Over the course of one night, an observer at any given location on Earth sees the constellations gradually shift across the sky from east to west. This is caused primarily by the
A) inherent rotation of the universe.
B) rotation of Earth around its own axis.
C) precession of the spin axis of Earth.
D) orbital motion of Earth around the Sun.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The apparent movement of constellations across the sky from east to west over the course of a night is primarily due to the rotation of Earth around its own axis. This rotation makes it seem as if the stars (and other celestial objects) are moving, while in reality, it is the Earth that is spinning.

Over the Course of One Night, an Observer at Any