Question 1

If we could see background stars in the daytime,the Sun would:

Accepted Answer

A)  appear to move eastward against them at a rate of 15° per day. 
B)  appear to move westward against them at a rate of 1° per day. 
C)  remain stationary against them. 
D)  appear to move eastward against them at a rate of 1° per day. 
A)  appear to move eastward against them at a rate of 15° per day. 
B)  appear to move westward against them at a rate of 1° per day. 
C)  remain stationary against them. 
D)  appear to move eastward against them at a rate of 1° per day.

Question 2

The difference between an umbral eclipse and a penumbral eclipse is:

Accepted Answer

A)  entirely dependent on your viewing position on Earth. 
B)  whether the Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is or whether it is closer to the Sun than Earth is. 
C)  the distance of the Moon above or below the ecliptic. 
D)  whether Earth's rotation axis is tilted toward or away from the Moon during the eclipse. 
A)  entirely dependent on your viewing position on Earth. 
B)  whether the Moon is farther from the Sun than Earth is or whether it is closer to the Sun than Earth is. 
C)  the distance of the Moon above or below the ecliptic. 
D)  whether Earth's rotation axis is tilted toward or away from the Moon during the eclipse.

Question 3

At approximately what time does the crescent Moon just after new Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

If you were standing on the equator,which of the following positions in the sky would pass through your zenith at some time in one 24-hour period?

Accepted Answer

A)  the north celestial pole, which is the perpendicular to the celestial equator 
B)  the position of the Sun at summer solstice 
C)  the vernal equinox, or 0 hours right ascension, 0° declination 
D)  the ecliptic pole, or perpendicular to the ecliptic plane 
A)  the north celestial pole, which is the perpendicular to the celestial equator 
B)  the position of the Sun at summer solstice 
C)  the vernal equinox, or 0 hours right ascension, 0° declination 
D)  the ecliptic pole, or perpendicular to the ecliptic plane

Question 5

The Sun rises due east in the sky when viewed from any site on Earth's equator:

Accepted Answer

A)  at midsummer and midwinter. 
B)  every day of the year. 
C)  on the first day of summer and the first day of winter. 
D)  only on the first day of spring and the first day of fall. 
A)  at midsummer and midwinter. 
B)  every day of the year. 
C)  on the first day of summer and the first day of winter. 
D)  only on the first day of spring and the first day of fall.

Question 6

If you follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper,the first moderately bright star you come to is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Polaris, the North Star. 
B)  Spica, in Virgo. 
C)  Arcturus, in Boötes. 
D)  Vega, in Lyra. 
A)  Polaris, the North Star. 
B)  Spica, in Virgo. 
C)  Arcturus, in Boötes. 
D)  Vega, in Lyra.

Question 7

Leap-year corrections in the calendar are necessary to account for the:

Accepted Answer

A)  fact that the actual rotation time of Earth with respect to the stars is not exactly 24 hours. 
B)  wobble of Earth's axis. 
C)  slow drift in the direction of Earth's spin axis. 
D)  fact that one year is not exactly 365 days. 
A)  fact that the actual rotation time of Earth with respect to the stars is not exactly 24 hours. 
B)  wobble of Earth's axis. 
C)  slow drift in the direction of Earth's spin axis. 
D)  fact that one year is not exactly 365 days.

Question 8

The celestial coordinate system of declination and right ascension:

Accepted Answer

A)  can be used to assign coordinates to any direction in the sky. 
B)  is an extension of the latitude-longitude system used on Earth. The celestial equator is an extension of Earth's equator, and the location for the zero of right ascension is an extension of the Prime Meridian through Greenwich, England. 
C)  rotates along with Earth. 
D)  is centered at the Sun rather than at Earth. 
A)  can be used to assign coordinates to any direction in the sky. 
B)  is an extension of the latitude-longitude system used on Earth. The celestial equator is an extension of Earth's equator, and the location for the zero of right ascension is an extension of the Prime Meridian through Greenwich, England. 
C)  rotates along with Earth. 
D)  is centered at the Sun rather than at Earth.

Question 9

At the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere,the Sun is:

Accepted Answer

A)  at its highest angle in the sky for the whole year. 
B)  at midday at its lowest angle above the southern horizon for the whole year. 
C)  on the celestial equator. 
D)  nearest Earth. 
A)  at its highest angle in the sky for the whole year. 
B)  at midday at its lowest angle above the southern horizon for the whole year. 
C)  on the celestial equator. 
D)  nearest Earth.

Question 10

Eclipses of the Moon can occur:

Accepted Answer

A)  twice per month. 
B)  only once per year. 
C)  once every month. 
D)  only during two specific periods in any year. 
A)  twice per month. 
B)  only once per year. 
C)  once every month. 
D)  only during two specific periods in any year.

Question 11

The celestial equator and the ecliptic:

Accepted Answer

A)  are parallel paths across the sky and thus never intersect. 
B)  intersect at two points because they are perpendicular to each other. 
C)  intersect because they are inclined at an angle of 23.5° to each other. 
D)  lie on top of each other because they are on the same path across the sky. 
A)  are parallel paths across the sky and thus never intersect. 
B)  intersect at two points because they are perpendicular to each other. 
C)  intersect because they are inclined at an angle of 23.5° to each other. 
D)  lie on top of each other because they are on the same path across the sky.

Question 12

What is the MAJOR factor that governs whether a solar eclipse is total rather than annular when viewed from the center of the eclipse path on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  altitude of the observing site, because observers on a mountaintop are closer to the Moon, which affects the eclipse geometry 
B)  Earth-Moon distance 
C)  Earth-Sun distance 
D)  phase of the Moon with total eclipses occurring at new Moon and annular eclipses occurring at quarter Moon 
A)  altitude of the observing site, because observers on a mountaintop are closer to the Moon, which affects the eclipse geometry 
B)  Earth-Moon distance 
C)  Earth-Sun distance 
D)  phase of the Moon with total eclipses occurring at new Moon and annular eclipses occurring at quarter Moon

Question 13

The Moon's path across the sky:

Accepted Answer

A)  is confined to regions north of the celestial equator. 
B)  is always along the ecliptic plane, by definition. 
C)  can be anywhere in the sky. 
D)  is confined to the zodiac, which is a band of sky extending on both sides of the ecliptic. 
A)  is confined to regions north of the celestial equator. 
B)  is always along the ecliptic plane, by definition. 
C)  can be anywhere in the sky. 
D)  is confined to the zodiac, which is a band of sky extending on both sides of the ecliptic.

Question 14

A comet that is moving southward from the north celestial pole toward the equator can be described as having its:

Accepted Answer

A)  declination decrease with time. 
B)  right ascension decrease with time. 
C)  right ascension increase with time. 
D)  declination increase with time. 
A)  declination decrease with time. 
B)  right ascension decrease with time. 
C)  right ascension increase with time. 
D)  declination increase with time.

Question 15

Why do the precise astronomical coordinates of right ascension and declination of a star change systematically night by night?

Accepted Answer

A)  because of precession of Earth's spin axis 
B)  because of the bending of light by Earth's atmosphere 
C)  They do not change because they are fixed positions on a star chart. 
D)  because of the motion of Earth in its orbit around the Sun 
A)  because of precession of Earth's spin axis 
B)  because of the bending of light by Earth's atmosphere 
C)  They do not change because they are fixed positions on a star chart. 
D)  because of the motion of Earth in its orbit around the Sun

Question 16

The Sun appears to be about 0.5° in diameter.On the equator,approximately how long does it take for the Sun to set,from first contact with the horizon to complete disappearance below the horizon?

Accepted Answer

A)  2 seconds 
B)  about 1 hour 
C)  4 minutes 
D)  2 minutes 
A)  2 seconds 
B)  about 1 hour 
C)  4 minutes 
D)  2 minutes

Question 17

What was the approximate value of right ascension of the Sun this year on December 21?

Accepted Answer

A)  6 hours 0 minutes 
B)  0 hours 0 minutes 
C)  18 hours 0 minutes 
D)  12 hours 0 minutes 
A)  6 hours 0 minutes 
B)  0 hours 0 minutes 
C)  18 hours 0 minutes 
D)  12 hours 0 minutes

Question 18

The lowest amount of solar energy per square meter is incident on the surface of Earth in the northern hemisphere on or about:

Accepted Answer

A)  December 21, the beginning of winter. 
B)  March 21, the end of winter. 
C)  September 21, the beginning of fall or autumn. 
D)  January 5, midwinter. 
A)  December 21, the beginning of winter. 
B)  March 21, the end of winter. 
C)  September 21, the beginning of fall or autumn. 
D)  January 5, midwinter.

Question 19

10⁴ × 10⁸ =

Accepted Answer

A)  10⁴ 
B)  10¹² 
C)  10¹⁴ 
D)  10³² 
A)  10⁴ 
B)  10¹² 
C)  10¹⁴ 
D)  10³²

Question 20

Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence of appearances of Moon phases in the sky?

Accepted Answer

A)  waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon 
B)  new Moon, full Moon, waxing crescent, waning crescent 
C)  full Moon, waxing gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent 
D)  new Moon, waning crescent, first quarter, full Moon 
A)  waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon 
B)  new Moon, full Moon, waxing crescent, waning crescent 
C)  full Moon, waxing gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent 
D)  new Moon, waning crescent, first quarter, full Moon

If we could see background stars in the daytime,the Sun would:

The difference between an umbral eclipse and a penumbral eclipse is:

At approximately what time does the crescent Moon just after new Moon rise?

If you were standing on the equator,which of the following positions in the sky would pass through your zenith at some time in one 24-hour period?

The Sun rises due east in the sky when viewed from any site on Earth's equator:

If you follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper,the first moderately bright star you come to is:

Leap-year corrections in the calendar are necessary to account for the:

The celestial coordinate system of declination and right ascension:

At the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere,the Sun is:

Eclipses of the Moon can occur:

The celestial equator and the ecliptic:

What is the MAJOR factor that governs whether a solar eclipse is total rather than annular when viewed from the center of the eclipse path on Earth?

The Moon's path across the sky:

A comet that is moving southward from the north celestial pole toward the equator can be described as having its:

Why do the precise astronomical coordinates of right ascension and declination of a star change systematically night by night?

The Sun appears to be about 0.5° in diameter.On the equator,approximately how long does it take for the Sun to set,from first contact with the horizon to complete disappearance below the horizon?

What was the approximate value of right ascension of the Sun this year on December 21?

The lowest amount of solar energy per square meter is incident on the surface of Earth in the northern hemisphere on or about:

10⁴ × 10⁸ =

Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence of appearances of Moon phases in the sky?

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

If we could see background stars in the daytime,the Sun would:

The difference between an umbral eclipse and a penumbral eclipse is:

At approximately what time does the crescent Moon just after new Moon rise?

If you were standing on the equator,which of the following positions in the sky would pass through your zenith at some time in one 24-hour period?

The Sun rises due east in the sky when viewed from any site on Earth's equator:

If you follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper,the first moderately bright star you come to is:

Leap-year corrections in the calendar are necessary to account for the:

The celestial coordinate system of declination and right ascension:

At the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere,the Sun is:

Eclipses of the Moon can occur:

The celestial equator and the ecliptic:

What is the MAJOR factor that governs whether a solar eclipse is total rather than annular when viewed from the center of the eclipse path on Earth?

The Moon's path across the sky:

A comet that is moving southward from the north celestial pole toward the equator can be described as having its:

Why do the precise astronomical coordinates of right ascension and declination of a star change systematically night by night?

The Sun appears to be about 0.5° in diameter.On the equator,approximately how long does it take for the Sun to set,from first contact with the horizon to complete disappearance below the horizon?

What was the approximate value of right ascension of the Sun this year on December 21?

The lowest amount of solar energy per square meter is incident on the surface of Earth in the northern hemisphere on or about:

10⁴ × 10⁸ =

Which of the following is the CORRECT sequence of appearances of Moon phases in the sky?

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