Question 1

Why don't eclipses occur at every new Moon and full Moon

Accepted Answer

The Moon's orbit is tipped a few degrees

Question 2

The Moon's angular diameter in our sky as observed from Earth is measured to be 0.5°. From this, we can find the diameter of the Moon in kilometers if we also know the Moon's

Accepted Answer

A) distance from the Earth. 
B) element composition 
C) distance from the Sun. 
A) distance from the Earth. 
B) element composition 
C) distance from the Sun.

Question 3

A solar eclipse may occur

Accepted Answer

A) when the Moon is first quarter phase. 
B) when the Moon is 3rd quarter phase. 
C) when the Moon is full. 
D) when the Moon is new. 
A) when the Moon is first quarter phase. 
B) when the Moon is 3rd quarter phase. 
C) when the Moon is full. 
D) when the Moon is new.

Question 4

The Moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the Moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc

Accepted Answer

A) 0.5 
B) 30 
C) 50 
D) 1800 
E) 60.5 
A) 0.5 
B) 30 
C) 50 
D) 1800 
E) 60.5

Question 5

A lunar eclipse may occur

Accepted Answer

A) when the Moon is first quarter phase. 
B) when the Moon is 3rd quarter phase. 
C) when the Moon is full. 
D) when the Moon is new. 
A) when the Moon is first quarter phase. 
B) when the Moon is 3rd quarter phase. 
C) when the Moon is full. 
D) when the Moon is new.

Question 6

A solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon's umbra reaches Earth's surface is called

Accepted Answer

A) a total solar eclipse. 
B) a partial solar eclipse. 
C) an annular solar eclipse. 
D) a penumbral solar eclipse. 
E) an umbral solar eclipse. 
A) a total solar eclipse. 
B) a partial solar eclipse. 
C) an annular solar eclipse. 
D) a penumbral solar eclipse. 
E) an umbral solar eclipse.

Question 7

Northern hemisphere winters are colder than northern hemisphere summers because

Accepted Answer

A) Earth is closer to the Sun during the summer than it is during the winter. 
B) the snow that falls in the northern latitudes cools Earth during the winter. 
C) the light from the Sun shines more directly on the northern hemisphere during the summer. 
D) the period of sunlight is longer during the summer than during the winter. 
E) the light from the Sun shines more directly on the northern hemisphere during the summer and the period of sunlight is longer during the summer than during the winter. 
A) Earth is closer to the Sun during the summer than it is during the winter. 
B) the snow that falls in the northern latitudes cools Earth during the winter. 
C) the light from the Sun shines more directly on the northern hemisphere during the summer. 
D) the period of sunlight is longer during the summer than during the winter. 
E) the light from the Sun shines more directly on the northern hemisphere during the summer and the period of sunlight is longer during the summer than during the winter.

Question 8

In the summer in the northern hemisphere,

Accepted Answer

A) the Earth is closer to the Sun. 
B) the Earth's northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. 
C) the Earth's northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun. 
A) the Earth is closer to the Sun. 
B) the Earth's northern hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. 
C) the Earth's northern hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun.

Question 9

Which of the following causes seasons on Earth

Accepted Answer

A) Earth being closer to the Sun during our summer and farther during our winter 
B) the Sun's varying light output 
C) the tilt of Earth's axis 
D) the eleven-year sunspot cycle 
A) Earth being closer to the Sun during our summer and farther during our winter 
B) the Sun's varying light output 
C) the tilt of Earth's axis 
D) the eleven-year sunspot cycle

Question 10

Assume all else is unchanged, and the Earth's rotational axis is perpendicular to the ecliptic. As a result, seasonal variations on the Earth would

Accepted Answer

A) be practically non-existent. 
B) remain the same as they are at now. 
C) have the same severity but each season would last twice as long. 
D) be much more severe. 
A) be practically non-existent. 
B) remain the same as they are at now. 
C) have the same severity but each season would last twice as long. 
D) be much more severe.

Question 11

__________ refers to turning motion around a body's axis whereas ___________ refers to motion of a body around a point.

Accepted Answer

Rotation,

Question 12

What would you see if you were on the Moon and facing Earth when people on Earth saw a total lunar eclipse

Accepted Answer

You would see the Sun eclipsed

Question 13

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide

Accepted Answer

A) winter solstice and summer solstice 
B) vernal equinox and autumnal equinox 
C) They coincide at all points because they are the same. 
D) north celestial pole and south celestial pole 
E) zenith and east point 
A) winter solstice and summer solstice 
B) vernal equinox and autumnal equinox 
C) They coincide at all points because they are the same. 
D) north celestial pole and south celestial pole 
E) zenith and east point

Question 14

A waxing crescent Moon is visible

Accepted Answer

A) near the eastern horizon just before sunrise. 
B) near the eastern horizon just after sunset. 
C) near the western horizon just before sunrise. 
D) near the western horizon just after sunset. 
E) from sunset until sunrise. 
A) near the eastern horizon just before sunrise. 
B) near the eastern horizon just after sunset. 
C) near the western horizon just before sunrise. 
D) near the western horizon just after sunset. 
E) from sunset until sunrise.

Question 15

The Saros cycle

Accepted Answer

A) was used in ancient times to predict eclipses. 
B) is 18 years, 11   days long. 
C) accounts for the tides seen on Earth. 
D) was used in ancient times to predict eclipses and is 18 years and 11   days long, 
E) None of the other choices are correct. 
A) was used in ancient times to predict eclipses. 
B) is 18 years, 11   days long. 
C) accounts for the tides seen on Earth. 
D) was used in ancient times to predict eclipses and is 18 years and 11   days long, 
E) None of the other choices are correct.

Question 16

The point in Earth's orbit where Earth is farthest from the Sun is known as

Accepted Answer

A) aphelion. 
B) perihelion. 
C) precession. 
D) the winter solstice. 
A) aphelion. 
B) perihelion. 
C) precession. 
D) the winter solstice.

Question 17

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the Sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

Accepted Answer

A) north celestial pole 
B) south celestial pole 
C) celestial equator 
D) horizon 
A) north celestial pole 
B) south celestial pole 
C) celestial equator 
D) horizon

Question 18

On the autumnal equinox the Sun is

Accepted Answer

A) 23.4° north of the celestial equator. 
B) 23.4° south of the celestial equator. 
C) on the celestial equator and moving north with respect to the equator. 
D) on the celestial equator and moving south with respect to the equator. 
E) closest to the north celestial pole. 
A) 23.4° north of the celestial equator. 
B) 23.4° south of the celestial equator. 
C) on the celestial equator and moving north with respect to the equator. 
D) on the celestial equator and moving south with respect to the equator. 
E) closest to the north celestial pole.

Question 19

Why have more people seen total lunar eclipses than total solar eclipses

Accepted Answer

Earth casts a larger shadow on the Moon

Question 20

A portion or all of the same zodiac constellations can be seen by those in either hemisphere year round.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Why don't eclipses occur at every new Moon and full Moon

The Moon's angular diameter in our sky as observed from Earth is measured to be 0.5°. From this, we can find the diameter of the Moon in kilometers if we also know the Moon's

A solar eclipse may occur

The Moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the Moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc

A lunar eclipse may occur

A solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon's umbra reaches Earth's surface is called

Northern hemisphere winters are colder than northern hemisphere summers because

In the summer in the northern hemisphere,

Which of the following causes seasons on Earth

Assume all else is unchanged, and the Earth's rotational axis is perpendicular to the ecliptic. As a result, seasonal variations on the Earth would

refers to turning motion around a body's axis whereas _ refers to motion of a body around a point.

What would you see if you were on the Moon and facing Earth when people on Earth saw a total lunar eclipse

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide

A waxing crescent Moon is visible

The Saros cycle

The point in Earth's orbit where Earth is farthest from the Sun is known as

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the Sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

On the autumnal equinox the Sun is

Why have more people seen total lunar eclipses than total solar eclipses

A portion or all of the same zodiac constellations can be seen by those in either hemisphere year round.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

Exam 3: Cycles of the Sun and Moon

Why don't eclipses occur at every new Moon and full Moon

The Moon's angular diameter in our sky as observed from Earth is measured to be 0.5°. From this, we can find the diameter of the Moon in kilometers if we also know the Moon's

A solar eclipse may occur

The Moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the Moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc

A lunar eclipse may occur

A solar eclipse that occurs when the Moon's umbra reaches Earth's surface is called

Northern hemisphere winters are colder than northern hemisphere summers because

In the summer in the northern hemisphere,

Which of the following causes seasons on Earth

Assume all else is unchanged, and the Earth's rotational axis is perpendicular to the ecliptic. As a result, seasonal variations on the Earth would

__________ refers to turning motion around a body's axis whereas ___________ refers to motion of a body around a point.

What would you see if you were on the Moon and facing Earth when people on Earth saw a total lunar eclipse

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide

A waxing crescent Moon is visible

The Saros cycle

The point in Earth's orbit where Earth is farthest from the Sun is known as

The vernal equinox is the point on the sky where the Sun crosses the ____________ going north and east.

On the autumnal equinox the Sun is

Why have more people seen total lunar eclipses than total solar eclipses

A portion or all of the same zodiac constellations can be seen by those in either hemisphere year round.

Here and Now

A Users Guide to the Sky

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

Light and Telescopes

Atoms and Spectra

The Sun

The Family of Stars

The Formation and Structure of Stars

The Deaths of Stars

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

The Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies: Normal and Active

Modern Cosmology

The Origin of the Solar System

Earth and Moon: Bases for Comparative Planetology

Mercury, Venus, and Mars

The Outer Solar System

Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets

Astrobiology: Life on Other Worlds

Filters

refers to turning motion around a body's axis whereas _ refers to motion of a body around a point.