Question 1

If we could observe background stars in daylight, how would the Sun appear to move against this background because of our motion on an orbiting Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) 1° per day, from west to east 
B) 15° per hour, from east to west 
C) 1° per day, from east to west 
D) 15° per hour, from west to east 
A) 1° per day, from west to east 
B) 15° per hour, from east to west 
C) 1° per day, from east to west 
D) 15° per hour, from west to east

Question 2

During one complete year, an observer on the equator would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

Accepted Answer

A) 50% 
B) a variable amount, depending on the person's longitude 
C) a variable amount, depending on which year 
D) 100% 
A) 50% 
B) a variable amount, depending on the person's longitude 
C) a variable amount, depending on which year 
D) 100%

Question 3

How much of the overall sky is north of the celestial equator, that is, in the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A) all of it, by definition 
B) exactly one-half 
C) less than one-half, because of the tilt of the equator to the ecliptic plane 
D) more than one-half, because of the precession of the poles 
A) all of it, by definition 
B) exactly one-half 
C) less than one-half, because of the tilt of the equator to the ecliptic plane 
D) more than one-half, because of the precession of the poles

Question 4

Two opposite sides of the Egyptian pyramids are aligned with which direction(s) on the horizon?

Accepted Answer

A) northeast to southwest 
B) midsummer sunrise 
C) north-south 
D) rising of the star Sirius 
A) northeast to southwest 
B) midsummer sunrise 
C) north-south 
D) rising of the star Sirius

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A) 0 hours 
B) 12 hours 
C) 18 hours 
D) 6 hours 
A) 0 hours 
B) 12 hours 
C) 18 hours 
D) 6 hours

Question 6

At what approximate value of right ascension was the Sun this year on September 21?

Accepted Answer

A) 18 hours 
B) 0 hours 
C) 6 hours 
D) 12 hours 
A) 18 hours 
B) 0 hours 
C) 6 hours 
D) 12 hours

Question 7

If the Sun passes through your zenith sometime during the year, then you must be:

Accepted Answer

A) anywhere within 23.5° of the equator. 
B) anywhere within 66.5° of the equator. 
C) exactly on the equator. 
D) anywhere on Earth (no limitation). 
A) anywhere within 23.5° of the equator. 
B) anywhere within 66.5° of the equator. 
C) exactly on the equator. 
D) anywhere on Earth (no limitation).

Question 8

With respect to the stars, the rotation of Earth carries you toward the:

Accepted Answer

A) south. 
B) east. 
C) west. 
D) north. 
A) south. 
B) east. 
C) west. 
D) north.

Question 9

If the stars Polaris and Spica are 101° apart (as shown in Figure 2-6 of Universe, 11th ed.), how far away from Polaris is the closest star in Ursa Major, from our view?
​
  ​

Accepted Answer

A) about 2.5° 
B) about 260° 
C) about 77° 
D) about 25° 
A) about 2.5° 
B) about 260° 
C) about 77° 
D) about 25°

Question 10

What is the definition of the vernal equinox?

Accepted Answer

A) March 21 
B) the point on the celestial equator crossed by the local meridian at Greenwich Observatory 
C) the date when the Sun first enters the constellation Aries 
D) the point on the ecliptic where the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north 
A) March 21 
B) the point on the celestial equator crossed by the local meridian at Greenwich Observatory 
C) the date when the Sun first enters the constellation Aries 
D) the point on the ecliptic where the Sun crosses the celestial equator from south to north

Question 11

A star with RA = 4h is in your meridian at a certain time. Which of the following stars will be on your meridian 2.5 hours from now?

Accepted Answer

A) RA = 6h 30m 
B) RA = 4h 2m 30s 
C) RA = 1h 30m 
D) RA = 4h, since RA of a star does not change with time 
A) RA = 6h 30m 
B) RA = 4h 2m 30s 
C) RA = 1h 30m 
D) RA = 4h, since RA of a star does not change with time

Question 12

The celestial coordinates of the star γ Geminorum are right ascension 6h 37m, declination +16°; the coordinates of the star α Tauri are right ascension 4h 35m, declination +16°. Measured along the shortest angle in the sky between the two stars, γ Geminorum is:

Accepted Answer

A) north of α Tauri. 
B) east of α Tauri. 
C) south of α Tauri. 
D) west of α Tauri. 
A) north of α Tauri. 
B) east of α Tauri. 
C) south of α Tauri. 
D) west of α Tauri.

Question 13

Which direction in an observer's sky is not always on his or her meridian?

Accepted Answer

A) the zenith 
B) the north celestial pole 
C) due south on the horizon 
D) the vernal equinox 
A) the zenith 
B) the north celestial pole 
C) due south on the horizon 
D) the vernal equinox

Question 14

A given star in the sky will reach its highest point to a particular observer in the northern hemisphere when it passes through the:

Accepted Answer

A) celestial equator. 
B) zodiac. 
C) ecliptic plane. 
D) region of the sky due south. 
A) celestial equator. 
B) zodiac. 
C) ecliptic plane. 
D) region of the sky due south.

Question 15

The summer solstice position coordinates are RA = 6h 0m 0s, declination = +23° 27´. What are the coordinates of the winter solstice?

Accepted Answer

A) RA = 18h 0m 0s, declination = +23° 27´ 
B) RA = 0h 0m 0s, declination = 0° 0', by definition 
C) RA = 12h 0m 0s, declination = -23° 27´ 
D) RA = 18h 0m 0s, declination = -23° 27´ 
A) RA = 18h 0m 0s, declination = +23° 27´ 
B) RA = 0h 0m 0s, declination = 0° 0', by definition 
C) RA = 12h 0m 0s, declination = -23° 27´ 
D) RA = 18h 0m 0s, declination = -23° 27´

Question 16

Meaningful observations of the sky by ancient peoples:

Accepted Answer

A) were, of necessity, restricted to the western hemisphere. 
B) were, of necessity, restricted to the regions north of the equator. 
C) were, of necessity, restricted to the regions south of the equator. 
D) were made in regions throughout the world. 
A) were, of necessity, restricted to the western hemisphere. 
B) were, of necessity, restricted to the regions north of the equator. 
C) were, of necessity, restricted to the regions south of the equator. 
D) were made in regions throughout the world.

Question 17

Diurnal motion of objects in the sky is caused by the:

Accepted Answer

A) precession of Earth's axis. 
B) revolution of Earth around the Sun. 
C) motion of the Moon across the sky. 
D) rotation of Earth on its axis. 
A) precession of Earth's axis. 
B) revolution of Earth around the Sun. 
C) motion of the Moon across the sky. 
D) rotation of Earth on its axis.

Question 18

I record the time in New York and know that it is the same time in California. This scenario can be true if the time I am measuring is:

Accepted Answer

A) solar time only. 
B) sidereal time only. 
C) UTC only. 
D) any of these. 
A) solar time only. 
B) sidereal time only. 
C) UTC only. 
D) any of these.

Question 19

The celestial coordinates of the star ß Tauri are right ascension 5h 25m, declination +28°, and those of the star ß Geminorum are right ascension 7h 44m, declination +28°. Measured along the shortest angle in the sky between the two stars, ß Tauri is:

Accepted Answer

A) west of ß Geminorum. 
B) south of ß Geminorum. 
C) north of ß Geminorum. 
D) east of ß Geminorum. 
A) west of ß Geminorum. 
B) south of ß Geminorum. 
C) north of ß Geminorum. 
D) east of ß Geminorum.

Question 20

The distorting effects of Earth's atmosphere are minimized when you observe in the direction of:

Accepted Answer

A) the pole star. 
B) the eastern horizon. 
C) the upper meridian. 
D) the lower meridian. 
A) the pole star. 
B) the eastern horizon. 
C) the upper meridian. 
D) the lower meridian.

Exam 2: Knowing the Heavens

If we could observe background stars in daylight, how would the Sun appear to move against this background because of our motion on an orbiting Earth?

During one complete year, an observer on the equator would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

How much of the overall sky is north of the celestial equator, that is, in the northern hemisphere?

Two opposite sides of the Egyptian pyramids are aligned with which direction(s) on the horizon?

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

At what approximate value of right ascension was the Sun this year on September 21?

If the Sun passes through your zenith sometime during the year, then you must be:

With respect to the stars, the rotation of Earth carries you toward the:

If the stars Polaris and Spica are 101° apart (as shown in Figure 2-6 of Universe, 11th ed.), how far away from Polaris is the closest star in Ursa Major, from our view? ​ ​

What is the definition of the vernal equinox?

A star with RA = 4h is in your meridian at a certain time. Which of the following stars will be on your meridian 2.5 hours from now?

The celestial coordinates of the star γ Geminorum are right ascension 6h 37m, declination +16°; the coordinates of the star α Tauri are right ascension 4h 35m, declination +16°. Measured along the shortest angle in the sky between the two stars, γ Geminorum is:

Which direction in an observer's sky is not always on his or her meridian?

A given star in the sky will reach its highest point to a particular observer in the northern hemisphere when it passes through the:

The summer solstice position coordinates are RA = 6h 0m 0s, declination = +23° 27´. What are the coordinates of the winter solstice?

Meaningful observations of the sky by ancient peoples:

Diurnal motion of objects in the sky is caused by the:

I record the time in New York and know that it is the same time in California. This scenario can be true if the time I am measuring is:

The celestial coordinates of the star ß Tauri are right ascension 5h 25m, declination +28°, and those of the star ß Geminorum are right ascension 7h 44m, declination +28°. Measured along the shortest angle in the sky between the two stars, ß Tauri is:

The distorting effects of Earth's atmosphere are minimized when you observe in the direction of:

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

Stellar Remnants: Neutron Stars and Black Holes

Our Galaxy

Galaxies

Quasars and Active Galaxies

Cosmology: The Origin and Evolution of the Universe

Exploring the Early Universe

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Filters

If the stars Polaris and Spica are 101° apart (as shown in Figure 2-6 of Universe, 11th ed.), how far away from Polaris is the closest star in Ursa Major, from our view?

A star with RA = 4^h is in your meridian at a certain time. Which of the following stars will be on your meridian 2.5 hours from now?

The celestial coordinates of the star γ Geminorum are right ascension 6^h 37^m, declination +16°; the coordinates of the star α Tauri are right ascension 4^h 35^m, declination +16°. Measured along the shortest angle in the sky between the two stars, γ Geminorum is:

The summer solstice position coordinates are RA = 6^h 0^m 0^s, declination = +23° 27´. What are the coordinates of the winter solstice?

The celestial coordinates of the star ß Tauri are right ascension 5^h 25^m, declination +28°, and those of the star ß Geminorum are right ascension 7^h 44^m, declination +28°. Measured along the shortest angle in the sky between the two stars, ß Tauri is: