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52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What unit is used to measure the angular distance between stars in the sky?
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degrees
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An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure or design that officially represents a region in the
sky is referred to as a(n) |
Constellation
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An formation of stars informally recognized as a figure or design is referred to as a(n)
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asterism
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What does it mean for a star to be circumpolar?
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Never drops below the horizon, circles the pole star
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Where would you have to go to see many circumpolar stars?
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Further north you go, more circumpolar stars there are .
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Which stars make up the summer triangle?
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Vega, Altair and Deneb
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What relationship do stars within the same constellation have with each other?
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None, other than they are in the same direction from earth, they are actually light years away from each other.
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What is the Andromeda story line in Greek mythology?
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Queen Cassiopeia was bragging about her daughter Andromeda, so their land was cursed. In order to save the land Cassiopeia and King Cepheus had to sacrifice her. So they chained Andromeda to a cliff and a sea monster Cetus was going to kill her, but Perseus, flying on Pegasus, saved her.
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How many constellations are there?
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88
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Which constellations are circumpolar?
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Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia
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Which constellations are considered one of the labors of Hercules?
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Leo, Hydra, Cancer, Centaurus, Lupus, Sagitta, Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Draco, Bootes, Libra, Scorpio, Lyra, Aquila, Cygnus, Taurus, Corona Australis, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pegasus, Pisces, Cetus, Andromeda, etc.
See www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/HeraclesLabours.html |
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Which stars/constellations are mentioned in the Harry Potter series?
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The Black Family - Sirius, Arcturus, Regulus, Pollux, Alphard, Bellatrix, Merope, Sinistra, Eta Argus, Rastaban, Cygnus, Orion, Andromeda, Cassiopeia.
Draco, Scorpius, Luna, Phoenix, Aquila, Leo, Serpens, Hydra, Vulpecula, Lynx, Lupus |
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
An eagle |
Aquila
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
A large dog |
Canis major
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
A dragon |
Draco
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
Little bear |
Ursa Minor
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
Medicine man |
Ophiuchus
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
The harp |
Lyra
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
The swan |
Cygnus
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What is the proper name for the constellation?
The twins |
Gemini
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The apparent path the sun takes throughout the year is called the
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ecliptic
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The reference marker in the sky referring to the point directly overhead is?
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zenith
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How do you find the altitude of Polaris from the horizon from any location in the Northern
Hemisphere? |
Based on latitude of the observer
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Where is the celestial equator if you are observing from the north pole?
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A full circle at the horizon
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How do you find the celestial equator from any location?
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90 degrees minus your latitude (or 90 degrees away from Polaris)
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What is the value in understanding the location of the celestial equator?
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It is a reference marker for understanding the difference in the sun’s path in the summer and winter.
It explains why the poles have 6 months of darkness and 6 months of daylight. All stars, including the sun, travel in a path parallel to it, so you can predict the path of the sun(stars) on other days. |
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What is precession? What does it cause?
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Earth’s wobble. The pole star gradually changes over a 26,000 year cycle.
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Describe the path of stars throughout the night.
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Clockwise, rising in the east, setting in the west
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Why do we have seasons?
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Earth’s tilt
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Why is it warm in the northern hemisphere in the summer?
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Earth's tilt results in longer day lengths and a more direct angle of the sun’s rays
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When does the sun reach its maximum yearly height in Troy? How high does it get?
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Summer solstice.
Celestial Equator plus 23.5 degrees = 47.5 + 23.5 = 71 degrees. |
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When does the sun reach its maximum daily height in Troy if we had solar days?
With time zones? |
Noon
1:20 |
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On which side of East does the sun rise(set) between March 21 and Sept 21st?
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North side
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What is the azimuth for N, S, E and W?
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N is zero, E is 90, S is 180 and W is 270.
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What is the altitude of your zenith?
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90 degrees
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What is so special about the equinoxes?
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The sun’s path is crossing the celestial equator - sun’s daily path will follow the CE that day.
Every place on earth will have 12 hours of day and night. Sun sets on due east and due west |
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Who gets the sun at their zenith on the equinoxes?
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The equator
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Who gets the sun at their zenith on the summer solstice?
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People at the tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude)
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Who gets the sun at their zenith on the winter solstice?
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People at the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude)
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What is so special about the winter solstice?
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This is the furthest south the ecliptic goes – 23.5 degrees south latitude.
We will have the shortest amount of sunlight that day and the sun will be the lowest in the sky that day. |
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What is a variable star? How is it identified on a star map?
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A star whose brightness varies with a period of 1 – 60 days. A dot with a circle around it.
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How do you determine the magnitude (brightness) of a star using a star map?
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Look at the size of the dot.
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Which is the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere? What constellation is it in?
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Sirius, Canis Major
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How do you properly hold your star map to find the location of stars in the sky?
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Over the top of your head, with the directions correctly aligned. Usually facing the quadrants (NE, SE, SW, or NW) that the star is located.
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How do you estimate the altitude of a star using a star map?
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Draw a line from the horizon up to your zenith. Half way up would be 45 degrees.
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How do you line up your viewing circle on a star map?
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The meridian must go through the correct date at the south end and the north horizon circle at the north end. The meridian must also go through Polaris.
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How do you find east and west on your star map?
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It is the opposite of a road map. If you are confused, hold it over your head and think about which side of the classroom is east.
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What would be the azimuth of a star if it were half way between west and north?
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315 degrees
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What would be the azimuth of a star if it were half way between east and south?
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135 degrees
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What time of night is your star map set for?
How would you set it for a different time of night? |
9 pm
Every little mark by the dates counts as 10 minutes so 6 marks would move it one hour into the night. |
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What does it mean to culminate? How could you determine when an object was culminating using a star map?
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To reach its highest point in the sky.
Line the object up with the meridian. Everything is at its highest point when it is crossing the meridian - including the sun. |
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What would you call the brightest star in any constellation?
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The alpha star - for example α centauri
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