Question 1

On the first day of Spring,the Sun is on the
A)Zenith
B)Meridian
C)Celestial equator
D)Nadir

Accepted Answer

On the first day of Spring, the Sun is crossing the celestial equator, which is the point where the ecliptic (the path of the Sun in the sky) intersects the celestial equator. This is known as the vernal (Spring) equinox. The Sun is not on the zenith (the point directly overhead), meridian (the line passing through the observer's zenith and the celestial poles), or nadir (the point directly below the observer).

Question 2

The time kept by a sundial is
A)Apparent solar time
B)Mean solar time
C)Sidereal time
D)Greenwich mean time

Accepted Answer

Sundials measure the time based on the position of the sun in the sky, which varies with the seasons and the position of the observer on the Earth's surface. This type of timekeeping is known as apparent solar time, and it differs from mean solar time (B) which is based on an average of the sun's position throughout the year. Sidereal time (C) is based on the Earth's rotation relative to the fixed stars and is used primarily in astronomy. Greenwich Mean Time (D) is based on the time at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England and is important for coordinating time zones globally, but it is not directly related to the position of the sun in the sky as measured by a sundial.

Question 3

Suppose there is a star that rises at 10 p.m.tonight.At what time will it rise one month from now?
A)11 P.M.
B)Midnight
C)9 p.m.
D)8 p.m.

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

When does the most northerly sunrise occur?
A)Autumnal equinox
B)Vernal equinox
C)Summer solstice
D)Winter solstice

Accepted Answer

The most northerly sunrise occurs during the Summer solstice, which is the point in the year when the Earth's North Pole is tilted closest to the sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night in the northern hemisphere.

Question 5

The north-south line that passes directly overhead is the
A)Ecliptic
B)Meridian
C)Horizon
D)Azimuth

Accepted Answer

The Meridian is the north-south line that passes directly overhead, while the Horizon is the line that separates the visible sky from the ground. The Ecliptic is the path followed by the Sun across the sky over the course of a year, and the Azimuth is the angle between the observer's location and the direction of the object being observed. Therefore, the best choice is B)Meridian.

Question 6

If the Earth's equator were in the plane of the ecliptic,which of the following phenomena would not occur?
A)Day and night
B)The appearance of different constellations at different times of year
C)The seasons
D)The appearance of the planet Mercury in the sky

Accepted Answer

The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbit around the Sun. If the Earth's equator were in the plane of the ecliptic, there would be no tilt, and therefore no seasons. However, day and night, the appearance of different constellations at different times of year, and the appearance of other planets in the sky would still occur.

Question 7

The Sun moves eastward among the stars at the rate of about 30 degrees per
A)Hour
B)Month
C)Year
D)Day
E)Minute

Accepted Answer

The Sun moves eastward among the stars at the rate of about 30 degrees per month, which is roughly equivalent to its apparent motion through the zodiac signs over the course of a year.

Question 8

Approximately how long does it take for the Sun to move 1 degree with respect to the stars?
A)1 minute
B)1 hour
C)1 day
D)1 week

Accepted Answer

The Sun appears to move approximately 1 degree with respect to the stars every day, due to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. This movement is part of the basis for the concept of a "solar day."

Question 9

What is the altitude of the Sun at noon on the day of the autumnal equinox at 41 degrees north latitude?
A)41 degrees
B)23 degrees
C)49 degrees
D)18 degrees

Accepted Answer

On the day of the autumnal equinox, the tilt of the Earth's axis is such that the Sun's rays fall perpendicular to the equator. At 41 degrees north latitude, this means the Sun's altitude at noon would be equal to the latitude plus the tilt of the Earth's axis, which is approximately 23.5 degrees. Therefore, the altitude of the Sun at noon on the day of the autumnal equinox at 41 degrees north latitude would be 41 + 23.5 = 64.5 degrees.

Question 10

Which of the following coordinates describes the angular distance of an object north or south of the celestial equator?
A)Azimuth
B)Altitude
C)Right ascension
D)Declination

Accepted Answer

Declination is the coordinate that describes the angular distance of an object north or south of the celestial equator. Azimuth and altitude describe the location of an object in the horizon system, and right ascension describes the angular distance of an object eastward of the vernal equinox.

Question 11

At which of the following times is the azimuth of the rising Sun the greatest for observers in the northern hemisphere?
A)The winter solstice
B)The summer solstice
C)The spring equinox
D)The autumnal equinox

Accepted Answer

The answer of At which of the following times is...

Question 12

The ecliptic is the
A)Projection of the Earth's equator on the celestial sphere
B)Plane of the Earth's orbit projected onto the celestial sphere
C)Apparent path of the Moon on the celestial sphere
D)Plane of the Moon's orbit

Accepted Answer

The ecliptic is the plane of the Earth's orbit projected onto the celestial sphere. It is the path that the Sun appears to travel across the sky over the course of a year, and it is also the path that the Moon and planets follow.

Question 13

The line that divides the celestial sphere into northern and southern hemispheres is the
A)Ecliptic
B)Celestial equator
C)Meridian
D)Horizon

Accepted Answer

The celestial equator is the imaginary line that divides the celestial sphere into northern and southern hemispheres, much like the Earth's equator divides the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.

Question 14

An observer at a latitude of 41 degrees sees the Sun at the zenith at noon on which day(s)?
A)Summer and winter solstice
B)Spring and fall equinox
C)Never,impossible
D)Every day

Accepted Answer

It is not possible for an observer at a latitude of 41 degrees to see the Sun at the zenith at noon on any day because the highest the Sun can be in the sky at noon is equal to the observer's latitude plus or minus 23.5 degrees, which is between 17.5 and 63.5 degrees for a latitude of 41 degrees. The Sun cannot be directly overhead (at the zenith) unless the observer is at the equator (0 degrees latitude) on the equinoxes.

Question 15

The celestial equivalent of latitude is
A)Declination
B)The horizon
C)Precession
D)Right ascension

Accepted Answer

Declination is the celestial equivalent of latitude. It measures the angular distance of a celestial object north or south of the celestial equator. It is similar to how latitude measures the angular distance of a location north or south of the Earth's equator. The other options, Horizon, Precession, and Right Ascension, are not related to the concept of latitude in celestial navigation.

Question 16

An observer in Sao Paulo,Brazil (latitude = 23.5 degrees)sees the Sun at the zenith at noon on which day(s)?
A)Winter solstice (in December)
B)Summer solstice (in June)
C)Spring and fall equinox
D)Never,impossible

Accepted Answer

The answer of An observer in Sao Paulo,Brazil (latitude =...

Question 17

The Sun's path on the celestial sphere is the
A)Zenith
B)Equator
C)Meridian
D)Ecliptic

Accepted Answer

The Sun's path on the celestial sphere is called the ecliptic, which is the plane of Earth's orbit around the Sun projected onto the celestial sphere. The other options are not relevant to the Sun's path. The Zenith is the point directly overhead, the Equator is the line on the celestial sphere that is perpendicular to the celestial poles and halfway between them, and the Meridian is the line passing through the zenith and connecting the north and south points on the horizon.

Question 18

Local noon corresponds to the time when the Sun is on the
A)Zenith
B)Meridian
C)Nadir
D)Ecliptic

Accepted Answer

Local noon refers to the time when the Sun is directly overhead, which occurs when the Sun crosses the meridian of a particular location. The meridian is an imaginary line that runs from north to south through the point directly overhead, or the zenith. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

Question 19

Which of the following is true?
A)A sidereal day is about 4 minutes shorter than a solar day on the Earth
B)A sidereal day is about 4 minutes longer than a solar day on the Earth
C)A sidereal day is equal to a solar day on the Earth
D)A sidereal day is the same for all planets

Accepted Answer

A sidereal day is the time it takes for a planet to rotate once on its axis relative to the fixed stars. A solar day is the time it takes for a planet to rotate once on its axis relative to the sun. Because the Earth is also moving around the sun, it takes slightly longer for the sun to appear in the same place in the sky each day, resulting in a solar day that is about 4 minutes longer than a sidereal day.

Question 20

The occurrence of seasons on the Earth is due to the
A)Earth being closer to the Sun in summer
B)Earth changing its rotation rate during the year
C)Earth's axis pointing in different directions during the year
D)Earth's axis being inclined to the ecliptic

Accepted Answer

The occurrence of seasons on the Earth is due to the fact that the Earth's axis is inclined at an angle of about 23.5 degrees with respect to its orbital plane (ecliptic). This means that during the course of the year, different parts of the Earth receive different amounts of direct sunlight, causing the seasons to change. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences summertime, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences winter. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, it experiences wintertime, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences summertime. This tilt, and its effect on the distribution of sunlight, is the reason we have seasons.

Quiz 2: Patterns in the Sky

On the first day of Spring,the Sun is on the

The time kept by a sundial is

Suppose there is a star that rises at 10 p.m.tonight.At what time will it rise one month from now?

When does the most northerly sunrise occur?

The north-south line that passes directly overhead is the

If the Earth's equator were in the plane of the ecliptic,which of the following phenomena would not occur?

The Sun moves eastward among the stars at the rate of about 30 degrees per

Approximately how long does it take for the Sun to move 1 degree with respect to the stars?

What is the altitude of the Sun at noon on the day of the autumnal equinox at 41 degrees north latitude?

Which of the following coordinates describes the angular distance of an object north or south of the celestial equator?

At which of the following times is the azimuth of the rising Sun the greatest for observers in the northern hemisphere?

The ecliptic is the

The line that divides the celestial sphere into northern and southern hemispheres is the

An observer at a latitude of 41 degrees sees the Sun at the zenith at noon on which day(s) ?

The celestial equivalent of latitude is

An observer in Sao Paulo,Brazil (latitude = 23.5 degrees) sees the Sun at the zenith at noon on which day(s) ?

The Sun's path on the celestial sphere is the

Local noon corresponds to the time when the Sun is on the

Which of the following is true?

The occurrence of seasons on the Earth is due to the