Solar
System Astronomy
Fall Semester 2004 Final
Exam
1.
Which of the following is not a scientific hypothesis?
a.
There are primitive life forms in the seas of Europa.
b.
The Moon has frozen water at the bottom of deep craters.
c.
The Earth is 4,600 yrs old.
d.
Lunar eclipses are more
impressive than solar eclipses.
e.
Pluto’s orbit is a parabola.
2.
An observer sees the Moon setting at
a.
Full
b.
New
c.
Waxing crescent
d.
Waning crescent
e.
Waxing gibbous
3.
An observer notices a star just setting at
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
4.
An observer at the South Pole sees the Sun on the horizon at
a.
21 June
b.
21 September
c.
1 January
d.
21 December
e.
None, this is impossible!
5.
An observer at the equator notices a star at the zenith at exactly
a.
The star is on the celestial equator
b.
The star will rise earlier the next night
c.
The star will pass through the zenith a week later, but earlier
than
d.
The star will set exactly due west
e.
The star will transit north of the zenith in
one month
6.
Planet X has a rotation axis perpendicular (90°) to the ecliptic plane but its orbital
eccentricity is nearly the same as Earth’s (both <2%). Which of the
following would be true?
a.
Planet X seasons would be nearly the same as Earth’s
b.
Planet X seasons would be longer than Earth’s
c.
Planet X seasons would be shorter than Earth’s
d.
There would be little
seasonal change on Planet X
e.
Can’t determine: seasons depend on mass and radius.
7.
A kidnapped astronomer looks out and sees a waxing crescent moon
on the western horizon. What time is it?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
8.
Retrograde motion is seen for
a.
All planets
b.
Only planets closer to the Sun than Earth
c.
Only planets farther from the Sun than Earth
d.
Only Mars
e.
Never actually seen: This was a Greek myth that Kepler disproved
9.
Suppose a new planet were discovered at a distance of 100 AU from
the Sun. Use Kepler’s 3rd law to determine
its orbital period.
a.
10 yr
b.
33 yr
c.
100 yr
d.
150 yr