Question 1

Spiral arms are regions of star formation, which accounts for their blue color.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Which is the correct description for the Sun's location in the Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

A)  At the outer edge of the bulge, but along the Galactic equator 
B)  About 30,000 ly out in the halo 
C)  At the very outer edge of the disk, but in the Galactic plane 
D)  In the disk near the Galactic center 
E)  In the disk, and about half way out from the center 
A)  At the outer edge of the bulge, but along the Galactic equator 
B)  About 30,000 ly out in the halo 
C)  At the very outer edge of the disk, but in the Galactic plane 
D)  In the disk near the Galactic center 
E)  In the disk, and about half way out from the center

Question 3

In the formation of our Galaxy, the ________ formed first.

Accepted Answer

A)  Galactic disk 
B)  Galactic center 
C)  globular clusters 
D)  planetary nebulae 
E)  spiral arms 
A)  Galactic disk 
B)  Galactic center 
C)  globular clusters 
D)  planetary nebulae 
E)  spiral arms

Question 4

Why is a variable star so convenient for measuring distances to very remote objects?

Accepted Answer

Certain types of variable stars, such as

Question 5

We can estimate the mass of the Galaxy from observations of its ________ curve.

Accepted Answer

The answer of We can estimate the mass of the...

Question 6

Most astronomers believe that the stars in the Galactic halo formed in dwarf galaxies or during the merger of these dwarf galaxies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which method relies on the mass of a dark object revealing its presence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Asteroidal occultations 
B)  Ring occultations 
C)  Stellar eclipses 
D)  Temporary brightening of a distant star by a gravity lens 
E)  Pulsars slowing down irregularly 
A)  Asteroidal occultations 
B)  Ring occultations 
C)  Stellar eclipses 
D)  Temporary brightening of a distant star by a gravity lens 
E)  Pulsars slowing down irregularly

Question 8

The major problem faced by optical astronomers in trying to deduce the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy is that we can see only a small part of it because of the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The major problem faced by optical astronomers...

Question 9

What features of the telescopic view of the Andromeda Galaxy, M-31, are also visible to the naked eye for our similar Galaxy?

Accepted Answer

In Andromeda, we see a tilted disk of st

Question 10

What observations suggest the mass of the Galaxy goes much farther out than its visible disc?

Accepted Answer

A)  21 cm maps of the spiral arms 
B)  The rotation curve of the outermost portions of the disc 
C)  The orbits of the open clusters in the disc 
D)  Infrared observations of distant brown dwarfs 
E)  X-ray images of other galaxies' discs from Chandra 
A)  21 cm maps of the spiral arms 
B)  The rotation curve of the outermost portions of the disc 
C)  The orbits of the open clusters in the disc 
D)  Infrared observations of distant brown dwarfs 
E)  X-ray images of other galaxies' discs from Chandra

Question 11

From Earth, the view of the Milky Way is a thin band of stars across the night sky. The part of the Milky Way galaxy that is described here is the

Accepted Answer

A)  bulge. 
B)  spiral arm. 
C)  disk. 
D)  halo. 
E)  globular cluster. 
A)  bulge. 
B)  spiral arm. 
C)  disk. 
D)  halo. 
E)  globular cluster.

Question 12

Motions of objects near our Galaxy's core suggest the central black hole is about 3.7 billion solar masses.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

What use are 21 cm radio waves to Galactic astronomers?

Accepted Answer

A)  They cut through the dusty cocoons to let us watch star birth. 
B)  We can reflect them off the core of the Galaxy. 
C)  Their Doppler shifts let us map the motions and locations of gas in the spiral arms. 
D)  They bounce off stars like our Sun to let us precisely measure their distances. 
E)  They pick up the cool, dark matter much better than can optical telescopes. 
A)  They cut through the dusty cocoons to let us watch star birth. 
B)  We can reflect them off the core of the Galaxy. 
C)  Their Doppler shifts let us map the motions and locations of gas in the spiral arms. 
D)  They bounce off stars like our Sun to let us precisely measure their distances. 
E)  They pick up the cool, dark matter much better than can optical telescopes.

Question 14

What do the orbits of halo and disk stars tell us about the formation of the Milky Way?

Accepted Answer

Older halo stars move in comet-like orbi

Question 15

In age, Galactic disk stars are typically much ________ than those of the Galactic halo.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In age, Galactic disk stars are typically...

Question 16

The spiral structure of the Milky Way is best revealed by ________ cm radio observations of hydrogen atoms.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The spiral structure of the Milky Way...

Question 17

Between us and the Galactic center, the Milky Way has a mass of

Accepted Answer

A)  several hundred thousand suns. 
B)  one to two million suns. 
C)  250 million suns. 
D)  100 billion suns. 
E)  over a trillion suns. 
A)  several hundred thousand suns. 
B)  one to two million suns. 
C)  250 million suns. 
D)  100 billion suns. 
E)  over a trillion suns.

Question 18

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Accepted Answer

A)  5 kpc 
B)  8 kpc 
C)  15 kpc 
D)  50 kpc 
E)  200 kpc 
A)  5 kpc 
B)  8 kpc 
C)  15 kpc 
D)  50 kpc 
E)  200 kpc

Question 19

Arcturus shows a large proper motion, almost perpendicular to the Galactic plane. What Population does it belong to, and why?

Accepted Answer

Arcturus is the brightest halo

Question 20

Why do astronomers believe that there is a large black hole, around 4 million times the mass of our Sun, in the Galactic center?

Accepted Answer

Observations of the Galactic center show

Spiral arms are regions of star formation, which accounts for their blue color.

Which is the correct description for the Sun's location in the Galaxy?

In the formation of our Galaxy, the ________ formed first.

Why is a variable star so convenient for measuring distances to very remote objects?

We can estimate the mass of the Galaxy from observations of its ________ curve.

Most astronomers believe that the stars in the Galactic halo formed in dwarf galaxies or during the merger of these dwarf galaxies.

Which method relies on the mass of a dark object revealing its presence?

The major problem faced by optical astronomers in trying to deduce the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy is that we can see only a small part of it because of the ________.

What features of the telescopic view of the Andromeda Galaxy, M-31, are also visible to the naked eye for our similar Galaxy?

What observations suggest the mass of the Galaxy goes much farther out than its visible disc?

From Earth, the view of the Milky Way is a thin band of stars across the night sky. The part of the Milky Way galaxy that is described here is the

Motions of objects near our Galaxy's core suggest the central black hole is about 3.7 billion solar masses.

What use are 21 cm radio waves to Galactic astronomers?

What do the orbits of halo and disk stars tell us about the formation of the Milky Way?

In age, Galactic disk stars are typically much ________ than those of the Galactic halo.

The spiral structure of the Milky Way is best revealed by ________ cm radio observations of hydrogen atoms.

Between us and the Galactic center, the Milky Way has a mass of

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Arcturus shows a large proper motion, almost perpendicular to the Galactic plane. What Population does it belong to, and why?

Why do astronomers believe that there is a large black hole, around 4 million times the mass of our Sun, in the Galactic center?

The Night Sky

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

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters

Exam 13: The Milky Way Galaxy

Spiral arms are regions of star formation, which accounts for their blue color.

Which is the correct description for the Sun's location in the Galaxy?

In the formation of our Galaxy, the ________ formed first.

Why is a variable star so convenient for measuring distances to very remote objects?

We can estimate the mass of the Galaxy from observations of its ________ curve.

Most astronomers believe that the stars in the Galactic halo formed in dwarf galaxies or during the merger of these dwarf galaxies.

Which method relies on the mass of a dark object revealing its presence?

The major problem faced by optical astronomers in trying to deduce the structure of the Milky Way Galaxy is that we can see only a small part of it because of the ________.

What features of the telescopic view of the Andromeda Galaxy, M-31, are also visible to the naked eye for our similar Galaxy?

What observations suggest the mass of the Galaxy goes much farther out than its visible disc?

From Earth, the view of the Milky Way is a thin band of stars across the night sky. The part of the Milky Way galaxy that is described here is the

Motions of objects near our Galaxy's core suggest the central black hole is about 3.7 billion solar masses.

What use are 21 cm radio waves to Galactic astronomers?

What do the orbits of halo and disk stars tell us about the formation of the Milky Way?

In age, Galactic disk stars are typically much ________ than those of the Galactic halo.

The spiral structure of the Milky Way is best revealed by ________ cm radio observations of hydrogen atoms.

Between us and the Galactic center, the Milky Way has a mass of

Matter belonging to the Galaxy can be traced out to ________ from the center.

Arcturus shows a large proper motion, almost perpendicular to the Galactic plane. What Population does it belong to, and why?

Why do astronomers believe that there is a large black hole, around 4 million times the mass of our Sun, in the Galactic center?

The Night Sky

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

Galaxies

Cosmology and the Universe

Filters