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Astronomy 207 (ASTR 207) Midterm 2 –
2026/2027 Study Edition | Complete
Practice Questions & Answers | Grade A
Astronomy Review
How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.? Question 1 options:
A. by observing the duration of a solar eclipse
B. by measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse
C. by sending fleets of ships around Earth
D. We don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed.
E. by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the
summer solstice
- by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the
summer solstice
Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the
universe?
A. to explain why more distant planets take longer to make a circuit through the constellations of
the zodiac
B. to explain why the Greeks were unable to detect stellar parallax
C. to properly account for the varying distances of the planets from Earth
D. to explain why Venus goes through phases as seen from Earth E. to explain the fact that
planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward, relative to the stars in our sky
E. to explain the fact that planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward,
relative to the stars in our sky
Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal
areas in equal times, implies that
A. a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit.
B. planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets.
C. the period of a planet does not depend on its mass.
D. planets have circular orbits. a
E. planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.
E. planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.
Which of the following phases does Venus actually display as viewed from Earth?
A. new and crescent phases only
B. gibbous and full phases only
C. Venus does not exhibit phases.
D. all phases
D. all phases
,Which of the following observations provided direct proof that Earth is not the center of all
motion in the universe?
A. the apparent retrograde motion of the planets
B. the phases of the Moon eclipses of the Sun
C. Galileo's observation of stars in the Milky Way
D. Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter
D. Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter
Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?
A. A model tries to represent all aspects of nature.
B. A model tries to represent only one aspect of nature.
C. All models that explain nature well are correct.
D. All current models are correct.
E. A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.
E. A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.
Why do scientists consider Einstein's General Theory of Relativity to be a better theory of
gravity than Newton's theory of gravity?
A. The two theories always make very different predictions, and only Einstein's theory works.
B. Newton's theory was never useful, so it had to be replaced by something.
C. Einstein's theory is newer, and scientists always prefer newer theories.
D. Einstein's gravity makes correct predictions in a few cases where Newton's theory does not.
D. Einstein's gravity makes correct predictions in a few cases where Newton's theory does not.
Which of the following statements can in principle be tested by scientific experiment(s)?
A. War is morally justified.
B. Picasso was the best artist of his generation.
C. A supernatural being created the world.
D. The locations of the Sun and planets among the constellations at your birth predict your
personality and health.
What is a telescopes light collecting area?
It tells us how much light the telescope can collect at one time
What is a telescopes angular resolution?
It is the smallest angle over which we can tell that two dots (two stars) are distinct
What is the diffraction limit?
It is the effects of interference that limit the telescopes resolution, it depends on the telescopes
diameter of its primary mirror, and the wavelength of the light being observed
What is a refracting telescope?
It is a telescope that operates like an eye, using transparent glass lenses to collect and focus light
What is a reflecting telescope?
It is a telescope that uses a precisely curved primary mirror to gather light.
, What 2 main problems cause astronomers to launch telescopes to space?
Light Pollution and Atmospheric Blurring
What is light pollution?
Waste light from building sites that produces glare, is directed upward to the sky, or is directed
off the site.
What is atmospheric blurring?
It is the ever changing motion, or turbulence, or air in the atmosphere bends light in constantly
shifting patterns
Can the Hubble Space Telescope resolve the two stars?
No
Which of the following types of telescopes would be useful in your backyard?
a visible-light telescope since it reaches the ground and we can see it
Rank the wave lengths from highest altitude to lowest
X Rays, Most ultraviolet light, most infrared light, and most radio waves = green visible light
How do we actually measure Doppler shifts?
By carefully measuring the wavelengths of spectral lines
How do we measure an objects temperature?
We can determine an objects temperature from the peak wavelength of its thermal emission
How many moons does Mercury and Venus have?
0 moons
What two compounds is the sun made up of?
98% Hydrogen and 2% Helium
What is Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars made up of?
Rock and metals
How many Moons does Earth have?
1 moon
What are Mars 2 moons?
Phobos and Deimos
Astronomy 207 (ASTR 207) Midterm 2 –
2026/2027 Study Edition | Complete
Practice Questions & Answers | Grade A
Astronomy Review
How did Eratosthenes estimate the size of Earth in 240 B.C.? Question 1 options:
A. by observing the duration of a solar eclipse
B. by measuring the size of Earth's shadow on the Moon in a lunar eclipse
C. by sending fleets of ships around Earth
D. We don't know how he did it since all his writings were destroyed.
E. by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the
summer solstice
- by comparing the maximum altitude of the Sun in two cities at different latitudes on the
summer solstice
Why did Ptolemy have the planets orbiting Earth on "circles upon circles" in his model of the
universe?
A. to explain why more distant planets take longer to make a circuit through the constellations of
the zodiac
B. to explain why the Greeks were unable to detect stellar parallax
C. to properly account for the varying distances of the planets from Earth
D. to explain why Venus goes through phases as seen from Earth E. to explain the fact that
planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward, relative to the stars in our sky
E. to explain the fact that planets sometimes appear to move westward, rather than eastward,
relative to the stars in our sky
Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal
areas in equal times, implies that
A. a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit.
B. planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets.
C. the period of a planet does not depend on its mass.
D. planets have circular orbits. a
E. planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.
E. planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.
Which of the following phases does Venus actually display as viewed from Earth?
A. new and crescent phases only
B. gibbous and full phases only
C. Venus does not exhibit phases.
D. all phases
D. all phases
,Which of the following observations provided direct proof that Earth is not the center of all
motion in the universe?
A. the apparent retrograde motion of the planets
B. the phases of the Moon eclipses of the Sun
C. Galileo's observation of stars in the Milky Way
D. Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter
D. Galileo's observations of the moons of Jupiter
Which of the following statements about scientific models is true?
A. A model tries to represent all aspects of nature.
B. A model tries to represent only one aspect of nature.
C. All models that explain nature well are correct.
D. All current models are correct.
E. A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.
E. A model can be used to explain and predict real phenomena.
Why do scientists consider Einstein's General Theory of Relativity to be a better theory of
gravity than Newton's theory of gravity?
A. The two theories always make very different predictions, and only Einstein's theory works.
B. Newton's theory was never useful, so it had to be replaced by something.
C. Einstein's theory is newer, and scientists always prefer newer theories.
D. Einstein's gravity makes correct predictions in a few cases where Newton's theory does not.
D. Einstein's gravity makes correct predictions in a few cases where Newton's theory does not.
Which of the following statements can in principle be tested by scientific experiment(s)?
A. War is morally justified.
B. Picasso was the best artist of his generation.
C. A supernatural being created the world.
D. The locations of the Sun and planets among the constellations at your birth predict your
personality and health.
What is a telescopes light collecting area?
It tells us how much light the telescope can collect at one time
What is a telescopes angular resolution?
It is the smallest angle over which we can tell that two dots (two stars) are distinct
What is the diffraction limit?
It is the effects of interference that limit the telescopes resolution, it depends on the telescopes
diameter of its primary mirror, and the wavelength of the light being observed
What is a refracting telescope?
It is a telescope that operates like an eye, using transparent glass lenses to collect and focus light
What is a reflecting telescope?
It is a telescope that uses a precisely curved primary mirror to gather light.
, What 2 main problems cause astronomers to launch telescopes to space?
Light Pollution and Atmospheric Blurring
What is light pollution?
Waste light from building sites that produces glare, is directed upward to the sky, or is directed
off the site.
What is atmospheric blurring?
It is the ever changing motion, or turbulence, or air in the atmosphere bends light in constantly
shifting patterns
Can the Hubble Space Telescope resolve the two stars?
No
Which of the following types of telescopes would be useful in your backyard?
a visible-light telescope since it reaches the ground and we can see it
Rank the wave lengths from highest altitude to lowest
X Rays, Most ultraviolet light, most infrared light, and most radio waves = green visible light
How do we actually measure Doppler shifts?
By carefully measuring the wavelengths of spectral lines
How do we measure an objects temperature?
We can determine an objects temperature from the peak wavelength of its thermal emission
How many moons does Mercury and Venus have?
0 moons
What two compounds is the sun made up of?
98% Hydrogen and 2% Helium
What is Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars made up of?
Rock and metals
How many Moons does Earth have?
1 moon
What are Mars 2 moons?
Phobos and Deimos
