Astronomy 101 - Final Exam Review
questions and Verified Answers
What are five major differences between the inner planets and outer planets? - ANSWER Inner
planets are rocky, warmer, have few moons, short years, and are small in size
Excluding eclipses, how much of the moon is lit at all times? - ANSWER 1/2 the moon is
always lit
What causes the phases of the Moon? - ANSWER The relative location of the Sun, Moon and
Earth
What is the apparent path that the sun and planets take during the course of a year
as observed from Earth known as? - ANSWER The ecliptic
How could the ancients tell that the planets were different from the stars? - ANSWER
The planets moved compared to the background stars
Describe the major contribution Copernicus made to out understanding of the solar system. -
ANSWER Developed a helio-centric (sun centered) model of the solar system
Who was the first human credited for observing the night sky with a telescope? -
ANSWER Galileo Galilei
What force is responsible for keeping planets in orbit about the sun? - ANSWER Gravity
What is the primary difference between astronauts traveling to the Moon versus astronauts
traveling into low Earth orbit? - ANSWER The distance to the moon is about 1000 times farther
, Why does Venus appear to get larger (as viewed from Earth) when it is in a crescent phase? -
ANSWER It is closer to Earth
Earth and the other planets in the solar system formed about ____ years ago. - ANSWER 4.5
billion years ago
What are three key features that makes Earth ideal for sustaining life? - ANSWER Temperature,
liquid water, atmosphere
There have been 5 major extinction evens in Earth's history, the sixth is ongoing and caused by
____. - ANSWER Humans
What is the Goldilocks zone, and why are scientists so interested in finding planets in other
solar systems that lie in the Goldilocks zone? - ANSWER The proximity to a star that is just
right for life: not too hot, not too cold. Finding life.
If you were to describe the seasons on Mercury, what would they be like? How is the length
of a day on Mercury different than Earth's? - ANSWER No tilt = no seasons, the day is nearly as
long as the year on Mercury
Explain why "gas giants" have more moons than the inner planets. - ANSWER They are
more massive, allowing them to retain more moons
Neptune was hypothesized before it was actually observed. How was this possible? - ANSWER
By the gravitational effect it had on Uranus, which we could see
What star is closest to Earth? - ANSWER The Sun
Describe the major difference in the Sun's rotation about its axis when compared to Earth's.
- ANSWER The Sun is not solid, Therefore, it rotates at different rates at its equator (faster)
versus the poles (slower). Differential rotation.
questions and Verified Answers
What are five major differences between the inner planets and outer planets? - ANSWER Inner
planets are rocky, warmer, have few moons, short years, and are small in size
Excluding eclipses, how much of the moon is lit at all times? - ANSWER 1/2 the moon is
always lit
What causes the phases of the Moon? - ANSWER The relative location of the Sun, Moon and
Earth
What is the apparent path that the sun and planets take during the course of a year
as observed from Earth known as? - ANSWER The ecliptic
How could the ancients tell that the planets were different from the stars? - ANSWER
The planets moved compared to the background stars
Describe the major contribution Copernicus made to out understanding of the solar system. -
ANSWER Developed a helio-centric (sun centered) model of the solar system
Who was the first human credited for observing the night sky with a telescope? -
ANSWER Galileo Galilei
What force is responsible for keeping planets in orbit about the sun? - ANSWER Gravity
What is the primary difference between astronauts traveling to the Moon versus astronauts
traveling into low Earth orbit? - ANSWER The distance to the moon is about 1000 times farther
, Why does Venus appear to get larger (as viewed from Earth) when it is in a crescent phase? -
ANSWER It is closer to Earth
Earth and the other planets in the solar system formed about ____ years ago. - ANSWER 4.5
billion years ago
What are three key features that makes Earth ideal for sustaining life? - ANSWER Temperature,
liquid water, atmosphere
There have been 5 major extinction evens in Earth's history, the sixth is ongoing and caused by
____. - ANSWER Humans
What is the Goldilocks zone, and why are scientists so interested in finding planets in other
solar systems that lie in the Goldilocks zone? - ANSWER The proximity to a star that is just
right for life: not too hot, not too cold. Finding life.
If you were to describe the seasons on Mercury, what would they be like? How is the length
of a day on Mercury different than Earth's? - ANSWER No tilt = no seasons, the day is nearly as
long as the year on Mercury
Explain why "gas giants" have more moons than the inner planets. - ANSWER They are
more massive, allowing them to retain more moons
Neptune was hypothesized before it was actually observed. How was this possible? - ANSWER
By the gravitational effect it had on Uranus, which we could see
What star is closest to Earth? - ANSWER The Sun
Describe the major difference in the Sun's rotation about its axis when compared to Earth's.
- ANSWER The Sun is not solid, Therefore, it rotates at different rates at its equator (faster)
versus the poles (slower). Differential rotation.
