Astronomy 100 (AA100) Final -
Colorado State University questions
well 2025/2026
Astronomy - correct answer ✔✔Study of universe and contents outside earth's atmosphere
Astrology - correct answer ✔✔Study of how positions and properties in the universe affect
people and events on earth
Occam’s Razor - correct answer ✔✔means of simplifying an idea down to its most simple and
essential parts
Pseudoscience - correct answer ✔✔statements, beliefs and practices claimed to be scientific
and factual with absence of scientific evidence
Ecliptic - correct answer ✔✔the path of our sun on the celestial sphere
Astronomical Unit (AU) - correct answer ✔✔average distance between earth and sun, about
150 million kilometers (90 million miles)
Light Year - correct answer ✔✔The distance light travels in 1 year
Ptolemy - correct answer ✔✔proposed geocentric model of universe
Zenith - correct answer ✔✔point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above the observer
, Meridian - correct answer ✔✔circle that passes through the celestial poles
Circumpolar - correct answer ✔✔A star, when observed from earth, that never sets below the
horizon
Perihelion - correct answer ✔✔Point at which object is closest to a star in its orbit
Aphelion - correct answer ✔✔Point at which object is farthest from a star in its orbit
Solstice - correct answer ✔✔When the sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky. Summer
solstice = highest point, longest day. Winter solstice = lowest point, shortest day.
Equinox - correct answer ✔✔When the sun crosses the celestial equator. Spring and Autumn
equinox occur.
Sidereal month - correct answer ✔✔Time it takes for the moon to make one rotation around
earth, with respect to the stars. (27.3 days)
Synodic month - correct answer ✔✔Time it takes for the moon to go through all the phases
(29.5 days)
Corona - correct answer ✔✔Aura plasma surrounding sun, best seen during an eclipse.
Prograde - correct answer ✔✔planet observed traveling from east to west
Retrograde - correct answer ✔✔planet observed traveling from west to east
Colorado State University questions
well 2025/2026
Astronomy - correct answer ✔✔Study of universe and contents outside earth's atmosphere
Astrology - correct answer ✔✔Study of how positions and properties in the universe affect
people and events on earth
Occam’s Razor - correct answer ✔✔means of simplifying an idea down to its most simple and
essential parts
Pseudoscience - correct answer ✔✔statements, beliefs and practices claimed to be scientific
and factual with absence of scientific evidence
Ecliptic - correct answer ✔✔the path of our sun on the celestial sphere
Astronomical Unit (AU) - correct answer ✔✔average distance between earth and sun, about
150 million kilometers (90 million miles)
Light Year - correct answer ✔✔The distance light travels in 1 year
Ptolemy - correct answer ✔✔proposed geocentric model of universe
Zenith - correct answer ✔✔point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above the observer
, Meridian - correct answer ✔✔circle that passes through the celestial poles
Circumpolar - correct answer ✔✔A star, when observed from earth, that never sets below the
horizon
Perihelion - correct answer ✔✔Point at which object is closest to a star in its orbit
Aphelion - correct answer ✔✔Point at which object is farthest from a star in its orbit
Solstice - correct answer ✔✔When the sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky. Summer
solstice = highest point, longest day. Winter solstice = lowest point, shortest day.
Equinox - correct answer ✔✔When the sun crosses the celestial equator. Spring and Autumn
equinox occur.
Sidereal month - correct answer ✔✔Time it takes for the moon to make one rotation around
earth, with respect to the stars. (27.3 days)
Synodic month - correct answer ✔✔Time it takes for the moon to go through all the phases
(29.5 days)
Corona - correct answer ✔✔Aura plasma surrounding sun, best seen during an eclipse.
Prograde - correct answer ✔✔planet observed traveling from east to west
Retrograde - correct answer ✔✔planet observed traveling from west to east
