Discovering the Universe Exam Questions with Correct Answers Fully Solved Latest Version 2025
When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting
________.
lower in the sky
dimmer
brighter
higher in the sky - Answers D
Suppose you use the Southern Cross to determine that the south celestial pole appears 40 degrees
above your horizon. Then you must be located at ________.
longitude 40 degrees
latitude 40 degrees south
latitude 50 degrees south
latitude 40 degrees north - Answers B
In any particular place on Earth, certain constellations are visible in the evening only at certain times of
the year because ________.
A on any particular night, we can only see stars that are directly opposite (180 degrees away from) the
Sun in the sky
B during some times of year, some constellations drop below the southern horizon
C some constellations are circumpolar
D our evening view of space depends on where Earth is located in its orbit around the Sun - Answers D
RXJ1800, a galaxy, lies very near in the sky to the bright star Vega. What is the best explanation for them
appearing close together?
Vega orbits the center of mass of RXJ1800.
, Vega must have recently formed in RXJ1800 and been ejected.
Their random motions have caused RXJ1800 and Vega to drift to within a few light-years of each other.
They coincidentally lie along the same line of sight. - Answers D
You are standing on Earth's equator. In which direction is Polaris, the North star?
It is directly overhead.
The answer depends on what time of day (or night) it is.
It is on the northern horizon.
The answer depends on whether it is winter or summer. - Answers C
If Earth's rotation slowed down so that it completed exactly one rotation about its axis in 100 hours,
what would be the typical time interval between sunrise and sunset?
50 hours
25 hours
24 hours
100 hours - Answers A
When the Moon's phase is a first quarter moon, it rises
just after sunset.
just before sunset.
around noon.
close to sunrise. - Answers C
About how many stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear, dark night away from city lights?
a few hundred billion
several million
When traveling north from the United States into Canada, you'll see the North Star (Polaris) getting
________.
lower in the sky
dimmer
brighter
higher in the sky - Answers D
Suppose you use the Southern Cross to determine that the south celestial pole appears 40 degrees
above your horizon. Then you must be located at ________.
longitude 40 degrees
latitude 40 degrees south
latitude 50 degrees south
latitude 40 degrees north - Answers B
In any particular place on Earth, certain constellations are visible in the evening only at certain times of
the year because ________.
A on any particular night, we can only see stars that are directly opposite (180 degrees away from) the
Sun in the sky
B during some times of year, some constellations drop below the southern horizon
C some constellations are circumpolar
D our evening view of space depends on where Earth is located in its orbit around the Sun - Answers D
RXJ1800, a galaxy, lies very near in the sky to the bright star Vega. What is the best explanation for them
appearing close together?
Vega orbits the center of mass of RXJ1800.
, Vega must have recently formed in RXJ1800 and been ejected.
Their random motions have caused RXJ1800 and Vega to drift to within a few light-years of each other.
They coincidentally lie along the same line of sight. - Answers D
You are standing on Earth's equator. In which direction is Polaris, the North star?
It is directly overhead.
The answer depends on what time of day (or night) it is.
It is on the northern horizon.
The answer depends on whether it is winter or summer. - Answers C
If Earth's rotation slowed down so that it completed exactly one rotation about its axis in 100 hours,
what would be the typical time interval between sunrise and sunset?
50 hours
25 hours
24 hours
100 hours - Answers A
When the Moon's phase is a first quarter moon, it rises
just after sunset.
just before sunset.
around noon.
close to sunrise. - Answers C
About how many stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear, dark night away from city lights?
a few hundred billion
several million
