Chapter 1

Question 1

how are stars in a constellation are connected to one another

Answer 1

They are completely unrelated to one another

Question 2

declination

Answer 2

angle that measures north and south from the celestial equator

Question 3

reasons for studying astronomy

Answer 3

Our human curiosity demands that we better understand the universe
Technical innovations created by astronomers have benefited humanity
The study of astronomy lets us address the most profound questions humans have ever asked

Question 4

unexpected benefit of astronomy research

Answer 4

Theme park ride engineering
X-ray scanners for airport security
Medical and scientific imaging

Question 5

two coordinates of the “horizon coordinate system”

Answer 5

altitude
azimuth

Question 6

two coordinates of the “celestial equatorial coordinate system”

Answer 6

right ascension
declination

Question 7

constellations were essential for ancient peoples

Answer 7

Constellations provided a calendar to support agriculture

Question 8

Professional astronomers, in general, know very few constellations in the night sky

Answer 8

true

Question 9

altitude of the north celestial pole for an observer located on the earth’s equator

Answer 9

0 degrees

Question 10

A star located halfway up the sky due south would have an altitude of

Answer 10

45 degrees

Question 11

Our living bodies ultimately come from non-living material found on Earth.

Answer 11

true

Question 12

zenith

Answer 12

point directly overhead

Question 13

altitude

Answer 13

angle measured up from the horizon

Question 14

The prime meridian

Answer 14

zero point of longitude

Question 15

Latitude measures up/down from

Answer 15

the equator

Question 16

altitude of the north celestial pole for an observer standing on the north pole of the earth

Answer 16

90 degrees

Question 17

azimuth of due west

Answer 17

270 degrees

Question 18

equator

Answer 18

location of zero latitude

Question 19

Ecliptic

Answer 19

path traveled by the Sun with respect to the the fixed stars

Question 20

at the poles

Answer 20

1/2 stars are visible

Question 21

at the equator

Answer 21

all stars are visible

Question 22

azimuth

Answer 22

direction of a star

Question 23

south azimuth

Answer 23

180 degrees

Question 24

equatorial coordinate system

Answer 24

coordinate system that allows use to specific an exact location of an object in the sky that anyone can find any time of the year

Question 25

Meridian

Answer 25

demarcation of the longitude coordinate with lines going up and down

Question 26

International Date Line

Answer 26

180 degrees away from the prime meridian

Question 27

Parallels of latitude

Answer 27

demarcation of the latitude coordinate with circles on the globe parallel to the equator

Question 28

right ascension

Answer 28

analogous to longitude, zero reference point

Question 29

vernal equinox point

Answer 29

zero reference point in right ascension