Honors 290 Final Exam Questions with
complete solution 2025/2026
Describe fully the phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes - correct answer ✔cannot
perfectly divide the days of the year, so the position of the Sun on the first the day of spring (equinox)
slowly shifts westward around the sky, which also moves it around our calendar
Define: sidereal year, tropical year, and anomalistic year - correct answer ✔Sidereal year: time for sun
to return to same position relative the celestial sphere.
Tropical year: measured from one type of equinox or solstice to the next (from autumn equinox to
autumn equinox)
Anomalistic year: time from one perihelion to the next
Define the synodic period. Explain why the synodic period becomes smaller for planets that are farther
away from Earth. - correct answer ✔time it takes for a celestial body like the moon orplanets to return
to the same angular position from the sun as seen from the Earth. More distant planets travel slower
and have further to go, thus have longer synodic periods
Explain why, according to the Sun-centered model, superior planets experience retrogradation at
opposition; recall that opposition is where the planet is located opposite the Sun on the celestial sphere.
- correct answer ✔as we pass superior planets on the inner track of our orbit, planet (which moves
slower than us) appears to slow down, retrograde/loop, then continue prograde
Explain why, according to the Sun-centered model, superior planets appear brightest in the sky during
retrogradation - correct answer ✔Planet is directly opposite the sun (fully illuminated) and closest to
the earth at this point
Explain why, according to the Sun-centered model, Mercury and Venus have a maximum elongation
angle from the Sun that is less than 180◦ (i.e., explain why Mercury and Venus are never seen at
opposition). - correct answer ✔they are inferior planets = inner oribits = can never be a full 180 degrees
from sun / never outside earth's orbit
, briefly define "archaeoastronomy". - correct answer ✔combines archaeology astronomy, and a bit of
anthropology in order to understand how ancient peoples who left no written records made use of and
understood the sky
Name 3 monolithic structures of interest to archaeoastronomy - correct answer ✔Newgrange,
Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge
List 3 probably uses of monolithic structures to the society that built them. - correct answer ✔calendar-
keeping, burial and rituals relating to the afterlife, track events like solstices or eclipses
What are the two most common alignments (i.e., pointers to auspicious locations on the local horizon)
of monolithic structures? - correct answer ✔solstaces and equinoxes
Give more than 3 examples of proposed alignments specific to Stonehenge - correct answer ✔make
astronomical observations and keep track of the passage of time, predict eclipses, a burial ground
List the minimum astronomical information you would need to build Stonehenge (astronomical
informationincludes a position and a date/time). - correct answer ✔--knowledge of the direction of the
midsummer and midwinter sunrises (axis of the central horseshoe aligned with the latter and the axis of
Stonehenge itself with the former)
--understanding and application of time
--understanding annual motion of the sun and perhaps moon
What is Hoyle's theory of the use of the Aubrey holes of Stonehenge? Why is this theory not widely
supported by archaeoastronomers? - correct answer ✔Aubrey holes were used to track motion of sun
and moon. Predicts that the motion moon roughly tracked by moving amarker two holes every day =
marker completes the 56-hole circle every 28 days, approximates the period of 27.3 days the moon
requires in its path across the sky
complete solution 2025/2026
Describe fully the phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes - correct answer ✔cannot
perfectly divide the days of the year, so the position of the Sun on the first the day of spring (equinox)
slowly shifts westward around the sky, which also moves it around our calendar
Define: sidereal year, tropical year, and anomalistic year - correct answer ✔Sidereal year: time for sun
to return to same position relative the celestial sphere.
Tropical year: measured from one type of equinox or solstice to the next (from autumn equinox to
autumn equinox)
Anomalistic year: time from one perihelion to the next
Define the synodic period. Explain why the synodic period becomes smaller for planets that are farther
away from Earth. - correct answer ✔time it takes for a celestial body like the moon orplanets to return
to the same angular position from the sun as seen from the Earth. More distant planets travel slower
and have further to go, thus have longer synodic periods
Explain why, according to the Sun-centered model, superior planets experience retrogradation at
opposition; recall that opposition is where the planet is located opposite the Sun on the celestial sphere.
- correct answer ✔as we pass superior planets on the inner track of our orbit, planet (which moves
slower than us) appears to slow down, retrograde/loop, then continue prograde
Explain why, according to the Sun-centered model, superior planets appear brightest in the sky during
retrogradation - correct answer ✔Planet is directly opposite the sun (fully illuminated) and closest to
the earth at this point
Explain why, according to the Sun-centered model, Mercury and Venus have a maximum elongation
angle from the Sun that is less than 180◦ (i.e., explain why Mercury and Venus are never seen at
opposition). - correct answer ✔they are inferior planets = inner oribits = can never be a full 180 degrees
from sun / never outside earth's orbit
, briefly define "archaeoastronomy". - correct answer ✔combines archaeology astronomy, and a bit of
anthropology in order to understand how ancient peoples who left no written records made use of and
understood the sky
Name 3 monolithic structures of interest to archaeoastronomy - correct answer ✔Newgrange,
Pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge
List 3 probably uses of monolithic structures to the society that built them. - correct answer ✔calendar-
keeping, burial and rituals relating to the afterlife, track events like solstices or eclipses
What are the two most common alignments (i.e., pointers to auspicious locations on the local horizon)
of monolithic structures? - correct answer ✔solstaces and equinoxes
Give more than 3 examples of proposed alignments specific to Stonehenge - correct answer ✔make
astronomical observations and keep track of the passage of time, predict eclipses, a burial ground
List the minimum astronomical information you would need to build Stonehenge (astronomical
informationincludes a position and a date/time). - correct answer ✔--knowledge of the direction of the
midsummer and midwinter sunrises (axis of the central horseshoe aligned with the latter and the axis of
Stonehenge itself with the former)
--understanding and application of time
--understanding annual motion of the sun and perhaps moon
What is Hoyle's theory of the use of the Aubrey holes of Stonehenge? Why is this theory not widely
supported by archaeoastronomers? - correct answer ✔Aubrey holes were used to track motion of sun
and moon. Predicts that the motion moon roughly tracked by moving amarker two holes every day =
marker completes the 56-hole circle every 28 days, approximates the period of 27.3 days the moon
requires in its path across the sky
