Question 1

Large reflecting telescopes have mirrors that are ________ in shape.

Accepted Answer

A)  spherical 
B)  parabolic 
C)  convex 
D)  hyperbolic 
E)  cylindrical 
A)  spherical 
B)  parabolic 
C)  convex 
D)  hyperbolic 
E)  cylindrical

Question 2

Explain why chromatic aberration is a problem for refracting lenses but not for reflecting mirrors.

Accepted Answer

Chromatic aberration occurs because refr

Question 3

What is quantum efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Quantum efficiency is defined by the num

Question 4

Discuss two advantages of flyby missions over orbiters in exploring planets and moons in the solar system.

Accepted Answer

First,flyby missions are relat

Question 5

Why can a compound lens combat a refracting telescope's chromatic aberration?

Accepted Answer

A)  Red light is absorbed by a larger amount than blue light. 
B)  Red light is refracted by a larger amount than blue light, and different types of glass have different indexes of refraction. 
C)  Blue light is refracted by a larger amount than red light, and different types of glass have different indexes of refraction. 
D)  Blue light is absorbed by a larger amount than red light. 
E)  A compound lens cannot combat chromatic aberration. 
A)  Red light is absorbed by a larger amount than blue light. 
B)  Red light is refracted by a larger amount than blue light, and different types of glass have different indexes of refraction. 
C)  Blue light is refracted by a larger amount than red light, and different types of glass have different indexes of refraction. 
D)  Blue light is absorbed by a larger amount than red light. 
E)  A compound lens cannot combat chromatic aberration.

Question 6

Imagine that you could build a telescope of any size in your backyard.Ultimately, the smallest angular size that could be resolved by this telescope would be governed by the

Accepted Answer

A)  blurring caused by Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  diffraction limit of the telescope. 
C)  size of the primary mirror. 
D)  motion of the night sky. 
E)  magnification of the telescope. 
A)  blurring caused by Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  diffraction limit of the telescope. 
C)  size of the primary mirror. 
D)  motion of the night sky. 
E)  magnification of the telescope.

Question 7

Arrays of radio telescopes can produce much better resolution than single-dish telescopes because they work based on the principle of

Accepted Answer

A)  reflection. 
B)  refraction. 
C)  dispersion. 
D)  diffraction. 
E)  interference. 
A)  reflection. 
B)  refraction. 
C)  dispersion. 
D)  diffraction. 
E)  interference.

Question 8

An atmospheric window is

Accepted Answer

A)  a giant glass dome. 
B)  a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that can reach the ground. 
C)  a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that cannot reach the ground. 
D)  ultraviolet. 
E)  X-rays. 
A)  a giant glass dome. 
B)  a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that can reach the ground. 
C)  a region of the electromagnetic spectrum that cannot reach the ground. 
D)  ultraviolet. 
E)  X-rays.

Question 9

An interferometer requires a minimum of how many telescopes?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  10 
A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4 
E)  10

Question 10

Of the following, the best location for a neutrino detector is

Accepted Answer

A)  in orbit around Earth. 
B)  on a mountaintop. 
C)  far from Earth. 
D)  at sea level. 
E)  deep underground. 
A)  in orbit around Earth. 
B)  on a mountaintop. 
C)  far from Earth. 
D)  at sea level. 
E)  deep underground.

Question 11

The angular resolution of a large ground-based telescope (without adaptive optics) is typically

Accepted Answer

A)  30 arcseconds (arcsec). 
B)  1 arcminute (arcmin). 
C)  10 arcsec. 
D)  30 arcmin. 
E)  limited by atmospheric seeing. 
A)  30 arcseconds (arcsec). 
B)  1 arcminute (arcmin). 
C)  10 arcsec. 
D)  30 arcmin. 
E)  limited by atmospheric seeing.

Question 12

The aperture of a telescope is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  the length of the telescope 
B)  the diameter of the telescope tube 
C)  the diameter of the primary lens/mirror 
D)  the radius of the primary lens/mirror 
E)  the diameter of the secondary mirror 
A)  the length of the telescope 
B)  the diameter of the telescope tube 
C)  the diameter of the primary lens/mirror 
D)  the radius of the primary lens/mirror 
E)  the diameter of the secondary mirror

Question 13

In 2009, the Cassini spacecraft made repeated orbits around Titan, Saturn's largest moon.If this spacecraft orbited at an altitude of 1,000 km above Titan's surface and its high-resolution camera had an angular resolution of 3 arcsec, how large an object could be resolved on Titan's surface?

Accepted Answer

The small angle approximation says @#LAT-DLM&=206,

Question 14

The major advantage CCDs have over other imaging techniques is that

Accepted Answer

A)  they have a higher quantum efficiency. 
B)  they have a linear response to light. 
C)  they yield output in digital format. 
D)  they operate at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. 
E)  all of these are correct. 
A)  they have a higher quantum efficiency. 
B)  they have a linear response to light. 
C)  they yield output in digital format. 
D)  they operate at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. 
E)  all of these are correct.

Question 15

Name two reasons why astronomers might use a space telescope over a ground-based telescope.

Accepted Answer

(1)To observe at wavelengths o

Question 16

Describe the feasibility of observing astronomical phenomena from Earth's surface across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.Use the figure below as a reference.

Accepted Answer

From Earth's surface,only visible light

Question 17

What is the diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope observing at a wavelength of 650 nm?

Accepted Answer

@#LAT-DLM& = 2.06 * 10^5</

Question 18

Explain why stars "twinkle" when viewed from the ground.Would they twinkle if they were viewed from outer space?

Accepted Answer

Slight differences in air temperature ca

Question 19

Explain how a spectrograph works.

Accepted Answer

A spectrograph takes light fro

Question 20

In order to observe gamma rays from space, astronomers must first

Accepted Answer

A)  observe gamma rays, as they are still theoretical. 
B)  place a gamma ray telescope above Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  place a gamma ray filter on a visible light telescope. 
D)  build a very large diffraction grating. 
E)  build a very small telescope in order to detect such small wavelengths. 
A)  observe gamma rays, as they are still theoretical. 
B)  place a gamma ray telescope above Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  place a gamma ray filter on a visible light telescope. 
D)  build a very large diffraction grating. 
E)  build a very small telescope in order to detect such small wavelengths.

Exam 6: The Tools of the Astronomer

Large reflecting telescopes have mirrors that are ________ in shape.

Explain why chromatic aberration is a problem for refracting lenses but not for reflecting mirrors.

What is quantum efficiency?

Discuss two advantages of flyby missions over orbiters in exploring planets and moons in the solar system.

Why can a compound lens combat a refracting telescope's chromatic aberration?

Imagine that you could build a telescope of any size in your backyard.Ultimately, the smallest angular size that could be resolved by this telescope would be governed by the

Arrays of radio telescopes can produce much better resolution than single-dish telescopes because they work based on the principle of

An atmospheric window is

An interferometer requires a minimum of how many telescopes?

Of the following, the best location for a neutrino detector is

The angular resolution of a large ground-based telescope (without adaptive optics) is typically

The aperture of a telescope is which of the following?

In 2009, the Cassini spacecraft made repeated orbits around Titan, Saturn's largest moon.If this spacecraft orbited at an altitude of 1,000 km above Titan's surface and its high-resolution camera had an angular resolution of 3 arcsec, how large an object could be resolved on Titan's surface?

The major advantage CCDs have over other imaging techniques is that

Name two reasons why astronomers might use a space telescope over a ground-based telescope.

Describe the feasibility of observing astronomical phenomena from Earth's surface across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.Use the figure below as a reference.

What is the diffraction limit of a 4-m telescope observing at a wavelength of 650 nm?

Explain why stars "twinkle" when viewed from the ground.Would they twinkle if they were viewed from outer space?

Explain how a spectrograph works.

In order to observe gamma rays from space, astronomers must first

Thinking Like an Astronomer

Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Motion of Astronomical Bodies

Gravity and Orbits

Light

The Formation of Planetary Systems

The Terrestrial Planets and Earths Moon

Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets

Worlds of Gas and Liquidthe Giant Planets

Planetary Moons and Rings

Dwarf Planets and Small Solar System Bodies

Taking the Measure of Stars

Our Starthe Sun

The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation

Evolution of Low-Mass Stars

Evolution of High-Mass Stars

Relativity and Black Holes

Galaxies

The Milky Waya Normal Spiral Galaxy

The Expanding Universe

Cosmology

Large-Scale Structure in the Universe

Life

Filters