Deck 2: Patterns in the Skymotions of Earth and the Moon

Question 1

The point directly below your feet is called the

A) meridian.
B) celestial pole.
C) nadir.
D) circumpolar plane.
E) zenith.

Answer 1

nadir.

Question 2

At a latitude of +50 $\degree$ , how far above the horizon is the north celestial pole located?

A) 0 $\degree$
B) 40 $\degree$
C) 50 $\degree$
D) 90 $\degree$
E) It is not visible at that latitude.

Answer 2

50 $\degree$

Question 3

At what latitude is the north celestial pole located at your zenith?

A) 0 $\degree$
B) (+30 $\degree$ )
C) (+60 $\degree$ )
D) (+90 $\degree$ )
E) This occurs at every latitude.

Answer 3

(+90 $\degree$ )

Question 4

At what latitude is the north celestial pole at your horizon?

A) 0 $\degree$
B) (+30 $\degree$ )
C) (+60 $\degree$ )
D) (+90 $\degree$ )
E) This can never happen.

Question 5

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown in the figure below.What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

A) north
B) east
C) south
D) west
E) directly overhead

Question 6

The Earth's equator can be found

A) exactly halfway between the Earth's poles.
B) where the ground is the warmest.
C) aligned with the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
D) aligned with the Moon's orbit around the Earth.
E) None of these options is correct.

Question 7

A friend takes a time-lapse picture of the sky, as shown in the figure below.What direction must your friend have been facing when the picture was taken?

A) north
B) east
C) south
D) west
E) directly overhead

Question 8

The apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of a year is called the

A) prime meridian.
B) ecliptic.
C) circumpolar plane.
D) celestial equator.
E) eclipse.

Question 9

The point on the sky directly above an observer is called the

A) meridian.
B) celestial pole.
C) nadir.
D) circumpolar plane.
E) zenith.

Question 10

Circumpolar stars are stars that are

A) always below the horizon.
B) always on the celestial equator.
C) always at the north celestial pole.
D) sometimes above the horizon.
E) always above the horizon.

Question 11

Right ascension is a measure of a star's location on the celestial sphere that is most similar to which measurement of location on Earth?

A) meters
B) longitude
C) latitude
D) degrees
E) radians

Question 12

Declination is a measure of a star's location relative to the

A) zenith.
B) ecliptic.
C) nadir.
D) celestial equator.
E) line of nodes.

Question 13

The ecliptic is the path produced by the apparent motion of ________ in the sky.

A) the Moon
B) the Sun
C) the celestial equator
D) Polaris
E) the stars

Question 14

On which day of the year does the Sun reach its northernmost point on the celestial sphere?

A) vernal equinox
B) summer solstice
C) autumnal equinox
D) winter solstice
E) The sun always reaches the same altitude.

Question 15

For a person who lives at a latitude of +40 $\degree$ , when is the Sun directly overhead at noon?

A) only on the summer solstice
B) only on the winter solstice
C) only on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes
D) never
E) always

Question 16

Your meridian is an imaginary circle on the sky that connects the

A) celestial equator and vernal equinox.
B) north and south celestial poles.
C) zenith and the north and south directions.
D) zenith and the east and west directions.
E) celestial equator and summer solstice.

Question 17

Which of the following is different for every observer?

A) the celestial equator
B) the Earth's south pole
C) the meridian
D) the ecliptic
E) the north celestial pole

Question 18

If you go out at exactly 9 P.M.each evening over the course of one month, the position of a given star will move westward by tens of degrees.What causes this motion?

A) Earth's rotation on its axis
B) the revolution of Earth around the Sun
C) the revolution of the Moon around Earth
D) the revolution of the Sun around Earth
E) the speed of the star through space

Question 19

No matter where you are on Earth, stars appear to rotate about a point called the

A) zenith.
B) celestial pole.
C) nadir.
D) meridian.
E) equinox.

Question 20

If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35 $\degree$ , then we know that

A) our longitude is +55 $\degree$ .
B) our latitude is +55 $\degree$ .
C) our longitude is -35 $\degree$ .
D) our longitude is+35 $\degree$ .
E) our latitude is +35 $\degree$ .

Question 21

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40 $\degree$ .Using the figure below, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at 6 P.M.in mid-May?

A) Scorpius
B) Taurus
C) Pisces
D) Aquarius
E) Leo

Question 22

When the Northern Hemisphere experiences fall, the Southern Hemisphere experiences

A) spring.
B) summer.
C) fall.
D) winter.
E) none of these

Question 23

The day with the smallest number of daylight hours over the course of the year for a person living in the Southern Hemisphere is the

A) summer solstice (June 21).
B) vernal equinox (March 20).
C) winter solstice (Dec.21).
D) autumnal equinox (Sept.23).
E) The number of daylight hours is always the same.

Question 24

At which of the following latitudes is it possible for the Sun's rays to hit the ground perpendicular to the ground at some point during the year?

A) 87 $\degree$
B) 55 $\degree$
C) 42 $\degree$
D) 33 $\degree$
E) 20 $\degree$

Question 25

During summer above the Arctic Circle

A) the Moon cannot be seen.
B) the Sun can always be seen.
C) the Sun cannot be seen.
D) the Sun is always in the southern part of the sky.
E) the Sun is always directly overhead.

Question 26

Earth is closest to the Sun when the Northern Hemisphere experiences

A) spring.
B) summer.
C) fall.
D) winter.
E) none of these; the Earth is always the same distance from the Sun.

Question 27

Six months from now, at what time of day will the stars be in the exact same places in your sky as they will be at midnight tonight?

A) 6 A.M.
B) noon
C) 6 P.M.
D) midnight
E) This can never happen.

Question 28

Using the figure below, what time of the day or night will the zodiac constellation Taurus rise in March?

A) 2 P.M.
B) 8 P.M.
C) 2 A.M.
D) 8 A.M.
E) noon

Question 29

On a certain date, the constellation of Orion is centered on your meridian at midnight.On the same date next year, you would expect to find Orion on your meridian at

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

Question 30

If you are above the arctic circle, the majority of the stars in your sky are

A) near the ecliptic.
B) stationary.
C) near the horizon.
D) circumpolar.
E) pole stars.

Question 31

The day with the smallest number of daylight hours over the course of the year for a person living in the Northern Hemisphere is the

A) summer solstice (June 21).
B) vernal equinox (March 20).
C) winter solstice (Dec.21).
D) autumnal equinox (Sept.23).
E) The number of daylight hours is always the same.

Question 32

If Earth's axis were tilted by 5 $\degree$ instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?

A) The seasons would remain the same.
B) Summers would be warmer.
C) Winters would last longer.
D) Winters would be warmer.
E) Summers would last longer.

Question 33

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40 $\degree$ .Using the figure below, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at 6 P.M.in mid-September?

A) Scorpius
B) Taurus
C) Pisces
D) Aquarius
E) Leo

Question 34

We experience seasons because

A) Earth's equator is tilted relative to the plane of the solar system.
B) Earth is closer to the Sun in summer and farther from the Sun in the winter.
C) the length of the day is longer in the summer and shorter in the winter.
D) Earth moves at a slower speed in its orbit during summer and faster during winter.
E) The Western hemisphere of Earth is closer to the Sun than the Eastern hemisphere during the summer.

Question 35

When the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer, the Southern Hemisphere experiences

A) spring.
B) summer.
C) fall.
D) winter.
E) none of these

Question 36

Assume you are observing the night sky from a typical city in the United States with a latitude of +40 $\degree$ .Using the figure below, which constellation of the zodiac would be nearest to the meridian at midnight in mid-September?

A) Scorpius
B) Taurus
C) Pisces
D) Aquarius
E) Leo

Question 37

Earth's rotational axis precesses in space and completes one revolution every

A) 200 years.
B) 1,800 years.
C) 7,300 years.
D) 26,000 years.
E) 51,000 years.

Question 38

For a person living in Vancouver, Canada, at latitude of +49 $\degree$ , the maximum altitude of the Sun above the southern horizon on the day of the winter solstice is

A) 41.0 $\degree$ .
B) 17.5 $\degree$ .
C) 25.5 $\degree$ .
D) 37.0 $\degree$ .
E) 64.5 $\degree$ .

Question 39

During which season (in the Northern Hemisphere) could you see the Sun rising from the northernmost point on the horizon?

A) winter
B) spring
C) summer
D) fall
E) The Sun always rises directly in the east.

Question 40

If Earth's axis were tilted by 35 $\degree$ instead of its actual tilt, how would the seasons be different than they are currently?

A) The seasons would remain the same.
B) Summers would be colder.
C) Winters would be shorter.
D) Winters would be colder.
E) Summers would be shorter.

Question 41

If you see a full Moon tonight, approximately how long would you have to wait to see the next full Moon?

A) 1 week
B) 2 weeks
C) 3 weeks
D) 4 weeks
E) 5 weeks

Question 42

At which of the possible times below could the waxing gibbous moon be seen rising?

A) 3 P.M.
B) 9 A.M.
C) 11 P.M.
D) 5 A.M.
E) 8 P.M.

Question 43

The sidereal period of the moon is closest to

A) 1 month.
B) 27 days.
C) 28 days.
D) 29 days.
E) 31 days.

Question 44

If a person on Earth views the Moon in a waxing crescent phase, in what phase would Earth appear to a person on the Moon?

A) waxing crescent
B) waxing gibbous
C) waning gibbous
D) waning crescent
E) new

Question 45

How often would we have leap years if Earth's orbital period were 365.1 days?

A) every year
B) every 2 years
C) every 4 years
D) every 10 years
E) We would not need to have leap years.

Question 46

If there is a full Moon tonight, approximately how long from now will it be in the third quarter phase?

A) 3-4 days
B) 1 week
C) 2 weeks
D) 3 weeks
E) 1 month

Question 47

How often do leap years occur?

A) almost every 3 years
B) almost every 4 years
C) almost every 5 years
D) almost every 8 years
E) almost every 10 years

Question 48

Living in the Northern Hemisphere, you see the Moon with exactly its right half illuminated.This phase is

A) full moon.
B) first quarter.
C) waning crescent.
D) third quarter.
E) waxing gibbous.

Question 49

If tonight the Moon is in the waxing gibbous phase, in three days the phase of the Moon will be

A) new.
B) full.
C) third quarter.
D) first quarter.
E) waxing crescent.

Question 50

The Moon's sidereal period is 2.2 days shorter than the period during which the Moon's phases change because

A) the Moon always keeps the same side turned toward Earth.
B) Earth must rotate so an observer can see the Moon.
C) the Moon's orbit is tilted with respect to Earth's rotational axis.
D) Earth moves significantly in its orbit around the Sun during that time.
E) the Moon's orbital speed varies.

Question 51

Leap years occur because

A) Earth's orbital period around the Sun is decreasing.
B) Earth's orbital period is 365.24 days.
C) the Gregorian calendar contains only 11 months.
D) Earth speeds up in its orbit when it is closest to the Sun.
E) a calendar month is not the same as a lunar month.

Question 52

In the figure below, at which position must the Moon be located in order for a solar eclipse to occur?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) None of these is correct.

Question 53

At what time does a third quarter Moon rise?

A) midnight
B) noon
C) 3 P.M.
D) 6 A.M.
E) 6 P.M.

Question 54

The Moon undergoes synchronous rotation, and as a consequence the

A) rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of the Moon around Earth.
B) rotational period of the Moon equals the rotational period of Earth.
C) rotational period of the Moon equals the orbital period of Earth around the Sun.
D) orbital period of the Moon around Earth equals the rotational period of Earth.
E) Moon does not rotate as it orbits Earth.

Question 55

A purely lunar calendar is not ideal for our modern world because

A) leap years are more frequent.
B) the months line up with the phases of the moon.
C) the seasons wouldn't occur on the same month every year.
D) high and low tides occur at different times.
E) leap years are less frequent.

Question 56

In regard to the phase of the Moon, the term waxing means

A) it is less than half illuminated.
B) it is more than half illuminated.
C) it is becoming smaller.
D) the illuminated area is increasing.
E) the illuminated area is decreasing.

Question 57

If a traditional holiday is scheduled using a 12-month lunar calendar, then that holiday will occur ________ time(s) each solar year.

A) 0 or 1
B) 1
C) 1 or 2
D) 2
E) 2 or 3

Question 58

At approximately what time does a full Moon rise?

A) midnight
B) noon
C) 6 A.M.
D) 6 P.M.
E) 3 P.M.

Question 59

A person riding in a moving car will observe objects moving differently from someone standing still on the side of the road, because

A) the laws of physics are different for moving objects.
B) of the precession of the Earth's axis.
C) they are in different frames of reference.
D) they will have different latitudes on the Earth.
E) motion distorts measurements of true values.

Question 60

In the figure below, at which position must the Moon be located in order for a lunar eclipse to occur?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) None of these is correct.

Question 61

If you are observing a partial solar eclipse, you must be standing in the

A) Moon's umbra.
B) Moon's penumbra.
C) Earth's umbra.
D) Earth's penumbra.
E) Sun's umbra.

Question 62

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when

A) the Sun appears to go behind the Moon.
B) the Moon passes through part of the Earth's shadow.
C) the Moon shadows part of the Sun.
D) the Earth passes through part of the Moon's shadow.
E) the Moon passes through part of the Sun's shadow.

Question 63

What place(s) on Earth can you stand and have the entire celestial equator be at the same altitude for all 360 degrees of its circumference?

Question 64

During which lunar phase do solar eclipses occur?

A) new
B) first quarter
C) full
D) third quarter
E) waxing gibbous

Question 65

Draw a dome representing the visible sky.Label the horizon, meridian, zenith, and each of the four cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west).

Question 66

Approximately how often do lunar eclipses occur?

A) twice every year
B) three times every year
C) once per month
D) twice every 11 months
E) once every 11 years

Question 67

Solar and lunar eclipses are rare because

A) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2 $\degree$ relative to the plane defined by Earth's equator.
B) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2 $\degree$ relative to Earth's orbital plane about the Sun.
C) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5 $\degree$ relative to the plane defined by Earth's equator.
D) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 23.5 $\degree$ relative to Earth's orbital plane about the Sun.
E) the Moon's orbital plane is tipped by 5.2 $\degree$ relative to the galactic plane.

Question 68

A type of eclipse in which the Sun appears as a bright ring is called a(n)

A) total solar eclipse.
B) partial solar eclipse.
C) annular solar eclipse.
D) lunar eclipse.
E) umbral eclipse.

Question 69

If you are standing on the equator and shoot a cannonball directly north such that it lands a few degrees latitude away from your position, where would you expect it to land?

Question 70

Consider an observer located on the equator.If the observer sees a star directly overhead at 8 P.M., where will that star be located in the night sky at midnight? How far above the horizon will it be or will it have set?

Question 71

Earth has an average radius of approximately 6.4 * 10³ km.What is the average speed, in units of km/s, of the ground at Earth's equator due to the daily rotation of Earth if there are 8.64*10⁴ seconds per day?

Question 72

The darkest part of the Moon's shadow is the

A) partial shadow.
B) penumbra.
C) umbra.
D) annular.
E) total shadow.

Question 73

Consider an observer located on the equator.If the observer sees a star directly overhead at
10 P.M., where will that star be located in the night sky at 3 A.M.?

Question 74

What latitude on Earth would be the best for observing as much of the celestial sphere as possible over the course of a year?

Question 75

A solar-powered spacecraft is traveling through the Moon's shadow.Which part(s), if any, of the Moon's shadow will cause the spacecraft to completely lose power?

A) umbra
B) penumbra
C) annulus
D) both umbra and penumbra
E) The spacecraft will never lose power.

Question 76

During a lunar eclipse the Moon can appear red.This is caused by

A) the moon glowing red.
B) oxidation of the lunar crust.
C) solar flares.
D) light traveling through the Earth's atmosphere.
E) light being reddened as it is reflected by Moon dust.

Question 77

The center of the Milky Way lies approximately 30 $\degree$ south of the celestial equator.From what latitudes on Earth is it impossible to view the center of our galaxy?

Question 78

If you are lucky enough to see a total solar eclipse, you must be standing in the

A) Moon's umbra.
B) Moon's penumbra.
C) Earth's umbra.
D) Earth's penumbra.
E) Sun's umbra.

Question 79

How is the observed height of Polaris above the horizon related to an observer's latitude? (Hint: Consider three cases of observers located at the equator, the North Pole, and latitude =+45 $\degree$ .)

Question 80

The Earth's axial tilt varies from 22.1° to 24.5° over a 41,000-year cycle.This means that as during this cycle

A) the Moon's sidereal period changes
B) the amplitude of ocean tides vary.
C) the Earth will receive different amounts of energy from sunlight.
D) the whole Ecliptic will move northward.
E) the length of seasons will vary.