Astronomy chapter one

Question 1

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

Answer 1

plain eye, binoculars, and a telescope?

Question 2

What are the two largest celestial objects we can view?

Answer 2

moon and sun

Question 3

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

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What is this trend of the earths rotation called?

Answer 4

Diurnal Motion

Question 5

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

Answer 5

23 hours and 56 minutes.

Question 6

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

Answer 6

celestial sphere

Question 7

name the concept that involves expanding the earths equator into space

Answer 7

the celestial equator

Question 8

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

Answer 8

circumpolar constellations

Question 9

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

Answer 9

sidereal day

Question 10

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

Answer 10

12 hours

Question 11

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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

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

Answer 12

50 minutes

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

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

Answer 14

percentage

Question 15

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

Answer 15

29.3

Question 16

it takes how many days for its orbital period?

Answer 16

27.5

Question 17

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

Answer 17

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

Question 18

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.

Answer 18

True motion
Apparent shirt

Question 19

What is responsible for the seasons on earth?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Altitude

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Azimuth

Question 22

Equatorial coordinates are based on the what?

Answer 22

Celestial sphere

Question 23

In particular equatorial coordinates are based on what?

Answer 23

The celestial equator

Question 24

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

Answer 24

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”

Question 25

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

Answer 25

south, north

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Day, year

Question 27

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

Answer 27

setting

Question 28

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

Answer 28

To get outside and watch

Question 29

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

Answer 29

date, time

Question 30

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

Answer 30

planets, moon

Question 31

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

Answer 31

declination, 12

Question 32

What does the term "Equinox" mean?

Answer 32

equal night

Question 33

What does the term "solstice" mean?

Answer 33

sun stop

Question 34

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

Answer 34

artic

Question 35

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

Answer 35

spring, summer, autumn, winter

Question 36

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

Answer 36

ecliptic

Question 37

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

Answer 37

on spring equinox

Question 38

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

Answer 38

solar, lunar

Question 39

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

Answer 39

node

Question 40

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

Answer 40

Saros

Question 41

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

Answer 41

Umbra, penumbra

Question 42

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

Answer 42

photosphere

Question 43

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

Answer 43

400

Question 44

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 44

annulus

Question 45

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

Answer 45

liberation

Question 46

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

Answer 46

Elliptical

Question 47

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

Answer 47

Superior

Question 48

All the planets orbit the sun in the same direction:

Answer 48

Counterclockwise

Question 49

When a planet is behind the sun its called

Answer 49

Conjunction

Question 50

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

Answer 50

Mercury and Venus

Question 51

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

Answer 51

Solar

Question 52

Comets are icy objects and generally have ( ) orbits

Answer 52

Elliptical

Question 53

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

Answer 53

comet

Question 54

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

Answer 54

Perseid

Question 55

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

Answer 55

the analemma

Question 56

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

Answer 56

precession of the equinoxes