Question 1

You are standing on Earth's equator. Which way is Polaris, the North star?

Accepted Answer

A)  30 degrees up, due West 
B)  on the northern horizon 
C)  directly overhead 
D)  The answer depends on whether it's winter or summer. 
E)  The answer depends on what time of day (or night) it is. 
A)  30 degrees up, due West 
B)  on the northern horizon 
C)  directly overhead 
D)  The answer depends on whether it's winter or summer. 
E)  The answer depends on what time of day (or night) it is.

Question 2

We describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  altitude and direction (or azimuth) 
B)  meridian and longitude 
C)  latitude and direction 
D)  latitude and longitude 
A)  altitude and direction (or azimuth) 
B)  meridian and longitude 
C)  latitude and direction 
D)  latitude and longitude

Question 3

In which direction does a quarter moon rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  north 
B)  south 
C)  east 
D)  west 
E)  The Moon becomes a quarter moon only after it has risen and changed phase. 
A)  north 
B)  south 
C)  east 
D)  west 
E)  The Moon becomes a quarter moon only after it has risen and changed phase.

Question 4

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun 
B)  Venus 
C)  Mars 
D)  Jupiter 
E)  Saturn 
A)  the Sun 
B)  Venus 
C)  Mars 
D)  Jupiter 
E)  Saturn

Question 5

A solar eclipse occurs only when the Moon is new.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

It is possible to see the third-quarter moon near the western horizon at sunrise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

If the Earth's rotation axis was tilted by 45 degrees instead of 23.5 degrees, what are some of the implications, and why?

Accepted Answer

A)  The seasons would be more extreme, because the Sun's rays would be more direct in summer, and less direct in winter. 
B)  The seasons would be less extreme, because the Sun's rays would be less direct in summer, and more direct in winter. 
C)  The seasons would be less extreme, because the surface of the Earth would be farther from the Sun in the summer, and closer to the Sun in the winter. 
D)  The seasons would be more extreme, because the surface of the Earth would be closer to the Sun in the summer, and farther from the Sun in the winter. 
A)  The seasons would be more extreme, because the Sun's rays would be more direct in summer, and less direct in winter. 
B)  The seasons would be less extreme, because the Sun's rays would be less direct in summer, and more direct in winter. 
C)  The seasons would be less extreme, because the surface of the Earth would be farther from the Sun in the summer, and closer to the Sun in the winter. 
D)  The seasons would be more extreme, because the surface of the Earth would be closer to the Sun in the summer, and farther from the Sun in the winter.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are the stars close to the north celestial pole. 
B)  They always remain above your horizon. 
C)  They make relatively small circles, traveling clockwise around the north celestial pole. 
D)  Like all other stars, they rise in the east and set in the west. 
E)  You cannot see them from the Southern Hemisphere. 
A)  They are the stars close to the north celestial pole. 
B)  They always remain above your horizon. 
C)  They make relatively small circles, traveling clockwise around the north celestial pole. 
D)  Like all other stars, they rise in the east and set in the west. 
E)  You cannot see them from the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 9

If the Moon is rising at midnight, the phase of the Moon must be

Accepted Answer

A)  full. 
B)  first quarter. 
C)  third quarter. 
D)  waning crescent. 
E)  waxing crescent. 
A)  full. 
B)  first quarter. 
C)  third quarter. 
D)  waning crescent. 
E)  waxing crescent.

Question 10

The Greeks rejected the notion that the Earth orbits the Sun. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  They could not measure how big the Earth was. 
B)  They could not measure a change in stars' positions on the sky. 
C)  They weren't as smart as we are. 
D)  They believed that the Sun is a God. 
A)  They could not measure how big the Earth was. 
B)  They could not measure a change in stars' positions on the sky. 
C)  They weren't as smart as we are. 
D)  They believed that the Sun is a God.

Question 11

You see a crescent Moon setting after the Sun sets. Is it waning or waxing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Can't distinguish based on the information provided 
B)  Waning 
C)  Waxing 
A)  Can't distinguish based on the information provided 
B)  Waning 
C)  Waxing

Question 12

When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  brighter 
B)  dimmer 
C)  higher in the sky 
D)  lower in the sky 
A)  brighter 
B)  dimmer 
C)  higher in the sky 
D)  lower in the sky

Question 13

Suppose you live in the United States and you see a crescent moon in your evening sky tonight. What will a friend in South America see tonight?

Accepted Answer

A)  Your friend will see a gibbous moon. 
B)  Your friend will also see a crescent moon. 
C)  Your friend will see a first quarter moon. 
D)  Your friend won't see the Moon tonight, because it is up only in the morning. 
A)  Your friend will see a gibbous moon. 
B)  Your friend will also see a crescent moon. 
C)  Your friend will see a first quarter moon. 
D)  Your friend won't see the Moon tonight, because it is up only in the morning.

Question 14

If we have a new moon today, when we will have the next full moon?

Accepted Answer

A)  In about 2 weeks 
B)  In about 1 week 
C)  In about 1 month 
D)  In about 6 months 
A)  In about 2 weeks 
B)  In about 1 week 
C)  In about 1 month 
D)  In about 6 months

Question 15

At what altitude and in what direction in your sky does the north or south celestial pole appear?

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary wi

You are standing on Earth's equator. Which way is Polaris, the North star?

We describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its ________.

In which direction does a quarter moon rise?

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

A solar eclipse occurs only when the Moon is new.

It is possible to see the third-quarter moon near the western horizon at sunrise.

If the Earth's rotation axis was tilted by 45 degrees instead of 23.5 degrees, what are some of the implications, and why?

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

If the Moon is rising at midnight, the phase of the Moon must be

The Greeks rejected the notion that the Earth orbits the Sun. Why?

You see a crescent Moon setting after the Sun sets. Is it waning or waxing?

When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting ________.

Suppose you live in the United States and you see a crescent moon in your evening sky tonight. What will a friend in South America see tonight?

If we have a new moon today, when we will have the next full moon?

At what altitude and in what direction in your sky does the north or south celestial pole appear?

Our Place in the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

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

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

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Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

You are standing on Earth's equator. Which way is Polaris, the North star?

We describe a location on Earth's surface by stating its ________.

In which direction does a quarter moon rise?

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

A solar eclipse occurs only when the Moon is new.

It is possible to see the third-quarter moon near the western horizon at sunrise.

If the Earth's rotation axis was tilted by 45 degrees instead of 23.5 degrees, what are some of the implications, and why?

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

If the Moon is rising at midnight, the phase of the Moon must be

The Greeks rejected the notion that the Earth orbits the Sun. Why?

You see a crescent Moon setting after the Sun sets. Is it waning or waxing?

When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting ________.

Suppose you live in the United States and you see a crescent moon in your evening sky tonight. What will a friend in South America see tonight?

If we have a new moon today, when we will have the next full moon?

At what altitude and in what direction in your sky does the north or south celestial pole appear?

Our Place in the Universe

The Science of Astronomy

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

Light: the Cosmic Messenger

Formation of Planetary Systems: Our Solar System and Beyond

Earth and the Terrestrial Worlds

Jovian Planet Systems

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

Our Star

Surveying the Stars

Star Stuff

Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Our Galaxy

Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

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

The Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe

Filters