question 9

A solar day is the time it takes Earth to rotate on its axis between two consecutive solar positions (for example, high noon to high noon or sunset to sunset). A sidereal day is the time it takes Earth to rotate on its axis between two consecutive positions of a distant star (Vega on the eastern horizon to Vega again on the eastern horizon). Which is longer?

Accepted Answer

A)  A solar day is always longer. 
B)  A sidereal day is always longer. 
C)  A solar day and a sidereal day are always the same length. 
D)  A sidereal day is longer when Earth is farther from the Sun (northern summer), but a solar day is longer when Earth is closer to the Sun (northern winter). 
A)  A solar day is always longer. 
B)  A sidereal day is always longer. 
C)  A solar day and a sidereal day are always the same length. 
D)  A sidereal day is longer when Earth is farther from the Sun (northern summer), but a solar day is longer when Earth is closer to the Sun (northern winter).

Question 10

By how many powers of ten is the diameter of the Sun (1.4 × 105 km) greater than the length of a beetle (14 mm)?

Accepted Answer

A)  10 
B)  8 
C)  11 
D)  5 
A)  10 
B)  8 
C)  11 
D)  5

Question 11

Precession is the

Accepted Answer

A)  occasional reversal in geological time of the direction of the spin axis of Earth. 
B)  motion of Earth along its orbital path. 
C)  daily rotational motion of Earth. 
D)  very slow coning motion of Earth's axis of rotation. 
A)  occasional reversal in geological time of the direction of the spin axis of Earth. 
B)  motion of Earth along its orbital path. 
C)  daily rotational motion of Earth. 
D)  very slow coning motion of Earth's axis of rotation.

Question 12

A total solar eclipse is visible (assuming clear skies everywhere) to

Accepted Answer

A)  only people in a circular area on Earth having a diameter equal to that of the Moon. 
B)  only people in a long narrow path, much smaller than a hemisphere. 
C)  everyone on Earth. 
D)  people anywhere in the sunlit hemisphere of Earth. 
A)  only people in a circular area on Earth having a diameter equal to that of the Moon. 
B)  only people in a long narrow path, much smaller than a hemisphere. 
C)  everyone on Earth. 
D)  people anywhere in the sunlit hemisphere of Earth.

Question 13

The length of Earth's year at the present time

Accepted Answer

A)  is exactly 365 days. 
B)  varies between 365 and 366 days over a period of about 400 years. 
C)  is slightly smaller than 365 days. 
D)  is slightly larger than 365 days. 
A)  is exactly 365 days. 
B)  varies between 365 and 366 days over a period of about 400 years. 
C)  is slightly smaller than 365 days. 
D)  is slightly larger than 365 days.

Question 14

Where on Earth would an observer have to stand for the Sun to pass directly overhead (i.e., pass through zenith) at some time during the year?

Accepted Answer

A)  within the Arctic Circle 
B)  in the tropics, or within +/- 23.5° of the equator 
C)  There is no restriction because this happens at any latitude at some time during the year. 
D)  only on the equator, nowhere else 
A)  within the Arctic Circle 
B)  in the tropics, or within +/- 23.5° of the equator 
C)  There is no restriction because this happens at any latitude at some time during the year. 
D)  only on the equator, nowhere else

Question 15

What kind of eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow does NOT extend all the way from the Moon to Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  a total lunar eclipse 
B)  a total solar eclipse 
C)  a penumbral lunar eclipse 
D)  an annular solar eclipse 
A)  a total lunar eclipse 
B)  a total solar eclipse 
C)  a penumbral lunar eclipse 
D)  an annular solar eclipse

Question 16

The line of nodes of the Moon's orbit is the line of intersection of the orbit with the

Accepted Answer

A)  celestial equator. 
B)  ecliptic plane. 
C)  observer's celestial meridian. 
D)  celestial meridian through Greenwich, England. 
A)  celestial equator. 
B)  ecliptic plane. 
C)  observer's celestial meridian. 
D)  celestial meridian through Greenwich, England.

Question 17

Which of these years were leap years according to the calendar then in use: 1000, 1492, 1600, 1776?

Accepted Answer

A)  just 1600 
B)  1492 and 1776 
C)  all except 1600 
D)  all 
A)  just 1600 
B)  1492 and 1776 
C)  all except 1600 
D)  all

Question 18

The Crab has a diameter of about 10 light-years and is at a distance of 6300 light-years. What angle will this supernova remnant subtend in the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  630 arcseconds 
B)  32.7 arcseconds 
C)  1.6 × 10-3 arcseconds 
D)  5.5 arcminutes 
A)  630 arcseconds 
B)  32.7 arcseconds 
C)  1.6 × 10-3 arcseconds 
D)  5.5 arcminutes

Question 19

The diameter of the hydrogen atom, 0.000 000 000 11 m, can be written in scientific notation as

Accepted Answer

A)  1.1 × 10-8 m. 
B)  1.1 × 10-10 m. 
C)  1.1 × 10-9 m. 
D)  1.1 × 10-11 m. 
A)  1.1 × 10-8 m. 
B)  1.1 × 10-10 m. 
C)  1.1 × 10-9 m. 
D)  1.1 × 10-11 m.

Question 20

Which of these is the correct sequence of appearances of Moon phases in the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon 
B)  new Moon, full Moon, waxing crescent, waning crescent 
C)  full Moon, waxing gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent 
D)  new Moon, waning crescent, first quarter, full Moon 
A)  waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon 
B)  new Moon, full Moon, waxing crescent, waning crescent 
C)  full Moon, waxing gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent 
D)  new Moon, waning crescent, first quarter, full Moon

(8.0 × 10⁵)/(2.0 × 10³) =

Approximately when does a full Moon rise?

The celestial coordinate system of declination and right ascension

(0.5)³ =

The precessional motion of the north celestial pole of Earth is a circle of 47° diameter across the northern sky over a period of 26,000 years. The equivalent motion of the south celestial pole is a

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator

At what time of the year in the northern hemisphere will a particular object's shadow in sunlight at midday be shortest?

By how many powers of ten is the diameter of the Sun (1.4 × 10⁵ km) greater than the length of a beetle (14 mm)?

Precession is the

A total solar eclipse is visible (assuming clear skies everywhere) to

The length of Earth's year at the present time

Where on Earth would an observer have to stand for the Sun to pass directly overhead (i.e., pass through zenith) at some time during the year?

What kind of eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow does NOT extend all the way from the Moon to Earth?

The line of nodes of the Moon's orbit is the line of intersection of the orbit with the

Which of these years were leap years according to the calendar then in use: 1000, 1492, 1600, 1776?

The Crab has a diameter of about 10 light-years and is at a distance of 6300 light-years. What angle will this supernova remnant subtend in the sky?

The diameter of the hydrogen atom, 0.000 000 000 11 m, can be written in scientific notation as

Which of these is the correct sequence of appearances of Moon phases in the sky?

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

(8.0 × 105)/(2.0 × 103) =

Approximately when does a full Moon rise?

The celestial coordinate system of declination and right ascension

(0.5)3 =

The precessional motion of the north celestial pole of Earth is a circle of 47° diameter across the northern sky over a period of 26,000 years. The equivalent motion of the south celestial pole is a

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator

At what time of the year in the northern hemisphere will a particular object's shadow in sunlight at midday be shortest?

By how many powers of ten is the diameter of the Sun (1.4 × 105 km) greater than the length of a beetle (14 mm)?

Precession is the

A total solar eclipse is visible (assuming clear skies everywhere) to

The length of Earth's year at the present time

Where on Earth would an observer have to stand for the Sun to pass directly overhead (i.e., pass through zenith) at some time during the year?

What kind of eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow does NOT extend all the way from the Moon to Earth?

The line of nodes of the Moon's orbit is the line of intersection of the orbit with the

Which of these years were leap years according to the calendar then in use: 1000, 1492, 1600, 1776?

The Crab has a diameter of about 10 light-years and is at a distance of 6300 light-years. What angle will this supernova remnant subtend in the sky?

The diameter of the hydrogen atom, 0.000 000 000 11 m, can be written in scientific notation as

Which of these is the correct sequence of appearances of Moon phases in the sky?

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

(8.0 × 10⁵)/(2.0 × 10³) =

(0.5)³ =

By how many powers of ten is the diameter of the Sun (1.4 × 10⁵ km) greater than the length of a beetle (14 mm)?