Question 1

Where is the zenith for an observer standing at a point on the Earth's equator?
A) directly overhead
B) near the horizon and towards the south
C) near the horizon and towards the west
D) the position depends on the time of day

Accepted Answer

The zenith is the point directly overhead an observer, regardless of their location on Earth. For an observer at the equator, this point is indeed directly overhead, not influenced by the time of day.

Question 2

The Moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the Moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc?
A) 0.5
B) 30
C) 50
D) 1800

Accepted Answer

There are 60 minutes of arc in one degree. Therefore, to convert degrees to minutes of arc, we multiply by 60.

0.5° x 60 = 30'

So the Moon's angular diameter is 30 minutes of arc.

Question 3

If you were standing on the Earth's equator, which of the following in the sky would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours)?
A) the north celestial pole
B) the south celestial pole
C) the celestial equator
D) circumpolar constellations

Accepted Answer

The celestial equator is an imaginary circle around the celestial sphere that is directly above the Earth's equator. As the Earth rotates on its axis, celestial objects appear to move across the sky along the celestial equator. Therefore, if you were standing on the Earth's equator, the celestial equator would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours).

Question 4

Seen from Yellowknife (latitude 62 degrees North), where is the star Polaris in the sky?
A) directly overhead
B) 62 degrees above the horizon
C) 28 degrees above the horizon
D) the position depends on the time of day

Accepted Answer

Polaris, the North Star, is located almost directly above the Earth's North Pole. Therefore, its altitude above the horizon in degrees is approximately equal to the observer's latitude. For an observer in Yellowknife at 62 degrees North, Polaris would appear 62 degrees above the northern horizon.

Question 5

How much of the night sky lies north of the celestial equator?
A) Less than half, because of the tilt of the equator to the ecliptic plane.
B) More than half, because of the precession of the poles.
C) Exactly half.
D) All of the night sky.

Accepted Answer

The celestial equator divides the sky into two equal halves, with half of the sky lying north of the celestial equator and the other half lying south of it, regardless of the Earth's tilt or precession.

Question 6

For an observer in New Delhi, India, at a latitude of 28° North, what is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?
A) 5°
B) 28°
C) 40°
D) 62°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole for an observer is equal to the latitude of the observer's location. Since New Delhi, India, is at a latitude of 28° North, the angle is 28°.

Question 7

For an observer in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, at a latitude of 73° North, what is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?
A) 17°
B) 23.5°
C) 27°
D) 73°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole for an observer is equal to the observer's latitude. For an observer in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, at a latitude of 73° North, this angle is 73°.

Question 8

For an observer in Toronto, at a latitude of 44° North, what is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?
A) 23.5°
B) 36°
C) 44°
D) 74°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole for an observer is equal to the latitude of the observer's location. Since Toronto is at a latitude of 44° North, the angle is 44°.

Question 9

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?
A) 0°
B) 45° N
C) 90° N
D) 90° S

Accepted Answer

The north celestial pole appears on the horizon only at the equator, which is at 0° latitude.

Question 10

Which of the following is equivalent to 1/3600th of a degree?
A) 1/60 of an arc second
B) 1 arc second
C) 1 arc minute
D) 60 arc minutes

Accepted Answer

1 arc second is equivalent to 1/3600th of a degree, as there are 60 arc minutes in a degree and 60 arc seconds in an arc minute.

Question 11

For an observer in Valdivia, Chile, at a latitude of 39° South, what is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?
A) 23.5°
B) 45°
C) 39°
D) 51°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole for an observer is equal to the observer's latitude. Since Valdivia, Chile, is at a latitude of 39° South, the angle is 39°.

Question 12

You point your finger toward the zenith right now, and then point there again six hours later. At both times, your finger was pointing in the same direction relative to one of the options below. Which one?
A) your horizon
B) the Sun
C) the Moon
D) the fixed stars

Accepted Answer

The answer of You point your finger toward the zenith...

Question 13

If an observer travels north, toward higher latitudes, how does the number of circumpolar stars that he or she sees in the sky change?
A) remains constant
B) decreases
C) increases
D) also depends on the longitude of the observer

Accepted Answer

As an observer travels north towards higher latitudes, the number of circumpolar stars seen in the sky increases. This is because from higher latitudes, more stars in the northern hemisphere become visible and remain above the horizon for the entire night due to the curvature of the Earth's surface. This change in the number of circumpolar stars is not dependent on the observer's longitude.

Question 14

For an observer in Oberon Bay, Australia, at a latitude of 39° South, what is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?
A) 23.5°
B) 39°
C) 45°
D) 51°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole for an observer is equal to the observer's latitude. Therefore, at a latitude of 39° South, the angle is 39°.

Question 15

Seen from Winnipeg (latitude 50 degrees North), where is the star Polaris in the sky?
A) directly overhead
B) 40 degrees above the horizon
C) 50 degrees above the horizon
D) the position depends on the time of day

Accepted Answer

Polaris, the North Star, is located almost directly above the Earth's North Pole. Therefore, its altitude in the sky (angle above the horizon) is approximately equal to the observer's latitude. For an observer in Winnipeg at 50 degrees North, Polaris would appear about 50 degrees above the northern horizon.

Question 16

If you were standing at the Earth's North Pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?
A) the nadir
B) the star Vega
C) the celestial equator
D) the north celestial pole

Accepted Answer

At the Earth's North Pole, the zenith would be directly overhead and would mark the location of the North Celestial Pole, which is the point in the sky around which all the stars appear to rotate. The nadir would be directly below the observer, while the star Vega and the celestial equator would be visible on the horizon.

Question 17

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram? 
A) 50° N
B) 50° S
C) 90° N
D) 90° S

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the approximate latitude of the...

Question 18

An observer in the northern hemisphere watches the sky for several hours. Due to the motion of the Earth, this observer notices that the stars near the north celestial pole appear to move. What pattern does this apparent movement follow?
A) clockwise around the celestial pole
B) counter-clockwise around the celestial pole
C) from left to right
D) from right to left

Accepted Answer

In the northern hemisphere, stars appear to move counter-clockwise around the north celestial pole due to Earth's rotation. This is because the Earth rotates from west to east, making the sky seem to move in the opposite direction.

Question 19

For an observer in Lusaka, Zambia, at a latitude of 16° South, what is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?
A) 16°
B) 23.5°
C) 74°
D) 164°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole is equal to the observer's latitude. Since the observer is located at a latitude of 16° South, the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole is also 16°. Therefore, the answer is A) 16°.

Question 20

What is the term for the point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer, no matter where on the Earth the observer is located?
A) north celestial pole
B) south celestial pole
C) zenith
D) nadir

Accepted Answer

The point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer, no matter where on the Earth the observer is located, is called the zenith. The north and south celestial poles are the points on the celestial sphere directly above the Earth's geographic North and South poles, respectively. The nadir is the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer.

Quiz 2: Users Guide to the Sky: Patterns and Cycles

Where is the zenith for an observer standing at a point on the Earth's equator?

The Moon has an angular diameter of 0.5°. What is the Moon's angular diameter in minutes of arc?

If you were standing on the Earth's equator, which of the following in the sky would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours) ?

Seen from Yellowknife (latitude 62 degrees North) , where is the star Polaris in the sky?

How much of the night sky lies north of the celestial equator?

For an observer in New Delhi, India, at a latitude of 28° North, what is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

For an observer in Pond Inlet, Nunavut, at a latitude of 73° North, what is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

For an observer in Toronto, at a latitude of 44° North, what is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

Which of the following is equivalent to 1/3600th of a degree?

For an observer in Valdivia, Chile, at a latitude of 39° South, what is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

You point your finger toward the zenith right now, and then point there again six hours later. At both times, your finger was pointing in the same direction relative to one of the options below. Which one?

If an observer travels north, toward higher latitudes, how does the number of circumpolar stars that he or she sees in the sky change?

For an observer in Oberon Bay, Australia, at a latitude of 39° South, what is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Seen from Winnipeg (latitude 50 degrees North) , where is the star Polaris in the sky?

If you were standing at the Earth's North Pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram?

An observer in the northern hemisphere watches the sky for several hours. Due to the motion of the Earth, this observer notices that the stars near the north celestial pole appear to move. What pattern does this apparent movement follow?

For an observer in Lusaka, Zambia, at a latitude of 16° South, what is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

What is the term for the point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer, no matter where on the Earth the observer is located?