Question 1

Detailed measurements of the disk and central bulge region of our Galaxy suggest our MilkyWay is a:

Accepted Answer

A) normal spiral galaxy. 
B) barred spiral galaxy. 
C) very flat elliptical galaxy. 
D) very dusty irregular galaxy. 
E) quasar. 
A) normal spiral galaxy. 
B) barred spiral galaxy. 
C) very flat elliptical galaxy. 
D) very dusty irregular galaxy. 
E) quasar. B

Question 2

Arcturus shows a large proper motion, almost perpendicular to the Galactic plane. WhatPopulation does it belong to, and why?

Accepted Answer

Arcturus is the brightest Population II star in the sky, revealed by its lack of metals andits comet-like motion cutting across the Galactic disk.

Question 3

Using an orbit size of 8 kpc, and a period of 225 million years, the mass of our Galaxy isfound to be closest to:

Accepted Answer

A)  $10^6$ solar masses. 
B)  $10 ^ { 8 }$ solar masses. 
C)  $10^{10}$ solar masses. 
D)  $10^{11}$ solar masses. 
E)  $10^{12}$ solar masses. 
A)  $10^6$ solar masses. 
B)  $10 ^ { 8 }$ solar masses. 
C)  $10^{10}$ solar masses. 
D)  $10^{11}$ solar masses. 
E)  $10^{12}$ solar masses. D

Question 4

The center of the Milky Way lies in the direction of the constellation Cygnus.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

The part of the Milky Way we are most familiar with is the:

Accepted Answer

A) Corona. 
B) Galactic disk. 
C) Galactic halo. 
D) Galactic bulge. 
E) Galactic center. 
A) Corona. 
B) Galactic disk. 
C) Galactic halo. 
D) Galactic bulge. 
E) Galactic center.

Question 6

What perception of the Milky Way Galaxy did astronomers have in 1900?

Accepted Answer

A) They believed that the Earth rested inside concentric spheres, with the Milky Way stars fixedto the outermost sphere. 
B) They believed that the Milky Way was one of billions of galaxies in the universe. 
C) They believed that the Milky Way was the entire universe. 
D) They believed that, because the Sun was at the center of the Milky Way, it was impossible tosee the rest of the universe. 
E) They believed we were one of billions of galaxies in an expanding universe. 
A) They believed that the Earth rested inside concentric spheres, with the Milky Way stars fixedto the outermost sphere. 
B) They believed that the Milky Way was one of billions of galaxies in the universe. 
C) They believed that the Milky Way was the entire universe. 
D) They believed that, because the Sun was at the center of the Milky Way, it was impossible tosee the rest of the universe. 
E) They believed we were one of billions of galaxies in an expanding universe.

Question 7

The radio source ________ is located in a place consistent with the center of our Galaxy.

Accepted Answer

A) Cygnus X-1 
B) 3C 273 
C) 47 Tucanae 
D) M-8, the Lagoon Nebula 
E) Sgr $\mathrm { A } ^ { * }$ 
A) Cygnus X-1 
B) 3C 273 
C) 47 Tucanae 
D) M-8, the Lagoon Nebula 
E) Sgr $\mathrm { A } ^ { * }$

Question 8

It is harder to map the structure of the Milky Way as a whole in visible light than with anyother form of electromagnetic radiation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

What are the observational pieces of evidence that confirm the existence of a three-partstructure (bulge, disk, halo)to the Milky Way Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

The Galactic halo is observed by mapping

Question 10

What is one of the differences between Cepheids and RR Lyrae variables?

Accepted Answer

A) Cepheids are giants, but RR Lyrae stars are still on the main sequence. 
B) All Cepheids have the same brightness, but RR Lyrae stars vary greatly in luminosity. 
C) The period-luminosity relation holds only for RR Lyrae stars. 
D) The pulsations of RR Lyrae stars are much less regular than those of Cepheids. 
E) The RR Lyrae stars have much shorter periods than Cepheids. 
A) Cepheids are giants, but RR Lyrae stars are still on the main sequence. 
B) All Cepheids have the same brightness, but RR Lyrae stars vary greatly in luminosity. 
C) The period-luminosity relation holds only for RR Lyrae stars. 
D) The pulsations of RR Lyrae stars are much less regular than those of Cepheids. 
E) The RR Lyrae stars have much shorter periods than Cepheids.

Question 11

The spiral structure of the Milky Way is best revealed by ________ cm radio observations ofHI regions.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The spiral structure of the Milky Way...

Question 12

The "aspect ratio" of thickness to width of the Galactic disk is about:

Accepted Answer

A) 1:2. 
B) 1:5. 
C) 1:10. 
D) 1:100. 
E) 1:1,000. 
A) 1:2. 
B) 1:5. 
C) 1:10. 
D) 1:100. 
E) 1:1,000.

Question 13

Which two classes of objects were critical to the Shapley-Curtiss Debate of 1920?

Accepted Answer

A) white dwarfs and red giants 
B) open clusters and emission nebulae 
C) globular clusters and spiral nebulae 
D) emission nebulae and spiral nebulae 
E) planetary nebulae and white dwarfs 
A) white dwarfs and red giants 
B) open clusters and emission nebulae 
C) globular clusters and spiral nebulae 
D) emission nebulae and spiral nebulae 
E) planetary nebulae and white dwarfs

Question 14

In the solar neighborhood we can map the position of spiral arms by observation of objectsthat are determined to be relatively ________ in age.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the solar neighborhood we can map...

Question 15

Between us and the Galactic Center, the Milky Way has a mass of:

Accepted Answer

A) several hundred thousand suns. 
B) one to two million suns. 
C) 250 million suns. 
D) 100 billion suns. 
E) over a trillion suns. 
A) several hundred thousand suns. 
B) one to two million suns. 
C) 250 million suns. 
D) 100 billion suns. 
E) over a trillion suns.

Question 16

Detailed study of stellar spectra in 1897, which enabled the development of the H-Rdiagram, was performed by:

Accepted Answer

A) E.C. Pickering. 
B) Harlow Shapley. 
C) James Lick. 
D) John Herschel. 
E) Antonia Maury. 
A) E.C. Pickering. 
B) Harlow Shapley. 
C) James Lick. 
D) John Herschel. 
E) Antonia Maury.

Question 17

In the formation of our Galaxy, the ________ formed first.

Accepted Answer

A) Galactic disk 
B) Galactic center 
C) globular clusters 
D) planetary nebulae 
E) spiral arms 
A) Galactic disk 
B) Galactic center 
C) globular clusters 
D) planetary nebulae 
E) spiral arms

Question 18

The Harvard College Observatory Computers from c. 1880 into the early 20th century were:

Accepted Answer

A) the first digital computers. 
B) not much different than cash registers. 
C) functionally similar to the modern 4-function calculator. 
D) a group of women who made important contributions to astronomy. 
E) mechanically operated adding machines. 
A) the first digital computers. 
B) not much different than cash registers. 
C) functionally similar to the modern 4-function calculator. 
D) a group of women who made important contributions to astronomy. 
E) mechanically operated adding machines.

Question 19

White dwarfs have been found in the Galactic halo using the ________ technique, which hasalso found exoplanets.

Accepted Answer

gravitatio

Question 20

A star in the instability strip of the H-R diagram would:

Accepted Answer

A) vary in both temperature and radius. 
B) explode as a type I supernova. 
C) vary in temperature and brightness, but not in radius. 
D) vary in brightness with an irregular pattern. 
E) vary in temperature and radius, but not in brightness. 
A) vary in both temperature and radius. 
B) explode as a type I supernova. 
C) vary in temperature and brightness, but not in radius. 
D) vary in brightness with an irregular pattern. 
E) vary in temperature and radius, but not in brightness.

Exam 23: The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Detailed measurements of the disk and central bulge region of our Galaxy suggest our MilkyWay is a:

Arcturus shows a large proper motion, almost perpendicular to the Galactic plane. WhatPopulation does it belong to, and why?

Using an orbit size of 8 kpc, and a period of 225 million years, the mass of our Galaxy isfound to be closest to:

The center of the Milky Way lies in the direction of the constellation Cygnus.

The part of the Milky Way we are most familiar with is the:

What perception of the Milky Way Galaxy did astronomers have in 1900?

The radio source ________ is located in a place consistent with the center of our Galaxy.

It is harder to map the structure of the Milky Way as a whole in visible light than with anyother form of electromagnetic radiation.

What are the observational pieces of evidence that confirm the existence of a three-partstructure (bulge, disk, halo)to the Milky Way Galaxy?

What is one of the differences between Cepheids and RR Lyrae variables?

The spiral structure of the Milky Way is best revealed by ________ cm radio observations ofHI regions.

The "aspect ratio" of thickness to width of the Galactic disk is about:

Which two classes of objects were critical to the Shapley-Curtiss Debate of 1920?

In the solar neighborhood we can map the position of spiral arms by observation of objectsthat are determined to be relatively ________ in age.

Between us and the Galactic Center, the Milky Way has a mass of:

Detailed study of stellar spectra in 1897, which enabled the development of the H-Rdiagram, was performed by:

In the formation of our Galaxy, the ________ formed first.

The Harvard College Observatory Computers from c. 1880 into the early 20th century were:

White dwarfs have been found in the Galactic halo using the ________ technique, which hasalso found exoplanets.

A star in the instability strip of the H-R diagram would:

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

Earth: Our Home in Space

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

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