MidTerm Review Guide

Question 1

A spherical representation or map of the fxed stars we see in the sky; divided into 88 regions called constellations.

Answer 1

celestial sphere

Question 2

Te axis of the earth points at these northernmost and southernmost points on the celestial sphere.

Answer 2

celestial poles

Question 3

If the earth’s equator was projected out into space, the line it would make on the celestial sphere is the _____________

Answer 3

celestial equator

Question 4

The path the sun takes through the celestial sphere over the course of a whole year; it is tilted in
respect to the celestial equator because Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5°.

Answer 4

ecliptic

Question 5

Looking down on the north pole, the earth spins counterclockwise. Looking straight on at the earth, it spins in an eastward direction. Tis means the celestial sphere overhead moves in a westward direction from our perspective on Earth.

Answer 5

The direction of spin

Question 6

A geographic coordinate that indicates the north-south position of a point on Earth, ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the north and south poles; your latitude position determines what part of the celestial sphere you see (for instance, standing at 90°N, the north pole, means the north celestial
pole will be at your zenith).

Answer 6

latitude lines

Question 7

How bright a star really is if all stars were the same distance from us.

Answer 7

absolute magnitude

Question 8

meaning before the middle of the day.

Answer 8

Ante Meridiem, A.M.

Question 9

How bright a star appears in our sky.

Answer 9

apparent magnitude

Question 10

the latitude line where the sun doesn’t set on the summer solstice

Answer 10

arctic circle

Question 11

Te two days of the year when the sun rises and sets

on the celestial equator, making an equal amount of daylight and nighttime

Answer 11

Autumnal (Fall) and Vernal (Spring) Equinoxes

Question 12

Te line around which the earth (or any planetary body) rotates.

Answer 12

axis

Question 13

Te amount of time it takes for the earth to spin on its own axis one time.

Answer 13

day

Question 14

Four largest moons of Jupiter: Europa, Io, Callisto, and Ganymede.

Answer 14

Galilean Moons

Question 15

A model or understanding of the universe where the earth is at the center, and the
sun, moon, planets, and stars revolve around the earth.

Answer 15

geocentric model

Question 16

From your perspective, the place where the sky meets the land.

Answer 16

horizon

Question 17

A planet named afer the king-god of the Romans; the most massive, fastest spinning planet in
the solar system, with more moons than any other planet

Answer 17

Jupiter

Question 18

A name for the region north of the arctic circle because the sun doesn’t
set during the summer months.

Answer 18

The land of the midnight sun

Question 19

Te distance light travels in a year (about 5.8 trillion miles)

Answer 19

Light year

Question 20

Te line on the celestial sphere going from due south, straight over your head through the
zenith, to due north; it means “middle of the day”

Answer 20

Meridian

Question 21

A cloudy band circling the celestial sphere which is actually about 100 billion distant
stars in our galaxy

Answer 21

Milky Way Galaxy

Question 22

A word meaning “wandering star;”

Answer 22

planet

Question 23

the five classical planets

Answer 23

the five classical planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

Question 24

meaning after the middle of the day

Answer 24

P.M. Post Meridiem

Question 25

The phenomenon where the sun doesn’t rise north of the arctic circle during the winter
months.

Answer 25

Polar Night

Question 26

When a planet stops going eastward against the background stars, turns around, and starts moving westward

Answer 26

retrograde motion

Question 27

A planet named afer the Roman god of agriculture and wealth

Answer 27

Saturn

Question 28

From the perspective of the Northern Hemisphere, the day of the year when the sun rises and sets at the northernmost place on the horizon, making a large arc through the sky (the day with the most amount of sunlight).

Answer 28

summer solstice

Question 29

The line on the surface of the globe where the night side of the earth meets the day side

Answer 29

terminator

Question 30

Te largest moon of Saturn, known for its atmosphere and liquid lakes.

Answer 30

Titan

Question 31

The latitude line where the sun is at the zenith at high noon on the summer solstice

Answer 31

Tropic of Cancer

Question 32

The latitude line where the sun is at the zenith at high noon on the winter solstice

Answer 32

Tropic of Capricorn

Question 33

The region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

Answer 33

The Tropics

Question 34

From the perspective of the Northern Hemisphere, the day of the year when the sun rises and sets at the southernmost place on the horizon, making a shallow arc through the sky (the day with the least amount of sunlight).

Answer 34

Winter Solstice

Question 35

From your perspective, the part of the celestial sphere that is right over your head

Answer 35

Zenith

Question 36

Who is this;

• one of the most famous philosophers of all time
• argued for a spherical shape to the earth
• argued for a geocentric model of the universe

Answer 36

Aristotle

Question 37

first person we know about who proposed a heliocentric model of the universe

Answer 37

Aristarchus

Question 38

Who is this;
- Greek astronomer
- created a catalogue of 48 constellations which much later became the basis for our 88
constellations
- followed a geocentric model, creating a mathematical system for predicting the movements of the planets and the stars

Answer 38

Ptolemy

Question 39

resurrected the idea of a sun-centered model in the Middle Ages

Answer 39

Copernicus

Question 40

discovered the three laws of planetary motion

Answer 40

Kepler

Question 41

Who is this;

• one of the first to use a telescope to observe the sky
• discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter

Answer 41

Galileo

Question 42

Two frst-magnitude stars in the constellation Orion.

Answer 42

Betelgeuse and Rigel

Question 43

A frst-magnitude star in the constellation Taurus.

Answer 43

Aldebaran

Question 44

Two bright stars in the constellation Gemini

Answer 44

Pollux and Castor

Question 45

Meaning “mouth of the fish;” a first-magnitude star in Pisces Austrinus.

Answer 45

Fomalhaut

Question 46

What is the Summer Triangle

Answer 46

An asterism made up of the three very bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair.

Question 47

Name the zodiac constellations in order

Answer 47

12 traditional constellations that touch the ecliptic: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo,
Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces.

Question 48

Meaning “pole star;” this star in Ursa Minor is commonly called the North Sta

Answer 48

Polaris

Question 49

is focused on the meanings of heavenly movements (predicting what will happen here on Earth,
impacting things on Earth)

Answer 49

astrology

Question 50

a scientific study of the sky

Answer 50

astronomy

Question 51

The first chapter of Genesis says God created the stars for these very practical reasons

Answer 51

• to give us light on the earth
• to separate day from night
• to help us create calendars that guide our different seasons of planting, harvesting, and celebrating,
  and to help us mark different years so we can keep records of history
• to help us use the signs in the sky to navigate around and find our way