Chapter 2

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the modern definition of a constellation

Answer 1

A region of the celestial sphere

Question 2

The number of official constellations (as defined by the International Astronomical Union) is

Answer 2

88

Question 3

the stars stay in “fixed” positions on the celestial sphere because they

Answer 3

Are so far away that our eyes don’t notice their motions through space

Question 4

The celestial sphere is

Answer 4

A useful illusion/imaginary sphere used to map the stars and other objects in the sky

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true

Answer 5

The “celestial sphere” is just another name for our universe

Question 6

What is the ecliptic

Answer 6

the Sun’s apparent annual path around the celestial sphere

Question 7

On the celestial sphere, the Sun

Answer 7

circles once each year along the path called the ecliptic

Question 8

You experience night-time when

Answer 8

You are located on the side of the Earth that faces away from the Sun.

Question 9

Why do we experience night and day on Earth

Answer 9

Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours

Question 10

We can describe the position of an object in our local sky by stating its

Answer 10

Altitude and direction

Question 11

How many arcminutes are in 1°

Answer 11

60

Question 12

How many arcseconds are in 1 arcminute

Answer 12

60

Question 13

How many arcseconds are in 1°

Answer 13

3600

Question 14

If you hold your fist at arm’s length, you will see it spanning an angle of about

Answer 14

10°

Question 15

We can describe the location of a point on Earth’s surface by stating its

Answer 15

Latitude and longitude

Question 16

Is there any place on Earth where we can see stars rise in the west and set in the east (rather than rising in the east and setting in the west)? Why or why not

Answer 16

No, because the rising and setting of stars is caused by Earth’s west to east rotation

Question 17

If it is midnight in New York, it is

Answer 17

daytime in Sydney, Australia

Question 18

What is a circumpolar star

Answer 18

A star that always remains above your horizon

Question 19

Circumpolar stars remain above your horizon at latitudes

Answer 19

True

Question 20

What makes the North Star, Polaris, special

Answer 20

It appears very near the north celestial pole

Question 21

You are standing on Earth’s equator. Which way is Polaris, the North star

Answer 21

On the northern horizon

Question 22

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how can you determine your latitude

Answer 22

The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude

Question 23

If you see Polaris directly overhead, you must be very close to

Answer 23

The North Pole.

Question 24

You are standing at the North Pole. Which way is Polaris, the North star

Answer 24

Directly overhead

Question 25

Seasons on Earth are caused by

Answer 25

tilt of Earth’s axis.

Question 26

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is ________ in the Southern Hemisphere

Answer 26

Winter

Question 27

Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere when it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere

Answer 27

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and receives more direct sunlight

Question 28

The Northern and Southern hemispheres have equal illumination from the Sun

Answer 28

On the March and September equinoxes

Question 29

Suppose that Earth’s rotation axis were tilted by 45 degrees instead of 23.5 degrees. Which ofthe following would be true, and why

Answer 29

The seasons would be more extreme, because the Sun’s rays would be more direct in summer and less direct in winter

Question 30

Why is January a cold month in the northern United States

Answer 30

the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun

Question 31

Which of the following is not the name of one of the phases of the Moon

Answer 31

half moon

Question 32

We say that the Moon is gibbous when

Answer 32

It appears to be more than half illuminated, but not full

Question 33

Which of the following statements about the Moon is not true

Answer 33

The Moon is visible in our sky only at night

Question 34

Why are lunar eclipses more commonly seen than solar eclipse

Answer 34

Earth casts a bigger shadow than the Moon

Question 35

When only part of the Moon is covered by Earth’s full shadow (umbra), we see a(n)

Answer 35

Partial lunar eclipse

Question 36

If a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is relatively far from Earth, so that its full shadow(umbra) does not reach Earth, then people directly behind the full shadow will experience

Answer 36

An annular eclipse

Question 37

During a lunar eclipse, the Moon’s phase must be

Answer 37

Full

Question 38

During a solar eclipse, the Moon’s phase must be

Answer 38

New

Question 39

Which of the following objects was not recognized as a planet in ancient times?

Answer 39

Neptune

Question 40

Choose the answer that fills in the three blanks in the correct order: Earth rotates once each________, Earth orbits the Sun once each ________, and the Moon orbits Earth about once each _____

Answer 40

Day, year, month

Question 41

The reason we do not see stars in the daytime is because

Answer 41

The sky is too bright