Question 1

The Moon moves slowly against the background of the constellations.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

To see a solar eclipse, you have to be in Earth's shadow.

Accepted Answer

To see a solar eclipse, you have to be in the Moon's shadow, not Earth's shadow.

Question 3

What does a waning crescent moon mean?
A) The changing Moon between full moon and third quarter
B) The changing Moon between third quarter and new moon
C) The changing Moon between first quarter and full moon
D) The changing Moon between new moon and first quarter
E) The changing Moon between first and third quarters

Accepted Answer

A waning crescent moon occurs after the third quarter and before the new moon, when the visible illuminated portion of the moon is decreasing in size.

Question 4

A "larger" Moon on the horizon is an optical illusion.

Accepted Answer

This optical illusion is known as the Moon illusion, where the Moon appears larger near the horizon than when it is high in the sky. However, this is only a perception of the brain, as the Moon's actual size does not change based on its position in the sky.

Question 5

The angular diameters of the Moon and Sun vary slightly because the orbits of the Moon and Earth are slightly elliptical.

Accepted Answer

The orbits of the Moon and Earth are slightly elliptical, causing the angular diameters of the Moon and Sun to vary slightly.

Question 6

Predicting an eclipse is easy because all you have to do is keep track of where the Moon crosses the ecliptic.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Predicting an eclipse is easy because all...

Question 7

What is a new moon?
A) The lunar phase in which the first-quarter moon approaches full moon
B) The lunar phase in which Earth's shadow is cast on the Moon
C) The lunar phase in which the Moon's shadow is cast on Earth
D) The lunar phase in which sunlight illuminates only the far side of the Moon
E) The lunar phase in which sunlight illuminates the Earth facing side of the Moon

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a new moon?
A) The lunar...

Question 8

Any location on the Moon is sunlit for three weeks and is in darkness for one week as the Moon rotates.

Accepted Answer

Any location on the Moon experiences about two weeks of sunlight followed by two weeks of darkness due to the Moon's rotational period being about 27.3 days.

Question 9

Since the Moon is about 0.5 degrees in angular diameter, about how far does it move in 24 hours across the background of the constellations?
A) 0.5 degrees
B) 1.0 degree
C) 2 degrees
D) 9 degrees
E) 13 degrees

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since the Moon is about 0.5 degrees...

Question 10

Our calendar divides the year into 30-day periods in recognition of the synodic cycle of the Moon.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Our calendar divides the year into 30-day...

Question 11

In most months, there are no eclipses.

Accepted Answer

Eclipses are relatively rare events that happen only when the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth is just right. Most months, these celestial bodies are not in the proper position, and thus no eclipses occur.

Question 12

There is one side of the Moon that can never be seen directly by observers on Earth.

Accepted Answer

This side is referred to as the "far side" or "dark side" of the Moon. It can only be observed by spacecraft that have been specifically sent to orbit the Moon's far side.

Question 13

The geometry of a solar eclipse is the same as that of a lunar eclipse.

Accepted Answer

The geometry of a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse are different. In a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth. In a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.

Question 14

What is the length of time half of the Moon stays in sunlight per full rotation?
A) 29.53 days
B) 27.3 days
C) two weeks
D) one month
E) two months

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the length of time half...

Question 15

When the full Moon passes through Earth's shadow, the eclipse is visible from anywhere on Earth's dark side.

Accepted Answer

This is because the Earth's shadow is always present on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, so any location on the dark side of the Earth during the eclipse will be able to see it.

Question 16

When the Moon is totally eclipsed, the Moon is illuminated by some sunlight reflected by Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When the Moon is totally eclipsed, the...

Question 17

What produces the lunar phases?
A) The rotation of the Moon
B) The revolution of the Moon
C) The changing direction of sunlight
D) Earth's tilted axis relative to the Moon
E) The changing direction of Earth to the Moon

Accepted Answer

The answer of What produces the lunar phases?
A) The rotation...

Question 18

As the illuminated part of the Moon grows larger from new to full, it is said to "wane".

Accepted Answer

The illuminated part of the Moon grows larger from new to full, which is known as waxing. Waning occurs when the illuminated part of the Moon decreases from full to new.

Question 19

The Moon has a dark side that is never lit by the Sun.

Accepted Answer

This is a common misconception. The Moon's far side (the side facing away from Earth) receives just as much sunlight as the near side. However, the far side is not visible from Earth due to tidal locking, which means the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate that it orbits around Earth. Therefore, the far side is always facing away from Earth.

Question 20

What are the two parts of a shadow during an eclipse?
A) total and partial
B) apogee and perigee
C) sidereal and synodic
D) waxing and waning
E) umbra and penumbra

Accepted Answer

The two parts of a shadow during an eclipse are the umbra and penumbra. The umbra is the darkest part of the shadow where the light source is completely obscured, and the penumbra is the lighter part of the shadow where only a portion of the light source is obscured.

Quiz 3: Moon Phases and Eclipses