Chapter 2

Question 1

The sun’s ___________ is zero on the vernal equinox or autumnal equinox, so the sun is above the horizon for exactly _____ hours.

Answer 1

Declination, 12

Question 2

What does the term equinox mean?

Answer 2

Equal night

Question 3

What does the term solstice mean?

Answer 3

Sun stop

Question 4

Anyone observing from the ______ Circle will experience 24 hours of sunlight on the summer solstice.

Answer 4

Arctic

Question 5

In the Northern Hemisphere, days are longer in the ______ and ______ seasons, and shorter in the _______ and _______ seasons.

Answer 5

Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter

Question 6

The moon orbits roughly in the ______, not the celestial equator.

Answer 6

Ecliptic

Question 7

When will the first quarter moon make its highest arc in the sky?

Answer 7

On the spring equinox

Question 8

There are two kinds of eclipses: (1) A ______ eclipse, when the moon’s shadow falls on the earth, and (2) a ______ eclipse when the earth’s shadow falls upon the moon.

Answer 8

Solar, Lunar

Question 9

The term ______ is the generic term for the two points of intersection on any two great circles.

Answer 9

Node

Question 10

The configuration of the sun, moon, and earth is about the same every 18.031 years and is called the _______ cycle.

Answer 10

Saros

Question 11

The earth actually has two shadows. A darker inner shadow called the _______ and a lighter outer shadow called the _______.

Answer 11

Umbra, penumbra

Question 12

During a total solar eclipse, the bright surface of the sun (the _______) is completely blocked by the moon

Answer 12

Photosphere

Question 13

Any given spot on the earth experiences a total solar eclipse once every ______ years or so.

Answer 13

400

Question 14

When the moon is farther from the earth, it appears smaller than the sun, and when it passes directly in front of the sun it leaves a thin ring or __________.

Answer 14

Annulus

Question 15

The moon seems to wobble a bit from week to week, which is called ________.

Answer 15

Libration

Question 16

Planets orbit the sun in slightly ______ paths with the sun at one focus of the ellipse.

Answer 16

Elliptical

Question 17

The _________ planets are Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune

Answer 17

Superior

Question 18

__________ is when a planet is behind the sun.

Answer 18

Conjunction

Question 19

All the planets orbit the sun in the same direction: ___________.

Answer 19

Counterclockwise

Question 20

______ and __________ are the inferior planets whose orbits lie closer to the sun than earth does.

Answer 20

Mercury, Venus

Question 21

A ________ transit is when Mercury or Venus cross directly in front of the sun during inferior conjunction.

Answer 21

Solar

Question 22

Comets are icy objects and generally have _________ orbits.

Answer 22

Elliptical

Question 23

Meteor showers are generally caused by debris left behind by a ________.

Answer 23

Comet

Question 24

The most impressive, reliable meteor shower is the _______ meteor shower, occurring around August 12th each year.

Answer 24

Perseid

Question 25

The sun traces out a thin figure-eight shape across the sky with each day, which is called _________.

Answer 25

Analemma

Question 26

The constellation in which the sun is found at the equinox shifts with time. This phenomenon is called the _______________________.

Answer 26

Precession of the equinoxes