astro 1

1.

1 point

An astronomical unit (AU) is

any very large unit, such as a light-‐year

the average distance between Earth and the Sun

the current distance between Earth and the Sun

the average distance between any planet and the Sun

2.

1 point

Light takes approximately one second to travel from the earth to the moo. this means that the moon is approximately?

1 astronomical unit from the Earth

1 light year from the Earth

3,000 kilometers from the Earth

300,000 kilometers from the Earth

twice the distance from the Earth to the Sun

3.

1 point

You have taken a picture of a galaxy 1 billion light years away. that picture shows:

a galaxy that is 1 billion years old

a galaxy that is 13 billion years old

a galaxy as it was 1 billion years ago

a galaxy that is 1 billion light years old

4.

1 point

according to current scientific estimates when did the big bang occur

about 10 billion years ago

about 4.5 billion years ago

about 14 billion years ago

about 20 billion years ago

about 65 million years ago

5.

1 point

Which of the following statements about the celesQal
equator is true at all lattiudes

It lies along the band of light we call the Milky

It represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celesGal sphere

It cuts the dome of your local sky exactly

It extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon due

It extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon due

6.

1 point

what is a
circumpolar
star?

a star that is close to the north celestial pole

a star that is close to the south celestial pole

a star that always remains above your horizon

a star that makes a daily circle around the celestial sphere

A star that is visible from the Arctic or Antarctic circles

7.

1 point

By locating the north celestial pole (NCP) in the sky, how
can you determine your latitud

The altitude of the NCP is the same as your latitude.

the altitude of the NCP is your angular distance from the north pole

the direction of the NCP is the same as your latitude

the direction of teh NCP is angular distance from the North Pole

the altitude of the NCP is the same as your distance from the North Pole

8.

1 point

what happens during the apparent retrograde motion of a planet?

the planet rises in the west and sets in the east

the planet appears to move eastward with respect to teh stars over a period of many nights

the planets moves backward through the sky

the planet moves backward in its orbit around the sun

the planet moves through constellation that are not part of the zodiac

9.

1 point

The horizon lies 90o from

East and west

The celestial poles

The zenith

The north and south points of the horizon

10.

1 point

The ________________ is the point on the celestial sphere directly above any observer

North celestial pole

South celestial pole

Zenith

Celestial equator

horizon

11.

1 point

Where on earth do you see the most circumpolar stars?

Greenwich, England

The Equator

The north and south poles

0o latitude, 0o longitude

0o latitude, 180o longitude

12.

1 point

Where will stars appear to rise perpendicular to the horizon?

The north pole

The south pole

The equator

A latitude of 45o north or south

13.

1 point

The ecliptic

Is the apparent path of the Sun on the sky

Is the celestial equator as viewed at the south pole

is the astronomical horizon as viewed from the north pole

Lies along the Greenwich meridian

14.

1 point

The place on the ecliptic where the Sun stops its northward motion is the:

Vernal equinox

Summer solstice

Autumnal equinox

Winter solstice

15.

1 point

The ecliptic is defined by

The plane of the Earth’s equator

The plane of the observer’s horizon

The plane of the Earth’s orbit

The plane of the celestial equator

16.

1 point

At what two celestial locations do the celestial equator and ecliptic coincide?

Winter and summer solstices

Vernal and autumnal equinoxes

They coincide at all points because they are the same

North celestial pole and south celestial pole

Zenith and horizon

17.

1 point

The angle between the ecliptic and the celestial equator is

66.5

0

90

45

23.5

18.

1 point

The seasons are caused by

The variation in the distance between the Earth and the Sun

The tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the ecliptic

Equal contributions from the above two causes

19.

1 point

The point in the Earth’s orbit when Earth is closest to the Sun is known as

Aphelion

Perihelion

Precession

The winter solstice

20.

1 point

The zodiac is a set of constellations that defines the

Astronomical horizon

Celestial equator

Milky Way

Ecliptic

Zenith

21.

1 point

Where on Earth can you observe all the stars in the whole sky over the entire year

Arctic Circle

Tropic of Cancer

North Pole

Equator