Question 1

Leap years- years that contain an extra day-are necessary because

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's speed of revolution along its elliptical orbit varies throughout the year. 
B)  365 days is not exactly divisible by four. 
C)  the rotation rate of Earth varies, leading to days of different length during the year. 
D)  the length of a year is not an exact number of days. 
A)  Earth's speed of revolution along its elliptical orbit varies throughout the year. 
B)  365 days is not exactly divisible by four. 
C)  the rotation rate of Earth varies, leading to days of different length during the year. 
D)  the length of a year is not an exact number of days.

Question 2

Where would an observer have to be in either the northern or southern hemisphere for the Sun to remain below the horizon for a 24-hour period for at least part of a year?

Accepted Answer

A)  Nowhere, because the Sun is always visible at some time of the day everywhere on Earth 
B)  above about 66.5° latitude 
C)  above about 23.5° latitude 
D)  only at 90°, or exactly at the poles 
A)  Nowhere, because the Sun is always visible at some time of the day everywhere on Earth 
B)  above about 66.5° latitude 
C)  above about 23.5° latitude 
D)  only at 90°, or exactly at the poles

Question 3

On a particular day, the Sun is at the summer solstice and the Moon is at the vernal equinox. The lunar phase on that day is

Accepted Answer

A)  quarter. 
B)  not predictable from this information. 
C)  full. 
D)  new. 
A)  quarter. 
B)  not predictable from this information. 
C)  full. 
D)  new.

Question 4

Are the constellations seasonal?

Accepted Answer

A)  No. If a person waits long enough, that person can see all the constellations on any clear night of the year. 
B)  Yes. On a summer night all the constellations a person can see are different from the constellations that person can see on a winter night. 
C)  Yes. On a summer night many of the constellations a person can see are different from the constellations that person can see on a winter night. But there are some constellations the person can see all year long. 
D)  Yes. As the year progresses, the constellations change their positions with respect to each other, so every night brings a different mixture of summer and winter constellations. 
A)  No. If a person waits long enough, that person can see all the constellations on any clear night of the year. 
B)  Yes. On a summer night all the constellations a person can see are different from the constellations that person can see on a winter night. 
C)  Yes. On a summer night many of the constellations a person can see are different from the constellations that person can see on a winter night. But there are some constellations the person can see all year long. 
D)  Yes. As the year progresses, the constellations change their positions with respect to each other, so every night brings a different mixture of summer and winter constellations.

Question 5

Why does the Moon have phases as observed from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  The illuminated half of the Moon becomes more or less visible from Earth as the Moon orbits Earth. 
B)  The Moon's distance from Earth changes as it moves in its elliptical orbit, thereby changing its apparent brightness. 
C)  Earth's shadow gradually moves over the Moon's surface as the Moon orbits Earth. 
D)  The Moon's rotation brings more or less of the illuminated hemisphere into view from Earth. 
A)  The illuminated half of the Moon becomes more or less visible from Earth as the Moon orbits Earth. 
B)  The Moon's distance from Earth changes as it moves in its elliptical orbit, thereby changing its apparent brightness. 
C)  Earth's shadow gradually moves over the Moon's surface as the Moon orbits Earth. 
D)  The Moon's rotation brings more or less of the illuminated hemisphere into view from Earth.

Question 6

105/105 =

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  1012 
C)  0 
D)  10 
A)  1 
B)  1012 
C)  0 
D)  10

Question 7

The length of time for the Moon to move from new Moon to new Moon is known as 1 synodic month. Compared to one full orbital period with respect to the star background, or 1 sidereal month, the synodic month is

Accepted Answer

A)  about 2 days shorter. 
B)  about twice as long. 
C)  exactly the same length. 
D)  about 2 days longer. 
A)  about 2 days shorter. 
B)  about twice as long. 
C)  exactly the same length. 
D)  about 2 days longer.

Question 8

How would the Sun appear to move in the sky if an observer were at the South Pole on a midsummer day?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would appear halfway above the horizon and maintain this position for a full 24 hours. 
B)  It would appear to move parallel to the horizon at an elevation angle of about 23.5° for a full 24 hours. 
C)  It would appear never to reach above the horizon-the South Pole is always in darkness. 
D)  It would appear to rise in the east, reach an elevation angle of about 23.5° at midday, and set in the west 12 hours later. 
A)  It would appear halfway above the horizon and maintain this position for a full 24 hours. 
B)  It would appear to move parallel to the horizon at an elevation angle of about 23.5° for a full 24 hours. 
C)  It would appear never to reach above the horizon-the South Pole is always in darkness. 
D)  It would appear to rise in the east, reach an elevation angle of about 23.5° at midday, and set in the west 12 hours later.

Question 9

A total lunar eclipse is visible in principle (assuming clear skies everywhere) to

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Because of the tilt of Earth's spin axis to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane), sunrise in the winter months in the mid-latitude northern hemisphere occurs in which direction in the observer's sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  southeast 
B)  northeast 
C)  The Sun always rises due west. 
D)  southwest 
A)  southeast 
B)  northeast 
C)  The Sun always rises due west. 
D)  southwest

Question 11

At the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A)  at its highest angle in the sky for the whole year. 
B)  at midday at its lowest angle above the southern horizon for the whole year. 
C)  on the celestial equator. 
D)  nearest Earth. 
A)  at its highest angle in the sky for the whole year. 
B)  at midday at its lowest angle above the southern horizon for the whole year. 
C)  on the celestial equator. 
D)  nearest Earth.

Question 12

Earth would NOT have seasons if

Accepted Answer

A)  its equatorial plane were perpendicular to its orbital plane. 
B)  its axis of rotation were perpendicular to its equatorial plane. 
C)  the observer's vertical axis (zenith) were perpendicular to Earth's orbital plane. 
D)  its axis of rotation were perpendicular to its orbital plane. 
A)  its equatorial plane were perpendicular to its orbital plane. 
B)  its axis of rotation were perpendicular to its equatorial plane. 
C)  the observer's vertical axis (zenith) were perpendicular to Earth's orbital plane. 
D)  its axis of rotation were perpendicular to its orbital plane.

Question 13

For the Moon to appear as a crescent shape to an observer, the

Accepted Answer

A)  observer must be closer to the Sun than to the Moon. 
B)  observer must be on the opposite side of the Sun from the Moon. 
C)  Moon must be closer to the Sun than the observer is and somewhere between the Sun and the observer. 
D)  observer and the Moon must be at equal distances from the Sun. 
A)  observer must be closer to the Sun than to the Moon. 
B)  observer must be on the opposite side of the Sun from the Moon. 
C)  Moon must be closer to the Sun than the observer is and somewhere between the Sun and the observer. 
D)  observer and the Moon must be at equal distances from the Sun.

Question 14

Which of these statements describing the situation at a mid-latitude site at the time of equinox is correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  Day and night are of equal length. 
B)  The midday Sun is at its highest in the sky on this date. 
C)  There is no real darkness at this site on this date, only extended twilight. 
D)  This is the longest day at this site. 
A)  Day and night are of equal length. 
B)  The midday Sun is at its highest in the sky on this date. 
C)  There is no real darkness at this site on this date, only extended twilight. 
D)  This is the longest day at this site.

Question 15

A person standing in the Moon's penumbra will see a

Accepted Answer

A)  total lunar eclipse. 
B)  partial lunar eclipse. 
C)  total solar eclipse. 
D)  partial solar eclipse. 
A)  total lunar eclipse. 
B)  partial lunar eclipse. 
C)  total solar eclipse. 
D)  partial solar eclipse.

Question 16

The change in the declination of the Sun between March 21 and June 21 is approximately

Accepted Answer

A)  90°. 
B)  47°. 
C)  180°. 
D)  23.5°. 
A)  90°. 
B)  47°. 
C)  180°. 
D)  23.5°.

Question 17

Winter in the northern hemisphere occurs when

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is farthest from the ecliptic plane. 
B)  Earth's axis is at its largest angle with respect to the ecliptic plane because of precession. 
C)  Earth is farthest from the Sun in the elliptical orbit. 
D)  sunlight falls most obliquely on that region of Earth. 
A)  Earth is farthest from the ecliptic plane. 
B)  Earth's axis is at its largest angle with respect to the ecliptic plane because of precession. 
C)  Earth is farthest from the Sun in the elliptical orbit. 
D)  sunlight falls most obliquely on that region of Earth.

Question 18

The Moon's path across the sky

Accepted Answer

A)  is confined to regions north of the celestial equator. 
B)  is always along the ecliptic plane, by definition. 
C)  can be anywhere in the sky. 
D)  is confined to the zodiac, which is a band of sky extending on both sides of the ecliptic. 
A)  is confined to regions north of the celestial equator. 
B)  is always along the ecliptic plane, by definition. 
C)  can be anywhere in the sky. 
D)  is confined to the zodiac, which is a band of sky extending on both sides of the ecliptic.

Question 19

On a particular day, the Sun is at the vernal equinox and the Moon is at the autumnal equinox. The lunar phase on this particular day is

Accepted Answer

A)  full. 
B)  new. 
C)  quarter. 
D)  not predictable from this information. 
A)  full. 
B)  new. 
C)  quarter. 
D)  not predictable from this information.

Question 20

As Earth rotates, the apparent motion of the pole star, Polaris, in a period of a day is

Accepted Answer

A)  a circle with a radius of 23.5°. 
B)  a small circle with a radius of less than 1°. 
C)  zero; there is no motion of the pole star, by definition. 
D)  a slow but noticeable drift across the sky. 
A)  a circle with a radius of 23.5°. 
B)  a small circle with a radius of less than 1°. 
C)  zero; there is no motion of the pole star, by definition. 
D)  a slow but noticeable drift across the sky.

Leap years- years that contain an extra day-are necessary because

Where would an observer have to be in either the northern or southern hemisphere for the Sun to remain below the horizon for a 24-hour period for at least part of a year?

On a particular day, the Sun is at the summer solstice and the Moon is at the vernal equinox. The lunar phase on that day is

Are the constellations seasonal?

Why does the Moon have phases as observed from Earth?

10⁵/10⁵ =

The length of time for the Moon to move from new Moon to new Moon is known as 1 synodic month. Compared to one full orbital period with respect to the star background, or 1 sidereal month, the synodic month is

How would the Sun appear to move in the sky if an observer were at the South Pole on a midsummer day?

A total lunar eclipse is visible in principle (assuming clear skies everywhere) to

Because of the tilt of Earth's spin axis to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane), sunrise in the winter months in the mid-latitude northern hemisphere occurs in which direction in the observer's sky?

At the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is

Earth would NOT have seasons if

For the Moon to appear as a crescent shape to an observer, the

Which of these statements describing the situation at a mid-latitude site at the time of equinox is correct?

A person standing in the Moon's penumbra will see a

The change in the declination of the Sun between March 21 and June 21 is approximately

Winter in the northern hemisphere occurs when

The Moon's path across the sky

On a particular day, the Sun is at the vernal equinox and the Moon is at the autumnal equinox. The lunar phase on this particular day is

As Earth rotates, the apparent motion of the pole star, Polaris, in a period of a day is

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

Leap years- years that contain an extra day-are necessary because

Where would an observer have to be in either the northern or southern hemisphere for the Sun to remain below the horizon for a 24-hour period for at least part of a year?

On a particular day, the Sun is at the summer solstice and the Moon is at the vernal equinox. The lunar phase on that day is

Are the constellations seasonal?

Why does the Moon have phases as observed from Earth?

105/105 =

The length of time for the Moon to move from new Moon to new Moon is known as 1 synodic month. Compared to one full orbital period with respect to the star background, or 1 sidereal month, the synodic month is

How would the Sun appear to move in the sky if an observer were at the South Pole on a midsummer day?

A total lunar eclipse is visible in principle (assuming clear skies everywhere) to

Because of the tilt of Earth's spin axis to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane), sunrise in the winter months in the mid-latitude northern hemisphere occurs in which direction in the observer's sky?

At the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the Sun is

Earth would NOT have seasons if

For the Moon to appear as a crescent shape to an observer, the

Which of these statements describing the situation at a mid-latitude site at the time of equinox is correct?

A person standing in the Moon's penumbra will see a

The change in the declination of the Sun between March 21 and June 21 is approximately

Winter in the northern hemisphere occurs when

The Moon's path across the sky

On a particular day, the Sun is at the vernal equinox and the Moon is at the autumnal equinox. The lunar phase on this particular day is

As Earth rotates, the apparent motion of the pole star, Polaris, in a period of a day is

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

10⁵/10⁵ =