Review 1 Flashcards
Who first proposed that the planets revolved around the sun?
Aristarchus
When does the vernal equinox occur in the Northern Hemisphere?
March 21
Who invented the idea of epicycles to explain the observed motion of planets?
Ptolemy
What could the time measured from a full moon to the next full moon be called?
synodic period
Which terrestrial planet is the smallest?
Mercury
Where on the Earth do the sun’s rays hit most directly when it is the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere?
The equator.
Which of the following correctly lists planets in order from the Sun outward? (Not all planets are listed)
Mercury, Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus
Which period can be readily observed?
synodic period
Which of the following properties is the most important to look for in an optical telescope?
lens diameter
How big is a parsec?
3.26 light-years
What is the name of the bright star in Canis Minor?
Procyon
.
What is the most convenient unit for comparing distances within the solar system?
astronomical units
What is the name for the planetary configuration when Jupiter, Earth, and Sun are in a line with the Earth in between Jupiter and the Sun?
opposition
Who invented the reflecting telescope?
Isaac Newton
A planet has a rotation period of three hours. Which planet type is it most likely to be?
Jovian.
Which astronomer tried to prove a heliocentric universe was wrong?
Tycho Brahe
What is a photon?
a tiny packet of energy.
Astronomers used to use film cameras along with telescopes to study the night sky. Which of the following devices replaced the traditional film camera as a tool to record what telescopes can see?
charge-coupled device
What is the darkest part of a planets shadow called?
Umbra
Which of the following electromagnetic waves has the lowest frequency?
infrared
Which of the following characteristics would indicate a planet is Jovian?
many satellites
Which astronomer was the first to use a telescope to study the night sky?
Galileo Galilei
Which of the following inventions collects astronomical information other than visible light?
radio telescope
