For a particular observer in the northern hemisphere,a given star in the sky will reach its highest point when it passes through the:
A) celestial equator.
B) zodiac.
C) ecliptic plane.
D) region of the sky due south.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For an observer in the northern hemisphere, a star will reach its highest point in the sky when it passes through the region of the sky due south. This is because a star's altitude above the horizon (how high it appears in the sky) is highest when it is directly south, and decreases as it moves towards the north or south celestial pole. Therefore, option D is the best choice. Option A (celestial equator) is incorrect because a star's position relative to the celestial equator does not affect its altitude above the horizon. Option B (zodiac) is also incorrect because the zodiac is a band in the sky through which the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to move, but it does not have a direct effect on a star's altitude. Option C (ecliptic plane) is similar to option B and does not affect a star's altitude directly.

For a Particular Observer in the Northern Hemisphere,a Given Star