Deck 2: Patterns in the Sky

Question 1

On the first day of Spring,the Sun is on the

A)Zenith
B)Meridian
C)Celestial equator
D)Nadir

Answer 1

Celestial equator

Question 2

The time kept by a sundial is

A)Apparent solar time
B)Mean solar time
C)Sidereal time
D)Greenwich mean time

Answer 2

Apparent solar time

Question 3

Suppose there is a star that rises at 10 p.m.tonight.At what time will it rise one month from now?

A)11 P.M.
B)Midnight
C)9 p.m.
D)8 p.m.

Answer 3

8 p.m.

Question 4

When does the most northerly sunrise occur?

A)Autumnal equinox
B)Vernal equinox
C)Summer solstice
D)Winter solstice

Question 5

The north-south line that passes directly overhead is the

A)Ecliptic
B)Meridian
C)Horizon
D)Azimuth

Question 6

If the Earth's equator were in the plane of the ecliptic,which of the following phenomena would not occur?

A)Day and night
B)The appearance of different constellations at different times of year
C)The seasons
D)The appearance of the planet Mercury in the sky

Question 7

The Sun moves eastward among the stars at the rate of about 30 degrees per

A)Hour
B)Month
C)Year
D)Day
E)Minute

Question 8

Approximately how long does it take for the Sun to move 1 degree with respect to the stars?

A)1 minute
B)1 hour
C)1 day
D)1 week

Question 9

What is the altitude of the Sun at noon on the day of the autumnal equinox at 41 degrees north latitude?

A)41 degrees
B)23 degrees
C)49 degrees
D)18 degrees

Question 10

Which of the following coordinates describes the angular distance of an object north or south of the celestial equator?

A)Azimuth
B)Altitude
C)Right ascension
D)Declination

Question 11

At which of the following times is the azimuth of the rising Sun the greatest for observers in the northern hemisphere?

A)The winter solstice
B)The summer solstice
C)The spring equinox
D)The autumnal equinox

Question 12

The ecliptic is the

A)Projection of the Earth's equator on the celestial sphere
B)Plane of the Earth's orbit projected onto the celestial sphere
C)Apparent path of the Moon on the celestial sphere
D)Plane of the Moon's orbit

Question 13

The line that divides the celestial sphere into northern and southern hemispheres is the

A)Ecliptic
B)Celestial equator
C)Meridian
D)Horizon

Question 14

An observer at a latitude of 41 degrees sees the Sun at the zenith at noon on which day(s)?

A)Summer and winter solstice
B)Spring and fall equinox
C)Never,impossible
D)Every day

Question 15

The celestial equivalent of latitude is

A)Declination
B)The horizon
C)Precession
D)Right ascension

Question 16

An observer in Sao Paulo,Brazil (latitude = 23.5 degrees)sees the Sun at the zenith at noon on which day(s)?

A)Winter solstice (in December)
B)Summer solstice (in June)
C)Spring and fall equinox
D)Never,impossible

Question 17

The Sun's path on the celestial sphere is the

A)Zenith
B)Equator
C)Meridian
D)Ecliptic

Question 18

Local noon corresponds to the time when the Sun is on the

A)Zenith
B)Meridian
C)Nadir
D)Ecliptic

Question 19

Which of the following is true?

A)A sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than a solar day on the Earth
B)A sidereal day is about 4 minutes longer than a solar day on the Earth
C)A sidereal day is equal to a solar day on the Earth
D)A sidereal day is the same for all planets

Question 20

The occurrence of seasons on the Earth is due to the

A)Earth being closer to the Sun in summer
B)Earth changing its rotation rate during the year
C)Earth's axis pointing in different directions during the year
D)Earth's axis being inclined to the ecliptic

Question 21

When the Moon is at opposition,its phase is

A)Full
B)New
C)First quarter
D)Third quarter

Question 22

At approximately what time does the new Moon set?

A)Sunset
B)Sunrise
C)Noon
D)Midnight

Question 23

During retrograde motion,the motion of a planet relative to the stars is generally

A)Westward
B)Eastward
C)Northward
D)Southward

Question 24

The daylight hours are the shortest at the beginning of what season?

A)spring
B)summer
C)fall
D)winter

Question 25

If you measure the angle of the north star above the horizon,what position coordinate do you have?

A)North longnitude
B)South longnitude
C)North latitude
D)South latitude

Question 26

The planet Jupiter has an orbital period of 12 years and a rotation period of 10 hours.Relative to the Earth,the difference between a solar and sidereal day is

A)Much smaller for Jupiter
B)Much larger for Jupiter
C)Exactly the same as for Earth
D)Zero in the case of Jupiter

Question 27

If sunset is at 6:00 p.m. ,at what time does the waning quarter Moon rise?

A)Noon
B)Midnight
C)3:00 a.m.
D)3:00 p.m.

Question 28

If the Moon is high in the sky at midnight,its phase is

A)First quarter
B)New
C)Full
D)Third quarter

Question 29

Approximately how rapidly does the Moon move eastward with respect to the stars?

A)12 degrees per day
B)1 degree per day
C)15 degrees per hour
D)1 degree per century

Question 30

The sun reaches its highest high point in the sky at the beginning of which season?

A)spring
B)summer
C)winter
D)fall

Question 31

Suppose the Moon rose at 6 p.m.yesterday.What are the approximate rising time and approximate phase of the Moon today?

A)5 p.m.and new
B)5 p.m.and full
C)7 p.m.and new
D)7 p.m.and full

Question 32

The sidereal month is the time required for

A)The Moon to go from new phase to new phase
B)The Moon to orbit the Earth once with respect to the sun
C)The Moon to orbit the Earth once with respect to the stars
D)A complete saros cycle

Question 33

Relative to the stars,the Moon

A)Remains stationary
B)Moves eastward,then westward during a month
C)Moves westward
D)Moves eastward

Question 34

A last quarter moon

A)sets as the sun rises
B)rises as the sun sets
C)sets 6 hours after sunset
D)sets around noon

Question 35

Which of the following best describes the motion of the Moon?

A)Toward the east with respect to the stars,westward across the sky
B)Toward the east with respect to the stars,eastward across the sky
C)Toward the west with respect to the stars,westward across the sky
D)Toward the west with respect to the stars,eastward across the sky

Question 36

How does the planet Mars move with respect to the stars?

A)Always eastward
B)Always westward
C)It stays in the same place at all times
D)Sometimes eastward,sometimes westward

Question 37

In which of the following circumstances is it possible to observe the first quarter Moon?

A)Setting at noon
B)Rising at sunset
C)High in the sky at dawn
D)Setting at midnight

Question 38

Which of the following is true of the motion of the planet Mars among the stars?

A)All retrograde loops occur in the same constellation.
B)All retrograde loops have the same shape.
C)Retrograde loops always are separated by the same interval of time.
D)Retrograde loops occur when Mars is in conjunction (near the Sun in the sky)

Question 39

What is the phase of the Moon when it sets at dawn?

A)Full
B)New
C)First quarter
D)Third quarter