Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
29 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Which of the following best describes the modern definition of a constellation? a) a pattern of bright stars in the sky b) a region of the celestial sphere c) a collection of stars that are near one another in space d) a Greek mythological figure e) a group of stars that all lie at about the same distance from Earth |
b) a region of the celestial sphere |
|
|
Which of the following statements about constellations is false? a) Most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years from now. b) Some constellations can be seen from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. c) There are only 88 official constellations. d) It is possible to see all the constellations from Earth's equator. e) Some constellations can be seen in both the winter and summer. |
a) Most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years from now. |
|
|
Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all latitudes? a) It extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south. b) It lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way. c) It cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half. d) It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. e) It extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west. |
d) It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. |
|
|
What is the ecliptic? a) when the Moon passes in front of the Sun b) the constellations commonly used in astrology to predict the future c) the Moon's apparent path along the celestial sphere d) the Sun's daily path across the sky e) the Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere |
e) the Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere |
|
|
When we look into the band of light in our sky that we call the Milky Way, can we see distant galaxies? Why or why not? a) Yes, they appear as small, fuzzy patches on the other side of our galaxy. b) Yes, there are many other galaxies that we see inside the Milky Way. c) No, we cannot see any other galaxies from Earth. d) No, because the stars, gas, and dust of the Milky Way block us from seeing them. e) No, because there are only galaxies above and below the plane of the Milky Way. |
d) No, because the stars, gas, and dust of the Milky Way block us from seeing them. |
|
|
Which of the following correctly describes the meridian in your sky? a) a half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through the north celestial pole, to your horizon due west b) the boundary between the portion of the celestial sphere you can see at any moment and the portion that you cannot see c) a half-circle extending from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due west d) a half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south e) the point directly over your head |
d) a half-circle extending from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due south |
|
|
How many arcseconds are in 1°? a) 100 b) 60 c) 10,000 d) 360 e) 3,600 |
e) 3,600 |
|
|
Which of the following statements does not use the term angular size or angular distance correctly? a) The angular distance between those two houses in the distance is 30°. b) The angular size of the Sun is about the same as that of the Moon. c) You can use your outstretched hand to estimate angular sizes and angular distances d) The angular distance between those two bright stars in the sky is about 2 meters. e) The angular size of the Moon is about 1/2 degree. |
d) The angular distance between those two bright stars in the sky is about 2 meters. |
|
|
Which of the following statements about circumpolar stars is true at all latitudes? a) You cannot see them from the Southern Hemisphere. b) Like all other stars, they rise in the east and set in the west. c) They always remain above your horizon. d) They make relatively small circles, traveling clockwise around the north celestial pole. e) They are the stars close to the north celestial pole. |
c) They always remain above your horizon. |
|
|
We describe a position on Earth's surface by stating its a) altitude and direction. b) latitude and direction. c) latitude and longitude. d) altitude and azimuth. e) meridian and longitude. |
c) latitude and longitude. |
|
|
What makes the North Star, Polaris, special? a) It is the star directly on your northern horizon. b) It is the brightest star in the sky. c) It is the star straight overhead. d) It can be used to determine your longitude on Earth. e) It appears very near the north celestial pole. |
e) It appears very near the north celestial pole. |
|
|
By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude? a) The azimuth of the NCP is the same as your latitude. b) The azimuth of the NCP is the angular distance from the North Pole. c) The altitude of the NCP is the same as your distance from the North Pole. d) The altitude of the NCP is your angular distance from the North Pole. e) The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude. |
e) The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude. |
|
|
Why do we have seasons on Earth? a) As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains pointed toward Polaris, the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight. b) Seasons are caused by the influence of the planet Jupiter on our orbit. c) Earth's distance from the Sun varies, so that it is summer when we are closer to the Sun and winter when we are farther from the Sun. d) The tilt of Earth's axis constantly changes between 0 and 23 1/2°, giving us summer when Earth is tilted more and winter when it is straight up. |
a) As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains pointed toward Polaris, the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and less direct sunlight. |
|
|
Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere when it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere? a) The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and receives more direct sunlight. b) It isn't: both hemispheres have the same seasons at the same time. c) The Northern Hemisphere is "on top" of Earth and therefore receives more sunlight. d) The Northern Hemisphere is closer to the Sun than the Southern Hemisphere. e) The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun and receives more indirect sunlight. |
a) The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and receives more direct sunlight. |
|
|
Which of the following statements about lunar phases is true? a) The time from one new Moon to the next new Moon is the same as the time from first-quarter Moon to third-quarter Moon. b) It is possible to have two full Moons during November, but not during December. c) The time between new Moons is two weeks. d) It is possible to have two full Moons during January, but not during February. e) The full Moon sometimes rises around midnight. |
d) It is possible to have two full Moons during January, but not during February. |
|
|
Which of the following is not a phase of the Moon? a) new Moon b) half Moon c) first-quarter Moon d) third-quarter Moon e) full Moon |
b) half Moon |
|
|
If the Moon is setting at 6 A.M., the phase of the Moon must be a) new. b) first quarter. c) waning crescent. d) third quarter. e) full. |
e) full. |
|
|
If the Moon is rising at midnight, the phase of the Moon must be a) full. b) first quarter. c) waning crescent. d) waxing crescent. e) third quarter. |
e) third quarter. |
|
|
At approximately what time would a full Moon be on your meridian? a) 6 P.M b) 6 A.M c) 9 A.M. d) noon e) midnight |
e) midnight |
|
|
Why do we see essentially the same face of the Moon at all times? a) because the Moon does not rotate b) because the Moon has a nearly circular orbit around Earth c) because the other face points toward us only at new Moon, when we can't see the Moon d) because the Sun illuminates only one half at a time e) because the Moon's rotational and orbital periods are equa |
e) because the Moon's rotational and orbital periods are equa |
|
|
Which of the following statements about the Moon is true? a) The Moon's distance from Earth varies during its orbit. b) The side of the Moon facing away from Earth is in perpetual darkness. c) If you see a full Moon from North America, someone in South America would see a new Moon. d) The Moon goes through a cycle of phases because it always has the same side facing Earth. e) The Moon is visible only at night. |
a) The Moon's distance from Earth varies during its orbit. |
|
|
All of the following statements are true. Which one explains the reason why there is not a solar eclipse at every new Moon? a) The Moon rotates synchronously with its revolution about Earth. b) The Moon is the primary cause of tides on Earth. c) The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic plane. d) The sidereal month is shorter than the lunar month. e) The nodes of the Moon's orbit precess with an 18-year period. |
c) The orbital plane of the Moon is tilted by about 5° to the ecliptic plane. |
|
|
What conditions are required for a solar eclipse? a) The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. b) The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. c) The phase of the Moon can be new or full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. d) The phase of the Moon must be new, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. e) The phase of the Moon must be full, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. |
b) The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. |
|
|
What conditions are required for a lunar eclipse? a) The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. b) The phase of the Moon must be new, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. c) The phase of the Moon must be full, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. d) The phase of the Moon must be new, and the Moon's orbital plane must lie in the ecliptic. e) The phase of the Moon can be new or full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. |
a) The phase of the Moon must be full, and the nodes of the Moon's orbit must be nearly aligned with Earth and the Sun. |
|
|
If part of the full Moon passes through Earth's umbra, we will see a(n) a) total lunar eclipse. b) partial solar eclipse. c) penumbral lunar eclipse. d) annular eclipse. e) partial lunar eclipse. |
e) partial lunar eclipse. |
|
|
What is the Saros cycle? a) the period between eclipses b) the 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats c) the period between total solar eclipses d) the period between a total solar eclipse and a total lunar eclipse e) the roughly 6-month period between eclipse seasons |
b) the 18-year cycle over which the pattern of eclipses repeats |
|
|
What happens during the apparent retrograde motion of a planet? a) The planet moves backward (westward) through the sky over the course of a single night. b) The planet appears to change directions and move westward with respect to the stars over a period of many nights. c) The planet rises in the west and sets in the east. d) The planet moves through constellations that are not part of the zodiac. e) The planet moves backward in its orbit around the Sun. |
b) The planet appears to change directions and move westward with respect to the stars over a period of many nights. |
|
|
What causes the apparent retrograde motion of the planets? a) As Earth passes another planet, the other planet appears to move backward with respect to the background stars, but the planet's motion does not really change. b) As Earth passes another planet, its gravitational pull slows down the other planet so that it appears to be traveling backward. c) When planets are farther from the Sun, they move slower than when they are nearer the Sun; it is during this slower period that they appear to move backwards. d) The other planets never really appear to move backward; the background stars shift due to Earth's revolution around the Sun. e) Apparent retrograde motion is an illusion created by turbulence in Earth's atmosphere. |
a) As Earth passes another planet, the other planet appears to move backward with respect to the background stars, but the planet's motion does not really change. |
|
|
Which of the following statements about parallax is not true? a) Ancient astronomers were unable to measure parallax and used the absence of observed parallax as an argument in favor of an Earth-centered universe. b) You can demonstrate parallax simply by holding up a finger and looking at it alternately from your left and right eyes. c) The technique of stellar parallax was used by Hubble to determine that the Andromeda Galaxy (M 31) is about 2 million light-years away. d) The existence of stellar parallax is direct proof that Earth orbits the Sun. e) Measurement of stellar parallax allows us to determine distances to nearby stars. |
c) The technique of stellar parallax was used by Hubble to determine that the Andromeda Galaxy (M 31) is about 2 million light-years away. |
