Following are some questions on the celestial sphere and celestial phenomena. They're in the same format as the ones on the hour tests and the final. As always, the answer "NVA" should NOT be selected since it stands for "Not a Valid Answer." The correct answers are listed at the end.
1. The object at the center of the (imaginary) celestial
sphere is the
(1) north celestial pole
(2) Earth
(3) zenith
(4) NVA
(5) Sun
2. The circle on the celestial sphere midway between the
north and south celestial poles is the
(1) NVA
(2) ecliptic
(3) celestial equator
(4) NVA
(5) horizon
3. The points on the celestial sphere directly above the
Earth's poles are
(1) the zenith and the nadir
(2) NVA
(3) the equinoxes
(4) the celestial poles
(5) NVA
4. The imaginary point directly above the observer's head
is called the
(1) zenith
(2) north celestial pole
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) nadir
5. The boundary between the ground and the sky (i.e., the
part of the celestial sphere blocked out by the Earth and the
part that is visible) is termed the
(1) NVA
(2) equator
(3) horizon
(4) celestial meridian
(5) NVA
6. In the coordinate system used to locate an object
in the sky for a particular location on the Earth the
coordinate measured around the horizon is called
(1) right ascension
(2) declination
(3) azimuth
(4) altitude
(5) NVA
7. In the coordinate system used to locate an object
in the observer's sky (i.e., in the altazimuth coordinate
system), the coordinate that is called altitude
is measured
(1) vertically from the horizon to the given object in degrees
(2) horizontally from the north point on the horizon around towards
east in degrees
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) vertically from the zenith down to the object in degrees
8. The imaginary half-circle which runs from the north
point on the horizon through the zenith to the south point
is the
(1) celestial meridian
(2) horizon
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) ecliptic
9. The imaginary point in the northern sky around which
the stars seem to circle here in Gainesville is the
(1) zenith
(2) NVA
(3) north celestial pole
(4) south celestial pole
(5) NVA
10. In the southern sky as seen here in Gainesville, the
daily motion causes the stars to move
(1) NVA
(2) NVA
(3) in small circles around the celestial pole
(4) in broad arcs from east to west
(5) straight up in the east and straight down in the west
11. At the North Pole, the stars
(1) circle around the sky parallel to the horizon
(2) NVA
(3) rise straight up in the east and set straight down in
the west
(4) NVA
(5) NVA
12. At the Equator, the stars
(1) circle around the sky parallel to the horizon
(2) rise straight up in the east and set straight down in
the west
(3) NVA
(4) rise and set at an oblique angle to the horizon
(5) NVA
13. The interval of time during which a star crosses the
celestial meridian and comes back to cross it again is
termed the
(1) NVA
(2) solar day
(3) sidereal month
(4) NVA
(5) sidereal day
14. The rule for locating the celestial pole in the
observer's sky at a particular location on the Earth is
(1) NVA
(2) altitude of pole = observer's latitude
(3) altitude of pole = 90 degrees - observer's
latitude
(4) altitude of pole = observer's longitude
(5) azimuth of pole = observer's longitude
15. The circle around the celestial sphere which is the
Sun's apparent track during the year is called the
(1) ecliptic
(2) celestial equator
(3) NVA
(4) solway
(5) NVA
16. The gnomon is a vertical pole whose shadow
can be used to track the Sun in the sky. Its shadow is
shortest at noon (apparent, not by the clock). The fact
that the length of the shadow at noon changes over the
course of the year implies that
(1) NVA
(2) the Sun moves in the N-S direction during the year
(3) the Sun moves in the E-W direction with respect to
the fixed stars during the year
(4) the Sun expands and contracts during the year
(5) NVA
17. Which of the following is not evidence of
the Sun's motion eastwards along the ecliptic?
(1) the sidereal day is shorter than the solar day
(2) NVA
(3) different constellations are visible over the course
of the year
(4) NVA
(5) the tropical year is shorter than the sidereal year
18. The point at which the Sun crosses the celestial
equator moving northwards (from S to N) is termed the
(1) autumnal equinox
(2) NVA
(3) NVA
(4) summer solstice
(5) vernal equinox
19. The phrase "Sun standing still," which refers not to
the Sun literally "freezing" in the sky but rather its points
of rising and setting on the horizon pausing, is associated
with
(1) NVA
(2) the equinoxes
(3) NVA
(4) the solstices
(5) the culminations
20. The approximate date of the winter solstice is
(1) Mar. 21
(2) Sept. 21
(3) Dec. 21
(4) [depends on which hemisphere one is in]
(5) NVA
21. In the Southern Hemisphere (and outside the tropics)
the Sun's noon altitude is greatest at the time of the
(1) NVA
(2) winter solstice
(3) summer solstice
(4) NVA
(5) equinoxes
22. The Sun's setting point on the horizon is farthest
north of west at the time of
(1) summer solstice
(2) winter solstice
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) [depends on which hemisphere one is in]
23. The equatorial coordinate right ascension is
measured
(1) north or south from the celestial equator in units of
angle (degrees etc.)
(2) NVA
(3) eastwards from the vernal equinox along the celestial
equator in units of time (hours etc.)
(4) east or west from the vernal equinox along the ecliptic
in units of angle (degrees etc.)
(5) NVA
24. The equatorial coordinate declination is
measured
(1) NVA
(2) north or south of the celestial equator in units of
angle (degrees etc.)
(3) north or south of the ecliptic in units of angle
(degrees etc.)
(4) NVA
(5) east or west of the vernal equinox along the celestial
equator in units of angle (degrees etc.)
25. The time interval for the Sun to go from the vernal
equinox around the ecliptic and back to the vernal equinox
is called the
(1) tropical year
(2) NVA
(3) sidereal year
(4) sidereal month
(5) NVA
26. The difference between the tropical year and the
sidereal year is caused by
(1) regression of the nodes
(2) the Sun's motion along the ecliptic
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) precession of the equinoxes
27. Precession causes the north celestial pole to
move around the celestial sphere (with respect to the
fixed stars)
(1) back and forth along an arc
(2) NVA
(3) in a large circle
(4) along the ecliptic
(5) NVA
28. When the Sun moves into the vicinity of an object
on the celestial sphere, that object disappears from view
because of the Sun's glare. The term heliacal rising
refers to an object's
(1) NVA
(2) last appearance in the evening sky before diappearing
(3) NVA
(4) rising with the Sun
(5) first appearance in the morning sky before sunrise after
having been invisible
29. Heliacal risings of fixed stars occur at intervals
of
(1) the star's synodic period
(2) the sidereal year
(3) the tropical year
(4) NVA
(5) NVA
30. The most obvious cycle that the Moon goes through is
that of the
(1) synodic month
(2) NVA
(3) NVA
(4) sidereal month
(5) nodical month
31. The Moon's phase midway between first quarter and full
is
(1) waxing crescent
(2) waning gibbous
(3) NVA
(4) waxing gibbous
(5) waning crescent
32. The Moon's nodes are the points of intersection
of its path around the celestial sphere with the
(1) celestial equator
(2) ecliptic
(3) NVA
(4) precession circle
(5) NVA
33. When the Moon is at third or last quarter, it will rise
at approximately
(1) noon
(2) 6 pm
(3) midnight
(4) NVA
(5) 6 am
34. At the ascending node the Moon is moving
(1) NVA
(2) N to S
(3) S to N
(4) NVA
(5) NVA
35. Regression of the Moon's nodes refers to their
shifting
(1) eastwards along the ecliptic
(2) NVA
(3) westwards along the celestial equator
(4) eastwards along the celestial equator
(5) westwards along the ecliptic
36. Because of regression the
(1) NVA
(2) NVA
(3) sidereal month is longer than the nodical month
(4) sidereal month is shorter than the synodic month
(5) sidereal month is shorter than the nodical month
37. The Moon's minor standstills occur when the
Moon rises and sets
(1) over the widest range along the horizon
(2) NVA
(3) at the same point on the horizon for an entire month
(4) NVA
(5) over the narrowest range along the horizon
38. The Moon's major standstills take place when its
ascending node is located at the
(1) summer solstice
(2) autumnal equinox
(3) winter solstice
(4) vernal equinox
(5) NVA
39. The time interval between occurrence of the Moon's
major standstills and its minor standstills is
(1) NVA
(2) NVA
(3) NVA
(4) the regression period, 18.6 yr
(5) half the regression period, 9.3 yr
40. Which of the following is a superior planet?
(1) Jupiter
(2) Venus
(3) Earth
(4) NVA
(5) NVA
41. The configuration at which Mercury is a morning star
is
(1) NVA
(2) greatest western elongation
(3) NVA
(4) greatest eastern elongation
(5) inferior conjunction
42. The term transit refers to (aside from
crossing the celestial meridian, which is another meaning)
(1) a superior planet passing between the Sun and the Earth
(2) an inferior planet passing between the Sun and the Earth
(3) the Earth passing between the Sun and a superior planet
(4) NVA
(5) NVA
43. A superior planet is in retrograde motion around the
time when it is at
(1) conjunction
(2) NVA
(3) NVA
(4) opposition
(5) greatest elongation
44. The interval between successive oppositions of a given
superior planet is
(1) its synodic period
(2) its sidereal (orbital) period
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) the sidereal year
45. The interval between successive heliacal risings of a
given planet is
(1) the sidereal year
(2) NVA
(3) its synodic period
(4) its sidereal period
(5) NVA
46. The part of the Moon's shadow that is completely
dark is called the
(1) NVA
(2) peninsula
(3) penumbra
(4) NVA
(5) umbra
47. Solar and lunar eclipses occur on the celestial sphere
(1) at the equinoxes
(2) along the ecliptic
(3) NVA
(4) along the celestial equator
(5) NVA
48. Solar eclipses can occur when the Moon is at which phase(s)?
(1) new only
(2) full only
(3) NVA
(4) new and full
(5) NVA
49. Which kind of eclipse is the easiest to see; that is,
is seen over the largest portion of the Earth's surface?
(1) partial solar eclipse
(2) NVA
(3) total solar eclipse
(4) NVA
(5) total lunar eclipse
50. Why are there not solar and lunar eclipses every month?
(1) the Moon's speed varies because its orbit isn't circular
(2) the Moon's orbit plane is tilted slightly with respect to
the ecliptic plane
(3) NVA
(4) NVA
(5) sometimes the Moon's orbit plane doesn't cross the ecliptic plane
51. The eclipse seasons occur
(1) NVA
(2) half a year, or six months, apart
(3) every two weeks
(4) a little less than a half year apart because of the regression
(5) NVA
52. The interval between successive lunar eclipses is
(1) one synodic month
(2) NVA
(3) usually six synodic months (about 177 days) but occasionally five
(148 days)
(4) NVA
(5) exactly 173 1/3 days
53. The saros is a period of time over which
(1) NVA
(2) the characteristics of eclipses repeat exactly
(3) NVA
(4) the characteristics of eclipses approximately repeat
(5) the Moon's nodes make one complete cycle
Answers: 1.(2);2.(3);3.(4);4.(1);5.(3);6.(3);7.(1);8.(1);
9.(3);10.(4);11.(1);12.(2);13.(5);
14.(2);15.(1);16.(2);17.(5); 18.(5);19.(4);20.(3);21.(2);22.(1);23.(3);
24.(2);25.(1); 26.(5);
27.(3);28.(5);29.(2);30.(1);31.(4);32.(2);33.(3);
34.(3);35.(5);36.(3);37.(5);38.(4);39.(5);
40.(1);41.(2); 42.(2);43.(4);44.(1);45.(3);46.(5);47.(2);48.(1);49.(5);
50.(2);51.(4);52.(3);53.(4).