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Astronomy > Unit 1. Test > Flashcards

Unit 1. Test Flashcards

1
Q

What star has a declination of almost exactly 90 degrees as the “pole” star? Hint: It was the center of the star map

A

Polaris

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2
Q

On what calendar day would the SOUTH Pole have a day of “total darkness”?

A

June 21st

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3
Q

Why is the “peak” of summer in the northern hemisphere usually more than a month after summer solstice?

A

The water is just warming up and it takes awhile to do so

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4
Q

Explain why the moon appears to have “phases” that have nothing to do with shadows being cast by earth.

A

Because what we see is what is being REFLECTED off of the moon from the sun

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5
Q

About how long does it take light to reach us from the next nearest star, Proxima Centauri?

A

4 light years

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6
Q

What would cast a smaller umbra (total shadow), a solar eclipse or a lunar eclipse?

A

Solar eclipse

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7
Q

What is more common to be observed, a total lunar eclipse or a total solar eclipse? Why?

A

Lunar, more area can see it

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8
Q

The distances in our solar system: would you be better to measure them in astronomical units or light
years? Why?

A

Astronomically, easier numbers for our brain to comprehend

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9
Q

Name the eight moon phases in order starting with new moon.

A
  1. New moon
  2. Waxing Crescent
  3. 1st Quarter
  4. Waxing Gibbous
  5. Full Moon
  6. Waning Gibbous
  7. 3rd Quarter
  8. Waning Crescent
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10
Q

What conditions in our solar system have to be met in order for a total solar eclipse to happen?

A

Sun, moon, and earth need to be directly lined up

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11
Q

__________ measures north and south of the celestial equator in degrees.

A

Declination

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12
Q

What is the term for a 27.5-day month, the length of time for one revolution of the moon around the earth?

A

Sidereal

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13
Q

What percentage of the universe can we directly study by means of direct observation?

A

4%

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14
Q
  1. A ______________ day is determined by measuring the length of time from “sunrise” to “sunrise”.
A

Solar

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15
Q

If you measure the length of time it takes the sun to go all the way through the ecliptic, through all 13
constellations, you have measured one _______ year.

A

Sidereal

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16
Q

The measurement east and west on the celestial sphere is called ___________

A

Right Ascension

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17
Q

The 29 days it takes the moon to go through a complete set of phases is called a ____________

A

Synodic Month

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18
Q

The Latin meaning of the word “equinox” is…

A

Equal Night/Day

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19
Q

The Latin meaning of the word “solstice” is…

A

Sun Stand (still)

20
Q

To spin completely around on one’s own axis is to ____________

A

Rotate

21
Q

Astronomy is a branch of what larger science?

A

Physics

22
Q

How long would it take light to reach the earth from the sun?

A

8 minutes

23
Q

How many days (approximately) does each moon phase last?

A

3.5 days

24
Q

What phase does the moon have to be in to have a total solar eclipse?

A

New Moon

25
Q

What’s the difference between a light year and a calendar year?

A

Light year - distance
Calendar year - time

26
Q

What moon phase would most likely rise at noon and set at midnight?

A

1st Quarter

27
Q

What phase of the moon would be more ideal for observing through a telescope?

A

Waxing Gibbous

28
Q

What is the name of the closest major galaxy?

A

Andromeda

29
Q

What is the name of the path of the sun as it travels through the 13 constellations of the zodiac?

A

Ecliptic

30
Q

What very amazing coincidence is known as the “400 rule”?

A

The sun is 400x bigger than the moon but the moon is 400x closer than the sun to earth

31
Q

What calendar day would be the “longest” day for us in the northern hemisphere?

A

June 21st

32
Q

What time of year is the earth technically closest to the sun for us in the northern hemisphere?

A

January 4-6

33
Q
  1. A “tropical” year is the same thing as a _____ year, 365.25 days.
A

Solar

34
Q
  1. The sidereal year is actually ________ longer in time than the solar year.
A

20 minutes

35
Q

Why can’t we see real pictures of the Milky Way as a spiral?

A

Our solar system is located in the disc so we can only see where it crosses over and not the whole shape

36
Q

What types of objects did Charles Messier catalogue in his famous Messier catalogue?

A

Diffuse nebulae, planetary nebulae, open clusters, globular clusters, and galaxies

37
Q

What did Eratosthenes discover in Alexandria around 250 BC?

A

That the earth is a sphere

38
Q

What date (roughly) would an astronomical calendar start with ideally (it isn’t January 1)?

A

March 21st

39
Q

Describe what all you can observe during the moment of totality during a total solar eclipse.

A

360 degree sunset and bright stars and planets

40
Q

The art of using the motion of stars and planets to attempt to predict human behavior is known as…

A

Astrology

41
Q

When is the next major total solar eclipse in North America?

A

August 2045

42
Q

Describe the path of totality and maximum length of totality for the next total solar eclipse in North America.

A

Will cross through Mexico, then through Texas up the east then pass through south Canada. 4 minutes 28 seconds

43
Q

What is meant by the expression that the night sky is a “giant time machine”?

A

Since light takes so long to reach earth, any light we see has already happened from a couple minutes ago to billions of years ago

44
Q

Roughly how many AUs from the sun is each planet, beginning with Mercury?

A

Mercury - 0.4
Venus - 0.7
Earth - 1
Mars - 1.5
Jupiter - 5.2
Saturn - 9.6
Uranus - 19.2
Neptune - 30
Pluto - 39.5

45
Q

Describe an “annular eclipse”, and why they sometimes occur.

A

The “ring of fire,” size of moon cannot fully cover the sun

Astronomy (3 decks)

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