Intro to Astronomy (Seneca College) Final
Exam Prep Questions And Answers Latest
Updated 2025 |100% Verified.
How would you define a constellation? - Answer✔A group of stars that form a recognizable
pattern in the sky.
Is the Polaris (The North Star) the brightest star? - Answer✔Contrary to popular belief Polaris is
a bright star in the north however it is not the brightest. The brightest star is known as siris, this
can be tested through drawing a line through Orion's Belt.
What is the path that the sun follows called? - Answer✔The path the sun follows through the
constellations is called ecliptic.
The plane of earth's orbit is called? - Answer✔The Ecliptic
What is the shape of earth's orbit called? - Answer✔The shape of earth's orbit is an ellipse.
Explain why from Toronto we can only see the constellation of Orion during winter and not
summer. - Answer✔Due to the earth's orbit around the sun at a 23 ½ degree angle the visibility
differs. Since in summer there is a summer solstice, the position of the sun causes a glare that
removes visibility as well.
What conclusion can we make about The paths of planets being close to the ecliptic? -
Answer✔That they are formed this way due to a disk of material rotating around the sun.
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Explain the difference between the winter solstice, summer solstice, spring equinox. -
Answer✔Winter Solstice: An astronomical Phenomenon that occurs between December 20th
or 23rd in the northern hemisphere and between June 20th or 23rd in the southern
hemisphere.
Summer Solstice: An astronomical Phenomenon that occurs between December 20th or 23rd in
the southern hemisphere and between June 20th or 23rd in the northern hemisphere. -
Answer✔
Fall Equinox: An astronomical phenomenon falling on September 22nd or 23rd in the northern
hemisphere and March 20th or 21st in the southern hemisphere. - Answer✔
Spring Equinox: An astronomical phenomenon falling on September 22nd or 23rd in southern
hemisphere and March 20th or 21st in the northern hemisphere. - Answer✔
If you see a star on the meridian facing due south and came back 24hrs would the stars be in
the same position? - Answer✔No because the earth rotates every 23rd and 56 mins.
Are the dark side and the far side of the moon Synonyms - Answer✔They are not synonyms the
dark side of the moon describes the side of the moon that is not lit by the reflection of the sun,
while the far side describes the side of the moon we never see.
Why do we always see the same side of the moon. - Answer✔We see the same side because
the moon is tidily locked*
What is the arrangement of Sun, Earth and Moon for a total Lunar eclipse? - Answer✔Sun,
Earth, moon
What is the arrangement of Sun, Earth and moon for a total solar eclipse. - Answer✔Sun, moon,
earth
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