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Senior Year > Astronomy chapter one > Flashcards

Astronomy chapter one Flashcards

1
Q

What are the three different ways you can observe the night sky?

A

plain eye, binoculars, and a telescope?

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2
Q

What are the two largest celestial objects we can view?

A

moon and sun

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3
Q

Why is there a trend of east-to-west motion when observing the sun, moon, and stars?

A

This basic trend of east-to-west motion is due to Earths rotation on its axis.

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4
Q

What is this trend of the earths rotation called?

A

Diurnal Motion

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5
Q

What is the approximate rotation time of the earth that relates to the other objects in the sky as well?

A

23 hours and 56 minutes.

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6
Q

Name the concept that is useful for understanding the positions and motions of stars.

A

celestial sphere

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7
Q

name the concept that involves expanding the earths equator into space

A

the celestial equator

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8
Q

what are constellations called that are close enough to the celestial pole that they are visible all night, year-round?

A

circumpolar constellations

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9
Q

Since the 23 hour 56 minutes period is the length of time it takes the earth to turn as seen from a distant star, this is called a

A

sidereal day

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10
Q

since stars rise two hours earlier every month, they rise how many hours earlier after six months?

A

12 hours

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11
Q

Why is it difficult to observe planets, globular clusters, and nebulae when the moon is full?

A

The moon is about 9 times brighter in its full stage than the first quarter moon. Thus washing out the harder things to see.

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12
Q

The moon rises (on average) about how much later each day?

A

50 minutes

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13
Q

Why is it ironic that the moon is called “the moon” in regards to the gravitational pull of the earth and sun?

A

The gravitational pull of the sun on the moon is about twice the pull of the Earth on the moon.

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14
Q

The phases of the moon are not related to the earths shadow, but to the ( ) of the day side of the moon we can see from our position

A

percentage

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15
Q

It takes how many days for the to go through its phases?

A

29.3

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16
Q

it takes how many days for its orbital period?

A

27.5

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17
Q

What is the difference between the sidereal day and the solar day?

A

solar- 24 hours
sidereal-23 hours 56 minutes
solar-the time it takes the sun to return to its highest point in the sky as viewed from a location on earth.
sidereal- the true rotation of the earth

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18
Q

The motion of the planets is complicated because their apparent motion in the sky is the combination of their what around the sun, plus the what in position due to Earths motion around the sun.

A

True motion
Apparent shirt

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19
Q

What is responsible for the seasons on earth?

A

The Earths rotation axis that is tilted relative to its orbit around the sun y 23.4 degrees.

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20
Q

What describes how high above the horizon an abject is (in angle)

A

Altitude

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21
Q

What describes how far along the horizon an object is to the right of due north<

A

Azimuth

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22
Q

Equatorial coordinates are based on the what?

A

Celestial sphere

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23
Q

In particular equatorial coordinates are based on what?

A

The celestial equator

24
Q

Describe what the two coordinate systems widely used in astronomy are based on.

A

Altitude- based on our local horizon, describes the position of an object in the sky with two coordinates
Azimuth- Based on the celestial sphere, the angular distance of a star above the celestial equator is called it “declination”

25
Q

Stars with a declination that is less than your latitude will pass ( ) of the zenith when they cross the meridian; and stars with a greater declination will pass ( ) of the zenith

A

south, north

26
Q

Which RA coordinates can be seen depends on the time of ( ) and the time of ( )

A

Day, year

27
Q

Once calibrated on an object whose RA and Dec you know, you can us ( ) circles on a telescope to find any other RA or Dec

A

setting

28
Q

What is the best way to get a feel for the motions in the sky?

A

To get outside and watch

29
Q

A star wheel or planisphere helps you find stars by lining up the ( ) with the ( ) on the planisphere

A

date, time

30
Q

A planisphere helps find constellations, but will not help with ( ) or the ( )

A

planets, moon

31
Q

The suns ( ) is zero on the vernal equinox or autumnal equinox, so the sun is above the horizon for exactly ( ) hours

A

declination, 12

32
Q

What does the term “Equinox” mean?

A

equal night

33
Q

What does the term “solstice” mean?

A

sun stop

34
Q

Anyone observing from the ( ) circle will experience 24 hours of sunlight on the summer solstice

A

artic

35
Q

In the Northern Hemisphere, days are longer in the ( ) and ( ) seasons, and shorter in the ( ) and ( ) seasons

A

spring, summer, autumn, winter

36
Q

The moon orbits roughly in the ( ), not the celestial equator

A

ecliptic

37
Q

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

A

on spring equinox

38
Q

A ( ) eclipse, when the moon’s shadow falls on the earth, and a ( ) eclipse, when the earths shadow falls upon the moon.

A

solar, lunar

39
Q

What is the generic term for the two points of intersection on any two great circles?

A

node

40
Q

The configuration of the sun, moon, and Earth is about the same every 18.031 years, and is called the ( ) cycle

A

Saros

41
Q

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

A

Umbra, penumbra

42
Q

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

A

photosphere

43
Q

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

A

400

44
Q

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

A

annulus

45
Q

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

A

liberation

46
Q

Planets orbit the sun is slightly ( ) paths with the sun at one focus of the ellipse

A

Elliptical

47
Q

The ( ) planets are mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

A

Superior

48
Q

All the planets orbit the sun in the same direction:

A

Counterclockwise

49
Q

When a planet is behind the sun its called

A

Conjunction

50
Q

What two planets are the two inferior planets whose orbits lie closer to the sun than earth does.

A

Mercury and Venus

51
Q

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

A

Solar

52
Q

Comets are icy objects and generally have ( ) orbits

A

Elliptical

53
Q

Meteor showers are generally caused by debris left behind by a ( )

A

comet

54
Q

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

A

Perseid

55
Q

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

A

the analemma

56
Q

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

A

precession of the equinoxes

Senior Year (23 decks)

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