NATS1745 EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
What is Archaeoatronomy? - ....ANSWER ...-The study of archeological
sites and artifacts and their astronomical significance to the patterns of the night
sky
What is the Summer Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the summer solstice occurs
when sun rises as far northeast as it ever does, reaches its highest point in the sky
and sets as far to the northwest - longest daylight period of the year.
What is the Equinox? - ....ANSWER ...-the Equinox occurs when the sun
crosses the Earth's equator and appears directly above it, rising "due east" and sets
"due west."
What is the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the Winter Solstice occurs
when the sun rises as far southeast as it ever does, reaches its lowest point in the
sky and sets as far to the southwest - shortest daylight period of the year.
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,What are the Changing Phases of the Moon? - ....ANSWER ...-Full, waxing
crescent, 1st quarter, waxing gibbous, new moon, waxing gibbous, 3rd quarter,
waning crecscent
How do the planets move in the sky? - ....ANSWER ...-- Planets also rise in
the east and set in the west,
- The positions of the planets change with time, relative to the fixed stars.
- The "backwards" motion of the planets is called the Retrograde Motion -
backwards loop
Alignment Site 1: Newgrange - ....ANSWER ...-- circular hut with window
- older than stonehenge and pyramids of Giza (3200 BCE)
- surrounded by 97 kerbstones
- winter solstice alignment
- triskele = celtic symbol for life death rebirth
- Kerbstone 52 had orion's belt engraved
Why align Newgrange with the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-- The
Winter Solstice can represent rebirth and the Sun's guarding power
- By creating a tomb that aligns with the Winter Solstice, this ancient culture may
have been wishing for the rebirth or reincarnation for their dead
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
,Alignment Site 2: Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon - ....ANSWER ...-- Pueblo
Bonito: built 850-1150 CE
- Fajada Butte: 135m above the canyon. Mountain.
- 3 slabs on fajada butte covering engraved petroglyph
- sun daggers appear on the petroglyph through the cracks on the slabs
Alignment Site 3: Stonehenge - ....ANSWER ...-- 3100 BCE
- north east and south openings
- 56 'inner holes'
- heel stone was added later
- bluestones = small stones, sarsen stones = big stones
- sun behind heel stone on winter solstice
-precession of the equinoxes has caused rising sun location to have changes slightly
What is the Sun's daily cycle? - ....ANSWER ...-The Sun rises the east and
sets in the west
The Earth spins around its North-South axis
The Earth spins from west towards the east
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
, The path the Sun takes is different depending on where you are on the planet
What is Dinural Motion? - ....ANSWER ...-Dinural Motion is the daily
motion of the Sun, the stars and other celestial bodies across the sky.
What does Equinox mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Equal Night equal day
What does solstice mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Sun standing still
Why does the Sun have these patterns? - ....ANSWER ...-The spinning of
the Earth around its North-South axis creates Diurnal motion on the sky
- Indirect light = Sun is lowest in the sky
- Direct light = Sun is highest in the sky
- North pole tilted away from the Sun = winter in Northern Hemisphere
- North pole tilted towards the Sun = summer in Northern Hemisphere
Galileo - ....ANSWER ...-- first astronomer to use telescope for observations
- watched lamp swing back and forth, led him to discovery of time intervals and
pendulum clock
What is refraction? - ....ANSWER ...-Refraction is the bending of light as it
passes from one transparent substance into another.
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 4
AND ANSWERS
What is Archaeoatronomy? - ....ANSWER ...-The study of archeological
sites and artifacts and their astronomical significance to the patterns of the night
sky
What is the Summer Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the summer solstice occurs
when sun rises as far northeast as it ever does, reaches its highest point in the sky
and sets as far to the northwest - longest daylight period of the year.
What is the Equinox? - ....ANSWER ...-the Equinox occurs when the sun
crosses the Earth's equator and appears directly above it, rising "due east" and sets
"due west."
What is the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-the Winter Solstice occurs
when the sun rises as far southeast as it ever does, reaches its lowest point in the
sky and sets as far to the southwest - shortest daylight period of the year.
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,What are the Changing Phases of the Moon? - ....ANSWER ...-Full, waxing
crescent, 1st quarter, waxing gibbous, new moon, waxing gibbous, 3rd quarter,
waning crecscent
How do the planets move in the sky? - ....ANSWER ...-- Planets also rise in
the east and set in the west,
- The positions of the planets change with time, relative to the fixed stars.
- The "backwards" motion of the planets is called the Retrograde Motion -
backwards loop
Alignment Site 1: Newgrange - ....ANSWER ...-- circular hut with window
- older than stonehenge and pyramids of Giza (3200 BCE)
- surrounded by 97 kerbstones
- winter solstice alignment
- triskele = celtic symbol for life death rebirth
- Kerbstone 52 had orion's belt engraved
Why align Newgrange with the Winter Solstice? - ....ANSWER ...-- The
Winter Solstice can represent rebirth and the Sun's guarding power
- By creating a tomb that aligns with the Winter Solstice, this ancient culture may
have been wishing for the rebirth or reincarnation for their dead
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
,Alignment Site 2: Sun Daggers of Chaco Canyon - ....ANSWER ...-- Pueblo
Bonito: built 850-1150 CE
- Fajada Butte: 135m above the canyon. Mountain.
- 3 slabs on fajada butte covering engraved petroglyph
- sun daggers appear on the petroglyph through the cracks on the slabs
Alignment Site 3: Stonehenge - ....ANSWER ...-- 3100 BCE
- north east and south openings
- 56 'inner holes'
- heel stone was added later
- bluestones = small stones, sarsen stones = big stones
- sun behind heel stone on winter solstice
-precession of the equinoxes has caused rising sun location to have changes slightly
What is the Sun's daily cycle? - ....ANSWER ...-The Sun rises the east and
sets in the west
The Earth spins around its North-South axis
The Earth spins from west towards the east
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
, The path the Sun takes is different depending on where you are on the planet
What is Dinural Motion? - ....ANSWER ...-Dinural Motion is the daily
motion of the Sun, the stars and other celestial bodies across the sky.
What does Equinox mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Equal Night equal day
What does solstice mean? - ....ANSWER ...-Sun standing still
Why does the Sun have these patterns? - ....ANSWER ...-The spinning of
the Earth around its North-South axis creates Diurnal motion on the sky
- Indirect light = Sun is lowest in the sky
- Direct light = Sun is highest in the sky
- North pole tilted away from the Sun = winter in Northern Hemisphere
- North pole tilted towards the Sun = summer in Northern Hemisphere
Galileo - ....ANSWER ...-- first astronomer to use telescope for observations
- watched lamp swing back and forth, led him to discovery of time intervals and
pendulum clock
What is refraction? - ....ANSWER ...-Refraction is the bending of light as it
passes from one transparent substance into another.
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 4
