Question 1

Our calendar has leap years because

Accepted Answer

A) there is one more sidereal day in a year than solar days. 
B) a tropical year is slightly more than 365 days. 
C) there is a difference between a sidereal year and a tropical year. 
D) the perihelion of Earth's orbit is slowly advancing. 
A) there is one more sidereal day in a year than solar days. 
B) a tropical year is slightly more than 365 days. 
C) there is a difference between a sidereal year and a tropical year. 
D) the perihelion of Earth's orbit is slowly advancing.

Question 2

Suppose you live at the equator.Describe the path of the Sun through your sky for each of the following days:
a.the day of the spring equinox
b.the day of the summer solstice
c.the day of the winter solstice

Accepted Answer

a.On the vernal equinox,the Sun rises du

Question 3

For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.1,which shows a portion of the sky visible in the early evenings in the fall.Note that five bright stars are labeled with lowercase letters and five constellations are labeled with capitals.A few hints are also given.
  
-Which constellation (capital letters)is Pegasus?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.1,which...

Question 4

For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.2 which shows a portion of the sky visible in the early evenings in winter.Note that five bright stars are labeled with lowercase letters and five constellations are labeled with capitals.A few hints are also given.
  
-Which bright star (lowercase letters)is Sirius?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.2...

Question 5

Suppose the date is June 21 and the Sun never sets,just touching your northern horizon at midnight.Where are you?

Accepted Answer

A) the equator 
B) the Tropic of Cancer 
C) the Tropic of Capricorn 
D) the Arctic Circle 
E) the Antarctic Circle 
A) the equator 
B) the Tropic of Cancer 
C) the Tropic of Capricorn 
D) the Arctic Circle 
E) the Antarctic Circle

Question 6

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions:
Table S1.1
  
-Suppose you live at latitude 20°N.Which star passes closest to your zenith on its daily path through your sky?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1...

Question 7

A friend says she saw a planet shining on her meridian at midnight.Which planet can you be sure that she did not see?

Accepted Answer

A) Venus 
B) Mars 
C) Jupiter 
D) Saturn 
A) Venus 
B) Mars 
C) Jupiter 
D) Saturn

Question 8

Consider the following data for four stars:
 
-Suppose you live at latitude 30°S.Which star is circumpolar in your sky?

Accepted Answer

A) Alpha Centauri 
B) Deneb 
C) Spica 
D) Sirius 
A) Alpha Centauri 
B) Deneb 
C) Spica 
D) Sirius

Question 9

For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.1,which shows a portion of the sky visible in the early evenings in the fall.Note that five bright stars are labeled with lowercase letters and five constellations are labeled with capitals.A few hints are also given.
  
-Which bright star (lowercase letters)is Capella?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.1,which...

Question 10

For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.2 which shows a portion of the sky visible in the early evenings in winter.Note that five bright stars are labeled with lowercase letters and five constellations are labeled with capitals.A few hints are also given.
  
-Which bright star (lowercase letters)is Betelgeuse?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.2...

Question 11

Suppose you know the declination of a bright star that is now crossing your meridian.What else must you measure in order to determine your latitude?

Accepted Answer

A) the star's altitude 
B) the apparent solar time 
C) the current universal time 
D) the star's right ascension 
A) the star's altitude 
B) the apparent solar time 
C) the current universal time 
D) the star's right ascension

Question 12

The coordinates used to locate a position on the celestial sphere are altitude and declination.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following statements about Betelgeuse is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) It is distinctly red in color. 
B) We now know that it is a very massive star near the end of its life. 
C) Its Arabic name means "the demon star." 
D) It is one star of the three stars of the Winter Triangle,along with Procyon and Sirius. 
E) It is the upper left shoulder star of the constellation Orion. 
A) It is distinctly red in color. 
B) We now know that it is a very massive star near the end of its life. 
C) Its Arabic name means "the demon star." 
D) It is one star of the three stars of the Winter Triangle,along with Procyon and Sirius. 
E) It is the upper left shoulder star of the constellation Orion.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is not true about the sky at Earth's equator?

Accepted Answer

A) Over the course of the year,all 88 constellations will at some point be visible in the evening sky. 
B) There are no circumpolar stars in the equatorial sky. 
C) The Sun will pass directly overhead around noon each day. 
D) The north celestial pole is directly on your horizon,due north (with Polaris quite nearby). 
A) Over the course of the year,all 88 constellations will at some point be visible in the evening sky. 
B) There are no circumpolar stars in the equatorial sky. 
C) The Sun will pass directly overhead around noon each day. 
D) The north celestial pole is directly on your horizon,due north (with Polaris quite nearby).

Question 15

The time between rising and setting of a star

Accepted Answer

A) is always 12 hours. 
B) depends on the star's declination. 
C) depends on the star's right ascension. 
D) depends on the observer's latitude. 
E) depends on the observer's longitude. 
A) is always 12 hours. 
B) depends on the star's declination. 
C) depends on the star's right ascension. 
D) depends on the observer's latitude. 
E) depends on the observer's longitude.

Question 16

The summer solstice is east of the vernal equinox by 6 hours of right ascension.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Process of Science: Describe a (rare)observation that directly shows that Venus lies between the Earth and Sun.What is a simple observation that shows that Mars is further from the Sun than Earth?

Accepted Answer

A Venus transit of the Sun (which only o

Question 18

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions:
Table S1.1
  
-Suppose you live at latitude 30°N.Which star is never visible in your sky?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1...

Question 19

For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.1,which shows a portion of the sky visible in the early evenings in the fall.Note that five bright stars are labeled with lowercase letters and five constellations are labeled with capitals.A few hints are also given.
  
-Which constellation (capital letters)is Auriga?

Accepted Answer

The answer of For the following questions,refer to Figure S1.1,which...

Question 20

When should we next expect to observe a transit of the Sun by Mars?

Accepted Answer

A) 2010 
B) 2015 
C) 2140 
D) Never 
A) 2010 
B) 2015 
C) 2140 
D) Never

Exam 25: Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Our calendar has leap years because

Suppose you live at the equator.Describe the path of the Sun through your sky for each of the following days: a.the day of the spring equinox b.the day of the summer solstice c.the day of the winter solstice

Suppose the date is June 21 and the Sun never sets,just touching your northern horizon at midnight.Where are you?

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions: Table S1.1 -Suppose you live at latitude 20°N.Which star passes closest to your zenith on its daily path through your sky?

A friend says she saw a planet shining on her meridian at midnight.Which planet can you be sure that she did not see?

Consider the following data for four stars: -Suppose you live at latitude 30°S.Which star is circumpolar in your sky?

Suppose you know the declination of a bright star that is now crossing your meridian.What else must you measure in order to determine your latitude?

The coordinates used to locate a position on the celestial sphere are altitude and declination.

Which of the following statements about Betelgeuse is not true?

Which of the following statements is not true about the sky at Earth's equator?

The time between rising and setting of a star

The summer solstice is east of the vernal equinox by 6 hours of right ascension.

Process of Science: Describe a (rare)observation that directly shows that Venus lies between the Earth and Sun.What is a simple observation that shows that Mars is further from the Sun than Earth?

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions: Table S1.1 -Suppose you live at latitude 30°N.Which star is never visible in your sky?

When should we next expect to observe a transit of the Sun by Mars?

A Modern View of the Universe

Discovering the Universe for Yourself

The Science of Astronomy

Making Sense of the Universe: Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity

Light and Matter: Reading Messages from the Cosmos

Telescopes: Portals of Discovery

Our Planetary System

Formation of the Solar System

Planetary Geology: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Planetary Atmospheres: Earth and the Other Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets: Their Nature, Orbits, and Impacts

Other Planetary Systems: The New Science of Distant Worlds

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Birth

Star Stuff

The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundations of Modern Cosmology

Galaxy Evolution

The Birth of the Universe

Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Life in the Universe

Space and Time

Spacetime and Gravity

Building Blocks of the Universe

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