ASTR 207 MIDTERM 1 ASTRONOMY COURSE 2025/2026 |
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ |
CELESTIAL OBJECTS, STELLAR SYSTEMS & COSMOLOGY
STUDY GUIDE | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all
latitudes?
A) it represents an extension of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere
B) it extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon
due south
C) it cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half
D) it extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon
due west
E) it lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way - CORRECT
ANSWER - A) it represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial
sphere
Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?
A) when we look in the sky, the stars appear to be located on the celestial
sphere
B) the celestial sphere does not exist physically
C) Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere
D) from any location on Earth, we can see only half the celestial sphere at any
one time
E) the "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe - CORRECT
ANSWER - E) the "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe
How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the
planets?
,A) it varied the motion of the celestial sphere so that it sometimes moved
backward
B) it held that the planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles
around the Sun
C) it held that the planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles
around Earth
D) it placed the Sun at the center so that the planets' apparent retrograde motion
was seen as Earth passed each one in its orbit
E) it held that sometimes the planets moved backward along their circular orbits
- CORRECT ANSWER - B) it held that the planets moved along small circles
that moved on larger circles around the Sun
Which of the following explains why navigators a few hundred years ago found
it much more difficult to determine their longitude than their latitude?
A) determining longitude requires much more precise measurements of angles
in the sky than does latitude
B) determining longitude without modern instruments requires being able to see
the Moon
C) determining longitude requires having an accurate clock
D) determining longitude requires mathematical techniques that were not
known at the time - CORRECT ANSWER - C) determining longitude requires
having an accurate clock
Which of the following statements about constellations is false?
A) Some constellations can be seen from both the Northern and Southern
hemispheres
B) some constellations can be seen in both the winter and summer
C) most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years from now
, D) there are only 88 official constellations
E) it is possible to see all the constellations from Earth's equator - CORRECT
ANSWER - C) most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years
from now
Earth is made mostly of metal and rocks. Where did this material come from?
A) it was made by nuclear fission of uranium and other radioactive materials
B) it was created by chemical reactions in interstellar space
C) it was produced by nuclear fusion in stars
D) it was produced in the Big Bang
E) it was made by our Sun - CORRECT ANSWER - C) it was produced by
nuclear fusion in stars
How are galaxies important to our existence?
A) without galaxies, there could not have been a Big Bang
B) without galaxies, the universe could not be expanding
C) galaxies provide the gravity that prevents us from falling off Earth
D) galaxies recycle heavy elements produced in stars into future generations of
stars
E) galaxies prevent planets from leaving their orbits around stars; e.g., our
galaxy prevents Earth from leaving its orbit of the Sun - CORRECT
ANSWER - D) galaxies recycle heavy element produced in stars into future
generations of stars
On a cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed into 1
year, when did the dinosaurs become extinct?
A) in late October
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ |
CELESTIAL OBJECTS, STELLAR SYSTEMS & COSMOLOGY
STUDY GUIDE | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Which of the following statements about the celestial equator is true at all
latitudes?
A) it represents an extension of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere
B) it extends from your horizon due north, through your zenith, to your horizon
due south
C) it cuts the dome of your sky exactly in half
D) it extends from your horizon due east, through your zenith, to your horizon
due west
E) it lies along the band of light we call the Milky Way - CORRECT
ANSWER - A) it represents an extension of Earth's equator onto the celestial
sphere
Which of the following statements about the celestial sphere is not true?
A) when we look in the sky, the stars appear to be located on the celestial
sphere
B) the celestial sphere does not exist physically
C) Earth is placed at the center of the celestial sphere
D) from any location on Earth, we can see only half the celestial sphere at any
one time
E) the "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe - CORRECT
ANSWER - E) the "celestial sphere" is just another name for our universe
How did the Ptolemaic model explain the apparent retrograde motion of the
planets?
,A) it varied the motion of the celestial sphere so that it sometimes moved
backward
B) it held that the planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles
around the Sun
C) it held that the planets moved along small circles that moved on larger circles
around Earth
D) it placed the Sun at the center so that the planets' apparent retrograde motion
was seen as Earth passed each one in its orbit
E) it held that sometimes the planets moved backward along their circular orbits
- CORRECT ANSWER - B) it held that the planets moved along small circles
that moved on larger circles around the Sun
Which of the following explains why navigators a few hundred years ago found
it much more difficult to determine their longitude than their latitude?
A) determining longitude requires much more precise measurements of angles
in the sky than does latitude
B) determining longitude without modern instruments requires being able to see
the Moon
C) determining longitude requires having an accurate clock
D) determining longitude requires mathematical techniques that were not
known at the time - CORRECT ANSWER - C) determining longitude requires
having an accurate clock
Which of the following statements about constellations is false?
A) Some constellations can be seen from both the Northern and Southern
hemispheres
B) some constellations can be seen in both the winter and summer
C) most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years from now
, D) there are only 88 official constellations
E) it is possible to see all the constellations from Earth's equator - CORRECT
ANSWER - C) most constellations will be unrecognizable hundreds of years
from now
Earth is made mostly of metal and rocks. Where did this material come from?
A) it was made by nuclear fission of uranium and other radioactive materials
B) it was created by chemical reactions in interstellar space
C) it was produced by nuclear fusion in stars
D) it was produced in the Big Bang
E) it was made by our Sun - CORRECT ANSWER - C) it was produced by
nuclear fusion in stars
How are galaxies important to our existence?
A) without galaxies, there could not have been a Big Bang
B) without galaxies, the universe could not be expanding
C) galaxies provide the gravity that prevents us from falling off Earth
D) galaxies recycle heavy elements produced in stars into future generations of
stars
E) galaxies prevent planets from leaving their orbits around stars; e.g., our
galaxy prevents Earth from leaving its orbit of the Sun - CORRECT
ANSWER - D) galaxies recycle heavy element produced in stars into future
generations of stars
On a cosmic calendar, in which the history of the universe is compressed into 1
year, when did the dinosaurs become extinct?
A) in late October
