© 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 1 Constellations appear to move across the sky at night because the Earth orbits the Sun. Moon orbits the Earth. stars are in constant motion. Sun orbits the Earth. Earth spins on its axis. Answer: e © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 1 Constellations appear to move across the sky at night because the Earth orbits the Sun. Moon orbits the Earth. stars are in constant motion. Sun orbits the Earth. Earth spins on its axis. Explanation: The Sun, Moon, planets, and stars all rise and set because our planet rotates once each day. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 2 What causes Earth’s seasons? Wobble of Earth’s rotation axis The greenhouse effect 23.5º tilt of Earth’s rotational axis Movement of Earth closer to or farther from the Sun Global warming and cooling Answer: c © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 2 What causes Earth’s seasons? Wobble of Earth’s rotation axis The greenhouse effect 23.5º tilt of Earth’s rotational axis Movement of Earth closer to or farther from the Sun Global warming and cooling Explanation: Our planet’s tilt, and not its changing distance from the Sun, creates seasons. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 3 What is the path that the Sun, Moon, and planets follow through the constellations? The celestial equator The north celestial pole The Milky Way The zodiac The ecliptic Answer: e © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 3 What is the path that the Sun, Moon, and planets follow through the constellations? The celestial equator The north celestial pole The Milky Way The zodiac The ecliptic Explanation: The ecliptic also marks the plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 4 How long does it take the Sun to complete one circuit of the ecliptic? 1 hour 1 day 1 month 1 year 1 decade Answer: d © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 4 How long does it take the Sun to complete one circuit of the ecliptic? 1 hour 1 day 1 month 1 year 1 decade Explanation: The Sun moves around the ecliptic once as the Earth orbits in 1 year. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 5 How long does it take the Moon to go around the ecliptic? 1 day 1 hour 1 week 1 month 1 year Answer: d © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 5 How long does it take the Moon to go around the ecliptic? 1 day 1 hour 1 week 1 month 1 year Explanation: The Moon orbits Earth in 1 month, and passes in front of the constellations of the zodiac, which are arranged around the ecliptic. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 6 Stars in a constellation are physically close to each other. usually equal in brightness. about the same age. about the same distance away. in the same part of the sky. Answer: e © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 6 Stars in a constellation are physically close to each other. usually equal in brightness. about the same age. about the same distance away. in the same part of the sky. Explanation: Stars within a constellation might be very different distances, ages, types, and brightnesses. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 7 A total lunar eclipse occurs during the new Moon phase. when the Sun blocks the Moon. during the full Moon phase. always around the summer solstice. Answer: c © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 7 A total lunar eclipse occurs during the new Moon phase. when the Sun blocks the Moon. during the full Moon phase. always around the summer solstice. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 8 The vernal equinox marks the beginning of summer. fall. winter. spring. Answer: d © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 8 The vernal equinox marks the beginning of summer. fall. winter. spring. Explanation: The vernal equinox occurs around March 21–22. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 9 Conditions are favorable for a solar eclipse every month at new Moon. every week at the quarter phases. every month at full Moon. about every 6 months at new Moon. every year at new Moon. Answer: d © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 9 Conditions are favorable for a solar eclipse every month at new Moon. every week at the quarter phases. every month at full Moon. about every 6 months at new Moon. every year at new Moon. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 10 The angle of parallax increases as distances to stars increase. the baseline gets larger. the baseline gets smaller. Earth moves faster in its orbit. Answer: b © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 10 The angle of parallax increases as distances to stars increase. the baseline gets larger. the baseline gets smaller. Earth moves faster in its orbit. Explanation: The greater the distance between two observation points (the baseline), the larger the angle of parallax. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 11 Precession is caused by the rotation of Earth’s molten core. gravitational pull of the Sun. gravitational pull of the Moon. weight of the ice at the poles. gravitational attractions from comets. Answer: c © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 11 Precession is caused by the rotation of Earth’s molten core. gravitational pull of the Sun. gravitational pull of the Moon. weight of the ice at the poles. gravitational attractions from comets. Explanation: The Moon’s tug creates a slow “wobble” that takes 26,000 years for one rotation. © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 12 Considering the Moon’s phases, everyone on Earth sees the same phase in 24 hours. different phases in 24 hours. a lunar eclipse once a month. different sides of the Moon. Answer: a © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.

Question 12 Considering the Moon’s phases, everyone on Earth sees the same phase in 24 hours. different phases in 24 hours. a lunar eclipse once a month. different sides of the Moon. Explanation: The Moon goes through its cycle of phases in about 30 days; Earth rotates once in only 24 hours. Thus, everyone has a chance to see the same phase! © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.