Astronomy 1010 Exam 1 Test
Questions with Solved Solutions 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? - 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? -
Answer Different distances
Are constellation stars scattered all across our galaxy or just the neighbors of the sun in the
milky way? - Answer Nearby the sun in the milky way
On a "short" human civilization timescale, do constellations change shape or stay the same
shape? - Answer Relatively stay the same position in relation to us
Zenith means... - Answer "overhead" for your location
Our constellation sphere has how many constellations? - Answer 88
What is special about Polaris (the North star)? - Answer Above the north pole, only above the
horizon in the northern hemisphere, and it always points due north
What does Polaris tell you? - 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? - 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? - Answer stars above horizon during the day are too
faint to see compared to a blue day sky
, Name for the plane of Earth's orbit and of solar system...also the path of Sun on the sky...? -
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? - Answer The sun crosses in front of 12 (or 13)
constellations
Name of the 12 constellations. - Answer Zodiac constellations; they act as a calendar
The earth rotates ____(how many times) in _____(how often). - Answer once in 24 hours
Earth orbits the sun once in _______ (how often) - Answer 365 days (once a year)
Moon rotates once in ______ (how often) - Answer 29 days
The moon orbits the earth once in _______ (how often) - Answer once in 29 days
For moons close to their planets, are rotation and orbit completely random or usually the
same? - Answer The rates are usually the same (gravity locks the two rates together..called
"tidal locking")
What causes moon phases? - Answer Half of the moon is lit by the sun, but the side being
seen is not always fully lit because that depends on where the moon is in orbit
Name of the moon phase when none of it is lit... - Answer New moon
Name of the moon phase when less than half is lit... - Answer crescent
Name of the moon phase when half is lit... - Answer quarter
Name of the moon phase when MORE than half is lit... - Answer gibbous
A completely lit moon... - Answer full
Questions with Solved Solutions 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? - 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? -
Answer Different distances
Are constellation stars scattered all across our galaxy or just the neighbors of the sun in the
milky way? - Answer Nearby the sun in the milky way
On a "short" human civilization timescale, do constellations change shape or stay the same
shape? - Answer Relatively stay the same position in relation to us
Zenith means... - Answer "overhead" for your location
Our constellation sphere has how many constellations? - Answer 88
What is special about Polaris (the North star)? - Answer Above the north pole, only above the
horizon in the northern hemisphere, and it always points due north
What does Polaris tell you? - 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? - 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? - Answer stars above horizon during the day are too
faint to see compared to a blue day sky
, Name for the plane of Earth's orbit and of solar system...also the path of Sun on the sky...? -
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? - Answer The sun crosses in front of 12 (or 13)
constellations
Name of the 12 constellations. - Answer Zodiac constellations; they act as a calendar
The earth rotates ____(how many times) in _____(how often). - Answer once in 24 hours
Earth orbits the sun once in _______ (how often) - Answer 365 days (once a year)
Moon rotates once in ______ (how often) - Answer 29 days
The moon orbits the earth once in _______ (how often) - Answer once in 29 days
For moons close to their planets, are rotation and orbit completely random or usually the
same? - Answer The rates are usually the same (gravity locks the two rates together..called
"tidal locking")
What causes moon phases? - Answer Half of the moon is lit by the sun, but the side being
seen is not always fully lit because that depends on where the moon is in orbit
Name of the moon phase when none of it is lit... - Answer New moon
Name of the moon phase when less than half is lit... - Answer crescent
Name of the moon phase when half is lit... - Answer quarter
Name of the moon phase when MORE than half is lit... - Answer gibbous
A completely lit moon... - Answer full
