Chapter 2

Question 1

If you see the moon on the meridian at sunrise, the phase of the moon is
a) waxing gibbous
b) full
c) 1st 1/4
d) 3rd 1/4

Answer 1

b) Full

Question 2

A lunar eclipse occurs when ___ shadow falls on ___.
a) earth’s; the moon
b) the moon’s; earth
c) the sun’s; the moon
d) the sun’s; earth

Answer 2

a) Earth’s; the moon

Question 3

We always see the same side of the moon because…

Answer 3

the moon rotates on its axis once for each revolution

Question 4

Where on earth can you stand and over the course of a year see the entire sky?
a. only at the north pole
b. at either pole
c. at the equator
d. anywhere

Answer 4

c. at the equator

Question 5

Day and night are caused by
a. the tilt of earth on its axis
b. the rotation of earth on its axis
c. the revolution of earth around the sun
d. the revolution of the sun around earth

Answer 5

b. the rotation of earth on its axis

Question 6

Polaris, the north star is unique because
a. it is the brightest star in the night sky
b. it is the only star in the sky that doesn’t move throughout the night
c. it is always located at the zenith, for any observer.
d. it has a longer path above the horizon than any other star.

Answer 6

a. it is the brightest star in the night sky

Question 7

what/where is the zenith?

Answer 7

the point in the sky directly overhead/above you

Question 8

what/where is the nadir?

Answer 8

the point directly underfoot/below you

Question 9

what is the ecliptic?

Answer 9

Ecliptic is the projected path of the Sun on the sky, inclined 23.5 degrees to the celestial equator.

Question 10

what is the celestial equator?

Answer 10

Celestial equator is the projection of Earth’s equator to the sphere.

Question 11

an angle exists between the ecliptic and the celestial equator because
a. earth’s axis is tilted with respect to its orbit.
b. earths orbit is tilted with respect to the orbits of other planets.
c. the sun follows a rising a falling path through space.
the suns orbit is tilted with respect to earths.

Answer 11

a. earth’s axis is tilted with respect to its orbit.

Question 12

what/where is the meridian?

Answer 12

the meridian is the imaginary line from north to south through the zenith.

Question 13

what/where is the horizon?

Answer 13

horizon is the boundary between the part of the sky you can see, and the other half of the sky blocked by Earth

Question 14

what is declination?

Answer 14

Declination is the the distance of an object north or south of the celestial equator (horizontal lines)

Question 15

what is right ascension?

Answer 15

Right ascension is the angular distance eastward along the celestial equator from the point where the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator (vertical lines).

Question 16

The path the Sun makes on the celestial sphere over the course of a year is
called the
A. north celestial pole
B. horizon
C. ecliptic
D. meridian

Answer 16

C. ecliptic

Question 17

what are circumpolar stars?

Answer 17

Circumpolar stars are stars that never rise or set in the sky. At the poles, all stars are circumpolar. At the equator, no stars are circumpolar.

Question 18

Which location has the most circumpolar stars?
A. Christchurch, New Zealand (latitude 43°S)
B. Miami, Florida (latitude 25°N)
C. Santiago, Chile (latitude 33°S)
D. Reykjavik, Iceland (latitude 64°N)

Answer 18

D. Reykjavik, Iceland (latitude 64°N)

Question 19

In Sydney, Australia, the longest day of the year occurs on
A. March 21, vernal equinox
B. June 21, summer solstice
C. September 21, autumnal equinox
D. December 21, winter solstice

Answer 19

D. December 21, winter solstice

Question 20

Which of the following pieces of evidence helps prove the tilt of the Earth
causes the seasons?
A. The Northern Hemisphere has opposite seasons from the Southern
Hemisphere.
B. Mars is also tilted at nearly the same angle.
C. Earth’s orbit is nearly circular.
D. Earth rotates in the same direction it orbits the Sun.

Answer 20

A. The Northern Hemisphere has opposite seasons from the Southern
Hemisphere.

Question 21

When the Moon rises and sets at the same time as the Sun, which phase is it in?
A. new Moon
B. first quarter Moon
C. full Moon
D. third quarter Moon

Answer 21

A. new Moon

Question 22

Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?
A. because we are in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere sees
a different side.
B. because the Moon does not rotate
C. because the Moon rotates at the same rate it orbits Earth
D. We don’t. Every side of the Moon looks exactly the same.

Answer 22

C. because the Moon rotates at the same rate it orbits Earth

Question 23

What is an annular solar eclipse?

Answer 23

A solar eclipse when the moon is not quite big enough to block the whole Sun. We can still see a ring of light (from the sun) around the moon.

Question 24

What is a partial solar eclipse?

Answer 24

When the moon does not fully cover the sun, only partially covers it. Caused the the penumbra.

Question 25

what is a total solar eclipse?

Answer 25

when the moon fully blocks/covers the sun.

Question 26

what is a lunar eclipse?

Answer 26

Lunar eclipses occur at full Moon, when the Moon passes through Earth’s shadow.

Question 27

What is the lunar phase during a solar eclipse? A. first quarter B. full Moon C. third quarter D. new Moon

Answer 27

D. new Moon

Question 28

No matter where you are on Earth, stars appear to rotate about a point called the: A. zenith B. celestial pole C. nadir D. meridian

Answer 28

B. celestial pole

Question 29

If the star Polaris has an altitude of 35°, we know that: A. our longitude is 55° east B. our latitude is 55° north C. our longitude is 35° west D. our latitude is 35° north

Answer 29

D. our latitude is 35° north

Question 30

If Earth’s axis were tilted by 45°, instead of its actual tilt of 23.5°, how (if at all) would the seasons be different from what they are now? A. The seasons would remain the same. B. Summers would be colder. C. Winters would be shorter. D. Winters would be colder.

Answer 30

D. Winters would be colder.

Question 31

Suppose Earth orbited the Sun twice as fast as it currently does. Would the solar day be longer or shorter than it currently is, in that case?

Answer 31

The solar day would be longer as the Earth would have traveled farther in its orbit.

Question 32

If you see the Moon rising just as the Sun is setting, what is the phase of the Moon? What is the phase if the Moon is setting at noon?

Answer 32

A full Moon is rising in the east as the Sun sets in the west. At noon, a third quarter Moon will be setting in the west. See Figure 2.20.

Question 33

Which of the following are true on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes? (choose all that apply) a. every nonpolar place on earth has 12 hrs of daylight and 12 hrs of darkness. b. the sun rises due east and sets due wast. c. the sun is located at the celestial equator. d. the motion of the stars in the sky is different from that on other days.

Answer 33

a, b, c

Question 34

If you see the 1st 1/4 moon on the meridian the sun must be a. on the western horizon. b. on the eastern horizon. c. below the horizon. d. on the meridian.

Answer 34

a. on the western horizon.

Question 35

the sun, moon and stars a. appear to move each day b/c the celestial sphere rotates about earth. b. change their relative positions over time. c. rise north or south of west and set north or south of east, depending on their location on the celestial sphere. d. always remain in the same position with respect to one another.

Answer 35

b. change their relative positions over time.