Astronomy 1010 Exam 1 Questions with
complete solution 2025
Are constellation stars in the same place as a structure in space, or does it
just look like they are from the sun's point of view in our galaxy? - correct
answer ✔constellation stars are not next to each other, just appear that way
from Sun's point of view
looking out into our galaxy
Are constellation stars all at the exact same distance from the sun or at
different distances? - correct answer ✔Different distances
Are constellation stars scattered all across our galaxy or just the neighbors of
the sun in the milky way? - correct answer ✔Nearby the sun in the milky way
On a "short" human civilization timescale, do constellations change shape or
stay the same shape? - correct answer ✔Relatively stay the same position in
relation to us
Zenith means... - correct answer ✔"overhead" for your location
Our constellation sphere has how many constellations? - correct answer
✔88
What is special about Polaris (the North star)? - correct answer ✔Above the
north pole, only above the horizon in the northern hemisphere, and it always
points due north
, What does Polaris tell you? - correct answer ✔It is on the horizon at the
equator; higher in the sky as you move north; overhead at North Pole
Why is the sky blue during the day? - correct answer ✔The atmosphere
scatters sunlight... it scatters blue light better than red. Blue sunlight bounces
around and comes to our eyes from all directions
Why don't we see stars during the day? - correct answer ✔stars above
horizon during the day are too faint to see compared to a blue day sky
Why can't we see seasonal stars? Because Earth spins on its axis or orbits
the sun? - correct answer ✔Because "night" side of the earth faces different
parts of the celestial sphere as it orbits the sun
Name for the plane of Earth's orbit and of solar system...also the path of Sun
on the sky...? - correct answer ✔Ecliptic
When the sun follows the path on the celestial sphere, does it cross in front of
all 88 constellations or only a few constellations? - correct answer ✔The sun
crosses in front of 12 (or 13) constellations
Name of the 12 constellations. - correct answer ✔Zodiac constellations; they
act as a calendar
The earth rotates ____(how many times) in _____(how often). - correct
answer ✔once in 24 hours
Earth orbits the sun once in _______ (how often) - correct answer ✔365
days (once a year)
complete solution 2025
Are constellation stars in the same place as a structure in space, or does it
just look like they are from the sun's point of view in our galaxy? - correct
answer ✔constellation stars are not next to each other, just appear that way
from Sun's point of view
looking out into our galaxy
Are constellation stars all at the exact same distance from the sun or at
different distances? - correct answer ✔Different distances
Are constellation stars scattered all across our galaxy or just the neighbors of
the sun in the milky way? - correct answer ✔Nearby the sun in the milky way
On a "short" human civilization timescale, do constellations change shape or
stay the same shape? - correct answer ✔Relatively stay the same position in
relation to us
Zenith means... - correct answer ✔"overhead" for your location
Our constellation sphere has how many constellations? - correct answer
✔88
What is special about Polaris (the North star)? - correct answer ✔Above the
north pole, only above the horizon in the northern hemisphere, and it always
points due north
, What does Polaris tell you? - correct answer ✔It is on the horizon at the
equator; higher in the sky as you move north; overhead at North Pole
Why is the sky blue during the day? - correct answer ✔The atmosphere
scatters sunlight... it scatters blue light better than red. Blue sunlight bounces
around and comes to our eyes from all directions
Why don't we see stars during the day? - correct answer ✔stars above
horizon during the day are too faint to see compared to a blue day sky
Why can't we see seasonal stars? Because Earth spins on its axis or orbits
the sun? - correct answer ✔Because "night" side of the earth faces different
parts of the celestial sphere as it orbits the sun
Name for the plane of Earth's orbit and of solar system...also the path of Sun
on the sky...? - correct answer ✔Ecliptic
When the sun follows the path on the celestial sphere, does it cross in front of
all 88 constellations or only a few constellations? - correct answer ✔The sun
crosses in front of 12 (or 13) constellations
Name of the 12 constellations. - correct answer ✔Zodiac constellations; they
act as a calendar
The earth rotates ____(how many times) in _____(how often). - correct
answer ✔once in 24 hours
Earth orbits the sun once in _______ (how often) - correct answer ✔365
days (once a year)
