Question 1

It's 6 a.m. and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian). What is the Moon's phase?

Accepted Answer

A) third quarter 
B) new 
C) full 
D) first quarter

Question 2

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) When we look in the sky, the stars all appear to be located on the celestial sphere. 
B) The celestial sphere does not exist physically. 
C) The "celestial sphere" is another name for our universe. 
D) The Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere.

Question 3

Consider the following statement, and explain whether or not it is sensible: Last night I saw Mars move westward through the sky in its apparent retrograde motion.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Consider the following statement, and explain whether...

Question 4

If the Moon is 3rd quarter phase, when does it rise?

Accepted Answer

A) sunrise 
B) never 
C) midnight 
D) sunset 
E) noon

Question 5

You can find the tilt of Earth's axis by measuring the angle between your horizon and the North Star.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

How many arcseconds are in one degree?

Accepted Answer

A) 360 
B) 60 
C) 10,000 
D) 100 
E) 3,600

Question 7

Which of these (hypothetical)modifications would cause lunar eclipses to happen once per month?

Accepted Answer

A) Change the Moon's orbital plane so it tilts the opposite way. 
B) Make the Moon orbit the Earth twice as fast. 
C) Change the orbital plane of the Moon so it lies in the same plane as Earth's orbit around the Sun. 
D) Relocate the Moon to twice its current distance from the Earth.

Question 8

The Moon is nearly tidally locked to the Earth, which means the Moon's rotation period is almost the same as its orbital period. If you were camped at the equator of the Moon, you would experience (approximately)

Accepted Answer

A) (14 × 24)hours of darkness followed by (14 × 24)hours of sunshine. 
B) sunshine (day)all the time. 
C) sunshine all the time, except when the Earth blocks the Sun. 
D) 14 hours of darkness followed by 14 hours of sunshine.

Question 9

At approximately what time would a full moon be on your meridian?

Accepted Answer

A) midnight 
B) 6 P.M. 
C) 9 A.M. 
D) 6 A.M. 
E) noon

Question 10

If the Sun passes almost in front of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, it does so

Accepted Answer

A) once a month. 
B) only in 2012, at the end of the Mayan calendar. 
C) once a year. 
D) once a day.

Question 11

Cognitive Dissonance? You are talking to a friend who insists that the seasons are caused by a varying Earth- Sun distance over the course of a year. What other fact does your friend likely know that completely contradicts this view of how the seasons are caused? Can you think of other examples of two beliefs that many people feel are both true but which completely contradict each other? How does science view this situation?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Cognitive Dissonance? You are talking to a...

Question 12

Your friend tells you that last night, they saw Mars high in the sky at midnight. You conclude that

Accepted Answer

A) Mars must be at its farthest distance from the Earth. 
B) Mars must be in retrograde. 
C) Your friend must be mistaken: Mars can never be seen at midnight. 
D) Mars must be at its closest distance from the Sun.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes?

Accepted Answer

A) You cannot see them from the Southern Hemisphere. 
B) They always remain above your horizon. 
C) They make relatively small circles, traveling clockwise around the north celestial pole. 
D) They are the stars close to the north celestial pole. 
E) Like all other stars, they rise in the east and set in the west.

Question 14

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP)in the sky, how can you determine your latitude?

Accepted Answer

A) The direction of the NCP is the same as your latitude. 
B) The altitude of the NCP is your angular distance from the North Pole. 
C) The direction of the NCP is the angular distance from the North Pole. 
D) The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude. 
E) The altitude of the NCP is the same as your distance from the North Pole.

Question 15

How many arcminutes are in one degree?

Accepted Answer

A) 360 
B) 60 
C) 3600 
D) 10,000 
E) 100

Question 16

Which of the following best describes why we have seasons on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) The varying speed of Earth in its orbit around the Sun gives us summer when we are moving fastest and winter when we are moving slowest. 
B) The tilt of Earth's axis causes the northern hemisphere to be closer to the Sun than the southern hemisphere in summer, and vice versa in winter. 
C) The tilt of Earth's axis causes different portions of the Earth to receive more or less direct sunlight at different times of year. 
D) Earth's elliptical orbit means we are closer to the Sun and therefore receive more intense sunlight at some times of year than at others.

Question 17

In South Africa, it's usually quite warm around the time of the December solstice and quite cool around the time of the June solstice.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

We cannot see a new moon in our sky because .

Accepted Answer

A) it is above the horizon during the daytime 
B) it is obscured by Earth's shadow 
C) no sunlight is illuminating the Moon 
D) a new moon is quite near the Sun in the sky

Question 19

Has Polaris always been the "North Star"?

Accepted Answer

A) No, because the Milky Way blocked our line of site to it for a long time. 
B) Yes, because the stars are unchanging. 
C) No, because it is a young star that only formed a few hundred years ago. 
D) No, because the Earth's axis slowly changes the direction it points.

Question 20

Which of the following never goes in retrograde motion?

Accepted Answer

A) Jupiter 
B) Saturn 
C) Venus 
D) Mars 
E) the Sun

Exam 2: Discovering the Universe for Yourself

It's 6 a.m. and the Moon is at its highest point in your sky (crossing the meridian) . What is the Moon's phase?