Question 1

Suppose you lived at Earth's equator.Which of the following statements would not be true?

Accepted Answer

A) The north celestial pole is directly on your horizon,due north (with Polaris quite nearby). 
B) The south celestial pole is directly on your horizon,due south. 
C) Every day of the year,the Sun is above your horizon for 12 hours and below it for 12 hours. 
D) The celestial equator goes through your sky from due east on your horizon,through 50° altitude in the south,to due west on the horizon. 
E) No stars are circumpolar. 
A) The north celestial pole is directly on your horizon,due north (with Polaris quite nearby). 
B) The south celestial pole is directly on your horizon,due south. 
C) Every day of the year,the Sun is above your horizon for 12 hours and below it for 12 hours. 
D) The celestial equator goes through your sky from due east on your horizon,through 50° altitude in the south,to due west on the horizon. 
E) No stars are circumpolar.

Question 2

Suppose the date is March 21 and the Sun passes through your zenith at noon.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 3

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 constellation (capital letters)is Canis Major?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

The celestial coordinates of the Sun change from day to day.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the meaning of declination and right ascension?

Accepted Answer

A) They are coordinates on the celestial sphere that are very similar to the coordinates of altitude and direction on Earth. 
B) They are used to describe the locations and distances of stars that we see in the night sky. 
C) They are coordinates on the celestial sphere,with declination telling us the angular distance of an object from the celestial equator and right ascension telling us how far around the celestial sphere an object is located from the vernal equinox. 
D) They are terms used by astronomers to describe how the sky changes with the seasons. 
A) They are coordinates on the celestial sphere that are very similar to the coordinates of altitude and direction on Earth. 
B) They are used to describe the locations and distances of stars that we see in the night sky. 
C) They are coordinates on the celestial sphere,with declination telling us the angular distance of an object from the celestial equator and right ascension telling us how far around the celestial sphere an object is located from the vernal equinox. 
D) They are terms used by astronomers to describe how the sky changes with the seasons.

Question 6

All the following statements are true.Which one explains why mean solar time differs from apparent solar time?

Accepted Answer

A) The length of a solar day is not always exactly 24 hours. 
B) Earth's rotation period is actually about 23 hours 56 minutes,not 24 hours. 
C) Earth's axis precesses with a period of 26,000 years. 
D) The Sun reaches the meridian at different times at different longitudes within the same time zone. 
E) The path of the Sun through the sky depends on both latitude and date. 
A) The length of a solar day is not always exactly 24 hours. 
B) Earth's rotation period is actually about 23 hours 56 minutes,not 24 hours. 
C) Earth's axis precesses with a period of 26,000 years. 
D) The Sun reaches the meridian at different times at different longitudes within the same time zone. 
E) The path of the Sun through the sky depends on both latitude and date.

Question 7

On the equator,days and nights are always 12 hours long,no matter what time of year.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions:
Table S1.1
  
-Which star lies closest to the north celestial pole on the celestial sphere?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

No matter where you live on Earth,the Sun always rises and sets each day.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.2 for the following questions:
Table S1.2
  
-Which star passes nearest the zenith at latitude 40°N?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.2...

Question 11

If both the Sun and a distant star cross your meridian at exactly 12:00 noon today,at what time will the star cross your meridian tomorrow?

Accepted Answer

Tomorrow t

Question 12

For vacation,you decide to take a solo boat trip.While contemplating the universe,you lose track of your location.Fortunately,you have some astronomical tables and instruments,as well as a UT clock.You thereby put together the following description of your situation:
∙ It is the day of the spring equinox.
∙ The Sun is on your meridian at an altitude of 75° in the south.
∙ The UT clock reads 22:00.
a.What is your latitude? How do you know?
b.What is your longitude? How do you know?

Accepted Answer

a.Your latitude is 15°N.Because it is th

Question 13

Based on our current Gregorian calendar,which of the following years is not a leap year?

Accepted Answer

A) 2000 
B) 2004 
C) 2008 
D) 2012 
E) All of the above are leap years. 
A) 2000 
B) 2004 
C) 2008 
D) 2012 
E) All of the above are leap years.

Question 14

Process of Science: Devise an observation to be made from Earth that gives evidence that our orbit is not perfectly circular.

Accepted Answer

Measure the angular size of the Sun and

Question 15

No matter where you live on Earth,the Sun is always directly overhead at noon.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

For vacation,you decide to take a solo boat trip.While contemplating the universe,you lose track of your location.Fortunately,you have some astronomical tables and instruments,as well as a UT clock.You thereby put together the following description of your situation:
∙ It is the day of the summer solstice.
∙ The Sun is on your meridian at an altitude of 67.5° in the north.
∙ The UT clock reads 06:00.
a.What is your latitude? How do you know?
b.What is your longitude? How do you know?

Accepted Answer

a.You are on the equator.Because it is t

Question 17

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions:
Table S1.1
  
-Which star lies closest to the south celestial pole on the celestial sphere?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

Process of Science: Devise an observation involving stars that would provide evidence (not necessarily proof)that Earth is round.Any observation that can be made from Earth is acceptable.

Accepted Answer

Observe the North Star (or,for that matt

Question 19

Which of the following explains why navigators prior to a few hundred years ago found it much more difficult to determine longitude than latitude?

Accepted Answer

A) Determining longitude requires mathematical techniques that were not known at the time. 
B) Determining longitude requires much more precise measurements of angles in the sky than does latitude. 
C) Determining longitude requires accurate tables of the celestial coordinates of stars,while determining latitude does not. 
D) Determining longitude requires an accurate clock,but latitude does not. 
A) Determining longitude requires mathematical techniques that were not known at the time. 
B) Determining longitude requires much more precise measurements of angles in the sky than does latitude. 
C) Determining longitude requires accurate tables of the celestial coordinates of stars,while determining latitude does not. 
D) Determining longitude requires an accurate clock,but latitude does not.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about sidereal and solar days is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) A sidereal day is the definition of a day on the Earth and a solar day is the definition of a day on the Sun. 
B) A solar day is approximately 4 minutes longer than a sidereal day. 
C) A solar day is the amount of time between successive appearances of the Sun on our meridian. 
D) A sidereal day is the amount of time between successive appearances of any star on our meridian. 
A) A sidereal day is the definition of a day on the Earth and a solar day is the definition of a day on the Sun. 
B) A solar day is approximately 4 minutes longer than a sidereal day. 
C) A solar day is the amount of time between successive appearances of the Sun on our meridian. 
D) A sidereal day is the amount of time between successive appearances of any star on our meridian.

Exam 25: Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

Suppose you lived at Earth's equator.Which of the following statements would not be true?

Suppose the date is March 21 and the Sun passes through your zenith at noon.Where are you?

The celestial coordinates of the Sun change from day to day.

Which of the following best describes the meaning of declination and right ascension?

All the following statements are true.Which one explains why mean solar time differs from apparent solar time?

On the equator,days and nights are always 12 hours long,no matter what time of year.

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions: Table S1.1 -Which star lies closest to the north celestial pole on the celestial sphere?

No matter where you live on Earth,the Sun always rises and sets each day.

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.2 for the following questions: Table S1.2 -Which star passes nearest the zenith at latitude 40°N?

If both the Sun and a distant star cross your meridian at exactly 12:00 noon today,at what time will the star cross your meridian tomorrow?

Based on our current Gregorian calendar,which of the following years is not a leap year?

Process of Science: Devise an observation to be made from Earth that gives evidence that our orbit is not perfectly circular.

No matter where you live on Earth,the Sun is always directly overhead at noon.

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.1 for the following questions: Table S1.1 -Which star lies closest to the south celestial pole on the celestial sphere?

Process of Science: Devise an observation involving stars that would provide evidence (not necessarily proof)that Earth is round.Any observation that can be made from Earth is acceptable.

Which of the following explains why navigators prior to a few hundred years ago found it much more difficult to determine longitude than latitude?

Which of the following statements about sidereal and solar days is not true?

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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