Question 1

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?
A) 45°
B) 23.5°
C) 39°
D) 51°
E) The answer depends on the day of the year.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You live at a latitude of 39°...

Question 2

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below? 
A) 20° N
B) 20° S
C) 70° N
D) 70° S
E) 0°

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

Table 2-1
 
-Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would not be visible to the unaided eye of an observer on Earth?
A) ($\alpha$ Cet)
B) ($\alpha$Cma)
C) Nim
D) ($\rho$ Per)
E) ( $\delta$ Dra)

Accepted Answer

The star "Nim" is not visible to the unaided eye because it is not a real star name, unlike the other options which are actual stars with known visibility.

Question 4

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing? 
A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes...

Question 5

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?
A) 62°
B) 28°
C) 40°
D) 23°
E) 5°

Accepted Answer

The answer of You live at a latitude of 28°...

Question 6

You live at a latitude of 16° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?
A) 74°
B) 164°
C) 16°
D) 23°
E) 5°

Accepted Answer

The angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole is equal to the observer's latitude, which is 16° S in this case.

Question 7

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?
A) 45°
B) 23.5°
C) 39°
D) 51°
E) The answer depends on the day of the year.

Accepted Answer

The angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole is equal to the observer's latitude, which is 39° in this case.

Question 8

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?
A) Only stars close to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane) are located in constellations.
B) Every star is located in a constellation.
C) Only the brighter stars are in constellations.
D) Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations.

Accepted Answer

Every star is located in a constellation. Constellations are simply groupings of stars that form recognizable patterns. However, not all stars are necessarily well-known or named within a particular constellation. Additionally, different cultures have recognized and named different constellations depending on their individual traditions and mythologies.

Question 9

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?
A) 90° N
B) 90° S
C) 0°
D) 45° N
E) The latitude of the observer cannot be determined from the information given.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing? 
A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Accepted Answer

The photograph depicts the stars circling around a central point. This is only true if the camera was pointing towards the south pole. If it were pointing towards any other direction, the stars would appear to move in a different pattern. Therefore, the correct answer is C) straight south.

Question 11

Table 2-1
 
-Refer to Table 2-1. Based on the information in the table, what is the ratio of the intensity of Dra to that of Nim?
A) 2.512
B) 5
C) 8.07
D) 11.14
E) 100

Accepted Answer

The answer of Table 2-1
 
-Refer to Table 2-1. Based...

Question 12

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing? 
A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes...

Question 13

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing? 
A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes...

Question 14

Table 2-1
 
-Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth?
A) ($\alpha$ Cet)
B) ($\alpha$ CMa)
C) Nim
D) ($\rho$ Per)
E) ( $\delta$ Dra)

Accepted Answer

The brightness of a star as observed from Earth is determined by its apparent magnitude, which is listed in the table. The smaller the apparent magnitude, the brighter the star appears to the naked eye. Among the stars listed, Sirius (CMa) has the smallest apparent magnitude (-1.46), making it the brightest star to an observer on Earth.

Question 15

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.
A) 2 times fainter
B) 2 times brighter
C) 6.3 times fainter
D) 6.3 times brighter
E) 29.8 times fainter

Accepted Answer

The apparent magnitude scale is logarithmic, with a difference of 5 magnitudes corresponding to a brightness factor of 100. A difference of 2 magnitudes (15.4 - 13.4) therefore corresponds to a brightness factor of approximately 6.3, making star A 6.3 times brighter than star B.

Question 16

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?
A) 18
B) (-14)
C) 3
D) (-3)
E) 5

Accepted Answer

The magnitude scale is logarithmic, with a difference of 5 magnitudes corresponding to a factor of 100 in brightness. A star 16 times fainter than a second magnitude star would be approximately 3 magnitudes dimmer, making Phi Pegasi's magnitude about 5.

Question 17

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below? 
A) 90° N
B) 90° S
C) 50° N
D) 50° S
E) 0°

Accepted Answer

Since the observer can see Polaris, which is always directly above the North Pole, the observer must be in the Northern Hemisphere. The angle between the horizon and Polaris is approximately 50°, which is the approximate latitude of the observer.

Question 18

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing? 
A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes...

Question 19

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say 9 P.M.) follow a seasonal pattern?
A) No, the same constellations are visible at 9 P.M. on any clear night of the year.
B) No. As the year progresses, the constellations visible at 9 P.M. are the same but their shapes change.
C) Yes, at 9 P.M. during a clear winter night ALL of the constellations you can see are different from the ones that appear at the same time during a summer night.
D) Yes, at 9 P.M. during a summer night most of the constellations you can see are different from those you can see on a winter night. However, there are some constellations that are visible all year long.

Accepted Answer

The position of the constellations visible at 9 P.M. does follow a seasonal pattern. During a clear summer night, most of the constellations visible at 9 P.M. are different from those visible during a winter night. However, there are some constellations that are visible all year long, so not all constellations change with the seasons.

Question 20

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing? 
A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes...

Quiz 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

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

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

You live at a latitude of 16° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

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

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Table 2-1 -Refer to Table 2-1. Based on the information in the table, what is the ratio of the intensity of Dra to that of Nim?

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Table 2-1 $Table 2-1 -Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth? A) ( \alpha Cet) B) ( \alpha CMa) C) Nim D) ( \rho Per) E) ( \delta Dra)$ -Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth?

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

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

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say 9 P.M.) follow a seasonal pattern?

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Quiz 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

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

Table 2-1 -Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would not be visible to the unaided eye of an observer on Earth?

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

You live at a latitude of 16° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

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

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Table 2-1 -Refer to Table 2-1. Based on the information in the table, what is the ratio of the intensity of Dra to that of Nim?

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Table 2-1 -Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth?

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

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

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say 9 P.M.) follow a seasonal pattern?

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

Table 2-1 $Table 2-1 -Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth? A) ( \alpha Cet) B) ( \alpha CMa) C) Nim D) ( \rho Per) E) ( \delta Dra)$ -Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth?