Question 1

The planet(s) of our solar system that are usually or never visible to the naked eye are

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars. 
B)  Mercury and Neptune. 
C)  Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
D)  Uranus and Neptune. 
E)  Mercury and Venus. 
A)  Mars. 
B)  Mercury and Neptune. 
C)  Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 
D)  Uranus and Neptune. 
E)  Mercury and Venus.

Question 2

On a clear night when an observer in Los Angeles sees a first quarter moon, an observer in London would see

Accepted Answer

A)  a full moon. 
B)  a first quarter moon. 
C)  a new moon. 
D)  a third quarter moon. 
E)  any of the above, depends on the time. 
A)  a full moon. 
B)  a first quarter moon. 
C)  a new moon. 
D)  a third quarter moon. 
E)  any of the above, depends on the time.

Question 3

A marble has a diameter of 2 cm. At what distance would the marble have an angular diameter of 1 arc second?

Accepted Answer

A)  4.1 cm 
B)  4.1 miles 
C)  4.1 m 
D)  4.1 ft 
E)  4.1 km 
A)  4.1 cm 
B)  4.1 miles 
C)  4.1 m 
D)  4.1 ft 
E)  4.1 km

Question 4

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

Accepted Answer

A)  north celestial pole 
B)  south celestial pole 
C)  celestial equator 
D)  horizon 
A)  north celestial pole 
B)  south celestial pole 
C)  celestial equator 
D)  horizon

Question 5

Why don't eclipses occur at every new moon and full moon?

Accepted Answer

Eclipses do not occur at every new moon

Question 6

The moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide?

Accepted Answer

A)  winter solstice and summer solstice 
B)  vernal equinox and autumnal equinox 
C)  They coincide at all points because they are the same. 
D)  north celestial pole and south celestial pole 
E)  zenith and east point 
A)  winter solstice and summer solstice 
B)  vernal equinox and autumnal equinox 
C)  They coincide at all points because they are the same. 
D)  north celestial pole and south celestial pole 
E)  zenith and east point

Question 8

The moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.5 
B)  30 
C)  50 
D)  1800 
E)  60.5 
A)  0.5 
B)  30 
C)  50 
D)  1800 
E)  60.5

Question 9

Assume you lived on the moon and noticed the Earth high in the sky. From that location, how often would the Earth set below your horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  every 24 hours 
B)  once a sidereal period (27.3 days) 
C)  once a synodic period (29.5 days) 
D)  every year 
E)  never 
A)  every 24 hours 
B)  once a sidereal period (27.3 days) 
C)  once a synodic period (29.5 days) 
D)  every year 
E)  never

Question 10

The ________ cycle of the phases of the moon is due to its spherical shape and the ______ shining on it from different directions.

Accepted Answer

A)  monthly; Earth 
B)  yearly; Earth 
C)  monthly; sun 
D)  yearly; sun 
A)  monthly; Earth 
B)  yearly; Earth 
C)  monthly; sun 
D)  yearly; sun

Question 11

Why can neither Venus nor Mercury remain visible throughout the night as the full moon does?

Accepted Answer

Venus and Mercury cannot remain visible

Question 12

Describe the evidence that best supports the Milankovitch hypothesis.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the evidence that best supports the...

Question 13

At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter), the sun is

Accepted Answer

A)  farthest south of the celestial equator. 
B)  farthest north of the celestial equator. 
C)  on the celestial equator moving north. 
D)  on the celestial equator moving south. 
A)  farthest south of the celestial equator. 
B)  farthest north of the celestial equator. 
C)  on the celestial equator moving north. 
D)  on the celestial equator moving south.

Question 14

A solar eclipse that occurs when the moon's umbra reaches Earth's surface is called

Accepted Answer

A)  a total solar eclipse. 
B)  a partial solar eclipse. 
C)  an annular solar eclipse. 
D)  a penumbral solar eclipse. 
E)  an umbral solar eclipse. 
A)  a total solar eclipse. 
B)  a partial solar eclipse. 
C)  an annular solar eclipse. 
D)  a penumbral solar eclipse. 
E)  an umbral solar eclipse.

Question 15

An eclipse of the moon (lunar eclipse) as seen from Earth, happens when

Accepted Answer

A)  the hot luminous moon suddenly cools and stops emitting light. 
B)  the moon passes between Earth and the sun. 
C)  the earth is between the moon and the sun. 
D)  the moon is 90 degrees from the direction of the sun. 
A)  the hot luminous moon suddenly cools and stops emitting light. 
B)  the moon passes between Earth and the sun. 
C)  the earth is between the moon and the sun. 
D)  the moon is 90 degrees from the direction of the sun.

Question 16

A full moon always occurs

Accepted Answer

A)  on the 15th of every month. 
B)  when the moon is at right angles to the direction of the sun. 
C)  when the moon is closer to sun than the Earth is. 
D)  when the moon is directly opposite the position of the sun. 
A)  on the 15th of every month. 
B)  when the moon is at right angles to the direction of the sun. 
C)  when the moon is closer to sun than the Earth is. 
D)  when the moon is directly opposite the position of the sun.

Question 17

What causes precession and why does it move the celestial equator?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What causes precession and why does it...

Question 18

The saros cycle

Accepted Answer

A)  was used in ancient times to predict eclipses. 
B)  is 18 years, 11days long. 
C)  comes from a Greek word that means repetition. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above. 
A)  was used in ancient times to predict eclipses. 
B)  is 18 years, 11days long. 
C)  comes from a Greek word that means repetition. 
D)  all of the above. 
E)  none of the above.

Question 19

A solar or lunar eclipse may occur when the line of nodes (intersection of orbit planes of the moon around the Earth and the orbit plane of the Earth around the sun)

Accepted Answer

A)  points at the sun. 
B)  is 90 degrees to the sun's direction. 
C)  Wrong! The line of intersection is irrelevant. 
A)  points at the sun. 
B)  is 90 degrees to the sun's direction. 
C)  Wrong! The line of intersection is irrelevant.

Question 20

____ is the point in Earth's orbit where Earth is closest to the sun.

Accepted Answer

A)  Aphelion 
B)  Perihelion 
C)  Precession 
D)  The winter solstice 
E)  a and d 
A)  Aphelion 
B)  Perihelion 
C)  Precession 
D)  The winter solstice 
E)  a and d

The planet(s) of our solar system that are usually or never visible to the naked eye are

On a clear night when an observer in Los Angeles sees a first quarter moon, an observer in London would see

A marble has a diameter of 2 cm. At what distance would the marble have an angular diameter of 1 arc second?

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

Why don't eclipses occur at every new moon and full moon?

The moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide?

The moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc?

Assume you lived on the moon and noticed the Earth high in the sky. From that location, how often would the Earth set below your horizon?

The __ cycle of the phases of the moon is due to its spherical shape and the shining on it from different directions.

Why can neither Venus nor Mercury remain visible throughout the night as the full moon does?

Describe the evidence that best supports the Milankovitch hypothesis.

At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter), the sun is

A solar eclipse that occurs when the moon's umbra reaches Earth's surface is called

An eclipse of the moon (lunar eclipse) as seen from Earth, happens when

A full moon always occurs

What causes precession and why does it move the celestial equator?

The saros cycle

A solar or lunar eclipse may occur when the line of nodes (intersection of orbit planes of the moon around the Earth and the orbit plane of the Earth around the sun)

____ is the point in Earth's orbit where Earth is closest to the sun.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 3: Cycles of the Sun and Moon

The planet(s) of our solar system that are usually or never visible to the naked eye are

On a clear night when an observer in Los Angeles sees a first quarter moon, an observer in London would see

A marble has a diameter of 2 cm. At what distance would the marble have an angular diameter of 1 arc second?

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

Why don't eclipses occur at every new moon and full moon?

The moon and visible planets are always within a few degrees of the ecliptic.

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide?

The moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc?

Assume you lived on the moon and noticed the Earth high in the sky. From that location, how often would the Earth set below your horizon?

The ________ cycle of the phases of the moon is due to its spherical shape and the ______ shining on it from different directions.

Why can neither Venus nor Mercury remain visible throughout the night as the full moon does?

Describe the evidence that best supports the Milankovitch hypothesis.

At the time of the winter solstice (the start of winter), the sun is

A solar eclipse that occurs when the moon's umbra reaches Earth's surface is called

An eclipse of the moon (lunar eclipse) as seen from Earth, happens when

A full moon always occurs

What causes precession and why does it move the celestial equator?

The saros cycle

A solar or lunar eclipse may occur when the line of nodes (intersection of orbit planes of the moon around the Earth and the orbit plane of the Earth around the sun)

____ is the point in Earth's orbit where Earth is closest to the sun.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

The __ cycle of the phases of the moon is due to its spherical shape and the shining on it from different directions.