Question 1

The constellation shaped like a big square (the "great square of ...")is

Accepted Answer

A) Cassiopeia. 
B) Pegasus. 
C) Canis Major. 
D) Taurus. 
E) Andromeda. 
A) Cassiopeia. 
B) Pegasus. 
C) Canis Major. 
D) Taurus. 
E) Andromeda.

Question 2

All of the following are true.Which of the following gives evidence that Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun's angular size changes throughout the year. 
B) Earth's seasons are not of exactly equal length. 
C) In North America,it is hotter in July than January. 
D) Both A and C 
E) Both A and B 
A) The Sun's angular size changes throughout the year. 
B) Earth's seasons are not of exactly equal length. 
C) In North America,it is hotter in July than January. 
D) Both A and C 
E) Both A and B

Question 3

Our modern calendar is also known as

Accepted Answer

A) the Gregorian calendar. 
B) the Julian calendar. 
C) the Metonic calendar. 
D) the Universal Calendar (U
C) . 
A) the Gregorian calendar. 
B) the Julian calendar. 
C) the Metonic calendar. 
D) the Universal Calendar (U
C) .

Question 4

Our calendar is based on the length of the tropical year rather than the sidereal year.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What kind of time can be read directly from a sundial?

Accepted Answer

A) apparent solar time 
B) mean solar time 
C) standard time 
D) daylight saving time 
E) sidereal time 
A) apparent solar time 
B) mean solar time 
C) standard time 
D) daylight saving time 
E) sidereal time

Question 6

From a latitude of 60 degrees north during the winter,the Sun will

Accepted Answer

A) spend most of each day below the horizon. 
B) spend most of each day above the horizon. 
C) never be seen above the horizon. 
D) end a few weeks continuously below the horizon. 
A) spend most of each day below the horizon. 
B) spend most of each day above the horizon. 
C) never be seen above the horizon. 
D) end a few weeks continuously below the horizon.

Question 7

Suppose you live at latitude 40°N.Which of the following describes the conditions that make a star circumpolar?

Accepted Answer

A) Stars are circumpolar if they have declination > +50°. B) Stars are circumpolar if they have declination > +40°. C) Stars are circumpolar if they have right ascension > 6 hr. D) Stars are circumpolar if they have right ascension < 6 hr. E) No stars are circumpolar at this latitude. A) Stars are circumpolar if they have declination > +50°. B) Stars are circumpolar if they have declination > +40°. C) Stars are circumpolar if they have right ascension > 6 hr. D) Stars are circumpolar if they have right ascension < 6 hr. E) No stars are circumpolar at this latitude.

Question 8

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 Cassiopeia?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

Suppose that you live in Sydney,Australia (latitude 34°S).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 10

The Sun is rising in the east and will be on your meridian in 2 hours.What time is it?

Accepted Answer

A) 2 A.M. 
B) 2 P.M. 
C) 10 A.M. 
D) 10 P.M. 
E) noon 
A) 2 A.M. 
B) 2 P.M. 
C) 10 A.M. 
D) 10 P.M. 
E) noon

Question 11

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:
∙ Your local time is midnight.
∙ Polaris appears at an altitude of 67° in the north.
∙ The UT clock reads 01:00.
a.What is your latitude? How do you know?
b.What is your longitude? How do you know?

Accepted Answer

a.Your latitude is within 1° of 67°N,whi

Question 12

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.2 for the following questions:
Table S1.2
  
-Which star can never be seen at latitude 40°N?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

The Summer Triangle is formed by the stars Deneb,Vega,and Altair.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The Sun is on your meridian,and you have a UT clock that tells you it is midnight in Greenwich.What is your longitude?

Accepted Answer

A) 12° west of Greenwich 
B) 12° east of Greenwich 
C) 60° west of Greenwich 
D) 60° east of Greenwich 
E) 180° of longitude from Greenwich 
A) 12° west of Greenwich 
B) 12° east of Greenwich 
C) 60° west of Greenwich 
D) 60° east of Greenwich 
E) 180° of longitude from Greenwich

Question 15

A year at the south pole consists of 6 months of darkness and 6 months of daylight.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Suppose you live at latitude 40°N.Which of the following describes the path of the celestial equator through your sky?

Accepted Answer

A) It extends from due east on your horizon,to an altitude of 50° in the south,to due west on your horizon. 
B) It extends from due south on your horizon,to your zenith,to due north on your horizon. 
C) It extends from due east on your horizon,to an altitude of 40° in the south,to due west on your horizon. 
D) It extends from due east on your horizon,to an altitude of 40° in the north,to due west on your horizon. 
A) It extends from due east on your horizon,to an altitude of 50° in the south,to due west on your horizon. 
B) It extends from due south on your horizon,to your zenith,to due north on your horizon. 
C) It extends from due east on your horizon,to an altitude of 40° in the south,to due west on your horizon. 
D) It extends from due east on your horizon,to an altitude of 40° in the north,to due west on your horizon.

Question 17

What is the global positioning system (GPS)?

Accepted Answer

A) a system for determining positions on the Earth by careful observations of the Sun and stars 
B) a system of determining positions on the Earth by receiving radio signals from many ground-based beacons 
C) a system for determining positions on Earth using signals from a set of satellites in Earth orbit 
D) a term used to refer to any type of celestial navigation 
A) a system for determining positions on the Earth by careful observations of the Sun and stars 
B) a system of determining positions on the Earth by receiving radio signals from many ground-based beacons 
C) a system for determining positions on Earth using signals from a set of satellites in Earth orbit 
D) a term used to refer to any type of celestial navigation

Question 18

If the constellation Orion crosses your meridian at midnight in mid-December,at what time will Orion cross your meridian in mid-January?

Accepted Answer

In mid-Jan

Question 19

Suppose Earth's axis had a greater tilt (more than 23.5 degrees).Which of the following statements would not be true?

Accepted Answer

A) The celestial sphere would be covered by a different set of constellations than it is with the current axis tilt. 
B) Seasonal temperature variations would be more extreme than they are with the current tilt. 
C) We would have more daylight in summer and less daylight in winter than we do with the current tilt. 
D) The Arctic and Antarctic circles would be located closer to the equator than they are now. 
A) The celestial sphere would be covered by a different set of constellations than it is with the current axis tilt. 
B) Seasonal temperature variations would be more extreme than they are with the current tilt. 
C) We would have more daylight in summer and less daylight in winter than we do with the current tilt. 
D) The Arctic and Antarctic circles would be located closer to the equator than they are now.

Question 20

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 Rigel?

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 25: Celestial Timekeeping and Navigation

The constellation shaped like a big square (the "great square of ...")is

All of the following are true.Which of the following gives evidence that Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular?

Our modern calendar is also known as

Our calendar is based on the length of the tropical year rather than the sidereal year.

What kind of time can be read directly from a sundial?

From a latitude of 60 degrees north during the winter,the Sun will

Suppose you live at latitude 40°N.Which of the following describes the conditions that make a star circumpolar?

Suppose that you live in Sydney,Australia (latitude 34°S).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

The Sun is rising in the east and will be on your meridian in 2 hours.What time is it?

Choose the appropriate star from Table S1.2 for the following questions: Table S1.2 -Which star can never be seen at latitude 40°N?

The Summer Triangle is formed by the stars Deneb,Vega,and Altair.

The Sun is on your meridian,and you have a UT clock that tells you it is midnight in Greenwich.What is your longitude?

A year at the south pole consists of 6 months of darkness and 6 months of daylight.

Suppose you live at latitude 40°N.Which of the following describes the path of the celestial equator through your sky?

What is the global positioning system (GPS)?

If the constellation Orion crosses your meridian at midnight in mid-December,at what time will Orion cross your meridian in mid-January?

Suppose Earth's axis had a greater tilt (more than 23.5 degrees).Which of the following statements would not be 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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