Question 1

What conditions are necessary for a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  New Moon on ecliptic near perigee 
B)  Full Moon on ecliptic near aphelion 
C)  New Moon on equator at perigee 
D)  Full Moon on equator at perigee 
E)  New Moon on ecliptic near aphelion 
A)  New Moon on ecliptic near perigee 
B)  Full Moon on ecliptic near aphelion 
C)  New Moon on equator at perigee 
D)  Full Moon on equator at perigee 
E)  New Moon on ecliptic near aphelion

Question 2

How far above or below the ecliptic can the Sun move?

Accepted Answer

The Sun follows the

Question 3

How many arc seconds are in a degree?

Accepted Answer

A)  60 
B)  3600 
C)  600 
D)  86400 
E)  None; seconds measure time and degrees measure temperature. 
A)  60 
B)  3600 
C)  600 
D)  86400 
E)  None; seconds measure time and degrees measure temperature.

Question 4

Describe how Erastothenes measured the circumference of our planet.

Accepted Answer

Using the fact that the noon solstice Su

Question 5

If the bright star Sirius transits my local meridian tonight at 6:43 PM, when will it transit tomorrow?

Accepted Answer

At 6:39 PM tomorrow

Question 6

Early astronomers picture the Earth as stationary, with the ________ spinning, moving the stars along with it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Early astronomers picture the Earth as stationary,...

Question 7

A light-year is a measurement of time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

When the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, we see a lunar eclipse.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

The distances to bodies in the solar system are a few light minutes to light hours.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

If you are in the Moon's umbral shadow, then you will witness

Accepted Answer

A)  nighttime. 
B)  a total solar eclipse. 
C)  a total lunar eclipse. 
D)  a partial solar eclipse. 
E)  some kind of lunar eclipse. 
A)  nighttime. 
B)  a total solar eclipse. 
C)  a total lunar eclipse. 
D)  a partial solar eclipse. 
E)  some kind of lunar eclipse.

Question 11

If a star rises about 9 PM tonight, and with the sidereal day being four minutes less than the solar one, then in a month it will rise about 7 PM.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Where on Earth would you be if Polaris were directly overhead?

Accepted Answer

A)  North Pole 
B)  Arctic Circle 
C)  Tropic of Cancer 
D)  Equator 
E)  It lies overhead everywhere on Earth. 
A)  North Pole 
B)  Arctic Circle 
C)  Tropic of Cancer 
D)  Equator 
E)  It lies overhead everywhere on Earth.

Question 13

The distances to other stars are best measured in ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The distances to other stars are best...

Question 14

A solar eclipse can only happen during a ________ Moon.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A solar eclipse can only happen during...

Question 15

From the South Pole, Polaris would appear directly overhead.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Modern scientific theories are NOT

Accepted Answer

A)  testable. 
B)  continuously tested. 
C)  simple. 
D)  perfect. 
E)  elegant. 
A)  testable. 
B)  continuously tested. 
C)  simple. 
D)  perfect. 
E)  elegant.

Question 17

You note that a particular star is directly overhead. It will be directly overhead again in

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour. 
B)  12 hours. 
C)  23 hours 56 minutes. 
D)  24 hours. 
E)  24 hours 4 minutes. 
A)  1 hour. 
B)  12 hours. 
C)  23 hours 56 minutes. 
D)  24 hours. 
E)  24 hours 4 minutes.

Question 18

The constellations of the zodiac fall along

Accepted Answer

A)  the ecliptic. 
B)  the celestial equator. 
C)  lines of longitude. 
D)  lines of latitude. 
A)  the ecliptic. 
B)  the celestial equator. 
C)  lines of longitude. 
D)  lines of latitude.

Question 19

Where did most of the chemical elements that make up our bodies come from?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Sun 
B)  Vanished Stars 
C)  The Big Bang 
D)  Other planets 
A)  The Sun 
B)  Vanished Stars 
C)  The Big Bang 
D)  Other planets

Question 20

In what sense is our unique Earth just "ordinary" from a cosmic perspective?

Accepted Answer

We are not in the center of our solar sy

What conditions are necessary for a total solar eclipse?

How far above or below the ecliptic can the Sun move?

How many arc seconds are in a degree?

Describe how Erastothenes measured the circumference of our planet.

If the bright star Sirius transits my local meridian tonight at 6:43 PM, when will it transit tomorrow?

Early astronomers picture the Earth as stationary, with the ________ spinning, moving the stars along with it.

A light-year is a measurement of time.

When the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, we see a lunar eclipse.

The distances to bodies in the solar system are a few light minutes to light hours.

If you are in the Moon's umbral shadow, then you will witness

If a star rises about 9 PM tonight, and with the sidereal day being four minutes less than the solar one, then in a month it will rise about 7 PM.

Where on Earth would you be if Polaris were directly overhead?

The distances to other stars are best measured in ________.

A solar eclipse can only happen during a ________ Moon.

From the South Pole, Polaris would appear directly overhead.

Modern scientific theories are NOT

You note that a particular star is directly overhead. It will be directly overhead again in

The constellations of the zodiac fall along

Where did most of the chemical elements that make up our bodies come from?

In what sense is our unique Earth just "ordinary" from a cosmic perspective?

Light and Telescopes

The Solar System

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Stellar Explosions

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters

Exam 1: The Night Sky

What conditions are necessary for a total solar eclipse?

How far above or below the ecliptic can the Sun move?

How many arc seconds are in a degree?

Describe how Erastothenes measured the circumference of our planet.

If the bright star Sirius transits my local meridian tonight at 6:43 PM, when will it transit tomorrow?

Early astronomers picture the Earth as stationary, with the ________ spinning, moving the stars along with it.

A light-year is a measurement of time.

When the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, we see a lunar eclipse.

The distances to bodies in the solar system are a few light minutes to light hours.

If you are in the Moon's umbral shadow, then you will witness

If a star rises about 9 PM tonight, and with the sidereal day being four minutes less than the solar one, then in a month it will rise about 7 PM.

Where on Earth would you be if Polaris were directly overhead?

The distances to other stars are best measured in ________.

A solar eclipse can only happen during a ________ Moon.

From the South Pole, Polaris would appear directly overhead.

Modern scientific theories are NOT

You note that a particular star is directly overhead. It will be directly overhead again in

The constellations of the zodiac fall along

Where did most of the chemical elements that make up our bodies come from?

In what sense is our unique Earth just "ordinary" from a cosmic perspective?

Light and Telescopes

The Solar System

Earth and Its Moon

The Eight Planets

Small Bodies in the Solar System

Formation of Planetary Systems

The Sun

Measuring the Stars

Star Formation and Evolution

Stellar Explosions

Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters