ASTRONOMY 1010 FINAL EXAM
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% PASS
The constellations shift about 1o each day - ANS True
__________________ introduced the ellipse to explain the orbits of the planets. -
ANS Kepler
Which of the following sentences is NOT true about science? - ANS Science only progresses
by following the scientific method
Why does the phase of the moon change? - ANS We see the illuminated part facing the sun.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, scientific progress came to a halt in Europe. - ANS False
If a planet has a highly eccentric orbit, we mean that - ANS . we mean that part of the orbit is
much closer to the star than other parts.
Astronomy like Chemistry is an experimental science. - ANS False
________________ demonstrated that the sun had spots, the moon had craters, and Jupiter
had moons. - ANS Galileo
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026
,The height of something (building, tree, mountain, etc...) is equal to the angle it subtends (in
radians) multiplied by the length of its shadow. - ANS False
How old is the universe - ANS 14 billion years old
Solar eclipses can only occur at - ANS new moon
Why do we have seasons - ANS As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains
pointed toward Polaris, the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and
less direct sunlight.
At arms length the thickness of your fingernail subtend about - ANS 1 arc minute
The tilt of the Earth - ANS Process on a 26,000 year time scale
If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, then the next nearest star would be in - ANS Long
Beach, CA
Copernicus was the first person to propose a heliocentric model of the universe. - ANS False
What do astronomers mean when they say that the universe is expanding? - ANS The
average distance between galaxies is increasing with time.
At arm's length your index finger subtends about - ANS 1 degree
Copernicus proved that the Earth went around the Sun. - ANS False
The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit - ANS False
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, How old is the Earth - ANS 4.8 billion
If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, the Earth would be about the size of - ANS a grain of
sand
Order the following parts of our cosmic address from the most local to the most distant. -
ANS Clemson
Earth
Solar System
MW Galaxy
Local Group
Local Super Cluster
Universe
If the Earth was not titled, then - ANS There would be no seasons
If the age of the universe were scaled down to a single year, the Earth would have formed
around - ANS the first day of fall
Which of the following are not subfields of astronomy? - ANS Astrosociology
In Australia it is usually warmer around December than it is in June. - ANS True
If the milky way galaxy were the size of death valley (the football stadium), the average space
between stars would be about - ANS as thick as a blade of grass
Which of the following best describes the modern definition of an asterism? - ANS A pattern
of bright stars in the sky.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026
2025/2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% PASS
The constellations shift about 1o each day - ANS True
__________________ introduced the ellipse to explain the orbits of the planets. -
ANS Kepler
Which of the following sentences is NOT true about science? - ANS Science only progresses
by following the scientific method
Why does the phase of the moon change? - ANS We see the illuminated part facing the sun.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, scientific progress came to a halt in Europe. - ANS False
If a planet has a highly eccentric orbit, we mean that - ANS . we mean that part of the orbit is
much closer to the star than other parts.
Astronomy like Chemistry is an experimental science. - ANS False
________________ demonstrated that the sun had spots, the moon had craters, and Jupiter
had moons. - ANS Galileo
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026
,The height of something (building, tree, mountain, etc...) is equal to the angle it subtends (in
radians) multiplied by the length of its shadow. - ANS False
How old is the universe - ANS 14 billion years old
Solar eclipses can only occur at - ANS new moon
Why do we have seasons - ANS As Earth goes around the Sun and Earth's axis remains
pointed toward Polaris, the Northern and Southern hemispheres alternately receive more and
less direct sunlight.
At arms length the thickness of your fingernail subtend about - ANS 1 arc minute
The tilt of the Earth - ANS Process on a 26,000 year time scale
If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, then the next nearest star would be in - ANS Long
Beach, CA
Copernicus was the first person to propose a heliocentric model of the universe. - ANS False
What do astronomers mean when they say that the universe is expanding? - ANS The
average distance between galaxies is increasing with time.
At arm's length your index finger subtends about - ANS 1 degree
Copernicus proved that the Earth went around the Sun. - ANS False
The seasons on Earth are caused by its elliptical orbit - ANS False
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026
, How old is the Earth - ANS 4.8 billion
If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, the Earth would be about the size of - ANS a grain of
sand
Order the following parts of our cosmic address from the most local to the most distant. -
ANS Clemson
Earth
Solar System
MW Galaxy
Local Group
Local Super Cluster
Universe
If the Earth was not titled, then - ANS There would be no seasons
If the age of the universe were scaled down to a single year, the Earth would have formed
around - ANS the first day of fall
Which of the following are not subfields of astronomy? - ANS Astrosociology
In Australia it is usually warmer around December than it is in June. - ANS True
If the milky way galaxy were the size of death valley (the football stadium), the average space
between stars would be about - ANS as thick as a blade of grass
Which of the following best describes the modern definition of an asterism? - ANS A pattern
of bright stars in the sky.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026
