Question 1

The motion of the Moon across the sky in one hour,as seen against the background of stars,is approximately:

Accepted Answer

A)  its own diameter (°). 
B)  1/10°. 
C)  4°. 
D)  13°. 
A)  its own diameter (°). 
B)  1/10°. 
C)  4°. 
D)  13°.

Question 2

At what average speed does the Sun appear to move across our sky with respect to the stars in order to move through one full circle in one year?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 13° per day 
B)  about 1° per day 
C)  The Sun never appears to move with respect to the stars in the sky. 
D)  about 24° per day, or very close to 1° per hour 
A)  about 13° per day 
B)  about 1° per day 
C)  The Sun never appears to move with respect to the stars in the sky. 
D)  about 24° per day, or very close to 1° per hour

Question 3

At approximately what time will the first quarter Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 a.m. 
B)  midnight 
C)  6 p.m. 
D)  noon 
A)  6 a.m. 
B)  midnight 
C)  6 p.m. 
D)  noon

Question 4

You measure the angle made by stars as they rise and set.As you move northward from the south pole,this angle:

Accepted Answer

A)  remains the same. 
B)  decreases from 90° to zero. 
C)  decreases from zero to 90°. 
D)  increases from zero to 90° at the equator and then decreases. 
A)  remains the same. 
B)  decreases from 90° to zero. 
C)  decreases from zero to 90°. 
D)  increases from zero to 90° at the equator and then decreases.

Question 5

Would a calendar based on sidereal day be satisfactory?

Accepted Answer

A)  No. Noon on the clock would become earlier than the high point of the Sun by 4 minutes each day until eventually it would occur in the middle of the night. 
B)  No. Noon on the clock would become later than the high point of the Sun by 4 minutes each day until eventually it would occur in the middle of the night. 
C)  No. The seasons would be reversed. 
D)  Yes, but we would have to add an extra day every year. 
A)  No. Noon on the clock would become earlier than the high point of the Sun by 4 minutes each day until eventually it would occur in the middle of the night. 
B)  No. Noon on the clock would become later than the high point of the Sun by 4 minutes each day until eventually it would occur in the middle of the night. 
C)  No. The seasons would be reversed. 
D)  Yes, but we would have to add an extra day every year.

Question 6

A lunar eclipse can occur ONLY when:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun. 
B)  the Moon comes between Earth and the Sun. 
C)  the Sun, the Moon, and Earth form a right-angle triangle. 
D)  the Sun comes between the Moon and Earth. 
A)  Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun. 
B)  the Moon comes between Earth and the Sun. 
C)  the Sun, the Moon, and Earth form a right-angle triangle. 
D)  the Sun comes between the Moon and Earth.

Question 7

1.61 miles is equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  1.0 kilometers. 
B)  1610 meters. 
C)  between 2 and 3 kilometers. 
D)  between 4 and 5 kilometers. 
A)  1.0 kilometers. 
B)  1610 meters. 
C)  between 2 and 3 kilometers. 
D)  between 4 and 5 kilometers.

Question 8

The mean distance of Saturn from the Sun,1,427,000,000 km,can be written in shorthand notation as:

Accepted Answer

A)  1.427 × 10⁶ km. 
B)  0.1427 × 10⁹ km. 
C)  1.427 × 10⁷ km. 
D)  1.427 × 10⁹ km. 
A)  1.427 × 10⁶ km. 
B)  0.1427 × 10⁹ km. 
C)  1.427 × 10⁷ km. 
D)  1.427 × 10⁹ km.

Question 9

A particular star is seen to cross the horizon at 10:00 p.m.(22:00 hours)on a particular night.When would this star cross the horizon on the next night,from the same location?

Accepted Answer

A)  This star will not rise the next night and will be seen again only after one year. 
B)  10:04 p.m. 
C)  10:00 p.m. 
D)  9:56 p.m. 
A)  This star will not rise the next night and will be seen again only after one year. 
B)  10:04 p.m. 
C)  10:00 p.m. 
D)  9:56 p.m.

Question 10

When in total lunar eclipse,the Moon shows a reddish color because:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Moon is illuminated only by the residual glow from the dark side of Earth, which is predominantly red. 
B)  only the red part of the solar spectrum is deflected onto it by Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  the red light is the residual thermal glow from a still-warm Moon, after the abrupt removal of the heat of the Sun. 
D)  light from the northern and southern lights (the aurorae) on Earth, which are predominantly red, illuminates the Moon. 
A)  the Moon is illuminated only by the residual glow from the dark side of Earth, which is predominantly red. 
B)  only the red part of the solar spectrum is deflected onto it by Earth's atmosphere. 
C)  the red light is the residual thermal glow from a still-warm Moon, after the abrupt removal of the heat of the Sun. 
D)  light from the northern and southern lights (the aurorae) on Earth, which are predominantly red, illuminates the Moon.

The motion of the Moon across the sky in one hour,as seen against the background of stars,is approximately:

At what average speed does the Sun appear to move across our sky with respect to the stars in order to move through one full circle in one year?

At approximately what time will the first quarter Moon rise?

You measure the angle made by stars as they rise and set.As you move northward from the south pole,this angle:

Would a calendar based on sidereal day be satisfactory?

A lunar eclipse can occur ONLY when:

1.61 miles is equal to:

The mean distance of Saturn from the Sun,1,427,000,000 km,can be written in shorthand notation as:

A particular star is seen to cross the horizon at 10:00 p.m.(22:00 hours)on a particular night.When would this star cross the horizon on the next night,from the same location?

When in total lunar eclipse,the Moon shows a reddish color because:

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

The motion of the Moon across the sky in one hour,as seen against the background of stars,is approximately:

At what average speed does the Sun appear to move across our sky with respect to the stars in order to move through one full circle in one year?

At approximately what time will the first quarter Moon rise?

You measure the angle made by stars as they rise and set.As you move northward from the south pole,this angle:

Would a calendar based on sidereal day be satisfactory?

A lunar eclipse can occur ONLY when:

1.61 miles is equal to:

The mean distance of Saturn from the Sun,1,427,000,000 km,can be written in shorthand notation as:

A particular star is seen to cross the horizon at 10:00 p.m.(22:00 hours)on a particular night.When would this star cross the horizon on the next night,from the same location?

When in total lunar eclipse,the Moon shows a reddish color because:

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