Deck 2: A Users Guide to the Sky

Question 1

A(n) ____ is 1/60th of a degree.

A) precession
B) second of arc
C) minute of arc
D) nadir
E) angular diameter

Answer 1

C

Question 2

An observer at Earth's geographic north pole would find _______

A) the celestial equator passing at 45 degrees above the northern horizon.
B) the celestial equator passing at 45 degrees above the southern horizon.
C) that the celestial equator coincides with the horizon.
D) the celestial equator passing directly overhead.
E) None of the other choices are true.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

A(n) ____ is 1/60th of a minute of arc.

A) precession
B) second of arc
C) degree
D) nadir
E) angular diameter

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Constellation names are from _____ translated into _______, the language of science in Europe to the 19th century.

A) Greek; Latin
B) Latin; Greek
C) Latin; Arabic
D) Greek; English
E) Greek; Italian

Question 5

The magnitude scale

A) originated just after the telescope was invented.
B) can be used to indicate the apparent intensity of a celestial object.
C) was devised by Galileo.
D) is no longer used today.
E) was used to determine the rate of precession.

Question 6

Most star names, such as Aldebaran and Betelgeuse, are___ in origin.

A) Latin
B) Greek
C) Arabic
D) English
E) Italian

Question 7

The celestial equator is

A) a line around the sky directly above Earth's equator.
B) the dividing line between the north and south celestial hemispheres.
C) the path that the Sun appears to follow on the celestial sphere as Earth orbits the Sun.
D) a line around the sky directly above the Earth's equator and the dividing line between the north and south celestial hemispheres.
E) a line around the sky directly above Earth's equator and the dividing line between the north and south celestial hemispheres.

Question 8

In contrast to Ursa Major, the Big Dipper is not a(n) ___ but is instead a(n) ______

A) star; constellation.
B) asterism; constellation.
C) a constellation; asterism.
D) Wrong! Both are asterisms.
E) Wrong! Both are official constellations.

Question 9

Seen from the northern latitudes (mid-northern hemisphere), the star Polaris

A) is never above the horizon during the day.
B) always sets directly in the west.
C) is always above the northern horizon.
D) is never visible during the winter.
E) is the brightest star in the sky.

Question 10

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere watches the sky for several hours. Due to the motion of Earth, this observer notices that the stars near the north celestial pole appear to move

A) counter-clockwise around the celestial pole.
B) clockwise around the celestial pole.
C) from left to right.
D) from right to left.
E) nearly vertically upward.

Question 11

An observer on Earth's equator would find _______

A) the celestial equator passing at 45 degrees above the northern horizon.
B) the celestial equator passing at 45 degrees above the southern horizon.
C) that the celestial equator coincides with the horizon.
D) the celestial equator passing directly overhead.
E) None of the other choices are true.

Question 12

An observer's nadir is

A) the point directly opposite the observer's zenith.
B) the north point on the observer's horizon.
C) located at the center of Earth.
D) always located near a circumpolar constellation.
E) directly opposite the north celestial pole.

Question 13

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by

A) the force of gravity from the Sun and Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge.
B) the force of gravity from the Sun and Jupiter on the Earth-Moon system.
C) the magnetic field of Earth.
D) the formation and subsequent melting of glaciers during the ice-ages.
E) the impact of asteroids.

Question 14

The star Vega has an apparent visual magnitude of 0.03 and the star HR 4374 has an apparent visual magnitude of 4.87. It has been determined that both stars are at the same distance from Earth. What does this information tell us about the two stars?

A) Vega must be closer to Earth than HR 4374.
B) Vega must be farther from Earth than HR 4374.
C) Vega must produce less energy per second than HR 4374.
D) Vega must produce more energy per second than HR 4374.
E) Vega will appear fainter to us than HR 4374.

Question 15

The ____ of an object can be measured in degrees.

A) apparent brightness
B) apparent magnitude
C) zenith
D) angular diameter
E) color

Question 16

An observer on Earth's geographic north pole would find

A) Polaris directly overhead.
B) Polaris 40° above the northern horizon.
C) that the celestial equator coincides with the horizon.
D) celestial equator passing directly overhead.
E) that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon.

Question 17

An observer on Earth's equator would find

A) Polaris directly overhead.
B) Polaris 40° above the northern horizon.
C) Polaris on the northern horizon.
D) the celestial equator passing directly overhead.
E) that the ecliptic coincides with the horizon.

Question 18

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is a measure of the star's

A) size.
B) intensity.
C) distance.
D) color.
E) temperature.

Question 19

The apparent visual magnitude of a star is 7.3. This tells us that the star is

A) one of the brighter stars in the sky.
B) bright enough that it would be visible even during the day.
C) not visible with the unaided eye.
D) very far from Earth.
E) very close to Earth.

Question 20

The ____ is the point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer who can be at any point on the Earth.

A) north celestial pole
B) south celestial pole
C) zenith
D) celestial equator
E) nadir

Question 21

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Question 22

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Question 23

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below if they are located in the hemisphere containing the south celestial pole?
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A) 20° N
B) 20° S
C) 70° N
D) 70° S
E) 0°

Question 24

If the north celestial pole appears on your horizon, what is your latitude?

A) 90° N
B) 90° S
C) 0°
D) 45° N
E) The latitude of the observer cannot be determined from the information given.

Question 25

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Question 26

Table 2-1 Refer to Table 2-1. Based on the information in the table, what is the ratio of the intensity of Dra to that of Nim?

A) 2.512
B) 5
C) 8.07
D) 11.14
E) 100

Question 27

Table 2-1 Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would appear the brightest to an observer on Earth?

A) α Cet
B) α CMa
C) Nim
D) ρ Per
E) δ Dra

Question 28

Do the constellations visible in the sky at a particular time of night (say 9 P.M.) follow a seasonal pattern?

A) No, the same constellations are visible at 9 P.M. on any clear night of the year.
B) No. As the year progresses, the constellations visible at 9 P.M. are the same but their shapes change.
C) Yes, at 9 P.M. during a clear winter night ALL of the constellations you can see are different from the ones that appear at the same time during a summer night.
D) Yes, at 9 P.M. during a summer night most of the constellations you can see are different from those you can see on a winter night. However, there are some constellations that are visible all year long.

Question 29

You live at a latitude of 16° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

A) 74°
B) 164°
C) 16°
D) 23.4°
E) 5°

Question 30

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

A) 45°
B) 23.4°
C) 39°
D) 51°
E) The answer depends on the day of the year.

Question 31

You live at a latitude of 28° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

A) 62°
B) 28°
C) 40°
D) 23.4°
E) 5°

Question 32

You live at a latitude of 39° S. What is the angle between the southern horizon and the south celestial pole?

A) 45°
B) 23.4°
C) 39°
D) 51°
E) The answer depends on the day of the year.

Question 33

You live at a latitude of 73° N. What is the angle between the northern horizon and the north celestial pole?

A) 73°
B) 27°
C) 17°
D) 23.4°
E) 5°

Question 34

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Question 35

Polaris is a second magnitude star, and Phi Pegasi is about 16 times fainter than Polaris. What is the approximate magnitude of Phi Pegasi?

A) 18
B) − 14
C) 3
D) − 3
E) 5

Question 36

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.4 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 15.4. Star A is ____ than star B.

A) 2 times fainter
B) 2 times brighter
C) 6.3 times fainter
D) 6.3 times brighter
E) 29.8 times fainter

Question 37

What is the approximate latitude of the observer in the diagram below if they are located in the hemisphere containing the north celestial pole?
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A) 90° N
B) 90° S
C) 50° N
D) 50° S
E) 0°

Question 38

Table 2-1 Refer to Table 2-1. Which star in the table would not be visible to the unaided eye of an observer on Earth?

A) α Cet
B) α Cma
C) Nim
D) ρ Per
E) δ Dra

Question 39

An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Question 40

An observer in the Southern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which direction was the camera pointing?

A) straight north
B) straight east
C) straight south
D) straight west
E) straight up, directly overhead

Question 41

Precession of the rotation axis of Earth takes ____ to complete a cycle.

A) 24 hours
B) one year
C) 260 years
D) 26,000 years
E) 260,000 years

Question 42

Which of the following is ordered correctly from smallest to largest?

A) arc minute, arc second, degree
B) degree, arc minute, arc second
C) arc minute, degree, arc second
D) arc second, arc minute, degree

Question 43

Which of the following is false?

A) Alpha Orionis is apparently brighter than Beta Orionis.
B) Beta Orionis is apparently brighter than Alpha Orionis.
C) Rigel is apparently brighter than Betelgeuse.
D) None of the choices are false.

Question 44

A star is given a designation of Alpha Draconis and thus apparently it is the _______________ in the constellation.

A) brightest
B) second brightest
C) third brightest
D) fourth brightest

Question 45

In one way of naming stars, a(n) ____ letter indicates its brightness relative to the other stars in the constellation.

A) English
B) Arabic
C) Greek
D) Cyrillic

Question 46

As seen from the Earth's southern hemisphere, the celestial equator passes

A) north of overhead.
B) south of overhead.
C) through the north celestial pole.
D) through the south celestial pole.

Question 47

If you were standing on the Earth's equator, which of the following in the sky would pass through your zenith during the entire day (24 hours)?

A) the north celestial pole
B) the south celestial pole
C) the celestial equator
D) the nadir

Question 48

Stars in the same constellation

A) probably formed at the same time.
B) must be part of the same cluster of stars in space.
C) must have been discovered at about the same time at the same location in space.
D) may actually be very different distances away from the observer and from each other.

Question 49

During the month of June the north celestial pole points towards Polaris, but during the month of December it points

A) just north of Polaris.
B) just south of Polaris.
C) towards the star Vega.
D) towards the star Thuban.
E) still towards Polaris.

Question 50

____ is the brightest star in the constellation of Ursa Majoris.

A) β Ursa Majoris
B) γ Ursa Majoris
C) α Ursa Majoris
D) Wrong! Ursa Majoris is the name of the brightest star.

Question 51

If an observer walks north toward increasing latitude, the number of circumpolar stars would

A) remain constant.
B) decrease.
C) increase.
D) Unknown unless you also state the longitude of the observer.

Question 52

During one day and night in the mid-northern hemisphere, the stars near the north celestial pole

A) rise in the east.
B) set in the west.
C) circle the north celestial pole counter-clockwise.
D) circle the north celestial pole clockwise.

Question 53

How much of the Earth's surface is experiencing night at any time?

A) less than one-half, because of the tilt of the equator to the ecliptic plane
B) more than one-half, because of the precession of the poles
C) exactly one-half
D) all of the night sky

Question 54

How much of the sky is north of the celestial equator?

A) less than one-half, because of the tilt of the equator to the ecliptic plane
B) more than one-half, because of the precession of the poles
C) exactly one-half
D) all of the night sky

Question 55

If you point toward the zenith right now and then point there again 6 hours later, you will have pointed twice in the same direction relative to

A) your horizon.
B) the Sun.
C) the Moon.
D) the fixed stars.

Question 56

A sketch of the Earth with its north and south poles and equator is shown. The zenith is located in the sky over your head if you are at
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A) Earth's equator.
B) Earth's north pole.
C) Earth's south pole.
D) any of these.

Question 57

If you are standing at the Earth's north pole, which of the following would be located at the zenith?

A) the nadir
B) the star Vega
C) the celestial equator
D) the north celestial pole

Question 58

Seen from the northern latitudes, the star Polaris

A) is never above the horizon during the day.
B) always sets directly in the west.
C) is always above the northern horizon.
D) is never visible during the winter.
E) is the brightest star in the sky.

Question 59

Which of the following statements correctly describes the relationship between stars and constellations?

A) Only stars close to the ecliptic (the Earth's orbital plane) are located in constellations.
B) Every star is located in a constellation.
C) Only the brighter stars are in constellations.
D) Only those stars that were visible to the ancient Greeks are located in constellations.

Question 60

At the Earth's north pole, the north celestial pole is directly overhead and stars near the horizon travel in straight lines

A) straight up from the horizon.
B) straight up from the horizon slanting toward the right.
C) straight up from the horizon slanting toward the left.
D) parallel to the horizon.

Question 61

Less formally defined groupings of stars are called __________________.

Question 62

In which direction is Earth precessing? Choose the best answer.

A) towards Polaris
B) towards Thuban
C) away from Polaris
D) away from Sirius

Question 63

Earth's rotation axis traces out a cone shape in the sky, precessing in the ___________________ direction.

Question 64

_________ is equal to the angular distance from the horizon to the north celestial pole.

Question 65

The approximate intensity ratio between two stars is 100. Thus the apparent visual magnitude difference between the stars is ______________.

A) 1
B) 5
C) 10
D) 100

Question 66

The light from Polaris is 24.2 times less intense than the light received from Sirius. Which star is the truly brighter star, that is, emitting more visual light at its surface?

A) Polaris
B) Sirius
C) Neither, they emit the same amount at their surfaces.
D) This cannot be determined based upon the information given.

Question 67

In the picture shown, the lines are called __________________.

Question 68

A star has an apparent visual magnitude of +19. Which will you need to see this star?

A) naked eye
B) binoculars
C) telescope like Hubble Space Telescope
D) All of the other choices can be used.

Question 69

On a clear night you go outside and face south and see circumpolar stars. Then you turn and face north and you see stars rising in the east and setting in the west. Where are you located on Earth?

A) equator
B) a mid-latitude between the equator and the north pole
C) south pole
D) a mid-latitude between the equator and the south pole

Question 70

In the picture shown, which label is the asterism, constellation, and star?

A) Little Dipper is the constellation, no asterism is labeled, and Polaris is the star.
B) Big Dipper is the asterism, no star is labeled, and Polaris is the constellation.
C) Polaris is the star, Little Dipper is the asterism, and no constellation is labeled.
D) No star or asterism is labeled but Big Dipper is the constellation name.

Question 71

In the designation α Canis Majoris, which part refers to the star and which part refers to the constellation?

A) α refers to the constellation and Canis Majoris refers to the star.
B) α Canis Majoris refers to the star whereas Canis Majoris refes to the constellation.
C) α Canis refers to the star whereas Majoris refers to the constellation.
D) None of the other choices are correct.

Question 72

The ____________________ is the point on the celestial sphere directly above an observer, regardless of where the observer is located on Earth.

Question 73

The subscript ______ stands for ________ to remind you that only information on visible light is given.

Question 74

____________________ is a measure of the light energy that hits one square meter in one second.

Question 75

Earth's rotation axis ____________________ slowly so that in a few thousand years Polaris will no longer be the North Star.

Question 76

Star A has an apparent visual magnitude of 6.3 and star B has an apparent visual magnitude of 5.3. Star A is _________ times (fainter or brighter) than star B.

Question 77

North, south, east, and west are points on the _____________ of your local sky.

Question 78

Which of the following is an example of a scientific model?

A) celestial sphere
B) connected balls and rods representing chemical bonds of a DNA molecule
C) topographical map
D) All of the other choices are correct.

Question 79

You stand at attention with your arm overhead and finger pointing to the sky for 12 hours. During this entire time, your finger traces along the celestial equator in the sky. Where are you located on Earth?

A) North Pole
B) South Pole
C) equator
D) mid-latitude between the equator and the North Pole

Question 80

Which can be seen by the naked eye?

A) m _v = +10
B) m _v = +18
C) m _v = +6
D) m _v = +8