Question 1

At what approximate time will the new Moon rise?

Accepted Answer

The new Moon rises around the same time as the Sun, which is during sunrise. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.

Question 2

Earth's shadow falling on the Moon is the reason we see

Accepted Answer

When Earth's shadow falls on the Moon, it causes a lunar eclipse. This occurs when the Moon, Earth, and Sun are aligned in a straight line or very close to it, with Earth in the middle. As Earth blocks the Sun's light, its shadow falls on the Moon, causing it to appear reddish or orange in color. This is because some of the Earth's atmosphere refracts the Sun's light and bends it around the Earth, creating a red glow that is visible on the Moon during a lunar eclipse.

Question 3

If you were going to send a spacecraft to circle the Moon and photograph the entire far side (the side not visible from Earth),during which lunar phase (as seen from Earth)would you do the photography?

Accepted Answer

During a new moon, the far side of the Moon is fully illuminated by the Sun, making it easier to photograph without interference from the Moon's reflected sunlight.

Question 4

In the northern hemisphere,where can you see the true astronomical new moon?

Accepted Answer

The true astronomical new moon is the phase when the Moon is located directly between the Earth and the Sun, making it invisible from Earth due to the side facing Earth not being illuminated.

Question 5

The apparent path of the Sun across our sky,day-by-day,throughout the year,is known as the

Accepted Answer

The apparent path of the Sun across our sky, day-by-day, throughout the year is known as the ecliptic. The celestial meridian is an imaginary line passing through the zenith and connecting the north and south points on the horizon. The zenith is the point directly overhead an observer. The celestial equator is the projection of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere.

Question 6

The equinoxes are located at the intersections of the

Accepted Answer

The equinoxes occur when the Sun's path along the ecliptic intersects with the celestial equator, specifically at the points where the Sun crosses the celestial equator going from south to north (vernal or spring equinox) and from north to south (autumnal equinox).

Question 7

Astronomers living north of the Arctic Circle around the time of summer solstice will experience which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Astronomers living north of the Arctic Circle around the time of summer solstice will experience 24 hours of sunlight.

Question 8

Which of the following phases of the Moon is most easily seen during the daytime (mid-morning or mid-afternoon,not near sunrise or sunset)?

Accepted Answer

During the quarter phase, the Moon is high up in the sky and the sunlight illuminates half of it, making it easily visible during the daytime, especially in mid-morning or mid-afternoon. The New Moon is not visible at all during the daytime as it is located close to the Sun in the sky, and the Full Moon is more easily visible during the nighttime.

Question 9

On a particular night,Jupiter subtends an angle of 42 arcseconds as seen from Earth.This angle is

Accepted Answer

An arcminute is equal to 60 arcseconds, so 42 arcseconds is roughly three-quarters of an arcminute (42/60 = 0.7).

Question 10

When the Sun is at one of the equinoxes,

Accepted Answer

During an equinox, the Sun crosses the celestial equator, leading to nearly equal day and night lengths across the globe, not just at the equator. This happens because the Earth's axis of rotation is not tilted away from or towards the Sun, allowing for an equal distribution of sunlight.

Question 11

The ecliptic crosses the celestial equator at

Accepted Answer

The ecliptic, which is the path the sun appears to take across the celestial sphere, intersects the celestial equator at two points, known as the equinoxes. The vernal (or spring) equinox is one of those points, where the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The other point is the autumnal (or fall) equinox, where the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from north to south, marking the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 12

How many arcseconds are there in a full circle?

Accepted Answer

A full circle has 360 degrees, each degree has 60 arcminutes, and each arcminute has 60 arcseconds. Therefore, the total number of arcseconds in a full circle is 360 degrees × 60 arcminutes/degree × 60 arcseconds/arcminute = 360 × 3600.

Question 13

From the North Pole,

Accepted Answer

From the North Pole, only half of the celestial sphere is visible at any given time because the observer is at one of the Earth's rotational poles, limiting the view to one hemisphere.

Question 14

It is warmer in summer than winter because

Accepted Answer

The Sun being higher in the sky during the summer months means that the angle at which the sunlight hits the Earth is more direct, resulting in more concentrated heat. Additionally, the longer days allow for more time for the Earth's surface to be heated by the Sun.

Question 15

What is the one major difference between the Sun and the Moon in our sky?

Accepted Answer

The Sun emits its own light through nuclear fusion reactions, while the Moon reflects the light of the Sun making it the only astronomical object in the sky that can be seen by reflected sunlight.

Question 16

One required condition for seasons to occur is that a planet's

Accepted Answer

A planet's spin axis being tilted with respect to the perpendicular to its orbital plane results in different parts of the planet receiving different amounts of sunlight at different times of the year, which causes the seasons.

Question 17

Where would you have to be to see the south celestial pole on your horizon?

Accepted Answer

On the equator, the celestial poles (both north and south) appear on the horizon. This is because the equator is the dividing line between the northern and southern hemispheres, making it the only place where both celestial poles can be seen on the horizon.

Question 18

How much of the total surface of the Moon is illuminated by the Sun when it is at quarter phase?

Accepted Answer

When the Moon is at quarter phase, half of the Moon's surface is illuminated by the Sun, so the answer is D) One-half.

Question 19

During one complete year,an observer at the south pole would be able to see what fraction of the overall sky?

Accepted Answer

At the South Pole, an observer can see exactly one-half of the celestial sphere over the course of a year. The Earth's rotation allows the observer to see 360 degrees around the horizon, but only the southern half of the celestial sphere is visible; the North Pole and areas north of the celestial equator are never visible from the South Pole.

Question 20

When the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and the Sun and Moon are almost in line,we call its phase

Accepted Answer

When the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and the Sun and Moon are almost in line, the illuminated side of the Moon is facing away from Earth, making it appear as a dark disk in the sky. This is known as a new moon.

Quiz 1: Predicting the Motions of the Stars, Sun, and Moon