Astronomy Today, 7e - Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy (FREE)

Multiple-Choice

1) Which of the choices below correctly lists things in order from largest to smallest?
A) Local Group, Solar System, Milky Way, Universe
B) Universe, Milky Way, Local Group, Solar System
C) Solar System, Local Group, Universe, Milky Way
D) Universe, Local Group, Milky Way, Solar System
E) Milky Way, Universe, Solar System, Local Group
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.1

2) Modern scientific theories are NOT:
A) testable.
B) continuously tested.
C) simple.
D) perfect.
E) elegant.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.2

3) Aristotle's hypothesis was that:
A) lunar eclipses were created by our shadow.
B) only a spherical Earth would always cast a circular shadow on the Moon.
C) lunar eclipses would have to happen every full moon.
D) the Sun lay at the center of the planet orbits.
E) the Moon orbited the Earth.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.2

4) About how many stars are visible on a clear, dark night with the naked eye alone?
A) a few dozen
B) a few hundred
C) a few thousand
D) tens of thousands
E) millions and millions
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.3
5) Into how many constellations is the celestial sphere divided?
A) 12
B) 44
C) 57
D) 88
E) 110
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.3

6) What are constellations?
A) Groups of galaxies gravitationally bound and close together in the sky
B) Groups of stars making an apparent pattern in the celestial sphere
C) Groups of stars gravitationally bound and appearing close together in the sky
D) Ancient story boards, useless to modern astronomers
E) Apparent groupings of stars and planets visible on a given evening
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.3

7) Where on Earth would you be if Polaris was at your zenith?
A) North Pole
B) Arctic Circle
C) Tropic of Cancer
D) Equator
E) It lies overhead everywhere on Earth.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.3

 
8 ) Where on Earth can you observe all the stars in the sky over an entire year?
A) North Pole
B) Arctic Circle
C) Tropic of Cancer
D) Equator
E) Everyone on Earth can see the whole sky.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.3

9) In general, what is true of the alpha star in a constellation?
A) It is the brightest star in the constellation.
B) It is the easternmost star in the constellation.
C) It is the westernmost star in the constellation.
D) It is the reddest star in the constellation.
E) It is the star that is closest to Earth.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2
10) What is the range of values for declination?
A) +90 to -90 degrees
B) +180 to -180 degrees
C) +23.5 to -23.5 degrees
D) 0 to 23 hours
E) Correct answer is not given.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2

11) What is the range of values for Right Ascension?
A) 90 degrees to 0 degrees
B) 0 to 360 degrees
C) +23.5 to -23.5 degrees
D) 0 to 12 hours
E) 0 to 23 hours
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2

 
12) While watching a star, you see it moves 15 degrees across the sky.  How long have you been watching it?
A) 1 hour
B) 3 hours   
C) 15 minutes
D) 15 seconds
E) 1 minute
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2

13) Which statement about declination is FALSE?
A) Polaris is almost at +90 degrees.
B) Stars passing your zenith have a declination equal to your local latitude.
C) Its origin is the celestial equator.
D) It is measured eastward in units of time.
E) It is much like latitude on the earth's globe.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2

14) A star with a right ascension of 1.0 hours will rise
A) 1.0 hours before the vernal equinox.
B) 13.0 hours before the vernal equinox.
C) 1.0 hour after the vernal equinox.
D) 11.0 hours after the vernal equinox.
E) at the same time as the vernal equinox.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2
15) Which statement about Right Ascension is FALSE?
A) Each hour is equal to 15 degrees of sky.
B) Its origin is the Vernal Equinox.
C) It is very similar to latitude on the Earth.
D) It turns the sky into a vast 24 hour clock face.
E) It is measured eastward in units of time.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  More Prec. 1-2

 
16) This diagram explains

 
A) the difference between solar time and sidereal time.
B) precession.
C) the solar day's relation to the Moon.
D) the sidereal day's relation to the seasons.
E) the reason for the solstices.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.4, Fig. 1.13
17) How long is the precession cycle?
A) 1 day
B) 29.5 days
C) 365.24 days
D) 18 years, 11.3 days
E) 26,000 years
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.4

18 ) The place the Sun stops its northward motion along the ecliptic is the:
A) equator.
B) prime meridian.
C) summer solstice.
D) vernal equinox.
E) node of the ecliptic.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.4

19) The places where the Sun crosses the equator are called the:
A) annalemmas.
B) prime meridians.
C) zeniths.
D) equinoxes.
E) solstices.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.4

20) A year is defined as
A) the time it takes for Earth to complete a rotation on its axis.
B) the time it takes for the moon to complete an orbit of Earth.
C) the time it takes for the moon to complete a phase cycle.
D) the time it takes for Earth to complete an orbit around the Sun.
E) the time it takes for the Sun to complete an orbit around Earth.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4

21) From a location in the United States of America, a star is observed to be rising due East. Where will this star be located 6 hours later?
A) Directly overhead.
B) High in the Northern sky.
C) High in the southern sky.
D) Setting due West.
E) The location of the star cannot be determined from the information given.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4
 
22) Which statement about the ecliptic is FALSE?
A) The Sun appears to move about a degree per day eastward long it.
B) It is tilted 23.5 degrees with respect to the equator.
C) The year is marked by the Sun's return to the same place along it.
D) The Moon can never leave it, but moves twelve times faster than the Sun.
E) The major planets stay close to it, but not always on it.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4

23) You note that a particular star is directly overhead.  It will be directly overhead again in
A) 1 hour.
B) 12 hours.
C) 23 hours 56 minutes.
D) 24 hours.
E) 24 hours 4 minutes.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4

24) That Polaris will not always be the pole star is due to
A) the sidereal day being shorter than the solar day.
B) precession shifting the celestial pole.
C) the Moon following the ecliptic, instead of the equator.
D) the earth's revolution being slightly less than exactly 365.25 days.
E) the Solar winds blowing the earth farther away from the Sun.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4

25) What celestial line is a product of the Earth's orbit around the Sun?
A) Ecliptic
B) Prime Meridian
C) Equator
D) Galactic Plane
E) Analemma
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4

 
26) If your astrological sign is Aries, the Sun should be in the constellation Aries on your birthday. The dates, according to astrological tradition, during which the Sun is in the constellation Aries are March 21 to April 20th. In which constellation is the Sun actually in, during this time period?
A) Aquarius
B) Pisces
C) Aries
D) Taurus
E) Gemini
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4
27) Where would you be if the Sun sets for six continuous months, beginning on September 23rd?
A) North Pole
B) Arctic Circle
C) Equator
D) Antarctic Circle
E) South Pole
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.4

28) When is the Sun located at 6 hours RA, -23.5 degrees declination?
A) Vernal Equinox
B) Summer Solstice
C) Autumnal Equinox
D) Winter Solstice
E) Sun is never found at this position.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  1.4

29) Where would you be if the Sun passes through your zenith on December 21st?
A) Equator
B) Tropic of Cancer
C) Tropic of Capricorn
D) Antarctic Circle
E) South Pole
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  1.4

 
30) When the sun rises it is located in the constellation Gemini. When the sun sets later that same day it will be
A) in the constellation Aries.
B) in the constellation Taurus.
C) in the constellation Gemini.
D) in the constellation Cancer.
E) in the constellation Leo.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  1.4

31) Which statement about the length of a day is FALSE?
A) At the North Pole, the day lasts six months, then six months of night.
B) At the equator, every day is twelve hours long, then twelve hours of night.
C) For the United States, June 21st will be the longest day.
D) The solar day is four minutes longer than the sidereal one.
E) The sidereal day includes both the Earth's rotation and revolution around the Sun.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  1.4
32) If Taurus is now rising at sunset, which constellation will rise at sunset next month?
A) Scorpius
B) Aquarius
C) Gemini
D) Aries
E) Pisces
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 3
Section Ref:  1.4

33) A solar eclipse can only happen during a:
A) new moon.
B) solstice.
C) first quarter moon.
D) full moon.
E) perihelion passage of the Sun.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.6

 
34) A lunar eclipse can only happen during a:
A) new moon.
B) equinox.
C) full moon.
D) perigee.
E) aphelion.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.6

35) If the Moon rose tonight at 6 PM, then tomorrow it will rise about:
A) the same time.
B) 7 PM.
C) 5 PM.
D) dawn.
E) midnight.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.6

36) If you are in the Moon's umbral shadow, then you will witness
A) nighttime.
B) a total solar eclipse.
C) a total lunar eclipse.
D) a partial solar eclipse.
E) some kind of lunar eclipse.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 1
Section Ref:  1.6
37) Which statement about the first quarter moon is FALSE?
A) It rises about noon.
B) From the Earth, it appears 25% sunlit.
C) It is the half moon of the evening sky.
D) It is highest in the sky at sunset.
E) It occurs about a week after new moon.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

 
38) If new Moon fell on March 2nd, what is the Moon's phase on March 14th?
A) waxing crescent
B) first quarter
C) waxing gibbous
D) full
E) waning crescent
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

39) Why is there a two day difference in the sidereal and synodic months?
A) The Moon speeds up at perigee, and slows down at apogee.
B) The sidereal day is four minutes shorter than the solar day, and it adds up.
C) The Earth is closer to the Sun during the sidereal month.
D) The Earth is also revolving around the Sun, so the Moon must "catch up".
E) The Moslem lunar year is only 354 days long, on average.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

40) What conditions are necessary for an annular solar eclipse?
A) new moon on equator at perigee
B) full moon on ecliptic at perihelion
C) new moon on ecliptic at perigee
D) new moon on equator at apogee
E) new moon on ecliptic at apogee
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

41) What conditions are necessary for a total solar eclipse?
A) new moon on ecliptic near perigee
B) full moon on ecliptic near aphelion
C) new moon on equator at perigee
D) full moon on equator at perigee
E) new moon on ecliptic near aphelion
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6
 
42) Driving eastward just before sunrise, if you observe the moon in the eastern sky, its phase must be
A) Full Moon
B) First Quarter
C) Waxing Gibbous
D) Waning Crescent
E) New Moon
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

43) When the Moon is directly opposite the Sun in the sky, its phase is
A) new.
B) waxing or waning crescent
C) first or third quarter.
D) waxing or waning gibbous.
E) full.
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

44) The Last Quarter phase of the moon
A) rises at sunrise
B) sets at sunrise
C) crosses the meridian at sunrise
D) rises at sunset
E) sets at sunset
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6

45) What conditions are necessary for a partial solar eclipse?
A) new moon on ecliptic, with us in the penumbral shadow
B) full moon on equator, with us in the umbral shadow
C) new moon at perigee
D) full moon at apogee
E) first or third quarter moon at a node
Answer:  See Attachment
Diff: 2
Section Ref:  1.6