SELF TEST UNIT 2
1. The azimuth of the east cardinal point is ______.
2. The azimuth of the south cardinal point is ______.
3. The azimuth of the west cardinal point is ______.
4. The altitude of the zenith is ______.
5. Part of a great circle extending from the zenith and crossing the horizon at 90o is the definition of a ______circle.
6. The meridian altitude of the north celestial pole as seen from 38o north latitude is ______degrees.
7. The projection of the earth’s equator upon the celestial sphere is the ______.
8. If you face Polaris, which way does the celestial sphere turn? ______
9. If the path a star takes during the night is such that the star could never rise or set, but would form a circle, all of which is above the northern horizon, the star is said to be ______.
10. The daily path of a star is called the ______path.
11. The points about which the celestial sphere seems to rotate are called the north and south ______.
12. That part of a great circle that passes through the north and south cardinal points as well as your zenith is called the ______.
13. The continuation of the circle in the above question that passes through the nadir is the ______.
14. A great circle from celestial pole to celestial pole that is perpendicular to the celestial equator is called an ______.
15. If a star rises tonight at an azimuth of 60o, it will rise tomorrow night at an azimuth of ______, and in a month’s time it will rise at an azimuth of ______.
16. Declination of a star is measured from what circle? ______
17. In what units is declination measured? ______
18. The declination of Mintaka is about ______.
19. Look at your sky chart and write down Vega’s declination. ______
20. Right ascension of a star is measured from ______along the celestial equator eastward.
21. The units of right ascension are ______.
22. The right ascension of Mintaka is about (use your sky chart) ______.
23. The right ascension of Rigel is about (use your sky chart) ______.
24. If a star has a positive declination, will it rise with an azimuth north or south of the east cardinal point?______
25. If a star has zero declination, at what azimuth will it rise? ______
26. If a star rises with an azimuth of 100o, at what azimuth should it set?______
27. If the sun passes through lower transit, what time is it approximately?______
28. Opposite the zenith lies the ______.
29. If a star transits your meridian tonight at 9:00 p.m., the star will transit your celestial meridian tomorrow night at ______.
30. If a star is on your celestial meridian tonight at 10:00 p.m., tomorrow night at
10:00 p.m. that same star will be where relative to the celestial meridian? ______
31. Which of the following stars are circumpolar at D.V.C.?
Star Dec.
______Dubhe 62o
______Algol 41o
______Mizar 56o
______Betelgeuse 7o
______Rigel -9o
32. If a star is in transit at 8:00 p.m. tonight, where will it be at 9:00 p.m. tonight?
______
33. If a star is in transit at 8:00 p.m. tonight, where will it be at 11:00 p.m. tonight?
______
34. If a star is in transit at 8:00 p.m. tonight where will it be tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m.?
______
35. If a star is in transit at 8:00 p.m. tonight where will it be in 3 months at 8:00 p.m.?
______
36. If a star is in transit at 8:00 p.m. tonight, when will it transit tomorrow night?
______
37. If a star is in transit at 8:00 p.m. tonight, when will it transit in a month?
______
38. What is the meridian altitude of a star having a declination of –15o at DVC?
______.
39. How long will it be until a star goes through upper transit if its hour angle is 3h?
______.
40. How long will it be until a star goes through upper transit if its hour angle is -5h?
______.
41. What is the hour angle of a star which has a right ascension of 8h 0m at the sidereal
time of 4h?______.
42. a) On the celestial sphere, draw and label the following: zenith, nadir, celestial meridian, anti-meridian, horizon, and the cardinal points.
b) If the observer’s latitude is 55o N, draw and label the celestial equator, north
and south celestial poles.
c) Draw and label the vernal equinox if the sidereal time is 13h 0m.
d) Draw and label the hour circle, vertical circle and star possessing the following
coordinates: R.A. = 15h 0m and d = 20o.
43. Suppose you wish to observe the star Rigel at D.V.C. at a sidereal time of 2h. The best way to figure out where to look (if you don’t know your constellations!) is to plot it on a celestial sphere.
a) draw and label the celestial equator, north and south celestial poles.
c) Draw and label the vernal equinox.
d) Draw and label the hour circle, vertical circle and star.
Sample Essay Questions:
1State and explain the stars annual motion.
1) Explain why some stars are circumpolar. What is the relationship to the observer’s position?
2) State and explain the stars diurnal motion.
3) Explain the pros and cons of the horizon coordinate system.
4) Explain the pros and cons of the celestial coordinate system.
5) Explain how one locates the vernal equinox.
6) Define right ascension, sidereal time and the hour angle and explain the relationship between them.