Astronomy 104: Exam 1 PASSED
Questions and CORRECT Answers
During the New Moon phase, how much of the Moon's total surface is being illuminated by
sunlight? - Correct Answer- Half
Imagine a planet whose rotational axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane. How would you
describe its seasons? - Correct Answer- Constant
The phase of the Moon during a solar eclipse: - Correct Answer- is always new
What time does the Full Moon rise? - Correct Answer- Sunset
The tilt of the Earth's rotational axis is how many degrees? - Correct Answer- 23.5
When an object is transiting, it is... - Correct Answer- at its highest point in the Sky
Why do we not see eclipses every month? - Correct Answer- The tilt of the Moon's orbital
plane.
For the vernal equinox how many hours of daylight are on Earth? - Correct Answer- 12
hours.
What are constellations? - Correct Answer- Groups of stars making an apparent pattern in the
celestial sphere.
What time does the 3rd Quarter Moon Set? - Correct Answer- Noon
The apparent path that the Sun takes on the celestial sphere, which the planets and Moon do
not stray far from, is the: - Correct Answer- ecliptic
When does the Earth pass into the shadow of the Moon? - Correct Answer- Solar Eclipse
, Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be observed (as long as the sky is clear)? - Correct
Answer- Only on a small region of the Earth that is experiencing daytime.
During which month is it actually the coldest in the Northern Hemisphere? - Correct Answer-
December
During which season is the number of daylight hours the greatest? - Correct Answer- Summer
During which season is the Sun highest in the sky at noon? - Correct Answer- Summer
What is (are) the cause(s) of the seasons on Earth? - Correct Answer- The tilt of the Earth's
rotational axis AND the number of daylight hours.
If the Moon is a full Moon tonight, will the Moon be waxing or waning one week later?
Which side of the Moon (right or left) will appear illuminated at this time? - Correct Answer-
waning, left
The time it takes a planet to orbit around the Sun depends on - Correct Answer- the distance
the planet is from the Sun
Who first used telescopic observations to support the idea of a heliocentric model (but was
not the first to propose the heliocentric model)? - Correct Answer- Galileo
Kepler's first law: - Correct Answer- the planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths
Pluto takes longer to orbit the Sun than Earth. This is due to which of Kepler's laws? -
Correct Answer- Kepler's third law
Why are planets needed in the geocentric model? - Correct Answer- planets seem to vary in
brightness and exhibit retrograde motion.
The orbital speed of a planet at perihelion as compared to aphelion: - Correct Answer- is
larger
Questions and CORRECT Answers
During the New Moon phase, how much of the Moon's total surface is being illuminated by
sunlight? - Correct Answer- Half
Imagine a planet whose rotational axis is perpendicular to its orbital plane. How would you
describe its seasons? - Correct Answer- Constant
The phase of the Moon during a solar eclipse: - Correct Answer- is always new
What time does the Full Moon rise? - Correct Answer- Sunset
The tilt of the Earth's rotational axis is how many degrees? - Correct Answer- 23.5
When an object is transiting, it is... - Correct Answer- at its highest point in the Sky
Why do we not see eclipses every month? - Correct Answer- The tilt of the Moon's orbital
plane.
For the vernal equinox how many hours of daylight are on Earth? - Correct Answer- 12
hours.
What are constellations? - Correct Answer- Groups of stars making an apparent pattern in the
celestial sphere.
What time does the 3rd Quarter Moon Set? - Correct Answer- Noon
The apparent path that the Sun takes on the celestial sphere, which the planets and Moon do
not stray far from, is the: - Correct Answer- ecliptic
When does the Earth pass into the shadow of the Moon? - Correct Answer- Solar Eclipse
, Where on Earth can a solar eclipse be observed (as long as the sky is clear)? - Correct
Answer- Only on a small region of the Earth that is experiencing daytime.
During which month is it actually the coldest in the Northern Hemisphere? - Correct Answer-
December
During which season is the number of daylight hours the greatest? - Correct Answer- Summer
During which season is the Sun highest in the sky at noon? - Correct Answer- Summer
What is (are) the cause(s) of the seasons on Earth? - Correct Answer- The tilt of the Earth's
rotational axis AND the number of daylight hours.
If the Moon is a full Moon tonight, will the Moon be waxing or waning one week later?
Which side of the Moon (right or left) will appear illuminated at this time? - Correct Answer-
waning, left
The time it takes a planet to orbit around the Sun depends on - Correct Answer- the distance
the planet is from the Sun
Who first used telescopic observations to support the idea of a heliocentric model (but was
not the first to propose the heliocentric model)? - Correct Answer- Galileo
Kepler's first law: - Correct Answer- the planets orbit the Sun in elliptical paths
Pluto takes longer to orbit the Sun than Earth. This is due to which of Kepler's laws? -
Correct Answer- Kepler's third law
Why are planets needed in the geocentric model? - Correct Answer- planets seem to vary in
brightness and exhibit retrograde motion.
The orbital speed of a planet at perihelion as compared to aphelion: - Correct Answer- is
larger
