Imagine that the Big Dipper crosses the meridian, the point straight overhead, at about 10:00 pm tonight. Where will the big dipper be in the sky at 1:00 am tonight?

Imagine that the Big Dipper crosses the meridian, the point straight overhead, at about 10:00 pm tonight. Where will the big dipper be in the sky at 1:00 am tonight?

A) 1/4 of the way from a point overhead to the western horizon
B) Halfway from a point overhead to the W horizon
C) 15 degrees from a point overhead to the W horizon
DD 30 degrees from a point overhead to the W horizon
E) Setting on the W horizon


Answer: E

Imagine that the Big Sipper crosses the meridian, the point straight overhead, at about 10:00 pm tonight, Where will be Dipper be in the sky at 1:00 am tonight?

Imagine that the Big Sipper crosses the meridian, the point straight overhead, at about 10:00 pm tonight, Where will be Dipper be in the sky at 1:00 am tonight?

A) One fourth of the way from a point overhead to the western horizon
B) Halfway from a point overhead to the W horizon
C) 15 degrees from a point overhead to the W horizon
D) 30 degrees from a point overhead to the W horizon
E) Setting on the W horizon


Answer: E

If the light takes 8 minutes to reach Earth from the sun and 5 hours to reach Pluto, what is the distance from the sun to pluto?

If the light takes 8 minutes to reach Earth from the sun and 5 hours to reach Pluto, what is the distance from the sun to pluto?

A) 5.2 AU
B) 37.1 Au
C) 42.8 AU
D) 25.4 AU
E) 0.6 LY


Answer: B

Why is the sky coordinate right ascension (RA) referenced to 1950.0 AD in most star atlases?

Why is the sky coordinate right ascension (RA) referenced to 1950.0 AD in most star atlases?

A) Celestial coordinates were first conceived by astronomers who worked in the middle of the 20th century and they decided the year 1950 was convenient
B) 1950 was the year that lateral stellar motion was discovered
C) The phenomenon of precession shifts the zero of RA over time
D) Telescopes were first constructed with hour circles and RA dials in the year 1950
E) 1950 was the year that telescopes improved to the point that astronomers could measure small shifts in the celestial sphere


Answer: B

The moon lies 384,000 km from Earth, and the Sun lies 150,000,000 km away. If both have the same angular size as seen from Earth, how many times larger (in diameter) than the Moon is the Sun?

The moon lies 384,000 km from Earth, and the Sun lies 150,000,000 km away. If both have the same angular size as seen from Earth, how many times larger (in diameter) than the Moon is the Sun?

A) 93 million
B) 227
C) 1029
D) 391
E) cannot answer with more info


Answer: E

If Earth orbited the Sun in 9 months rather than 12, then, compared with a sidereal day, a solar day would be

If Earth orbited the Sun in 9 months rather than 12, then, compared with a sidereal day, a solar day would be

A) Longer
B) Shorter
C) Unchanged


Answer: B