ASTRONOMY 101 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What is astronomy? - Answers - the study of object's and phenomena beyond Earth's
atmosphere [goal: to understand the physics of the Universe]
What is astrology? - Answers - the belief that the position of heavenly bodies, and
celestial events correlate with Earthly events and Human events
How do you determine your astrological sign? - Answers - the position of the Sun in a
particular zodiacal constellation on the day you were born [in ancient Greece] due to
procession the signs from ancient Greece are about 1 sign off. ei If Sun is in Pisces the
day you were born, you were Aquarius in ancient Greece
If the Sun is in Taurus at noon, what constellation will it be in at sunset? - Answers -
Taurus [21 days to touch Gemini's toes]]; 5.8%/365 day orbit. Our perception of the
Sun's occupation of a particular zodiac sign will shift as the Earth progresses in its 365
day orbit around the Sun
How many constellations does the sun move through in a year? - Answers - technically
the 13 along the celestial equator
What is special about the constellations that make up the zodiac? - Answers - these
constellations are defined by the path of the Sun throughout the year [Moon&planets
also move through these constellations]
What is special about Polaris? - Answers - this is our modern North Star as it sits very
near to Earth's projected North Pole, [in ~2850 BP N*= Thuban]
constellation - Answers - an area of sky containing an accidental pattern of stars named
after a person, animal, or object; helps people locate objects in the sky
asterism - Answers - a pattern of stars not recognized by the International Astronomical
Union as a constellation [ie Big Dipper]
IAU - Answers - International Astronomical Union established 88 constellations with
precise boundaries so that every portion of the sky is contained within a constellation
Are stars within constellations bound by gravity? - Answers - No, the pattern will change
with time as stars move
In Winter the Sun - Answers - rise:South of East ---> set:South of West
In Summer the Sun - Answers - rise: North of East ---> set North of West
On the Equinoxes the Sun - Answers - rise: East ---> set: West
, Seasons are caused by - Answers - the tilt of the Earth on it's axis
Summer season - Answers - Sun is in the sky longer, more times to heat up the Earth,
When the Sun is higher - Answers - sunlight hits the surface of more directly and shines
more energy over a smaller area
When the Sun is lower - Answers - sunlight hits the surface at an angle and shines over
a a wider area [with less concentration]
South Pole= - Answers - South Celestial Pole
North Pole= - Answers - North Celestial Pole
Equater= - Answers - Celestial Equator
Latitude [0°@equator]= - Answers - Declination [0°@celestial equator]
Longitude [0hrs@meridian]]= - Answers - Right Acsension [0hrs@vernal equinox]
Altitude of the North star= - Answers - your latitude on Earth
Declination of circumpolar stars= - Answers - 90°- latitude [these stars will never set
below this horizon]
Altitude of the celestial equator= - Answers - 90°- latitude
During the vernal/atumnal equinoxes the Sun - Answers - sits on the celestial equator,
the celestial equator and the ecliptic intersect
Summer solstice: Sun is 23.5° - Answers - above the celestial equator
Winter Solstice: Sun is 23.5° - Answers - below the celestial equator
The moon rotates on it's axis at the same rate - Answers - it is orbiting around the Earth
Sidereal Month [one orbit around the Earth] - Answers - 27.3 days
Synodic Month [one lunar phase cycle] - Answers - 29.5 days
Lunar eclipse - Answers - the moon enters the Earths shadow
Solar eclipse - Answers - portion of the Earth enters the Moon's shadow
Total Solar Eclipse - Answers - occurs when Earth passes through the umbra of the
Moon's shadow so that the disk of the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon.
What is astronomy? - Answers - the study of object's and phenomena beyond Earth's
atmosphere [goal: to understand the physics of the Universe]
What is astrology? - Answers - the belief that the position of heavenly bodies, and
celestial events correlate with Earthly events and Human events
How do you determine your astrological sign? - Answers - the position of the Sun in a
particular zodiacal constellation on the day you were born [in ancient Greece] due to
procession the signs from ancient Greece are about 1 sign off. ei If Sun is in Pisces the
day you were born, you were Aquarius in ancient Greece
If the Sun is in Taurus at noon, what constellation will it be in at sunset? - Answers -
Taurus [21 days to touch Gemini's toes]]; 5.8%/365 day orbit. Our perception of the
Sun's occupation of a particular zodiac sign will shift as the Earth progresses in its 365
day orbit around the Sun
How many constellations does the sun move through in a year? - Answers - technically
the 13 along the celestial equator
What is special about the constellations that make up the zodiac? - Answers - these
constellations are defined by the path of the Sun throughout the year [Moon&planets
also move through these constellations]
What is special about Polaris? - Answers - this is our modern North Star as it sits very
near to Earth's projected North Pole, [in ~2850 BP N*= Thuban]
constellation - Answers - an area of sky containing an accidental pattern of stars named
after a person, animal, or object; helps people locate objects in the sky
asterism - Answers - a pattern of stars not recognized by the International Astronomical
Union as a constellation [ie Big Dipper]
IAU - Answers - International Astronomical Union established 88 constellations with
precise boundaries so that every portion of the sky is contained within a constellation
Are stars within constellations bound by gravity? - Answers - No, the pattern will change
with time as stars move
In Winter the Sun - Answers - rise:South of East ---> set:South of West
In Summer the Sun - Answers - rise: North of East ---> set North of West
On the Equinoxes the Sun - Answers - rise: East ---> set: West
, Seasons are caused by - Answers - the tilt of the Earth on it's axis
Summer season - Answers - Sun is in the sky longer, more times to heat up the Earth,
When the Sun is higher - Answers - sunlight hits the surface of more directly and shines
more energy over a smaller area
When the Sun is lower - Answers - sunlight hits the surface at an angle and shines over
a a wider area [with less concentration]
South Pole= - Answers - South Celestial Pole
North Pole= - Answers - North Celestial Pole
Equater= - Answers - Celestial Equator
Latitude [0°@equator]= - Answers - Declination [0°@celestial equator]
Longitude [0hrs@meridian]]= - Answers - Right Acsension [0hrs@vernal equinox]
Altitude of the North star= - Answers - your latitude on Earth
Declination of circumpolar stars= - Answers - 90°- latitude [these stars will never set
below this horizon]
Altitude of the celestial equator= - Answers - 90°- latitude
During the vernal/atumnal equinoxes the Sun - Answers - sits on the celestial equator,
the celestial equator and the ecliptic intersect
Summer solstice: Sun is 23.5° - Answers - above the celestial equator
Winter Solstice: Sun is 23.5° - Answers - below the celestial equator
The moon rotates on it's axis at the same rate - Answers - it is orbiting around the Earth
Sidereal Month [one orbit around the Earth] - Answers - 27.3 days
Synodic Month [one lunar phase cycle] - Answers - 29.5 days
Lunar eclipse - Answers - the moon enters the Earths shadow
Solar eclipse - Answers - portion of the Earth enters the Moon's shadow
Total Solar Eclipse - Answers - occurs when Earth passes through the umbra of the
Moon's shadow so that the disk of the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon.
