ASTRO 101 EXAM 1 UMICH
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
The brightest stars in a constellation - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>may actually be
quite far away from each other
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons Copernicus's heliocentric model of the
Solar System was controversial? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>It explained that
planets did not move in perfect circles and that celestial bodies exhibited flaws, contrary
to long-held religious beliefs that the heavens were perfect.
In the celestial sphere model, how long does it take the celestial sphere to complete one
rotation around the earth? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>approximately 24 hours
The north celestial pole of the celestial sphere points towards - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>the north star (Polaris).
When you are standing on the north pole of the Earth (latitude = 90 degrees), what is
the altitude of the north star? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>90 degrees (directly
overhead)
Approximately how long was the camera exposing to obtain this picture? (Picture with a
circle of stars in sky. Assume the camera is in the northern hemisphere.) -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>2 hours
The figure above shows a time lapse photograph. In what direction is the camera facing
in this picture? (Stars in sky falling to the left. Assume the camera is in the northern
hemisphere.) - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>East
The point directly overhead in the sky is the ____ . - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Zenith
The imaginary line that runs from exactly north to exactly south, through the point
directly overhead is the ____ . - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>meridian
,In San Luis Obispo, CA, the day on which the Sun crosses directly overhead is the -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The Sun never crosses directly overhead in San Luis
Obispo.
The day of the year with equal amounts of sunlight and darkness is - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>both the vernal and autumnal equinox.
Suppose you observe the location of the sun at local noon on April 15. One month later
at local noon the sun will be - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>slightly higher.
You observe your shadow at local noon on April 15. How will the length of your shadow
compare when observed at local noon one month later? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Your shadow will be shorter.
Which of the following locations experience the smallest amount of change in sunlight
over the course of a year? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The equator
Which of the following statements is true about the location of the Sun at sunrise in
July? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The Sun will rise north of East
Which of the following statements is true about the location of the Sun at sunset in
February? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The Sun will set south of West.
Which direction would you look to see the Sun when it reaches its highest position in the
sky today? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>south
If the sun is rising exactly east, today must be ____ . - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>either March 21 or September 21
You are talking to a friend in Flagstaff, AZ (approximately 600 miles east of SLO) on the
phone. Your friend comments that they are watching the sun set. In SLO you observe
that - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>the Sun has not yet set.
Which shadow plot (A or B), shown above, most closely corresponds to the Sun's path
through the sky during the summer? (a line low in the sky A and high in the sky B) -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B
Which of the following contributes to seasons? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The
amount of time that the sun is above the horizon.
AND where the sun sits in the sky
During which month in SLO is the Earth the closest to the Sun? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>December
When it is fall in SLO, it is ____ in Australia. - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Spring
, Which statement best describes how variation in the Earth-Sun distance affects the
seasons? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The variation in Earth-Sun distance over
the course of each year has virtually no effect on the seasons.
We say that Earth's axis has a tilt of 23.5°, which means that __________. -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5° compared to a
line perpendicular (straight up and down) to its orbit
Ignoring differences in atmosphere and surface composition, which of the following
planets in our solar system would you expect to have seasons most like Earth's? -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Mars (axis tilt = 25.2°)
Ignoring differences in atmosphere and surface composition, which of the following
planets has essentially no seasons at all? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Jupiter
(axis tilt = 3.1°)
If the Sun sets directly west on the autumnal equinox, then in three weeks it will set -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>south of west.
A week after full moon, the Moon's phase is: - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>third (or
last) quarter
How much of the moon's surface is illuminated at any given time? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>half
If the Moon is in the waning crescent phase tonight, approximately how long will it be
until the Moon is in the waning gibbous phase? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>three
weeks
Suppose you see the Moon rising at the same time the Sun is setting. What is the
phase of the moon? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Full Moon
What moon phase is rising at about 3pm? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>waxing
gibbous
Suppose you go outside just after sunset and see the moon low in the western sky.
What is the moon phase? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>waxing crescent
Which of the following groups of moon phases is above the horizon at noon? -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>waning crescent, new moon, waxing crescent
If the moon is highest in the sky this morning at 6:00 am, what phase will the Moon be in
one week from now? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>new
When the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the Moon must
be at which phase? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>new
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 2026
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
The brightest stars in a constellation - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>may actually be
quite far away from each other
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons Copernicus's heliocentric model of the
Solar System was controversial? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>It explained that
planets did not move in perfect circles and that celestial bodies exhibited flaws, contrary
to long-held religious beliefs that the heavens were perfect.
In the celestial sphere model, how long does it take the celestial sphere to complete one
rotation around the earth? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>approximately 24 hours
The north celestial pole of the celestial sphere points towards - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>the north star (Polaris).
When you are standing on the north pole of the Earth (latitude = 90 degrees), what is
the altitude of the north star? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>90 degrees (directly
overhead)
Approximately how long was the camera exposing to obtain this picture? (Picture with a
circle of stars in sky. Assume the camera is in the northern hemisphere.) -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>2 hours
The figure above shows a time lapse photograph. In what direction is the camera facing
in this picture? (Stars in sky falling to the left. Assume the camera is in the northern
hemisphere.) - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>East
The point directly overhead in the sky is the ____ . - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Zenith
The imaginary line that runs from exactly north to exactly south, through the point
directly overhead is the ____ . - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>meridian
,In San Luis Obispo, CA, the day on which the Sun crosses directly overhead is the -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The Sun never crosses directly overhead in San Luis
Obispo.
The day of the year with equal amounts of sunlight and darkness is - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>both the vernal and autumnal equinox.
Suppose you observe the location of the sun at local noon on April 15. One month later
at local noon the sun will be - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>slightly higher.
You observe your shadow at local noon on April 15. How will the length of your shadow
compare when observed at local noon one month later? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>Your shadow will be shorter.
Which of the following locations experience the smallest amount of change in sunlight
over the course of a year? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The equator
Which of the following statements is true about the location of the Sun at sunrise in
July? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The Sun will rise north of East
Which of the following statements is true about the location of the Sun at sunset in
February? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The Sun will set south of West.
Which direction would you look to see the Sun when it reaches its highest position in the
sky today? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>south
If the sun is rising exactly east, today must be ____ . - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>either March 21 or September 21
You are talking to a friend in Flagstaff, AZ (approximately 600 miles east of SLO) on the
phone. Your friend comments that they are watching the sun set. In SLO you observe
that - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>the Sun has not yet set.
Which shadow plot (A or B), shown above, most closely corresponds to the Sun's path
through the sky during the summer? (a line low in the sky A and high in the sky B) -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>B
Which of the following contributes to seasons? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The
amount of time that the sun is above the horizon.
AND where the sun sits in the sky
During which month in SLO is the Earth the closest to the Sun? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>December
When it is fall in SLO, it is ____ in Australia. - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Spring
, Which statement best describes how variation in the Earth-Sun distance affects the
seasons? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>The variation in Earth-Sun distance over
the course of each year has virtually no effect on the seasons.
We say that Earth's axis has a tilt of 23.5°, which means that __________. -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5° compared to a
line perpendicular (straight up and down) to its orbit
Ignoring differences in atmosphere and surface composition, which of the following
planets in our solar system would you expect to have seasons most like Earth's? -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Mars (axis tilt = 25.2°)
Ignoring differences in atmosphere and surface composition, which of the following
planets has essentially no seasons at all? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Jupiter
(axis tilt = 3.1°)
If the Sun sets directly west on the autumnal equinox, then in three weeks it will set -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>south of west.
A week after full moon, the Moon's phase is: - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>third (or
last) quarter
How much of the moon's surface is illuminated at any given time? - <<<<CORRECT
ANSWERS>>>half
If the Moon is in the waning crescent phase tonight, approximately how long will it be
until the Moon is in the waning gibbous phase? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>three
weeks
Suppose you see the Moon rising at the same time the Sun is setting. What is the
phase of the moon? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>Full Moon
What moon phase is rising at about 3pm? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>waxing
gibbous
Suppose you go outside just after sunset and see the moon low in the western sky.
What is the moon phase? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>waxing crescent
Which of the following groups of moon phases is above the horizon at noon? -
<<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>waning crescent, new moon, waxing crescent
If the moon is highest in the sky this morning at 6:00 am, what phase will the Moon be in
one week from now? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>new
When the Moon appears to completely cover the Sun (a solar eclipse), the Moon must
be at which phase? - <<<<CORRECT ANSWERS>>>new
