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ASTRONOMY 101 - FINAL EXAM
REVIEW ACTUAL QUESTIONS 2026
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS.
Explain the physical reason why we on Earth experience day
and night. - correct answer-Earth rotates about an axis of
rotation once every 24 hours.
What is a light year? - correct answer-The distance light travels
in one year.
Approximately how far is the Sun from Earth? - correct answer-
1 AU, 150 million km, 93 million miles, 8 light minutes
About how far is the closest star to the Sun? - correct answer-4
light years
Explain why Earth has seasons. - correct answer-Earth's axis is
tilted with respect to the orbital plane. When the northern
hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun it is summer, even though
we are further from the Sun.
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Objects in the sky rise in the east and set in the west because
Earth rotates from ___ to ___ about its axis. - correct answer-
West to East
What two main factors dictate how bright a star is as seen from
Earth? - correct answer-How intrinsically bright it is and how far
away it is.
What are commonly recognized star patterns known as? -
correct answer-Constellations
What is significant about the Zodiac in the sky? - correct
answer-They lie along the plane of the ecliptic (the plane of the
solar system)
Explain why stars appear at the same locations on the celestial
sphere while the Sun, Moon, and planets move during the
course of the year. - correct answer-The stars are so incredibly
far away that even though they are moving, the motion is hardly
recognizable from Earth .
ASTRONOMY 101 - FINAL EXAM
REVIEW ACTUAL QUESTIONS 2026
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS.
Explain the physical reason why we on Earth experience day
and night. - correct answer-Earth rotates about an axis of
rotation once every 24 hours.
What is a light year? - correct answer-The distance light travels
in one year.
Approximately how far is the Sun from Earth? - correct answer-
1 AU, 150 million km, 93 million miles, 8 light minutes
About how far is the closest star to the Sun? - correct answer-4
light years
Explain why Earth has seasons. - correct answer-Earth's axis is
tilted with respect to the orbital plane. When the northern
hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun it is summer, even though
we are further from the Sun.
, Page | 2
Objects in the sky rise in the east and set in the west because
Earth rotates from ___ to ___ about its axis. - correct answer-
West to East
What two main factors dictate how bright a star is as seen from
Earth? - correct answer-How intrinsically bright it is and how far
away it is.
What are commonly recognized star patterns known as? -
correct answer-Constellations
What is significant about the Zodiac in the sky? - correct
answer-They lie along the plane of the ecliptic (the plane of the
solar system)
Explain why stars appear at the same locations on the celestial
sphere while the Sun, Moon, and planets move during the
course of the year. - correct answer-The stars are so incredibly
far away that even though they are moving, the motion is hardly
recognizable from Earth .
