Phys 102 Astronomy Exam 1 Name ______Key OBSERVING THE SKY: Brain and Pencil This part of the exam is to be completed by yourself with no references.
1)24 Complete the following table: CELESTIAL SUBSOLAR ATLAS DEFINITION α δ CONSTELLATION DATE EVENT LATITUDE CHART
VERNAL SUN ON CELESTIAL EQUATOR 0h 0° Equator 21 Pisces 3/21 EQUINOX MOVING NORTH
SUMMER h Tropic of SUN AT NORTHERNMOST POINT 6 +23.5° 11/12 Taurus 6/21 SOLSTICE Cancer
AUTUMNAL SUN ON CELESTIAL EQUATOR 12h 0° Equator 27 Virgo 9/21 EQUINOX MOVING SOUTH
WINTER h Tropic of SUN AT SOUTHERNMOST POINT 18 -23.5° 41/42 Sagittarius 12/21 SOLSTICE Capricorn
MULTIPLE CHOICE: CIRCLE THE BEST ANSWER EACH MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION IS WORTH 2 POINTS ... IF YOU ARE NOT Knock on the sky and CERTAIN OF AN ANSWER YOU MAY CIRCLE TWO LETTERS AND GET AT LEAST ONE listen to the sound. POINT IF ONE OF THEM IS RIGHT! -- Zen Saying
2)2 The meridian is a) a cantina in Quito, Equador situated exactly on the equator and patronized by astronomers. b) the line from due north to due south that passes through the zenith for an observer. d) the projection of the earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. c) the path of the sun across the stars.
3)2 The declination of a star is a) the angle between it and the celestial equator. b) the angle between it and the horizon. c) the angle between it and the point of Aries. d) the angle between it and the zenith.
4)2 The altitude of a star is a) its height above the ground. b) its angle from the celestial equator. c) its angle above the observer's horizon. d) sticky if it gets damp.
4 Observer’s 5) Tonight, (Oct. 04) Alshain (β Aql) will transit at 8:02 PM. On Meridian what night will it, or did it transit at 8:06 PM? (Sketch it to help yourself figure it out ... tonight’s situation is shown) a) October 1st. b) October 3rd. c) October 5th. th d) October 7 . Sol @ 8:02 pm
Observing the Sky AOD 10/11/2006 6)2 If you see the moon transit at dawn, the phase must be a) new. b) 1st quarter. c) full. 6 pm rd d) 3 quarter. Elongation
2 7) An object at an azimuth of 125° and altitude of 30° is 12 am 12 pm a) in the northeastern sky. b) in the southeastern sky. Elongation d) in the northwestern sky. 6 am c) in the southwestern sky.
8)2 On the day of the northern summer solstice, a) the sun shines directly (perpendicular to the ground) onto the equator. b) the sun shines directly onto the Tropic of Cancer. If you lie out flat on the stones – c) the sun shines directly onto the Arctic Circle it seems odd to try, I know – you will d) the sun does not set at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. feel – here, that’s it – the warmth of
the sunlight emanating from the 9)2 The celestial equator is stones. Turn your head to the side, a) the path of the sun across the stars. ear to rock, and you will hear the b) a cosmic referee who is responsible for making things "fair." Earth revolving on its axis and an c) the projection of the earth's equator onto the celestial sphere. adjustment of stones in the riverbed. d) the line from due north to due south that passes through The heartbeats of salmon roe. the zenith for an observer. -- Barry Lopez
10)6 For the following observers, fill in the altitude of the indicated celestial markers and the observers’
latitudes. Zenith Zenith
CE 50° 60° SCP NCP
40° 30° North South North South
Altitude of NCP: 30° Altitude of SCP: 40° Altitude of CE: 60° Altitude of CE: 50°
Observer's Latitude: 30° N Observer's Latitude: 40° S
Page 2 Observing the Sky AOD 10/11/2006 12)18 For the following stars, order them as indicated. ε
VISUAL ABSOLUTE BAYER DISTANCE RA MAGNITUDE MAGNITUDE OTHER NAME DESIGNATION (ly) (V) (MV)
α UMa 11h04m 1.81 -1.3 124 Dubhe β UMa 11h02m 2.34 0.4 79 Merak γ UMa 11h54m 2.41 0.2 84 Phecda δ UMa 12h15m 3.32 1.4 81 Megrez ε UMa 12h54m 1.76 -0.2 81 Alioth ζ UMa 13h24m 2.23 0.3 78 Mizar η UMa 13h48m 1.85 -1.8 101 Alkaid
a) by distance NEAREST FARTHEST ζ Mizar β Merak ε Alioth δ Megrez γ Phecda η Alkaid α Dubhe
b) by apparent brightness in the sky (apparent magnitude) DIMMEST BRIGHTEST δ Megrez γ Phecda β Merak ζ Mizar η Alkaid α Dubhe ε Alioth
c) by intrinsic brightness (absolute magnitude) DIMMEST BRIGHTEST δ Megrez β Merak ζ Mizar γ Phecda ε Alioth α Dubhe η Alkaid
13)10 Identify the phase of the moon in the following images:
Phase: Phase: Phase: Phase: Phase: Waning Waning Full New Waxing Crescent Gibbous Crescent
Page 3 Observing the Sky AOD 10/11/2006 14)6 On the diagram, identify the stars, and give the “proper” names of α Cyg, α Lyr, α Aql. Sketch in the constellations of Cygnus, Lyra, and Aquila (the stick figures) and the asterism of the summer triangle. The diagram is oriented with north “up”, looking at the zenith on an early fall evening.
Deneb Vega LYRA
CYGNU S
SUMMER
TRIANGLE
Altair
AQUILA
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