Exam 3 Practice Questions Flashcards
What are we studying in this course? Astrology or Astronomy?
Astronomy
What did the scientist Ptolomy support?
Planets revolve around the sun
What is the apparent backwards motion of the planets called?
retrograde motion
What did the scientist Copernicus believe?
The sun was at the center of our solar system
What was the scientist Brahe credited with?
Brahe did not believe Copernicus, who supported that the sun was at the center of our solar system due to the lack of stellar parallax.
What was scientist Kepler credited with
Kepler developed the 3 basic laws of astronomy
What was scientist Galileo credited with?
Galileo invented the telescope
What was scientist Newton credited with?
Newton used gravity to explain elliptical motion
What scientist discovered sunspots?
Galileo
What are constellations?
groupings of stars
What is the zodiac sign, and how does it correlate with astronomy?
The zodiac is a group of constellations lined up with the Earth and Sun
What does the rotationof planets entail?
Rotation of planets involve the planets turning around their axis.
Define Sidereal
the point of reference related to a distant star
How does the Earth Orbit? (circular, Variable based on seasons, elliptical, or hydrohellio?).
The Earth orbits elliptically.
Will the north star always be Polaris? (True or False).
False
Define Synodic
relating to the time to cycle through phases
Is an Eclipse named by the object obscured? (solar eclipse/ lunar eclipse)? (True or False?).
True
What is the only phase of the Moon that allows a Solar Eclipse to take place?
A New Moon
What is the size of Earth’s Moon in comparison to the gravitational force of Earth?
1/4 the size and 1/6 the gravitation of Earth
What does the “maria” on the Moon signify?
The Maria on the Moon’s surface is dark, smooth regions of lava flows.
How many planets and structures is our solar system recognized by?
The Milky Way is categorized by eight planets, the sun, and an asteroid belt.
What two planets is the Asteroid belt located between?
The Asteroid belt is located between Mars and Jupiter.
What are Comets often referred to based on appearance?
Dirty snowballs