Question 1

An observer on the equator will be able to see what fraction of the overall sky over a period of one year?

Accepted Answer

A)  50% 
B)  100% 
C)  a variable amount, depending on the person's longitude 
D)  somewhat less than 100% except in a leap year 
A)  50% 
B)  100% 
C)  a variable amount, depending on the person's longitude 
D)  somewhat less than 100% except in a leap year

Question 2

The phase of the Moon when the Sun and the Moon are separated by 6 hours of right ascension is always:

Accepted Answer

A)  full Moon. 
B)  new Moon. 
C)  crescent. 
D)  either first or third quarter. 
A)  full Moon. 
B)  new Moon. 
C)  crescent. 
D)  either first or third quarter.

Question 3

The length of time between measuring the Sun directly overhead on two consecutive days is:

Accepted Answer

A)  exactly 24 hours. 
B)  slightly different from one pair of days to the next. 
C)  four minutes longer each day. 
D)  four minutes shorter each day. 
A)  exactly 24 hours. 
B)  slightly different from one pair of days to the next. 
C)  four minutes longer each day. 
D)  four minutes shorter each day.

Question 4

One essential condition for "seasons" to occur on a planet is that the planet's:

Accepted Answer

A)  equator is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. 
B)  distance from the Sun varies. 
C)  atmosphere is thick. 
D)  axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane. 
A)  equator is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. 
B)  distance from the Sun varies. 
C)  atmosphere is thick. 
D)  axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane.

Question 5

A time zone on Earth,defined for convenience as the region over which civil time is the same at all locations,extends over what range of longitude,on average?

Accepted Answer

A)  90° 
B)  15° 
C)  1° 
D)  30° 
A)  90° 
B)  15° 
C)  1° 
D)  30°

Question 6

In astronomy,what is the difference between "revolution" and "rotation"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Revolution refers to motion of one body about another, whereas rotation refers to the motion of one body about its own axis. 
B)  Rotation refers to motion of one body about another, whereas revolution refers to the motion of one body about its own axis. 
C)  The two words have the same meaning and are used interchangeably. 
D)  Revolution refers to the motion of large objects like stars and planets, whereas rotation is reserved for smaller bodies like electrons in atoms. 
A)  Revolution refers to motion of one body about another, whereas rotation refers to the motion of one body about its own axis. 
B)  Rotation refers to motion of one body about another, whereas revolution refers to the motion of one body about its own axis. 
C)  The two words have the same meaning and are used interchangeably. 
D)  Revolution refers to the motion of large objects like stars and planets, whereas rotation is reserved for smaller bodies like electrons in atoms.

Question 7

At the time of lunar eclipse,the phase of the Moon is:

Accepted Answer

A)  full. 
B)  any phase. 
C)  new. 
D)  first quarter. 
A)  full. 
B)  any phase. 
C)  new. 
D)  first quarter.

Question 8

The phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes was first reported by:

Accepted Answer

A)  Hipparchus in the second century b.c. 
B)  Ptolemy in the second century a.d. 
C)  Newton in the seventeenth century. 
D)  Herschel in the eighteenth century. 
A)  Hipparchus in the second century b.c. 
B)  Ptolemy in the second century a.d. 
C)  Newton in the seventeenth century. 
D)  Herschel in the eighteenth century.

Question 9

The equinoxes are located at the intersections of the:

Accepted Answer

A)  horizon and the celestial equator. 
B)  ecliptic and the Moon's orbit. 
C)  ecliptic and the celestial equator. 
D)  ecliptic and the horizon. 
A)  horizon and the celestial equator. 
B)  ecliptic and the Moon's orbit. 
C)  ecliptic and the celestial equator. 
D)  ecliptic and the horizon.

Question 10

Where on Earth would you have to stand for the Sun to pass directly overhead (i.e.,pass through your zenith)at some time during the year?

Accepted Answer

A)  within the Arctic Circle 
B)  in the tropics, or within +/- 23.5° of the equator 
C)  There is no restriction because this happens at any latitude at some time during the year. 
D)  only on the equator, nowhere else 
A)  within the Arctic Circle 
B)  in the tropics, or within +/- 23.5° of the equator 
C)  There is no restriction because this happens at any latitude at some time during the year. 
D)  only on the equator, nowhere else

Question 11

The pattern of stars that is visible from one position on Earth gradually shifts from east to west across the sky over one night.This shift is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  the motion of Earth around the Sun. 
B)  the rotation of Earth about its own north-south axis. 
C)  individual motions of the stars themselves with respect to the more distant galaxies. 
D)  precession of the spin axis of Earth. 
A)  the motion of Earth around the Sun. 
B)  the rotation of Earth about its own north-south axis. 
C)  individual motions of the stars themselves with respect to the more distant galaxies. 
D)  precession of the spin axis of Earth.

Question 12

The present-day calendar,which includes leap years and century-year exclusion,was introduced by:

Accepted Answer

A)  Karl Marx in 1917. 
B)  Julius Caesar in 50 b.c. 
C)  Ptolemy in the second century b.c. 
D)  Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. 
A)  Karl Marx in 1917. 
B)  Julius Caesar in 50 b.c. 
C)  Ptolemy in the second century b.c. 
D)  Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Question 13

If we could watch the Sun moving day by day against the background stars,it would follow:

Accepted Answer

A)  the ecliptic. 
B)  no specific or fixed path because Earth's tilt axis varies through the year, although it would remain within the zodiac. 
C)  the celestial equator. 
D)  a great circle crossing the celestial equator at right angles. 
A)  the ecliptic. 
B)  no specific or fixed path because Earth's tilt axis varies through the year, although it would remain within the zodiac. 
C)  the celestial equator. 
D)  a great circle crossing the celestial equator at right angles.

Question 14

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only stars close to the ecliptic (Earth's orbital plane) are located in constellations. 
B)  Every star is located in a constellation. 
C)  Only the brighter stars are in constellations. 
D)  Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations. 
A)  Only stars close to the ecliptic (Earth's orbital plane) are located in constellations. 
B)  Every star is located in a constellation. 
C)  Only the brighter stars are in constellations. 
D)  Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations.

Question 15

Precession is the:

Accepted Answer

A)  occasional reversal in geological time of the direction of Earth's spin axis. 
B)  motion of Earth along its orbital path. 
C)  daily rotational motion of Earth. 
D)  very slow coning motion of Earth's axis of rotation. 
A)  occasional reversal in geological time of the direction of Earth's spin axis. 
B)  motion of Earth along its orbital path. 
C)  daily rotational motion of Earth. 
D)  very slow coning motion of Earth's axis of rotation.

Question 16

One-billionth divided by one-millionth is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  10-¹⁵. 
B)  10¹⁵. 
C)  10-³. 
D)  10³. 
A)  10-¹⁵. 
B)  10¹⁵. 
C)  10-³. 
D)  10³.

Question 17

What would the position and motion of the Sun be on December 21 from the South Pole?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would move completely around the sky in 24 hours while maintaining an angle of 23.5° above the horizon. 
B)  It would remain below the horizon for the whole 24 hours. 
C)  It would pass across the sky from the horizon at midnight to reach an angle of 23.5° above the horizon at midday and then return to the horizon. 
D)  It would rise in the east at 6 a.m. and set in the west at 6 p.m., reaching 47° above the horizon at midday. 
A)  It would move completely around the sky in 24 hours while maintaining an angle of 23.5° above the horizon. 
B)  It would remain below the horizon for the whole 24 hours. 
C)  It would pass across the sky from the horizon at midnight to reach an angle of 23.5° above the horizon at midday and then return to the horizon. 
D)  It would rise in the east at 6 a.m. and set in the west at 6 p.m., reaching 47° above the horizon at midday.

Question 18

(2 × 10³)³ =

Accepted Answer

A)  6 × 10⁶ 
B)  8 × 10⁶ 
C)  6 × 10⁹ 
D)  8 × 10⁹ 
A)  6 × 10⁶ 
B)  8 × 10⁶ 
C)  6 × 10⁹ 
D)  8 × 10⁹

Question 19

In view of the elliptical orbits of Earth and the Moon,which of the following conditions will result in the LONGEST period of totality during a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth is closest to the Sun when the Moon is farthest from Earth. 
B)  Earth is closest to the Sun when the Moon is closest to Earth. 
C)  Earth is farthest from the Sun when the Moon is farthest from Earth. 
D)  Earth is farthest from the Sun when the Moon is closest to Earth. 
A)  Earth is closest to the Sun when the Moon is farthest from Earth. 
B)  Earth is closest to the Sun when the Moon is closest to Earth. 
C)  Earth is farthest from the Sun when the Moon is farthest from Earth. 
D)  Earth is farthest from the Sun when the Moon is closest to Earth.

Question 20

Which of the following planets will be seen as crescent-shaped from Earth at certain times in its orbit?

Accepted Answer

A)  Mars 
B)  Uranus 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Venus 
A)  Mars 
B)  Uranus 
C)  Jupiter 
D)  Venus

An observer on the equator will be able to see what fraction of the overall sky over a period of one year?

The phase of the Moon when the Sun and the Moon are separated by 6 hours of right ascension is always:

The length of time between measuring the Sun directly overhead on two consecutive days is:

One essential condition for "seasons" to occur on a planet is that the planet's:

A time zone on Earth,defined for convenience as the region over which civil time is the same at all locations,extends over what range of longitude,on average?

In astronomy,what is the difference between "revolution" and "rotation"?

At the time of lunar eclipse,the phase of the Moon is:

The phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes was first reported by:

The equinoxes are located at the intersections of the:

Where on Earth would you have to stand for the Sun to pass directly overhead (i.e.,pass through your zenith)at some time during the year?

The pattern of stars that is visible from one position on Earth gradually shifts from east to west across the sky over one night.This shift is caused by:

The present-day calendar,which includes leap years and century-year exclusion,was introduced by:

If we could watch the Sun moving day by day against the background stars,it would follow:

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Precession is the:

One-billionth divided by one-millionth is equal to:

What would the position and motion of the Sun be on December 21 from the South Pole?

(2 × 10³)³ =

In view of the elliptical orbits of Earth and the Moon,which of the following conditions will result in the LONGEST period of totality during a total solar eclipse?

Which of the following planets will be seen as crescent-shaped from Earth at certain times in its orbit?

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

Exam 1: Discovering the Night Sky

An observer on the equator will be able to see what fraction of the overall sky over a period of one year?

The phase of the Moon when the Sun and the Moon are separated by 6 hours of right ascension is always:

The length of time between measuring the Sun directly overhead on two consecutive days is:

One essential condition for "seasons" to occur on a planet is that the planet's:

A time zone on Earth,defined for convenience as the region over which civil time is the same at all locations,extends over what range of longitude,on average?

In astronomy,what is the difference between "revolution" and "rotation"?

At the time of lunar eclipse,the phase of the Moon is:

The phenomenon of the precession of the equinoxes was first reported by:

The equinoxes are located at the intersections of the:

Where on Earth would you have to stand for the Sun to pass directly overhead (i.e.,pass through your zenith)at some time during the year?

The pattern of stars that is visible from one position on Earth gradually shifts from east to west across the sky over one night.This shift is caused by:

The present-day calendar,which includes leap years and century-year exclusion,was introduced by:

If we could watch the Sun moving day by day against the background stars,it would follow:

Which of the following statements CORRECTLY describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

Precession is the:

One-billionth divided by one-millionth is equal to:

What would the position and motion of the Sun be on December 21 from the South Pole?

(2 × 10³)³ =

In view of the elliptical orbits of Earth and the Moon,which of the following conditions will result in the LONGEST period of totality during a total solar eclipse?

Which of the following planets will be seen as crescent-shaped from Earth at certain times in its orbit?

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