Stargazer Quiz 1: Chapters 1-2 Flashcards
What is this trend of the earth’s rotation called?
diurnal motion
Name the concept that is useful for understanding the positions and motions of stars
celestial sphere
What are constellations called that are close enough to the celestial pole that they are visible all night, year-round?
“circumpolar” constellations
Since stars rise two hours earlier every month, they rise ___ hours earlier after six months.
12
The moon rises (on average) about — later each day
50 minutes
The motion of the planets is complicated because their apparent motion in the sky is the combination of their ___ ___ around the sun, plus the ___ ___ in position due to Earth’s motion around the sun.
true motion; apparent shift
Equatorial coordinates are based on the ___ ___. In particular, they are based on the celestial ___.
celestial sphere; equator
A star wheel or planisphere helps you find stars by lining up the ___ with the ___ on the planisphere.
date, time
What does the term “equinox” mean?
equal night
What does the term “solstice” mean?
sun stop
In the Northern Hemisphere, days are longer in the ___ and ___ seasons, and shorter in the ___ and ___ seasons
spring/ summer, fall/winter
The configuration of the sun, moon, and Earth is about the same every 18,031 years, and is called the ___ cycle.
saros
The earth actually has two shadows - a darker inner shadow called the “___” and a lighter outer shadow called the “___.”
umbra, penumbra
When the moon is farther from the earth, it appears smaller than the sun, and when it passes directly in front of the sun it leaves a thin “ring” or “___.”
Annulus
Planets orbit the sun in slightly ___ paths with the sun at one focus of the ellipse.
elliptical
___ is when a planet is “behind” the sun.
conjunction
Meteor showers are generally caused by debris left behind by a ___.
Comet
The most impressive, reliable meteor shower is the ___ meteor shower, occurring around August 12th each year.
Perseid
The sun traces out a thin figure-eight shape across the sky with each day, which is called ___.
Analemma
The constellation in which the sun is found at equinox shifts with time. This phenomenon is called the “___ __ __ ___”
Precession of the equinoxes
