1. The angular size of the Moon
   (A) is the same all the time.
   (B) changes because the Moon expands and shrinks.
   (C) is larger when it is closer to the Earth (at perigee).
   (D) is smaller when it is closer to the Earth (at perigee).
   (E) none of the above

2. If Venus emits visible light, which of the following will not vary?
   (A) phase of Venus
   (B) angular size of Venus
   (C) brightness of Venus
   (D) all of above
   (E) none of above

3. The far side of the Moon is often erroneously called the ``dark side". It is
   (A) the cause of the Moon's phases.
   (B) never illuminated by the earthlight.
   (C) never illuminated by the Sun.
   (D) illuminated by the Sun during the full Moon phase.
   (E) illuminated by the earthlight during the new Moon phase.

4. If you see a full Moon at sunrise, the moon must be in
   (A) the east
   (B) the south
   (C) the west
   (D) the north
   (E) at zenith

5. lunar eclipses are caused by
   (A) the Moon orbiting to the back side of the Sun.
   (B) the Earth blocking the sunlight to the Moon.
   (C) the Moon blocking the view of the Sun.
   (D) the rotation of the dark side of the Moon.
   (E) clouds in the sky.

6. The eclipses of the Moon can
   (A) be annular.
   (B) happen every month.
   (C) happen at gibbous Moon.
   (D) happen at full Moon.
   (E) happen at new Moon.

7. Annular solar eclipses can be seen from the Earth when
   (A) the Moon is near perigee.
   (B) the Moon is in the ecliptic plane.
   (C) the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are aligned exactly.
   (D) all of the above.
   (E) none of the above.

8. When we see a new Moon from the Earth, an astronaut on the Moon would see
   (A) a full Earth.
   (B) a quarter Earth.
   (C) a gibbous Earth.
   (D) a crescent Earth.
   (E) a new Earth.

9. When we see a total lunar eclipse, an astronaut on the Moon would see
   (A) a full Earth.
   (B) a crescent Earth.
   (C) a partial solar eclipse.
   (D) an annular solar eclipse.
   (E) a total solar eclipse.

10. Retrograde motion appears in the apparent motion of
    (A) the Moon
    (B) the Sun.
    (C) Jupiter.
    (D) stars.
    (E) all of the above.

11. Which of the following is the most important factor in determining the duration of a lunar eclipse?
    (A) the rotation of the Earth
    (B) the Earth's orbital motion around the Sun
    (C) the Moon's orbital motion around the Earth
    (D) the Moon's orbital motion around the Sun
    (E) the speed clouds move in the Earth's atmopshere

12. Which of the following is the most important factor in determining the duration of a solar eclipse?
    (A) the rotation of the Earth
    (B) the Earth's orbital motion around the Sun
    (C) the Moon's orbital motion around the Earth
    (D) the Moon's orbital motion around the Sun
    (E) the speed clouds move in the Earth's atmosphere

13. It was noticed that eclipses occur only when the Sun and the Moon are on the great circle in the sky passing the 12 Zodiac constellations. This big circle is
    (A) the celestial equator.
    (B) the nadir.
    (C) the zenith.
    (D) the elliptic.
    (E) the ecliptic.

14. We see retrograde motions in superior planets near opposition because
    (A) the gravitational pull by the Sun is weaker.
    (B) the Earth orbits faster than the superior planets
    (C) the superior planets orbit faster than the Earth.
    (D) planets have complex orbits.
    (E) the combined gravitational pull by the Sun and the Earth peaks there.

15. Kepler derived his laws of planetary motion from the
    (A) telescope observations made by Galileo.
    (B) philosophies of Aristotle.
    (C) measurements made by Copernicus.
    (D) naked-eye measurements made by Tycho.
    (E) astrological charts of Nostradamus.

16. Venus appears the brightest when
    (A) it is at the "full Venus" phase.
    (B) it is closest to the Earth.
    (C) it is closest to the Sun.
    (D) it is in the crescent phase.
    (E) none of the above.

17. The inequality of seasons means that
    (A) it is hotter in the summer than in the winter.
    (B) the summer is longer than the winter in the US.
    (C) the summer is longer than the winter in Australia.
    (D) there is no summer at the north and south poles.
    (E) there is no winter at the equator.

18. Which of the following go through phases (as viewed from the Earth)?
    (A) Mercury, Venus, and the Moon
    (B) Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus
    (C) Pluto and the Moon
    (D) the Sun and the Moon
    (E) all of the above

19. Galileo was the first one to use a telescope to look at
    (A) Pluto.
    (B) mountains on Jupiter.
    (C) volcanos on Saturn.
    (D) phases of Venus.
    (E) the king's bedroom.

20. Kepler discovered that
    (A) planets move faster when they are closer to the sun.
    (B) planets' orbits are elliptical.
    (C) a planet's orbital period is related to its distance from the sun.
    (D) Tycho Brahe's records of apparent motions of planets are useful.
    (E) all of the above.

21. Tycho Brahe died of
    (A) food poisoning.
    (B) bladder infection.
    (C) skin cancer.
    (D) drug OD.
    (E) HIV.

22. Who believed that planets orbit around the Earth?
    (A) Ptolemy
    (B) Copernicus
    (C) Tycho
    (D) Kepler
    (E) Galileo

23. Whose middle finger of the right hand is displayed in a museum in Italy?
    (A) Ptolemy
    (B) Copernicus
    (C) Tycho
    (D) Kepler
    (E) Galileo

24. From the Earth we always see the same side of the Moon. Therefore,
    (A) the Moon must rotate as it orbits around the Earth.
    (B) the Moon must not rotate.
    (C) the Earth and the Moon must be rotating at the same speed.
    (D) the Earth's rotational speed must be the same as the Moon's rotational period.
    (E) the Earth's rotational speed must be the same as the Moon's orbital period.

25. According to Kepler's 3rd law of planetary motion (the harmonic law),
    (A) planets at larger distances from the Sun orbit faster.
    (B) planets at larger distances from the Sun have longer orbital periods.
    (C) planets at larger distances from the Sun orbit slower.
    (D) all planets have the same orbital periods.
    (E) none of the above.

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Last updated September 8, 2001

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