"Measuring the Sky" and Seasons

What type of special optical aid would be necessary to see the Andromeda Galaxy?
1. at least a 4 inch telescope
2. a radio telescope
3. a large pair of binoculars
4. none, just your eyes
How does an astronomer define "constellation"?
1. a hypothetical pattern of stars
2. a specific area of the sky
3. a group of stars that form a pattern or shape
4. a large, hot star system
Using Bayer's system of naming stars, what would the brightest star in the hypothetical constellation of Feelso Good be called?
1. alpha Feelso Good
2. Feelso Good II
3. FG2
4. beta Feelso Good
Using Bayer's system of naming stars, what would the second brightest star in the hypothetical constellation of Feelso Good be called?
1. alpha Feelso Good
2. Feelso Good II
3. FG2
4. beta Feelso Good
The Big Dipper is not a constellation. What should it be called?
1. an asterism
2. a collomation of starlike figures
3. a platitude of the third type
4. you can't fool me; it's a constellation
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star...." What causes stars to twinkle?
1. small variations in the size of the star
2. movements in the clouds of dust and gas in space
3. a cooling process in small stars (large stars do not twinkle)
4. movement in earth's atmosphere
Where is your zenith?
1. somewhere directly south of my position
2. opposite from the sun's position in the celestial sphere
3. directly over my head
4. at the same height above the southern horizon as my latitude
What is always on the ecliptic?
1. the sun
2. the north star
3. the celestial meridian
4. none of these
What star is always very near your meridian?
1. the sun
2. the north star
3. the ecliptic
4. none of these
What is another name for the north star? (Choose all that apply)
1. Polaris
2. alpha Ursa Minor
3. the pole star
How do stars located near the north star appear to move?
1. they circle around the star
2. they rise from the eastern horizon and set in the west
3. they rise from the western horizon and set in the east
4. you can't fool me; the stars do not appear to move at all
Where on earth do stars rise straight up from the horizon?
1. everywhere on earth
2. the north or south pole
3. the equator
4. nowhere on earth
What location on earth always has equal amounts of day and night?
1. everywhere on earth
2. the north or south pole
3. the equator
4. nowhere on earth
An alien visitor to Earth, who comes from a planet with a much longer day, is disturbed by how quickly night follows day here. She wants you to find a part of the Earth where there are long days. Where would you tell her to go?
1. anywhere on earth
2. the north or south pole
3. the equator
4. nowhere on earth
An alien visitor to Earth, who comes from a planet that is not tilted on its axis, is disturbed by the changing length of day here. She wants you to find a part of the Earth where the days are always about the same length. Where would you tell her to go?
1. anywhere on earth
2. the north or south pole
3. the equator
4. nowhere on earth
What causes stars to appear to move?
1. their actual motion through space
2. the earth's motion through space
3. it's an optical illusion caused by mass hypnosis
4. you can't fool me; the stars do not appear to move at all
What is Right Ascension and Declination used for?
1. it's a system for naming stars
2. it is a method for stating a star's position in the sky
3. they are methods for determining a star's temperature
4. they are methods for determining a star's real brightness
Why is winter cooler than summer?
1. winter days are shorter and the Sun is lower in the sky
2. winter days are longer and the Sun is higher in the sky
3. winter days are shorter and the Sun is higher in the sky
4. winter days are longer and the Sun is lower in the sky
What is so special about the North Star?
1. it is the brightest star in the night sky
2. it is one of the oldes stars visible from Earth
3. it is always found very near the ecliptic
4. it appears stationary, at the same place in the sky every night
The longest day in the Northern hemisphere is called the
1. summer solstice
2. summer equinox
3. vernal equinox
4. none of these
The longest day in the northern hemisphere occurs around
1. June 21
2. September 21
3. March 21
4. none of these
The shortest day in the northern hemisphere occurs around
1. June 21
2. September 21
3. March 21
4. none of these
Summer occurs on the Earth because (choose all that apply)
1. the Sun is closest to the Earth at this time
2. the North Pole of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun at this time
3. the Earth is tilted on its axis
4. the Earth revolves around the Sun

"Measuring the Sky" and Seasons

Multiple-choice exercise