Astronomy Midterm Chapter 2 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the latitude and longitude of Charleston, SC?

Latitude 32°N and Longitude 80°W.

Where does the north celestial pole appear in your sky in Charleston?

At an altitude of 32° in the direction due north.

Is Polaris a circumpolar star in Charleston's sky?

True

Can two stars that are in the same constellation be very far away from each other?

Yes, they may actually be very far away from each other. Signup and view all the answers

If the North Celestial Pole is 35° above your northern horizon, what is your latitude?

Latitude 35°N. Signup and view all the answers

What can you say about the night sky in Beijing and Philadelphia?

The night sky will look about the same. Signup and view all the answers

When it is summer in Australia, what season is it in the United States?

Winter. Signup and view all the answers

If the Sun rises precisely due east, it must be the day of either the spring or fall equinox.

True Signup and view all the answers

What does the fact that we always see the same face of the Moon tell us?

The Moon's rotation period is the same as its orbital period. Signup and view all the answers

A week after full moon, what is the Moon's phase?

Third quarter. Signup and view all the answers

If there is going to be a total lunar eclipse tonight, what can we deduce about the Moon's phase?

True Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean when Saturn goes through a period of apparent retrograde motion?

Earth is passing Saturn in its orbit, with both planets on the same side of the Sun. Signup and view all the answers

How many arcminutes are in a full circle?

21,600 arcminutes. Signup and view all the answers

How many arcseconds are in a full circle?

1,296,000 arcseconds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Moon's angular size in arcminutes if it is about 12°?

30 arcminutes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Moon's angular size in arcseconds if it is about 12°?

1800 arcseconds. Signup and view all the answers

What does the fact that nearly all galaxies are moving away from us suggest?

The universe is expanding. Signup and view all the answers

When we say the universe is expanding, what do we mean?

The average distance between galaxies is growing with time. Signup and view all the answers

If Polaris is 10 degrees above your horizon, where are you?

Latitude 10 degrees north. Signup and view all the answers

If two stars are separated by one degree on the celestial sphere, what can we infer?

They rise and set at about the same time. Signup and view all the answers

If Earth's rotation slowed down to complete one rotation in 100 hours, what would be the typical time interval between sunrise and sunset?

50 hours. Signup and view all the answers

About how many stars are visible to the naked eye on a clear, dark night away from city lights?

Approximately 2,000. Signup and view all the answers

What is the celestial sphere?

A representation of how the entire sky looks as seen from Earth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the ecliptic?

The Sun's apparent path along the celestial sphere. Signup and view all the answers

What do astronomers mean by a constellation?

A constellation is a region in the sky as seen from Earth. Signup and view all the answers

As Earth goes around the Sun each year, in which direction does Earth's rotation axis point?

In the direction of the celestial pole, near Polaris, throughout the year. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Latitude and Longitude

Charleston, SC is located at a latitude of 32°N and longitude of approximately 80°W.

Celestial Pole

The north celestial pole is observed at an altitude of 32° in the northern sky from Charleston.

Polaris

Polaris is classified as a circumpolar star in Charleston, meaning it neither rises nor sets.

Stars in Constellations

Stars within the same constellation may be at significantly different distances from Earth.

Latitude and Northern Horizon

A north celestial pole at 35° above the horizon indicates a latitude of 35°N.

Similar Night Skies

Beijing and Philadelphia share similar latitudes but have different longitudes, leading to similar night sky views.

Earth's Axis and Seasons

Earth's axis consistently points toward Polaris through all seasons.

Seasonal Differences

During summertime in Australia, it is winter in the United States.

Equinoxes

A sunrise occurring exactly due east signifies either the spring or fall equinox.

Moon's Rotation

The synchronous rotation of the Moon means we always observe the same lunar face.

Lunar Phases

A week after a full moon, the Moon enters its third quarter phase.
Total lunar eclipses occur only when the Moon is in its full phase.

Apparent Retrograde Motion

Retrogade motion of Saturn indicates Earth's orbit is overtaking Saturn on the same side of the Sun.

Angular Measurements

A full circle encompasses 21,600 arcminutes and 1,296,000 arcseconds.

Moon's Angular Size

The Moon's angular size of 12° converts to 30 arcminutes and 1,800 arcseconds.

Universe Expansion

The observation that galaxies are receding, with distant galaxies moving faster, leads to the conclusion that the universe is expanding.
Expanding universe means the average distance between galaxies increases over time.

Latitude and Horizon

Observing Polaris at an angle of 10° above the horizon corresponds to a latitude of 10°N.

Celestial Phenomena

Stars that appear one degree apart in the celestial sphere rise and set at similar times.

Earth's Rotation

If Earth's rotation period extends to 100 hours, the time between sunrise and sunset would average around 50 hours.

Visible Stars

On a clear, dark night, roughly 2,000 stars are visible with the naked eye.

Celestial Sphere

The celestial sphere is a conceptual representation of how the entire sky appears from Earth.

Ecliptic Path

The ecliptic refers to the Sun's apparent trajectory across the celestial sphere throughout the year.

Constellation Definition

In astronomy, a constellation is defined as a designated area in the sky as observed from Earth.

Earth's Axis Direction

As Earth orbits the Sun, its rotational axis remains pointed toward the celestial pole near Polaris all year round.

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Description

Test your knowledge of key astronomy concepts pertinent to Chapter 2 of your midterm. This quiz covers essential terms and definitions, including latitude and longitude, celestial poles, and the visibility of Polaris in Charleston, SC. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of astronomical principles.