Deck 1: The Cycles of the Sky

Question 1

Directly above Earth's equator lies the ______________ in the sky.

A) North Celestial Pole
B) South Celestial Pole
C) Celestial equator
D) ecliptic

Answer 1

Celestial equator

Question 2

All celestial objects rise in the east and set in the west because

A) Earth is rotating from east to west.
B) Earth is rotating from west to east.
C) Earth is orbiting around the Sun from east to west.
D) the celestial sphere is rotating from east to west.

Answer 2

Earth is rotating from west to east.

Question 3

What is the ecliptic?

A) the line of the solar and lunar eclipses on the celestial sphere
B) the extension of Earth's path on the celestial sphere
C) the elliptical shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun
D) All of these choices are correct.

Answer 3

the extension of Earth's path on the celestial sphere

Question 4

Which of the following statement(s) describes the ecliptic?

A) the path of the Moon on the celestial sphere
B) the extension of Earth's equator on the celestial sphere
C) the extension of Earth's path on the celestial sphere
D) the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere

Question 5

Suppose that Earth's spin would suddenly reverse direction, but the direction of Earth's motion around the Sun was preserved. Which of the following changes would you expect to observe?

A) The Sun would rise in the west and set in the east.
B) The stars would rise in the west and set in the east.
C) The planets would rise in the west and set in the east.
D) All of these would be observed.
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 6

For someone in the Northern Hemisphere stars rise in the east and set in the west. For someone in the Southern Hemisphere

A) the situation is the same-stars also rise in the east and set in the west.
B) the opposite is true-stars rise in the west and set in the east.

Question 7

The motion of the Sun relative to the stars is from _____ to _____.

A) east; west
B) west; east

Question 8

Which of the following statements regarding the motion of objects on the celestial sphere is true?

A) The Sun moves along the Celestial Equator.
B) The Moon moves along the Celestial Equator.
C) The stars move along the zodiac.
D) The stars move parallel to the Celestial Equator.

Question 9

How much time is there between when a star rises and when it sets?

A) less than twelve hours
B) about twelve hours
C) more than twelve hours
D) It depends on the star.

Question 10

What is the celestial sphere?

A) an observatory dome
B) the Sun
C) Earth
D) the imaginary sphere of the sky, on which stars lie

Question 11

For which of the following is the celestial sphere an accurate representation of reality?

A) the distance to the stars
B) the spherical bubble that surrounds Earth
C) the view of the stars from Earth
D) the motion of the Sun around Earth
E) the motion of the planets around Earth

Question 12

Constellations are _________.

A) fixed patterns of stars on the celestial sphere
B) groups of stars that are close to each other in space
C) stars that neither rise nor set
D) stars representing the path of the Sun through the sky
E) animals that look like groupings of stars

Question 13

What do we call a specific pattern of stars in the sky, often named for an animal?

A) a cluster
B) a star animal
C) a constellation
D) the ecliptic

Question 14

Stars in a constellation _________.

A) are close to one another in space
B) all formed at about the same time
C) neither rise nor set
D) are in the same direction in the sky
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 15

Constellations rise in the ____ and set in the ____.

A) east; west
B) west; east
C) morning; evening
D) evening; morning
E) Constellations neither rise nor set.

Question 16

Over the course of a single night, stars move overhead due to _________.

A) their motion around Earth
B) the rotation of Earth on its axis
C) the motion of the Sun around the galaxy
D) the rotation of the celestial sphere
E) the tilt of Earth's axis

Question 17

The celestial equator is always located _________.

A) running north to south, and directly overhead
B) in the northern sky, at an altitude equal to your latitude
C) running due east to due west, 90 degrees from the north Celestial Pole
D) running east to west, between the ecliptic and the North Celestial Pole
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 18

What is the Celestial Equator?

A) a band of constellations through which the planets and Sun appear to move
B) the line that the Sun traces across the celestial sphere
C) an imaginary line in the sky, directly above Earth's equator
D) the cycle of lunar phases

Question 19

The North Celestial Pole is located _________.

A) directly above Earth's equator
B) directly overhead
C) at the geographic North Pole
D) directly above the geographic North Pole
E) at the center of the celestial sphere

Question 20

The star nearest the North Celestial Pole is ____.

A) Vega
B) Thuban
C) Denebola
D) Polaris
E) Mizar

Question 21

Circumpolar stars are stars that _________.

A) rise in the east and set in the west
B) neither rise nor set
C) are pointed to by the celestial poles
D) follow circular orbits around the celestial poles
E) can only be seen from the poles of Earth

Question 22

A constellation directly overhead at midnight in June will be _________ at midnight in December.

A) directly overhead
B) on the eastern horizon
C) on the western horizon
D) below the horizon
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 23

The change in constellations with the seasons are caused by _________.

A) the rotation of Earth
B) the revolution of Earth
C) the precession of Earth's axis
D) the Sun's orbit around the center of the galaxy
E) zodiacal shift

Question 24

"Annual motion" refers to changes in the positions of stars in the sky as the result of _________.

A) Earth's rotation on its axis
B) Earth's motion as it orbits the Sun
C) the rotation of the celestial sphere around Earth
D) the motion of the Sun around Earth
E) the Sun's orbit around the center of the galaxy

Question 25

The daily spin of Earth on its axis is called ____.

A) revolution
B) precession
C) annualization
D) rotation
E) constellation

Question 26

The annual motion of Earth around the Sun is called ____.

A) revolution
B) precession
C) annualization
D) rotation
E) constellation

Question 27

The star Vega rises today at 6:40 A.M. Tomorrow it will rise at ____.

A) 6:44 A.M.
B) 6:40 A.M.
C) 6:36 A.M.
D) 6:32 A.M.
E) 6:44 P.M.

Question 28

The star Aldebaran is seen today just on the western horizon at 9:38 P.M. Tomorrow night at 9:38 P.M., Aldebaran will be _________.

A) below the horizon
B) on the horizon
C) above the horizon
D) on the eastern horizon
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 29

The "zodiac" is _________.

A) a belt-shaped region of the sky surrounding the ecliptic
B) a pink-colored glow above the horizon due to scattered sunlight
C) a band of stars falling along the Celestial Equator
D) a group of constellations through which the Sun passes on the equinoxes
E) a series of astrological signs

Question 30

What do we call the line that the Sun traces across the celestial sphere?

A) the Celestial Equator
B) the Mason-Dixon Line
C) the extension of Earth's equator on the celestial sphere
D) the ecliptic

Question 31

What causes the change of the constellations with the seasons?

A) It is caused by Earth's motion around the Sun
B) It is caused as the constellations move amongst themselves
C) This is merely an illusion caused as the length of the day changes
D) the cycle of lunar phases

Question 32

In which season is Earth farthest from the Sun?

A) when it is winter in North America
B) when it is summer in North America
C) when it is autumn in North America
D) when it is spring in North America

Question 33

The equinox is the time when

A) the number of daylight hours is longest in the Northern Hemisphere.
B) the number of daylight hours is shortest in the Northern Hemisphere.
C) the number of daylight hours equals the number of nighttime hours everywhere on Earth.
D) all the nights are equally long throughout the month.

Question 34

On what date/s does the Sun rise exactly due east and set exactly due west?

A) June 21 and December 21
B) March 21 and September 22
C) only on March 21
D) only on June 21

Question 35

In the Northern Hemisphere, between what dates does the location of the Sun's rising and setting shift a little farther south each day?

A) from March 20 until September 22
B) from June 21 until December 21
C) from September 22 until March 20
D) from December 21 until June 21

Question 36

Why do the constellations that are visible in the sky at night change with the seasons?

A) because the celestial sphere revolves around Earth
B) because Earth is a sphere
C) because Earth rotates about an axis
D) because Earth revolves around the Sun

Question 37

What causes the seasons?

A) the tilt of the celestial sphere with respect to the equator
B) Earth's distance from the Sun varies throughout the year.
C) The ecliptic is tilted with respect to the Celestial Equator.
D) the motion of the equinoxes
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 38

What causes the seasons?

A) the changing distance between Earth and the Sun
B) the tilt of Earth's spin axis relative to Earth's orbit
C) Earth's spin axis is tilted from the poles of the celestial sphere
D) the elliptical shape of Earth's equator

Question 39

Which of the following is true during the equinoxes?

A) The Sun is on the ecliptic.
B) The Sun is on the Celestial Equator.
C) The Sun rises due east and sets due west.
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 40

The Northern Hemisphere is warmer in its summer months because _________.

A) Earth is closer to the Sun during this time
B) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time
C) the Sun is more directly overhead during this time
D) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time and the Sun is more directly overhead during this time
E) Earth is closer to the Sun during this time and the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time

Question 41

Earth's axis is tilted by ____ degrees relative to the Celestial Equator.

A) 32.5
B) 11
C) 23.5
D) 25
E) 66.5

Question 42

The ecliptic is tilted by ____ degrees relative to the Celestial Equator.

A) 32.5
B) 11
C) 23.5
D) 25
E) 66.5

Question 43

If Earth's axis was not tipped relative to the Celestial Equator, _________.

A) Earth would experience winter all year
B) Earth would experience summer all year
C) Earth would not experience seasons
D) there would be an eclipse every month
E) there would never be an eclipse

Question 44

During the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere, _________.

A) Earth is closer to the Sun
B) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time
C) the Sun is more directly overhead during this time
D) the Northern Hemisphere experiences winter weather
E) All of these choices are correct.

Question 45

In the Northern Hemisphere, winter shadows are longer because _________.

A) the Sun is in the sky for a longer period of time
B) the Sun moves through the sky closer to the horizon
C) the Sun moves through the sky farther from the horizon
D) the Sun is in the sky for a shorter period of time
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 46

Regions of Earth where the Sun is more directly overhead will experience _________.

A) colder weather
B) warmer weather
C) longer nights
D) more eclipses
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 47

On the vernal equinox, the Sun rises _________.

A) north of east
B) south of east
C) due east
D) south of west
E) due west

Question 48

On the autumnal equinox, the Sun sets _________.

A) north of east
B) south of east
C) due east
D) south of west
E) due west

Question 49

At solar noon on the summer solstice, the Sun is located _________.

A) 23.5 degrees above the Celestial Equator
B) 23.5 degrees below the Celestial Equator
C) 23.5 degrees above the ecliptic
D) 23.5 degrees below the ecliptic
E) 23.5 degrees above the horizon

Question 50

At solar noon on the winter solstice, the Sun is located _________.

A) 23.5 degrees above the Celestial Equator
B) 23.5 degrees below the Celestial Equator
C) 23.5 degrees above the ecliptic
D) 23.5 degrees below the ecliptic
E) 23.5 degrees above the horizon

Question 51

Ypsilanti, Michigan, is located at latitude 42 degrees North. What is the altitude (above the southern horizon) of the Sun at solar noon on the summer solstice?

A) 71.5 degrees
B) 108.5 degrees
C) 42 degrees
D) 132 degrees
E) 23.5 degrees

Question 52

At the North Pole, the summer solstice Sun ____________________.

A) circles the pole along the horizon
B) circles the pole 23.5 degrees above the horizon
C) circles the pole 23.5 degrees below the horizon
D) is directly overhead for the entire day
E) rises north of east and sets north of west

Question 53

At the North Pole, the vernal equinox Sun ________________.

A) circles the pole along the horizon
B) circles the pole 23.5 degrees above the horizon
C) circles the pole 23.5 degrees below the horizon
D) is directly overhead for the entire day
E) rises north of east and sets north of west

Question 54

At the North Pole, the winter solstice Sun ______________.

A) circles the pole along the horizon
B) circles the pole 23.5 degrees above the horizon
C) circles the pole 23.5 degrees below the horizon
D) is directly overhead for the entire day
E) rises north of east and sets north of west

Question 55

After a full moon, about how long is it until the next new moon?

A) a month
B) 2 weeks
C) a week
D) 6 hours

Question 56

If there is a full moon visible from Paris one evening, twelve hours later in Australia there will be a _________ visible.

A) full moon
B) new moon
C) first quarter moon
D) crescent moon

Question 57

When the Moon and the Sun lie exactly in the same direction in the sky, what phase of the Moon would you see?

A) full
B) half
C) gibbous
D) crescent
E) new

Question 58

The Full Moon sets at

A) sunrise.
B) sunset.
C) midnight.
D) noon.

Question 59

Which phase of the Moon sets at noon?

A) full Moon
B) third quarter
C) new Moon
D) waxing crescent
E) None, the Moon always sets at sunrise.

Question 60

When does the full Moon phase occur?

A) when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
B) when the Sun is between Earth and the Moon
C) when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun
D) when the Moon and the Sun are on the Celestial equator

Question 61

When does the new Moon phase occur?

A) when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon
B) when the Sun is between Earth and the Moon
C) when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun
D) when the Sun and the Moon are on the Celestial Equator

Question 62

Which phase of the moon do you expect to see high in the sky at 6:00 P.M.?

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

Question 63

Which phase of the moon do you expect to see rising at dawn?

A) full moon
B) first quarter
C) waning crescent
D) third quarter

Question 64

If the Moon sets at 10 A.M. today, approximately what time did the Moon set yesterday?

A) 10:04 A.M.
B) 9:56 A.M.
C) 10:50 A.M.
D) 9:10 A.M.

Question 65

During which phase of the moon do you expect to observe a lunar eclipse?

A) full moon
B) new moon
C) first quarter
D) third quarter
E) Lunar eclipses can occur at any phase of the moon.

Question 66

During which phase of the moon do you expect to observe a solar eclipse?

A) full moon
B) new moon
C) first quarter
D) third quarter
E) Solar eclipses can occur at any phase of the moon.

Question 67

Solar eclipses can occur during ____.

A) the new moon
B) the full moon
C) the waning crescent moon
D) the waxing crescent moon
E) any phase of the moon

Question 68

Relative to the stars, the Moon moves from _____ to ______.

A) east; west
B) west; east

Question 69

During a solar eclipse, the _____ casts a small circular shadow on the ____.

A) Moon; Earth
B) Sun; Moon
C) Earth; Sun
D) Moon; Sun
E) Earth; Moon

Question 70

Lunar eclipses do not occur every full Moon, because the path of the ____ is tilted relative to the _____.

A) Earth; ecliptic
B) Moon; ecliptic
C) Sun; ecliptic
D) Moon; equator

Question 71

Which of the following statements about eclipses is true?

A) A total solar eclipse is visible from any location on the day-side of Earth.
B) A partial solar eclipse happens every month, but not the total solar eclipse.
C) A lunar eclipse is visible from any location on the night-side of Earth.
D) All of these choices are correct.

Question 72

An annular eclipse

A) is a solar eclipse that happens every November.
B) occurs when the Moon's shadow does not completely reach Earth during a solar eclipse.
C) is a lunar eclipse that happens every November.
D) occurs when Earth's shadow does not completely reach the Moon during a lunar eclipse.

Question 73

At totality during the lunar eclipse, the Moon generally appears _______ in color.

A) bluish
B) yellowish
C) greenish
D) reddish

Question 74

What is the maximum number of eclipses that can occur in a year?

A) 2 (one solar and one lunar)
B) 4 (two solar and two lunar)
C) 7 (five solar and two lunar)
D) 7 (four solar and three lunar)
E) 7 (five solar and two lunar) or 7 (four solar and three lunar)

Question 75

Eclipses generally occur in pairs, with a solar eclipse about _________ before or after a lunar eclipse.

A) a day
B) a week
C) 2 weeks
D) a month
E) 2 months

Question 76

An annular solar eclipse occurs

A) when the Moon in its orbit is farthest from Earth, and, so not able to cover the complete disk of the Sun.
B) when the Moon in its orbit is closest to Earth, and, so not able to cover the complete disk of the Sun.
C) every year when the Sun is highest in the sky.
D) None of these choices is correct.

Question 77

Are the Sun and the Moon ever above the horizon at the same time?

A) yes, always
B) yes, sometimes
C) no, never
D) the moon always rises as the sun sets

Question 78

The Moon takes approximately ____ to go through a cycle of phases.

A) 1 day
B) 7 days
C) 30 days
D) 90 days

Question 79

The Moon rises later each day because _________.

A) the Moon shifts eastward relative to the stars in its orbit around Earth
B) Earth moves approximately one degree per day in its orbit around the Sun
C) the Moon moves in its orbit faster than Earth rotates
D) the Moon follows an elliptical orbit around Earth
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 80

The Moon moves ____ relative to the background stars over the course of an evening.

A) eastward
B) westward
C) northward
D) southward
E) the Moon does not move relative to the background stars.