DVC Astronomy 110 - Exam #3 Sasse
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Diurnal Motion of the Sun - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅15 degrees per hour (East to West)
with respect to the Horizon
Annual Motion of the Sun - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅~1 degree per day (West to East)
with respect to the Stars
Diurnal motion of the Moon - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅14.5 degrees per hour (East to
West) with respect to the Horizon
Annual Motion of the Moon - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅13.1 degrees per day (West to
East) with respect to the stars
Describe the daily motion of the Sun. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The sun appears to rise
in the general east and set in the general west every day. The sun reaches its greatest altitude
when in transit. The sun appears to move at a rate of 15 degrees per hour E -> W with respect
to the horizon due to the Earth's rotation at 15 degrees per hour.
Does the sun follow the same diurnal path each day? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅No, the
sun's diurnal path changes every day, its declination changes every day.
What is local noon? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Local noon takes place when the sun
transits
What angle is the Earth's tilt? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅23.5 degrees
Describe the yearly motion of the Sun. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The sun moves along
the Ecliptic relative to the stars from West to East completing one period with respect to the
stars in 365.25 days (reason for leap year).
, The sun appears to move 1 degree per day West to East with respect to the stars due to Earth
orbiting the Sun at 1 degree per day.
What is the Ecliptic? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅- The apparent path of the Sun across the
Celestial Sphere
- The geometric plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Define the Vernal/Autumnal Equinox. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Vernal Equinox: The
point in the sky defined by where the Ecliptic coincides with the Celestial Equator passing
from negative to positive declination.
Autumnal Equinox: The point in the sky defined by where the Ecliptic coincides with the
Celestial Equator passing from positive to negative declination.
Both points rise have the Sun rising at Cardinal Point East
Define the Winter/Summer Solstice - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The points defined by
where the Sun reaches its greatest positive (Summer)/negative (Winter) declination. The
summer solstice Sun rises North of Cardinal Point East while the Winter solstice Sun rises
South of Cardinal Point East.
What are the coordinates and constellations of the Equinoxes and Solstices. - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Vernal Equinox: R.A. - 0h; Dec - 0 degrees (Pisces)
Autumnal Equinox: R.A. - 12h; Dec. - 0 degrees (Virgo)
Summer Solstice: R.A. - 6h; Dec. - 23.5 degrees (Taurus)
Winter Solstice: R.A. - 18h; Dec. - -23.5 degrees (Sagittarius)
What are the dates of each Equinox and Solstice? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Vernal
Equinox: March 20th
Summer Solstice: June 21st
Autumnal Equinox: September 22nd
Winter Solstice: December 21st
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Diurnal Motion of the Sun - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅15 degrees per hour (East to West)
with respect to the Horizon
Annual Motion of the Sun - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅~1 degree per day (West to East)
with respect to the Stars
Diurnal motion of the Moon - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅14.5 degrees per hour (East to
West) with respect to the Horizon
Annual Motion of the Moon - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅13.1 degrees per day (West to
East) with respect to the stars
Describe the daily motion of the Sun. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The sun appears to rise
in the general east and set in the general west every day. The sun reaches its greatest altitude
when in transit. The sun appears to move at a rate of 15 degrees per hour E -> W with respect
to the horizon due to the Earth's rotation at 15 degrees per hour.
Does the sun follow the same diurnal path each day? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅No, the
sun's diurnal path changes every day, its declination changes every day.
What is local noon? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Local noon takes place when the sun
transits
What angle is the Earth's tilt? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅23.5 degrees
Describe the yearly motion of the Sun. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The sun moves along
the Ecliptic relative to the stars from West to East completing one period with respect to the
stars in 365.25 days (reason for leap year).
, The sun appears to move 1 degree per day West to East with respect to the stars due to Earth
orbiting the Sun at 1 degree per day.
What is the Ecliptic? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅- The apparent path of the Sun across the
Celestial Sphere
- The geometric plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
Define the Vernal/Autumnal Equinox. - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Vernal Equinox: The
point in the sky defined by where the Ecliptic coincides with the Celestial Equator passing
from negative to positive declination.
Autumnal Equinox: The point in the sky defined by where the Ecliptic coincides with the
Celestial Equator passing from positive to negative declination.
Both points rise have the Sun rising at Cardinal Point East
Define the Winter/Summer Solstice - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅The points defined by
where the Sun reaches its greatest positive (Summer)/negative (Winter) declination. The
summer solstice Sun rises North of Cardinal Point East while the Winter solstice Sun rises
South of Cardinal Point East.
What are the coordinates and constellations of the Equinoxes and Solstices. - CORRECT
ANSWERS✅✅Vernal Equinox: R.A. - 0h; Dec - 0 degrees (Pisces)
Autumnal Equinox: R.A. - 12h; Dec. - 0 degrees (Virgo)
Summer Solstice: R.A. - 6h; Dec. - 23.5 degrees (Taurus)
Winter Solstice: R.A. - 18h; Dec. - -23.5 degrees (Sagittarius)
What are the dates of each Equinox and Solstice? - CORRECT ANSWERS✅✅Vernal
Equinox: March 20th
Summer Solstice: June 21st
Autumnal Equinox: September 22nd
Winter Solstice: December 21st
