Astronomy - Observations 3 Flashcards

1
Q

The position of the sun at noon (locally) is on the ______________.

A

celestial meridian

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2
Q

When the sun transits, the time locally is _________.

A

12 noon

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3
Q

When the sun is at lower transit, the time is _________.

A

12 midnight

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4
Q

The apparent yearly path of the sun relative to the stars is called the _______.

A

ecliptic

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5
Q

Through what constellations does the sun pass during a year?

A

Zodiac

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6
Q

The direction of the sun’s annual motion during the year relative to the stars is _____________, 1° per day.

A

west to east

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7
Q

Every hour, the sun seems to move _____ per hour to the _____.

A

15° per hour to the west

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8
Q

The present first sign of the zodiac is ________.

A

Pisces

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9
Q

_______ discovered that the rate of precession is about ______ per year westward.

A

Hipparchus; 52 inches per year westward

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10
Q

The period of precession is __________.

A

25,780 years

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11
Q

The present “age” as determined by the first sign of the zodiac is _________.

A

Pisces

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12
Q

The next “age” will be _________.

A

Aquarius

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13
Q

Each age lasts about ___________.

A

2,000 years

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14
Q

The position of the north celestial pole changes due to

A

precession

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15
Q

The moon’s monthly motion is about ___ degrees east per day.

A

13.1° east per day

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16
Q

The moon will rise on the average ______ minutes _______ each day.

A

48 minutes later each day

17
Q

Sidereal period of the moon:

18
Q

Synodic period of the moon:

19
Q

The moon’s path can be as much as ___ degrees from the ecliptic

A

5° from the ecliptic

20
Q

It is sunset and you notice that the moon is in transit. What phase must the moon be?

A

first quarter

21
Q

It is sunrise and you notice that the moon is setting. What phase must the moon be?

22
Q

You see a waxing gibbous moon rising. What is the approximate time of the day?

23
Q

A solar eclipse can occur at __________.

24
Q

A lunar eclipse can occur at __________.

25
A "ring of fire around the moon" eclipse is better known to astronomers as an
annular eclipse
26
The moon is primarily responsible for the tides. What other object has an effect on the tides?
the Sun
27
The most severe tides (highest high tide and lowest low tide) are called _____________.
spring tides
28
_____ tides occur at first and last quarter moon.
neap tides
29
If the full moon transits at midnight, where will it be relative to the celestial meridian in an hour (1:00 am)?
15° to the west
30
The moon crosses the ecliptic at points called _______
nodes
31
The annual motion of the planets is close to what celestial circle?
ecliptic
32
Which planets were found by methodical searches?
Neptune & Pluto
33
The periodic westward motion of Mars is called ___________.
retrograde motion
34
A superior (outer) planet will retrograde once every __________.
synodic period
35
Venus has a maximum elongation of about ____ degrees.
46°