Test I Study Questions
1. What are some of the likely reasons ancient cultures developed astronomies?
2. Name some of the cultures whose astronomical accomplishments we studied.
3. One reason we can sometimes understand ancient astronomical records is that the ______ has not changed.
4. What essential ingredient in ancient astronomy has been almost completely eliminated from modern astronomy?
5. In light of the technology available to ancient civilizations, what is the most impressive aspect of their astronomies?
6. Often, what is the only evidence left by ancient sky watchers?
7. List the names of distance measurements we used in class, in order from smallest to biggest.
8. What is the Astronomical Unit?
9. Uranus is about 19 times further away from the Sun than the Earth is. How many A.U. is that?
10. How many kilometers will light travel in one hour?
11. A light year is a way to measure _________, not a way to measure ____________.
12. Which is larger, a parsec or a light year?
13. 10⁸ is how much larger than 10⁴?
14. What is the difference between visible light and other types of light?
15. The only difference between all different types of light is the ____________.
16. Which has a shorter wavelength? Radio waves or x-rays?
17. What kind of radiation is light?
18. Name the colors of the rainbow, in their correct order. Kent State's colors are Blue and Gold. Why is one in the rainbow but not the other?
19. Why is light so crucial to the study of astronomy?
20. What is the main tool used for deciphering the light that comes from celestial objects?
21. What are some of the types of information that can be obtained by looking at the light from celestial objects?
22. What are the three main jobs of a telescope, and which is the most important?
23. How can the the two most important functions of a telescope be improved?
24. What is the main difference between the two major types of telescope?
25. What is the main advantage of a reflecting telescope?
26. Why are major research telescopes not located in Ohio?
27. How are radio telescopes sometimes positioned to increase their resolving power?
28. Why must x-ray and gamma ray telescopes be placed in space?
29. What are stars?
30. What is the difference between a constellation and an asterism?
31. Name your favorite constellation.
32. What star is in two different constellations?
33. How are the constellations like Ohio counties on a map?
34. How many constellations are there?
35. The International Astronomical Union is debating whether to create a new constellation called Georgus W. Bushus. Do you think this is a good idea?
36. Which appears to be brighter? A star of magnitude 2, or a star of magnitude minus 1.5?
37. What is the brightest star in the sky?
38. What is the celestial sphere and where is it located?
39. What is directly above the Earth's south pole?
40. What is the name for the imaginary circle going around you at the your eye-level? What can you not see if it is below this circle?
41. What do you see stars do in the east? In the north?
42. How much of the celestial sphere can you see at any one time?
43. What is the name of the star currently over the Earth's north pole?
44. How long does the Earth take to revolve once?
45. How long does the precession cycle take?
46. What will be our new north star 12,000 years from now?

 
  See also Review questions 2 and 9 at the end of Chapter 1; Review questions 1,6, 10, 11, and 14 at the end of Chapter 2 and Review questions 3 and 15 at the end of Chapter 5.