PHYSICS 1135 Astronomy

Practice questions for Examination I

1. Explain each of these:
   • circumpolar stars
   • Copernicus
   • ecliptic
   • declination
   • ellipse
   • equinox
   • Galileo
   • Gregorian calendar
   • Julian calendar
   • Kepler
   • latitude
   • longitude
   • lunar eclipse
   • magnitude
   • meridian
   • Newtonian reflector telescope
   • opposition
   • perihelion
   • Ptolemy
   • reflector telescope
   • refractor telescope
   • retrograde motion
   • right ascension
   • seasons on Earth
   • solstice
   • Tycho
   • zenith
   • zodiac
2. Explain how observing the sky can allow you to determine your longitude.
3. Explain how observing the sky can allow you to determine your latitude.
4. Why was the Gregorian calendar adopted?
5. What is the declination of the farthest south stars that can be seen from Jerusalem (latitude 32 degrees?) From Paris (latitude 49 degrees)? From Quito (latitude 0?) From Anchorage (latitude 61 degrees)?
   What stars will be circumpolar from each of these cities (give their declinations)?
   What will be the elevation of Polaris from each of these cities? (Assume that Polaris is at declination 90 degrees -- which is a good approximation for its true value of about 89 degrees).
6. Explain how the sky will be different at these three cities: Albuquerque, New Mexico (latitude 35, longitude 107 west), Tehran, Iran (latitude 35, longitude 51 east), Tokyo, Japan (latitude 35, longitude 140 east).
7. What is the magnification of a reflecting telescope if its focal length is 200 centimeters, and the focal length of the eyepiece is 2.5 centimeters.
8. Be able to recognize the constellation pictures on the web page at this link: Constellation slides for exam 1
   
9. What is the rule that determines the date of Easter?