Question 1

What is the maximum length of totality for a lunar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour 47 minutes 
B)  about 2 minutes 
C)  several hours 
D)  7 minutes 
A)  1 hour 47 minutes 
B)  about 2 minutes 
C)  several hours 
D)  7 minutes

Question 2

Where would you expect to see the Sun in the sky if you were at the North Pole at the beginning of fall (about September 21)?

Accepted Answer

A)  on the horizon 
B)  at your zenith 
C)  at about 23.5° above your horizon all day 
D)  below your horizon all day 
A)  on the horizon 
B)  at your zenith 
C)  at about 23.5° above your horizon all day 
D)  below your horizon all day

Question 3

The summer triangle,a group of three bright stars in the summer sky,consists of Deneb,Altair,and:

Accepted Answer

A)  Betelgeuse. 
B)  Vega. 
C)  Pollux. 
D)  Polaris. 
A)  Betelgeuse. 
B)  Vega. 
C)  Pollux. 
D)  Polaris.

Question 4

The reason Earth experiences seasons is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth's rotation axis is not perpendicular to the ecliptic. 
B)  Earth's rotation axis is not perpendicular to the ecliptic, and the direction in which this axis points changes with time. 
C)  Earth is closer to the Sun during part of the year. 
D)  the Moon pulls on Earth from a distance that varies over the year. 
A)  Earth's rotation axis is not perpendicular to the ecliptic. 
B)  Earth's rotation axis is not perpendicular to the ecliptic, and the direction in which this axis points changes with time. 
C)  Earth is closer to the Sun during part of the year. 
D)  the Moon pulls on Earth from a distance that varies over the year.

Question 5

If you were on the Moon,which of the following bodies could occasionally appear as crescent shaped?

Accepted Answer

A)  Earth 
B)  asteroid Ceres 
C)  Mars 
D)  Jupiter 
A)  Earth 
B)  asteroid Ceres 
C)  Mars 
D)  Jupiter

Question 6

The zero point of the celestial coordinate known as right ascension (RA)is defined to be the:

Accepted Answer

A)  intersection of the Milky Way with the celestial equator. 
B)  point where the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward in its path across the sky. 
C)  point where the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward in its path across the sky. 
D)  intersection of the celestial equator with the projection of Earth's equator on the sky. 
A)  intersection of the Milky Way with the celestial equator. 
B)  point where the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward in its path across the sky. 
C)  point where the Sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward in its path across the sky. 
D)  intersection of the celestial equator with the projection of Earth's equator on the sky.

Question 7

A lunar eclipse is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A)  the Sun passing behind the Moon. 
B)  the Moon passing into the shadow of Earth. 
C)  the Moon passing behind the Sun. 
D)  Earth moving into the Moon's shadow. 
A)  the Sun passing behind the Moon. 
B)  the Moon passing into the shadow of Earth. 
C)  the Moon passing behind the Sun. 
D)  Earth moving into the Moon's shadow.

Question 8

Why is one phase of the Moon called "third quarter"?

Accepted Answer

A)  because three-quarters of the visible surface is illuminated 
B)  because three-quarters of the entire surface is illuminated 
C)  because the third quarter (i.e., half of the back side not visible from Earth) is illuminated 
D)  because the Moon is three-quarters of the way through its cycle, New Moon to New Moon 
A)  because three-quarters of the visible surface is illuminated 
B)  because three-quarters of the entire surface is illuminated 
C)  because the third quarter (i.e., half of the back side not visible from Earth) is illuminated 
D)  because the Moon is three-quarters of the way through its cycle, New Moon to New Moon

Question 9

Which of the following factors makes it far MORE likely that a person will have seen a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse?

Accepted Answer

A)  A total lunar eclipse can be seen by people on most of the nighttime side of Earth, whereas a specific total solar eclipse can be seen only by people within a narrow strip of Earth's surface. 
B)  Total solar eclipses occur much less frequently than total lunar eclipses. 
C)  The Moon appears brighter during a total lunar eclipse than does the Sun during a total solar eclipse. 
D)  A total lunar eclipse occurs at full Moon, when the Moon is bright and high in the sky, whereas a total solar eclipse occurs at new Moon, when the Moon is dark and low in the sky. 
A)  A total lunar eclipse can be seen by people on most of the nighttime side of Earth, whereas a specific total solar eclipse can be seen only by people within a narrow strip of Earth's surface. 
B)  Total solar eclipses occur much less frequently than total lunar eclipses. 
C)  The Moon appears brighter during a total lunar eclipse than does the Sun during a total solar eclipse. 
D)  A total lunar eclipse occurs at full Moon, when the Moon is bright and high in the sky, whereas a total solar eclipse occurs at new Moon, when the Moon is dark and low in the sky.

Question 10

1.5 × 10⁴ × 1.5 × 10-⁴ =

Accepted Answer

A)  1.5 × 10⁰, or 15 
B)  1.25 
C)  12.5 
D)  3.0 
A)  1.5 × 10⁰, or 15 
B)  1.25 
C)  12.5 
D)  3.0

Question 11

The full Moon can be on the horizon:

Accepted Answer

A)  only at sunrise or sunset. 
B)  only at midnight. 
C)  at any time, day or night. 
D)  only at midday. 
A)  only at sunrise or sunset. 
B)  only at midnight. 
C)  at any time, day or night. 
D)  only at midday.

Question 12

When the Moon is at new Moon phase,what percentage of the area of the Moon illuminated by the Sun can we see from Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  100% 
B)  about 10% 
C)  0% 
D)  50% 
A)  100% 
B)  about 10% 
C)  0% 
D)  50%

Question 13

Summertime in the northern hemisphere is when:

Accepted Answer

A)  sunlight heats the atmosphere more when passing through a longer path when the Sun is at an oblique angle. 
B)  the clearest skies occur because of climate changes, leading to greater surface heating of Earth. 
C)  Earth is closest to the Sun in its elliptical orbit. 
D)  sunlight falls more directly on this hemisphere, heating it more than average. 
A)  sunlight heats the atmosphere more when passing through a longer path when the Sun is at an oblique angle. 
B)  the clearest skies occur because of climate changes, leading to greater surface heating of Earth. 
C)  Earth is closest to the Sun in its elliptical orbit. 
D)  sunlight falls more directly on this hemisphere, heating it more than average.

Question 14

At what time of the year in the northern hemisphere will your shadow in sunlight at midday be shortest?

Accepted Answer

A)  midwinter, in early January 
B)  midsummer, about August 5 
C)  on the first day of summer, about June 21 
D)  on the first day of spring, about March 21 
A)  midwinter, in early January 
B)  midsummer, about August 5 
C)  on the first day of summer, about June 21 
D)  on the first day of spring, about March 21

Question 15

What is the maximum time of totality for any total solar eclipse observed from Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 7.5 minutes 
B)  a full 12-hour period 
C)  about 2 hours 
D)  only a few seconds 
A)  about 7.5 minutes 
B)  a full 12-hour period 
C)  about 2 hours 
D)  only a few seconds

Question 16

A total lunar eclipse is visible in principle (assuming clear skies everywhere)to:

Accepted Answer

A)  everyone in one hemisphere of Earth. 
B)  everyone on Earth. 
C)  only people in a circular area on Earth having a diameter equal to that of the Moon. 
D)  only people in a long, narrow, and very specific path, much smaller than a hemisphere. 
A)  everyone in one hemisphere of Earth. 
B)  everyone on Earth. 
C)  only people in a circular area on Earth having a diameter equal to that of the Moon. 
D)  only people in a long, narrow, and very specific path, much smaller than a hemisphere.

Question 17

There are 1000 mm in 1 m.This means that a distance of 10 mm is:

Accepted Answer

A)  1 × 10-⁴ m. 
B)  1 × 10-² m. 
C)  1 × 10-¹ m. 
D)  1 × 10-³ m. 
A)  1 × 10-⁴ m. 
B)  1 × 10-² m. 
C)  1 × 10-¹ m. 
D)  1 × 10-³ m.

Question 18

Suppose the Moon moved westward in its orbit rather than eastward.How would eclipses be affected?

Accepted Answer

A)  We would not be able to see eclipses of either type. 
B)  Solar eclipses would occur, but lunar eclipses would not. 
C)  Lunar eclipses would occur, but solar eclipses would not. 
D)  We would still see both types of eclipses, much as we do now. 
A)  We would not be able to see eclipses of either type. 
B)  Solar eclipses would occur, but lunar eclipses would not. 
C)  Lunar eclipses would occur, but solar eclipses would not. 
D)  We would still see both types of eclipses, much as we do now.

Question 19

One major difference between the Sun and the Moon in the sky is that:

Accepted Answer

A)  their motions across the sky in the course of a day are very different. 
B)  the spectrums of their light are very different. 
C)  their diameters subtend very different angles. 
D)  the Sun emits light while the Moon merely scatters and reflects it. 
A)  their motions across the sky in the course of a day are very different. 
B)  the spectrums of their light are very different. 
C)  their diameters subtend very different angles. 
D)  the Sun emits light while the Moon merely scatters and reflects it.

Question 20

A solar 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 precise right-angled 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 precise right-angled triangle. 
D)  the Sun comes between the Moon and Earth.

What is the maximum length of totality for a lunar eclipse?

Where would you expect to see the Sun in the sky if you were at the North Pole at the beginning of fall (about September 21)?

The summer triangle,a group of three bright stars in the summer sky,consists of Deneb,Altair,and:

The reason Earth experiences seasons is that:

If you were on the Moon,which of the following bodies could occasionally appear as crescent shaped?

The zero point of the celestial coordinate known as right ascension (RA)is defined to be the:

A lunar eclipse is caused by:

Why is one phase of the Moon called "third quarter"?

Which of the following factors makes it far MORE likely that a person will have seen a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse?

1.5 × 10⁴ × 1.5 × 10-⁴ =

The full Moon can be on the horizon:

When the Moon is at new Moon phase,what percentage of the area of the Moon illuminated by the Sun can we see from Earth?

Summertime in the northern hemisphere is when:

At what time of the year in the northern hemisphere will your shadow in sunlight at midday be shortest?

What is the maximum time of totality for any total solar eclipse observed from Earth's surface?

A total lunar eclipse is visible in principle (assuming clear skies everywhere)to:

There are 1000 mm in 1 m.This means that a distance of 10 mm is:

Suppose the Moon moved westward in its orbit rather than eastward.How would eclipses be affected?

One major difference between the Sun and the Moon in the sky is that:

A solar eclipse can occur ONLY when:

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

What is the maximum length of totality for a lunar eclipse?

Where would you expect to see the Sun in the sky if you were at the North Pole at the beginning of fall (about September 21)?

The summer triangle,a group of three bright stars in the summer sky,consists of Deneb,Altair,and:

The reason Earth experiences seasons is that:

If you were on the Moon,which of the following bodies could occasionally appear as crescent shaped?

The zero point of the celestial coordinate known as right ascension (RA)is defined to be the:

A lunar eclipse is caused by:

Why is one phase of the Moon called "third quarter"?

Which of the following factors makes it far MORE likely that a person will have seen a total lunar eclipse than a total solar eclipse?

1.5 × 10⁴ × 1.5 × 10-⁴ =

The full Moon can be on the horizon:

When the Moon is at new Moon phase,what percentage of the area of the Moon illuminated by the Sun can we see from Earth?

Summertime in the northern hemisphere is when:

At what time of the year in the northern hemisphere will your shadow in sunlight at midday be shortest?

What is the maximum time of totality for any total solar eclipse observed from Earth's surface?

A total lunar eclipse is visible in principle (assuming clear skies everywhere)to:

There are 1000 mm in 1 m.This means that a distance of 10 mm is:

Suppose the Moon moved westward in its orbit rather than eastward.How would eclipses be affected?

One major difference between the Sun and the Moon in the sky is that:

A solar eclipse can occur ONLY when:

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