Question 1

In 1 year the apparent path of the Sun through the background of the stars passes through:

Accepted Answer

A) only the 12 zodiac constellations defined by the ancients. 
B) the 12 zodiac constellations plus the constellation Ophiuchus. 
C) only 11 of the original 12 zodiac constellations: The path no longer passes through Aries. 
D) only the north circumpolar constellations. 
A) only the 12 zodiac constellations defined by the ancients. 
B) the 12 zodiac constellations plus the constellation Ophiuchus. 
C) only 11 of the original 12 zodiac constellations: The path no longer passes through Aries. 
D) only the north circumpolar constellations. B

Question 2

The total width of the zodiac surrounding the ecliptic plane in the sky is approximately:

Accepted Answer

A) 8°. 
B) 16°. 
C) 23.5°. 
D) 1°. 
A) 8°. 
B) 16°. 
C) 23.5°. 
D) 1°. B

Question 3

The line on the sky joining the north and south celestial poles through a person's zenith is known as the

Accepted Answer

A) meridian. 
B) celestial equator. 
C) zodiac. 
D) horizon. 
A) meridian. 
B) celestial equator. 
C) zodiac. 
D) horizon. A

Question 4

What is the significance of Polaris, the North Star?

Accepted Answer

A) It has been chosen as the zero point for declination measurements because it will always be at the pole of Earth's axis, i.e., due north. 
B) The direction from Earth to Polaris is used as the zero line of prime meridian for measurements of right ascension. 
C) Polaris is near the center of the curve traced out by the rotation axis as a result of the precession of the rotation direction. 
D) Polaris is almost on the curve traced out by the rotation axis as a result of the precession of the rotation direction. 
A) It has been chosen as the zero point for declination measurements because it will always be at the pole of Earth's axis, i.e., due north. 
B) The direction from Earth to Polaris is used as the zero line of prime meridian for measurements of right ascension. 
C) Polaris is near the center of the curve traced out by the rotation axis as a result of the precession of the rotation direction. 
D) Polaris is almost on the curve traced out by the rotation axis as a result of the precession of the rotation direction.

Question 5

The two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the Twins are Castor (right ascension 7h 33m, declination +31° 56N) and Pollux (right ascension 7h 44m, declination +28° 5N). From these coordinates you can see that:

Accepted Answer

A) Pollux is slightly southeast of Castor. 
B) Pollux is slightly northwest of Castor. 
C) Pollux is slightly northeast of Castor. 
D) Pollux is slightly southwest of Castor. 
A) Pollux is slightly southeast of Castor. 
B) Pollux is slightly northwest of Castor. 
C) Pollux is slightly northeast of Castor. 
D) Pollux is slightly southwest of Castor.

Question 6

As Earth rotates, the apparent motion of the pole star, Polaris, in a period of a day is:

Accepted Answer

A) a slow drift across the sky. 
B) a wobble back and forth in a straight line. 
C) a small circle with a radius of less than 1° in about 24 hours. 
D) zero; there is no motion of the pole star by definition. 
A) a slow drift across the sky. 
B) a wobble back and forth in a straight line. 
C) a small circle with a radius of less than 1° in about 24 hours. 
D) zero; there is no motion of the pole star by definition.

Question 7

The zodiac is a:

Accepted Answer

A) band of sky extending 8° on each side of the celestial equator. 
B) constellation representing a boat in the sky. 
C) band of sky extending 8° on either side of the ecliptic. 
D) band of sky 8° wide centered on the ecliptic. 
A) band of sky extending 8° on each side of the celestial equator. 
B) constellation representing a boat in the sky. 
C) band of sky extending 8° on either side of the ecliptic. 
D) band of sky 8° wide centered on the ecliptic.

Question 8

Where would you have to be in order to see the north celestial pole in your zenith?

Accepted Answer

A) about 1° away from the South Pole, to account for precession 
B) North Pole 
C) South Pole 
D) equator 
A) about 1° away from the South Pole, to account for precession 
B) North Pole 
C) South Pole 
D) equator

Question 9

If the polar axis of Earth precesses through a full circle (See Figure 2-20 of Universe, 11th ed.) in 26,000 years, how many years will it take for the line between the axis and the center of the circle to move through 1°?
​
  ​

Accepted Answer

A) 720 
B) 0.014 
C) 7.2 
D) 72 
A) 720 
B) 0.014 
C) 7.2 
D) 72

Question 10

Which of the following was not obtained by people of ancient civilizations from observations of the night sky?

Accepted Answer

A) the relative distances of the Sun, the Moon, and stars from Earth 
B) timing information, both daily and yearly 
C) patterns of stars in the sky about which stories and myths were devised 
D) directions for navigation 
A) the relative distances of the Sun, the Moon, and stars from Earth 
B) timing information, both daily and yearly 
C) patterns of stars in the sky about which stories and myths were devised 
D) directions for navigation

Question 11

Sidereal clocks are based on the position of:

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun. 
B) the vernal equinox. 
C) Polaris. 
D) the summer solstice. 
A) the Sun. 
B) the vernal equinox. 
C) Polaris. 
D) the summer solstice.

Question 12

You are looking at the star Aldebaran (right ascension 4h 34m, declination +16° 28N) from a location in the northern hemisphere. Where is the star Betelgeuse (right ascension 5h 54m, declination +7° 24N)?

Accepted Answer

A) below Aldebaran and to the left 
B) above Aldebaran and to the left 
C) below Aldebaran and to the right 
D) above Aldebaran and to the right 
A) below Aldebaran and to the left 
B) above Aldebaran and to the left 
C) below Aldebaran and to the right 
D) above Aldebaran and to the right

Question 13

What does it mean to be "in the tropics," that is, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn?

Accepted Answer

A) The Sun is directly overhead at noon every day. 
B) The Sun is directly overhead on at least 1 day of the year. 
C) The stars do not appear to rise and set. 
D) Days and nights are of equal length all year long. 
A) The Sun is directly overhead at noon every day. 
B) The Sun is directly overhead on at least 1 day of the year. 
C) The stars do not appear to rise and set. 
D) Days and nights are of equal length all year long.

Question 14

Earlier in this chapter we discussed some ancient buildings that were constructed so that they were aligned to the rising of the Sun at vernal equinox or some other important astronomical date. How does the precession of the equinoxes affect these alignments in a building, say, 2000 years old?

Accepted Answer

A) The alignments of such a building should still be perfect. 
B) The alignments will vary slightly, but after a mere 2000 years the discrepancy in alignment will be almost too small to measure. 
C) The alignments will vary significantly after 2000 years, but only for buildings within 23.5° of the equator. 
D) The alignments will vary significantly after 2000 years for buildings anywhere on Earth. 
A) The alignments of such a building should still be perfect. 
B) The alignments will vary slightly, but after a mere 2000 years the discrepancy in alignment will be almost too small to measure. 
C) The alignments will vary significantly after 2000 years, but only for buildings within 23.5° of the equator. 
D) The alignments will vary significantly after 2000 years for buildings anywhere on Earth.

Question 15

In late September, Andromeda appears high in the sky at midnight. Six months later Virgo appears high in the sky at midnight. Where is Andromeda at this time?

Accepted Answer

A) It is still high in the sky at midnight. 
B) It has moved to the western horizon. 
C) It has moved to the eastern horizon. 
D) It is high in the sky at noon and is thus not visible. 
A) It is still high in the sky at midnight. 
B) It has moved to the western horizon. 
C) It has moved to the eastern horizon. 
D) It is high in the sky at noon and is thus not visible.

Question 16

By observing the sky closely night by night, you would note that a particular star rises:

Accepted Answer

A) at a varying time every night, sometimes earlier, sometimes later than a specified time. 
B) about 4 minutes later every night. 
C) about 4 minutes earlier every night. 
D) at the same time every night. 
A) at a varying time every night, sometimes earlier, sometimes later than a specified time. 
B) about 4 minutes later every night. 
C) about 4 minutes earlier every night. 
D) at the same time every night.

Question 17

At what approximate value of declination was the Sun on December 21 this year?

Accepted Answer

A) 23.5° 
B) 90° 
C) 0° 
D) -23.5° 
A) 23.5° 
B) 90° 
C) 0° 
D) -23.5°

Question 18

If you are standing on Earth's equator, your zenith (the vertical direction above your head) over a period of 1 year will maintain which of the following alignments?

Accepted Answer

A) a fixed angle of 23.5° to the spin axis of Earth 
B) an angle to Earth's spin axis that will vary between 0° and 23.5° over a period of 6 months 
C) parallel to Earth's spin axis 
D) perpendicular to Earth's spin axis 
A) a fixed angle of 23.5° to the spin axis of Earth 
B) an angle to Earth's spin axis that will vary between 0° and 23.5° over a period of 6 months 
C) parallel to Earth's spin axis 
D) perpendicular to Earth's spin axis

Question 19

A calendar year, from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, is called a:

Accepted Answer

A) tropical year. 
B) sidereal year. 
C) solar year. 
D) vernal year. 
A) tropical year. 
B) sidereal year. 
C) solar year. 
D) vernal year.

Question 20

Where must you stand on Earth to have the celestial equator along your horizon?

Accepted Answer

A) the North Pole 
B) the South Pole 
C) either pole 
D) the equator 
A) the North Pole 
B) the South Pole 
C) either pole 
D) the equator

Exam 2: Knowing the Heavens

In 1 year the apparent path of the Sun through the background of the stars passes through:

The total width of the zodiac surrounding the ecliptic plane in the sky is approximately:

The line on the sky joining the north and south celestial poles through a person's zenith is known as the

What is the significance of Polaris, the North Star?

The two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the Twins are Castor (right ascension 7h 33m, declination +31° 56N) and Pollux (right ascension 7h 44m, declination +28° 5N). From these coordinates you can see that:

As Earth rotates, the apparent motion of the pole star, Polaris, in a period of a day is:

The zodiac is a:

Where would you have to be in order to see the north celestial pole in your zenith?

If the polar axis of Earth precesses through a full circle (See Figure 2-20 of Universe, 11th ed.) in 26,000 years, how many years will it take for the line between the axis and the center of the circle to move through 1°? ​ ​

Which of the following was not obtained by people of ancient civilizations from observations of the night sky?

Sidereal clocks are based on the position of:

You are looking at the star Aldebaran (right ascension 4h 34m, declination +16° 28N) from a location in the northern hemisphere. Where is the star Betelgeuse (right ascension 5h 54m, declination +7° 24N)?

What does it mean to be "in the tropics," that is, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn?

Earlier in this chapter we discussed some ancient buildings that were constructed so that they were aligned to the rising of the Sun at vernal equinox or some other important astronomical date. How does the precession of the equinoxes affect these alignments in a building, say, 2000 years old?

In late September, Andromeda appears high in the sky at midnight. Six months later Virgo appears high in the sky at midnight. Where is Andromeda at this time?

By observing the sky closely night by night, you would note that a particular star rises:

At what approximate value of declination was the Sun on December 21 this year?

If you are standing on Earth's equator, your zenith (the vertical direction above your head) over a period of 1 year will maintain which of the following alignments?

A calendar year, from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, is called a:

Where must you stand on Earth to have the celestial equator along your horizon?

Astronomy and the Universe

Eclipses and the Motion of the Moon

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

The Nature of Light

Optics and Telescopes

Comparative Planetology I: Our Solar System

Comparative Planetology II: the Origin of Our Solar System

The Living Earth

Our Barren Moon

Mercury, Venus, and Mars: Terrestrial, yet Unique

Jupiter and Saturn: Lords of the Planets

Jupiter and Saturns Satellites of Fire and Ice

Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Kuiper Belt: Remote Worlds

Asteroids, Comets, and Impacts

Our Star, the Sun

The Nature of the Stars

The Birth of Stars

Stellar Evolution: on and After the Main Sequence

Stellar Evolution: The Death of Stars

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Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

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The two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the Twins are Castor (right ascension 7^h 33^m, declination +31° 56N) and Pollux (right ascension 7^h 44^m, declination +28° 5N). From these coordinates you can see that:

If the polar axis of Earth precesses through a full circle (See Figure 2-20 of Universe, 11th ed.) in 26,000 years, how many years will it take for the line between the axis and the center of the circle to move through 1°?

You are looking at the star Aldebaran (right ascension 4^h 34^m, declination +16° 28N) from a location in the northern hemisphere. Where is the star Betelgeuse (right ascension 5^h 54^m, declination +7° 24N)?