Question 1

If Earth's spin axis were perpendicular to the plane of its orbit (the ecliptic),seasonal variations on Earth would:

Accepted Answer

A)  be nonexistent. 
B)  remain the same as they are at present. 
C)  have the same severity, but each season would last twice as long. 
D)  be much more severe. 
A)  be nonexistent. 
B)  remain the same as they are at present. 
C)  have the same severity, but each season would last twice as long. 
D)  be much more severe.

Question 2

How much of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the Sun at quarter phase?

Accepted Answer

A)  about one-quarter 
B)  about one-half 
C)  only about one-tenth 
D)  about three-quarters 
A)  about one-quarter 
B)  about one-half 
C)  only about one-tenth 
D)  about three-quarters

Question 3

The accurate prediction of the time and position of a total solar eclipse is:

Accepted Answer

A)  difficult because of the varying distances of Earth from the Sun and the Moon from Earth in their elliptical orbits. 
B)  not easy because of inaccurate knowledge of the rotation of Earth on its axis and of the revolution of Earth in its orbit. 
C)  difficult because the Moon's motion is unpredictable since it is affected in a major way by the tidal ebb and flow of water on Earth. 
D)  relatively easy since the motions of Earth and the Moon in space are predictable and accurately known. 
A)  difficult because of the varying distances of Earth from the Sun and the Moon from Earth in their elliptical orbits. 
B)  not easy because of inaccurate knowledge of the rotation of Earth on its axis and of the revolution of Earth in its orbit. 
C)  difficult because the Moon's motion is unpredictable since it is affected in a major way by the tidal ebb and flow of water on Earth. 
D)  relatively easy since the motions of Earth and the Moon in space are predictable and accurately known.

Question 4

How would the Sun appear to move in the sky if you were at the South Pole on a midsummer day?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would appear halfway above the horizon and maintain this position for a full 24 hours. 
B)  It would appear to move parallel to the horizon at an elevation angle of about 23.5° for a full 24 hours. 
C)  It would appear never to reach above the horizon-the South Pole is always in darkness. 
D)  It would appear rise in the east, reach an elevation angle of about 23.5° at midday, and set in the west 12 hours later. 
A)  It would appear halfway above the horizon and maintain this position for a full 24 hours. 
B)  It would appear to move parallel to the horizon at an elevation angle of about 23.5° for a full 24 hours. 
C)  It would appear never to reach above the horizon-the South Pole is always in darkness. 
D)  It would appear rise in the east, reach an elevation angle of about 23.5° at midday, and set in the west 12 hours later.

Question 5

0.034 meter is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  3.4 millimeters. 
B)  0.34 millimeters. 
C)  340 millimeters. 
D)  34 millimeters. 
A)  3.4 millimeters. 
B)  0.34 millimeters. 
C)  340 millimeters. 
D)  34 millimeters.

Question 6

If you were on the Moon at the dividing line between dark and light (the terminator)at a particular time,say,sunrise,how long would it be before the dividing line returned to your position?

Accepted Answer

A)  29 days 
B)  23 hours 56 minutes 
C)  365 days 
D)  27.3 days 
A)  29 days 
B)  23 hours 56 minutes 
C)  365 days 
D)  27.3 days

Question 7

The Arctic Circle,above which the Sun can be seen for a full 24 hours on at least one day of the year,is a line around Earth at what latitude?

Accepted Answer

A)  66.5° S 
B)  variable, averaging 66.5° 
C)  23.5° N 
D)  66.5° N 
A)  66.5° S 
B)  variable, averaging 66.5° 
C)  23.5° N 
D)  66.5° N

Question 8

(3 × 10⁴)⁴ =

Accepted Answer

A)  8.1 × 10¹⁷ 
B)  12 × 10¹⁶, or 1.2 × 10¹⁷ 
C)  9 × 10¹⁶ 
D)  8.1 × 10¹⁶ 
A)  8.1 × 10¹⁷ 
B)  12 × 10¹⁶, or 1.2 × 10¹⁷ 
C)  9 × 10¹⁶ 
D)  8.1 × 10¹⁶

Question 9

Which of the following directions does NOT always remain fixed in place relative to an observer's horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  one of the points where the celestial equator contacts the horizon 
B)  the summer solstice 
C)  the zenith 
D)  the north celestial pole 
A)  one of the points where the celestial equator contacts the horizon 
B)  the summer solstice 
C)  the zenith 
D)  the north celestial pole

Question 10

From Earth's North Pole:

Accepted Answer

A)  the whole of the celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year. 
B)  only stars that are within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen. 
C)  only half the celestial sphere can be seen on any clear night. 
D)  only stars that are 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen. 
A)  the whole of the celestial sphere is visible at some time during the year. 
B)  only stars that are within 66.5° of the north celestial pole can be seen. 
C)  only half the celestial sphere can be seen on any clear night. 
D)  only stars that are 23.5° above the celestial equator can be seen.

Question 11

The difference in longitude between Boston and San Francisco is approximately 52°.They are three time zones apart,so standard clocks differ by three hours.Without the time zones,what would be the difference between traditional (or astronomical)noon (when the Sun is highest in the sky)at these two places?

Accepted Answer

A)  2.5 hours 
B)  3 hours 
C)  3.5 hours 
D)  4 hours 
A)  2.5 hours 
B)  3 hours 
C)  3.5 hours 
D)  4 hours

Question 12

Because of the tilt of Earth's spin axis to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane),sunrise in the winter months in the mid-latitude northern hemisphere occurs in which direction in the observer's sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  southeast 
B)  northeast 
C)  The Sun always rises due west. 
D)  southwest 
A)  southeast 
B)  northeast 
C)  The Sun always rises due west. 
D)  southwest

Question 13

The apparent annual path of the Sun on the celestial sphere is called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  celestial equator. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  Tropic of Capricorn. 
D)  solar orbit. 
A)  celestial equator. 
B)  ecliptic. 
C)  Tropic of Capricorn. 
D)  solar orbit.

Question 14

The Sun's apparent speed across the sky:

Accepted Answer

A)  remains constant throughout the year. 
B)  changes slightly throughout the year, but only because of Earth's tilt on its axis. 
C)  changes slightly throughout the year, but only because Earth's orbit is not perfectly round. 
D)  changes slightly throughout the year, both because of Earth's tilt and because Earth's orbit is not perfectly round. 
A)  remains constant throughout the year. 
B)  changes slightly throughout the year, but only because of Earth's tilt on its axis. 
C)  changes slightly throughout the year, but only because Earth's orbit is not perfectly round. 
D)  changes slightly throughout the year, both because of Earth's tilt and because Earth's orbit is not perfectly round.

Question 15

The right ascension of a star is one coordinate of its position,measured along the:

Accepted Answer

A)  observer's meridian. 
B)  celestial equator. 
C)  observer's horizon. 
D)  ecliptic. 
A)  observer's meridian. 
B)  celestial equator. 
C)  observer's horizon. 
D)  ecliptic.

Question 16

As an observer moves toward increasing latitude,the number of circumpolar stars:

Accepted Answer

A)  increases if the location of the observer is east of the Greenwich Meridian but decreases if the location is west of this meridian. 
B)  remains approximately constant. 
C)  decreases. 
D)  increases. 
A)  increases if the location of the observer is east of the Greenwich Meridian but decreases if the location is west of this meridian. 
B)  remains approximately constant. 
C)  decreases. 
D)  increases.

Question 17

10² × 10⁵ =

Accepted Answer

A)  1,000,000 
B)  1,000,000,000 
C)  10,000,000 
D)  10,000 
A)  1,000,000 
B)  1,000,000,000 
C)  10,000,000 
D)  10,000

Question 18

The city of Bristol in England is located to the west of and in the same time zone as London.Astronomical noon in Bristol,when the Sun is highest in the sky,compared with astronomical noon in London occurs:

Accepted Answer

A)  at exactly the same time by definition because both cities are in the same time zone. 
B)  later in time in winter but earlier in time in summer. 
C)  earlier in time. 
D)  later in time. 
A)  at exactly the same time by definition because both cities are in the same time zone. 
B)  later in time in winter but earlier in time in summer. 
C)  earlier in time. 
D)  later in time.

Question 19

On a particular day,the Sun is at the vernal equinox and the Moon is at the autumnal equinox.The lunar phase on this particular day is:

Accepted Answer

A)  full. 
B)  new. 
C)  quarter. 
D)  not predictable from this information. 
A)  full. 
B)  new. 
C)  quarter. 
D)  not predictable from this information.

Question 20

At approximately what time does the new Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  sunset 
B)  close to sunrise 
C)  midday 
D)  midnight 
A)  sunset 
B)  close to sunrise 
C)  midday 
D)  midnight

If Earth's spin axis were perpendicular to the plane of its orbit (the ecliptic),seasonal variations on Earth would:

How much of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the Sun at quarter phase?

The accurate prediction of the time and position of a total solar eclipse is:

How would the Sun appear to move in the sky if you were at the South Pole on a midsummer day?

0.034 meter is equal to:

If you were on the Moon at the dividing line between dark and light (the terminator)at a particular time,say,sunrise,how long would it be before the dividing line returned to your position?

The Arctic Circle,above which the Sun can be seen for a full 24 hours on at least one day of the year,is a line around Earth at what latitude?

(3 × 10⁴)⁴ =

Which of the following directions does NOT always remain fixed in place relative to an observer's horizon?

From Earth's North Pole:

Because of the tilt of Earth's spin axis to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane),sunrise in the winter months in the mid-latitude northern hemisphere occurs in which direction in the observer's sky?

The apparent annual path of the Sun on the celestial sphere is called the:

The Sun's apparent speed across the sky:

The right ascension of a star is one coordinate of its position,measured along the:

As an observer moves toward increasing latitude,the number of circumpolar stars:

10² × 10⁵ =

The city of Bristol in England is located to the west of and in the same time zone as London.Astronomical noon in Bristol,when the Sun is highest in the sky,compared with astronomical noon in London occurs:

On a particular day,the Sun is at the vernal equinox and the Moon is at the autumnal equinox.The lunar phase on this particular day is:

At approximately what time does the new Moon rise?

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

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Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

If Earth's spin axis were perpendicular to the plane of its orbit (the ecliptic),seasonal variations on Earth would:

How much of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the Sun at quarter phase?

The accurate prediction of the time and position of a total solar eclipse is:

How would the Sun appear to move in the sky if you were at the South Pole on a midsummer day?

0.034 meter is equal to:

If you were on the Moon at the dividing line between dark and light (the terminator)at a particular time,say,sunrise,how long would it be before the dividing line returned to your position?

The Arctic Circle,above which the Sun can be seen for a full 24 hours on at least one day of the year,is a line around Earth at what latitude?

(3 × 10⁴)⁴ =

Which of the following directions does NOT always remain fixed in place relative to an observer's horizon?

From Earth's North Pole:

Because of the tilt of Earth's spin axis to the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic plane),sunrise in the winter months in the mid-latitude northern hemisphere occurs in which direction in the observer's sky?

The apparent annual path of the Sun on the celestial sphere is called the:

The Sun's apparent speed across the sky:

The right ascension of a star is one coordinate of its position,measured along the:

As an observer moves toward increasing latitude,the number of circumpolar stars:

10² × 10⁵ =

The city of Bristol in England is located to the west of and in the same time zone as London.Astronomical noon in Bristol,when the Sun is highest in the sky,compared with astronomical noon in London occurs:

On a particular day,the Sun is at the vernal equinox and the Moon is at the autumnal equinox.The lunar phase on this particular day is:

At approximately what time does the new Moon rise?

Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets

Light and Telescopes

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Exoplanets

The Terrestrial Planets and Their Moons

The Outer Planets and Their Moons

Vagabonds of the Solar System

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Characterizing Stars

The Lives of the Stars From Birth Through Middle Age

The Deaths and Remnants of Stars

The Galaxies

Cosmology

Astrobiology

Filters