Question 1

The MOST easily observed motions in the night sky are produced by the:

Accepted Answer

A)  rotation of Earth on its axis. 
B)  revolution of Earth around the Sun. 
C)  motion of the planets along their orbits around the Sun. 
D)  motion of stars with respect to each other in the sky. 
A)  rotation of Earth on its axis. 
B)  revolution of Earth around the Sun. 
C)  motion of the planets along their orbits around the Sun. 
D)  motion of stars with respect to each other in the sky.

Question 2

The brightest star in the night sky is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Polaris. 
B)  Betelgeuse. 
C)  Rigel. 
D)  Sirius. 
A)  Polaris. 
B)  Betelgeuse. 
C)  Rigel. 
D)  Sirius.

Question 3

Ten centimeters is NOT equal to:

Accepted Answer

A)  6.21 × 10-⁴ miles. 
B)  0.10 meters. 
C)  0.109 yards. 
D)  3.94 inches. 
A)  6.21 × 10-⁴ miles. 
B)  0.10 meters. 
C)  0.109 yards. 
D)  3.94 inches.

Question 4

If the plane of the Moon's orbit were the same as the ecliptic plane,there would be a lunar eclipse:

Accepted Answer

A)  twice per month. 
B)  twice per year. 
C)  every day. 
D)  once per month. 
A)  twice per month. 
B)  twice per year. 
C)  every day. 
D)  once per month.

Question 5

One synodic month is longer than one sidereal month by about:

Accepted Answer

A)  1 hour. 
B)  2.2 days. 
C)  4 minutes. 
D)  1 week. 
A)  1 hour. 
B)  2.2 days. 
C)  4 minutes. 
D)  1 week.

Question 6

The star grouping Leo (the lion)extends for about 30° along a region close to the celestial equator.At low latitudes to mid-latitudes,roughly how long will it take Leo to rise above the horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 hours 
B)  2 hours 
C)  30 minutes 
D)  30 seconds 
A)  6 hours 
B)  2 hours 
C)  30 minutes 
D)  30 seconds

Question 7

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line,can the Sun ever rise in the southern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the northern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, for exactly half a year 
B)  no, because the site is in the northern hemisphere 
C)  yes, but only for a few days around midsummer 
D)  yes, for most of the year because the observing site is in the northern hemisphere 
A)  yes, for exactly half a year 
B)  no, because the site is in the northern hemisphere 
C)  yes, but only for a few days around midsummer 
D)  yes, for most of the year because the observing site is in the northern hemisphere

Question 8

In winter,clocks in New York (maintaining civil time,or mean solar time)compared with those in California will be:

Accepted Answer

A)  2 hours ahead. 
B)  3 hours behind. 
C)  the same. 
D)  3 hours ahead. 
A)  2 hours ahead. 
B)  3 hours behind. 
C)  the same. 
D)  3 hours ahead.

Question 9

Earth's shadow at a distance of the Moon's orbit from Earth is:

Accepted Answer

A)  considerably wider than the Moon. 
B)  slightly less wide than the Moon. 
C)  almost exactly as wide as the Moon. 
D)  extremely small, leaving only a narrow shadow band on the Moon during eclipse. 
A)  considerably wider than the Moon. 
B)  slightly less wide than the Moon. 
C)  almost exactly as wide as the Moon. 
D)  extremely small, leaving only a narrow shadow band on the Moon during eclipse.

Question 10

If the Sun passes directly over your head on at least one day per year,then you:

Accepted Answer

A)  are within 66° of the equator. 
B)  are somewhere within 23° of the equator. 
C)  could be anywhere because this event occurs at least once per year at any location on Earth. 
D)  must be exactly on the equator. 
A)  are within 66° of the equator. 
B)  are somewhere within 23° of the equator. 
C)  could be anywhere because this event occurs at least once per year at any location on Earth. 
D)  must be exactly on the equator.

Question 11

What is the approximate inclination of the Moon's orbit to the ecliptic plane?

Accepted Answer

A)  23.5° 
B)  17° 
C)  0° 
D)  5° 
A)  23.5° 
B)  17° 
C)  0° 
D)  5°

Question 12

The declination of a star in the sky is defined as the angle between the:

Accepted Answer

A)  position of the center of the Galaxy and the star, measured along the galactic plane. 
B)  celestial equator and the star, measured along a great circle passing through both celestial poles. 
C)  Sun and the star, measured along the ecliptic plane. 
D)  great circle passing through the star and both celestial poles and the equivalent great circle through the vernal equinox, measured along the celestial equator. 
A)  position of the center of the Galaxy and the star, measured along the galactic plane. 
B)  celestial equator and the star, measured along a great circle passing through both celestial poles. 
C)  Sun and the star, measured along the ecliptic plane. 
D)  great circle passing through the star and both celestial poles and the equivalent great circle through the vernal equinox, measured along the celestial equator.

Question 13

The Sun pulls DOWNWARD on the bulge at Earth's equator:

Accepted Answer

A)  during the northern hemisphere's summer. 
B)  during the southern hemisphere's summer. 
C)  at vernal equinox. 
D)  at autumnal equinox. 
A)  during the northern hemisphere's summer. 
B)  during the southern hemisphere's summer. 
C)  at vernal equinox. 
D)  at autumnal equinox.

Question 14

Which of the following years were leap years according to the calendar then in use: 1000,1492,1600,and 1776?

Accepted Answer

A)  only 1600 
B)  1492 and 1776 
C)  all except 1600 
D)  all of them 
A)  only 1600 
B)  1492 and 1776 
C)  all except 1600 
D)  all of them

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A)  remains the same. 
B)  decreases from 90° to zero. 
C)  increases from zero to 90°. 
D)  first increases until you get to middle latitudes and then decreases again. 
A)  remains the same. 
B)  decreases from 90° to zero. 
C)  increases from zero to 90°. 
D)  first increases until you get to middle latitudes and then decreases again.

Question 16

Which of the following astronomical entities is LARGEST is size?

Accepted Answer

A)  a typical star 
B)  a typical black hole 
C)  the Milky Way Galaxy 
D)  a supercluster 
A)  a typical star 
B)  a typical black hole 
C)  the Milky Way Galaxy 
D)  a supercluster

Question 17

The mass of the electron,0.000,000,000,091 kg,can be written in shorthand notation as:

Accepted Answer

A)  0.91 × 10-¹¹ kg. 
B)  9.1 × 10-¹² kg. 
C)  9.1 × 10-¹¹ kg. 
D)  9.1 × 10-¹⁰ kg. 
A)  0.91 × 10-¹¹ kg. 
B)  9.1 × 10-¹² kg. 
C)  9.1 × 10-¹¹ kg. 
D)  9.1 × 10-¹⁰ kg.

Question 18

The appearance of the new Moon is:

Accepted Answer

A)  always totally dark because only the back side, not visible from Earth, is illuminated. 
B)  usually faintly illuminated by light that refracts through the Moon's atmosphere to the side facing Earth. 
C)  often a thin crescent because the 5° tilt of the Moon's orbit allows us to see a bit of the illuminated side. 
D)  normally an annulus because the Moon is not quite large enough to cover the Sun. 
A)  always totally dark because only the back side, not visible from Earth, is illuminated. 
B)  usually faintly illuminated by light that refracts through the Moon's atmosphere to the side facing Earth. 
C)  often a thin crescent because the 5° tilt of the Moon's orbit allows us to see a bit of the illuminated side. 
D)  normally an annulus because the Moon is not quite large enough to cover the Sun.

Question 19

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line,can the Sun ever rise in the northern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the southern hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, for exactly half a year 
B)  no, because the site is in the southern hemisphere 
C)  yes, but only for a few days around midsummer 
D)  yes, for most of the year because the observing site is in the southern hemisphere 
A)  yes, for exactly half a year 
B)  no, because the site is in the southern hemisphere 
C)  yes, but only for a few days around midsummer 
D)  yes, for most of the year because the observing site is in the southern hemisphere

Question 20

An observer can see a total solar eclipse from within a narrow band along Earth's surface.This band:

Accepted Answer

A)  is always along the equator. 
B)  is always parallel to the equator. 
C)  always crosses the equator at a right angle. 
D)  can begin almost anywhere on Earth's surface. 
A)  is always along the equator. 
B)  is always parallel to the equator. 
C)  always crosses the equator at a right angle. 
D)  can begin almost anywhere on Earth's surface.

The MOST easily observed motions in the night sky are produced by the:

The brightest star in the night sky is:

Ten centimeters is NOT equal to:

If the plane of the Moon's orbit were the same as the ecliptic plane,there would be a lunar eclipse:

One synodic month is longer than one sidereal month by about:

The star grouping Leo (the lion)extends for about 30° along a region close to the celestial equator.At low latitudes to mid-latitudes,roughly how long will it take Leo to rise above the horizon?

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line,can the Sun ever rise in the southern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the northern hemisphere?

In winter,clocks in New York (maintaining civil time,or mean solar time)compared with those in California will be:

Earth's shadow at a distance of the Moon's orbit from Earth is:

If the Sun passes directly over your head on at least one day per year,then you:

What is the approximate inclination of the Moon's orbit to the ecliptic plane?

The declination of a star in the sky is defined as the angle between the:

The Sun pulls DOWNWARD on the bulge at Earth's equator:

Which of the following years were leap years according to the calendar then in use: 1000,1492,1600,and 1776?

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

Which of the following astronomical entities is LARGEST is size?

The mass of the electron,0.000,000,000,091 kg,can be written in shorthand notation as:

The appearance of the new Moon is:

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line,can the Sun ever rise in the northern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the southern hemisphere?

An observer can see a total solar eclipse from within a narrow band along Earth's surface.This band:

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 MOST easily observed motions in the night sky are produced by the:

The brightest star in the night sky is:

Ten centimeters is NOT equal to:

If the plane of the Moon's orbit were the same as the ecliptic plane,there would be a lunar eclipse:

One synodic month is longer than one sidereal month by about:

The star grouping Leo (the lion)extends for about 30° along a region close to the celestial equator.At low latitudes to mid-latitudes,roughly how long will it take Leo to rise above the horizon?

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line,can the Sun ever rise in the southern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the northern hemisphere?

In winter,clocks in New York (maintaining civil time,or mean solar time)compared with those in California will be:

Earth's shadow at a distance of the Moon's orbit from Earth is:

If the Sun passes directly over your head on at least one day per year,then you:

What is the approximate inclination of the Moon's orbit to the ecliptic plane?

The declination of a star in the sky is defined as the angle between the:

The Sun pulls DOWNWARD on the bulge at Earth's equator:

Which of the following years were leap years according to the calendar then in use: 1000,1492,1600,and 1776?

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

Which of the following astronomical entities is LARGEST is size?

The mass of the electron,0.000,000,000,091 kg,can be written in shorthand notation as:

The appearance of the new Moon is:

If the horizon is considered to be split into northern and southern parts by the east-west line,can the Sun ever rise in the northern part of the sky when viewed from a mid-latitude site in the southern hemisphere?

An observer can see a total solar eclipse from within a narrow band along Earth's surface.This band:

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