Astronomy 1 Study Guide
Chapter 1
1. Discuss our local neighborhoods in space including the names and approximate distances of our nearest neighbors.
2. Write your complete astronomical address.
3. Approximately how big is a moon? Planet? A star? A galaxy? The universe?
4. What are the definitions of (a) a light year and (b) an astronomical unit?
5. What makes the scientific method different from philosophy and religion as a path to truth?
Chapter 2
1. Describe the coordinate system of the celestial sphere.
2. Name and
describe several of the more prominent constellations that are visible from
3. What is a constellation and how is it different from a star cluster?
4. What does a Foucault pendulum demonstrate? How does it work? Where does it work best? Worst?
5. Describe Hipparchus’ method of measuring the brightnesses of stars.
6. What is meant by the term “precession” and what are its effects?
7. Describe the
motions of the stars as seen from the North Pole, the Equator, and
Chapter 3
1. What is the basic reason for the seasonal variation in temperatures on Earth? Include the terms “solstice” and “equinox” in your answer.
2. Why is a solar day different from a sidereal day?
3. Name and sketch the eight phases of the moon in order, beginning with the new moon.
4. How does the moon keep the same face toward the earth? Doesn’t it rotate?
5. Describe the relative positions of the earth, sun, and moon in space during
a) a total eclipse of the sun;
b) a total eclipse of the moon.
6. Why can you never see a full moon overhead at sunset?
7. Describe the apparent motion of the moon in the sky, and its change in appearance (a) from hour to hour; (b) from night to night.
Chapter 4
1. How did the ancient Greeks know that the earth is spherical?
2. Briefly mention the contributions of Aristotle, Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, and Ptolemy to astronomy.
3. Compare Copernicus’ heliocentric solar system with Ptolemy’s geocentric solar system. How does each explain the retrograde motion of the planets?
4. Mention several of Galileo’s telescopic observations and explain how they support the heliocentric viewpoint of the solar system.
5. Discuss Kepler’s three laws of planetary motion.
6. What is the difference between mass, volume, and weight? Give some examples.
7. What does the gravitational force between two objects depend on? Give a numerical example of how the force varies with distance.
8. Explain
9. Explain why there is a tidal bulge on both sides of the earth.
Chapter 5
1. List the constituents of the electro-magnetic spectrum and discuss their relative wavelengths and energies.
2. Discuss the relationship of the aperture of a telescope and its
a) light-gathering power
b) resolving power
3. What determines the magnifying power of a telescope? Give a numerical example of a calculation of magnification.
4. What problem led Isaac Newton to invent the reflecting telescope? Also, list some other advantages of reflectors over refracting telescopes./
5. Name some of the largest optical telescopes operating today, and discuss some of the newest technological methods of making optical telescopes.
6. Explain how radio telescopes work and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
7. What is VLA and VLBA and what is gained by hooking radio telescopes together?
8. Discuss how radar astronomy works, and describe what it can tell us about celestial objects.
9. What kinds of objects can best be studied by infra red, ultraviolet and x-ray astronomy?
10. Describe several types of imaging systems used by astronomers.
11. Explain the purpose of adaptive optics and discuss how it works.
Chapter 6
1. Discuss the structure and components of the atom.
2. Discuss and compare the four fundamental forces of nature.
3. Explain the formation of spectral emission lines in terms of atomic structure and electron energy levels.
4. Describe what the continuous, emission, and absorption spectra look like, and discuss the circumstances under which each is formed.
5. How can you estimate the temperature of a star with your unaided eye? How does this work?
6. What can the Doppler effect tell us about stars and galaxies? How does this work?
7. Why are the hydrogen lines not as strong in type “O” stars and type “K” stars as they are in type “A” stars?
8. Explain the spectral classification of stellar temperatures.
Chapter 7
1. Draw a labeled sketch of the interior structure of the sun.
2. List and describe the various features observed in and above the photosphere of the sun.
3. Discuss sunspots in some detail., including their structure, formation, and the sunspot cycle.
4. Explain what makes the sun shine, in some detail.
5. What is the Solar Neutrino problem?
6. How can the Doppler shift be used to show that the granules on the surface of the sun are actually convection cells?
Chapter 8
1. Give the basic definition of “parsec” and discuss the relationship between the distance of a star and its parallax shift.
2. Discuss the apparent and absolute magnitudes of a star. How can knowing both of them give us a star’s distance?
3. Discuss the H-R diagram, what it plots, and where various kinds of stars are located on the diagram.
4. Describe three methods for detecting binary stars.
5. What is the chief method of measuring the mass of an object in space?
Chapter 9
1. Explain the mass-luminosity relation.
2. Discuss what makes the stars shine, in some detail.
3. Discuss the stages in the formation of a new star.
4. List and describe the different kinds of interstellar nebulae.
5. List and briefly describe the components of the interstellar medium.
6. Explain the pressure-temperature thermostat of a star.
7. Describe the processes of heat transfer called convection, conduction and radiation.
8. What is a Herbig-Haro object and how is it caused?
Chapter 10
1. Describe the evolution of a main-sequence star into a red giant.
2. Describe the steps in the formation of a white dwarf star and a planetary nebula beginning at the red giant stage.
3. Discuss the properties of a white dwarf.
4. On the H-R diagram, trace the path of a typical star during its formation and its evolution into a red giant. How can star clusters help us check test this theory?
5. Describe the deaths of the most massive stars, including Type II supernovae and supernova remnants.
6. Discuss the main events in the occurrence of a Type I A (white dwarf) supernova.
Chapter 11
1. Describe the nature and properties of a neutron star
2. Describe the discovery and nature of pulsars.
3. Describe the nature and properties of a black hole.
4. What does “E = mc2” really mean? Give some examples.
5. Describe observational attempts to verify the existence of black holes.
6. What is meant by the terms “event horizon” and “Schwarzschild radius” and what is their relation to the mass of a black hole?
7. What kinds of objects are thought to have accretion disks, and why?
Chapter 12
1. Draw two labeled sketches of the Milky Way Galaxy, one as seen from the side, and one as seen from the “top”.
2. What is meant by the “period luminosity relation” of the Cepheid variables, and how can this be used as a distance indicator to the stars?
3. Relate the story of how astronomers discovered the size and shape of the Milky Way galaxy.
4. What is the observational evidence that something strange is happening in the nucleus of our Galaxy, and what is the probable explanation?
5. Discuss the reason for the differences between population I and population II stars.
6. Discuss at least one good theory for the formation and nature of the spiral arms of the Galaxy.
7. Describe the characteristics of and differences between open and globular clusters.
8. Explain the importance of 21-centimeter radiation in the work of radio astronomers.
CHAPTER 13
1. What is the observational evidence that some so-called “nebulae” are actually entire galaxies far outside our own galaxy?
2. Describe the chief method for determining the masses of the galaxies.
3. Be able to classify a galaxy by its shape, according to the Hubble sequence.
4. Describe the observational evidence for the “dark matter” and discuss the most likely candidates for what it consists of.
5. What is the Hubble Law, how was it discovered, and what does it really mean?
6. Describe the factors involved in galactic formation, including the role of collisions between galaxies.
7. Compare and contrast elliptical galaxies and spiral galaxies.
CHAPTER 14
1. Describe the different types of active galaxies, and the most recent theory proposed to explain their energy output and other characteristics.
2. Briefly relate the story (involving Dr. Schmidt) of the discovery of quasars.
3. Discuss the controversy that originally surrounded quasars (Schmidt vs. Arp).
CHAPTER 15
1. Describe the three main effects of traveling near the speed of light, according to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity.
2. Describe the effects of mass in space according to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
3. What causes “gravitational lensing”? Describe some actual examples, as seen in Hubble photographs.
4. Compare the Big Bang with the Steady State theory and discuss the observational evidence for the Big Bang.
5. Briefly relate the early history of the universe, starting from 10-40 second.
6. Discuss the possible different “shapes” of space-time and how they relate to the possible ways the universe could come to an end.
7. What is the importance of the COBE measurements of the microwave background radiation?
8. What major problems of the Big Bang theory are solved by the concept of “inflation”?
9. What is the evidence for the recently discovered acceleration of the expansion of the universe? What are some possible causes for this?
10. What is the probable origin of the large-scale structure in the universe?
CHAPTER 16
1. Describe the relative sizes and distances of the planets in the Solar System.
2. Briefly describe how the planets formed and relate this to why so many planets and moons are heavily cratered.
3. Discuss the processes of condensation and accretion in the early solar system, and their roles determining the characteristics of the planets.
4. Explain the process of radioactive dating of rocks.
5. Why are the inner planets more dense than the outer planets?
CHAPTER 17
1. Describe the interior structure of the earth. Use a labeled diagram.
2. Discuss the process of differentiation, and how we can know about the interior of the earth.
3. Discuss the evidence for continental drift and the main elements of the plate tectonic theory.
4. Discuss the chief categories of rocks found on earth: their properties and formation, with some examples of each category.
5. Outline a four-stage history of earth’s formation.
6. Describe the composition and origin of earth’s atmosphere.
7. Discuss the three qualities of a planet needed to produce a planetary magnetic field.
8. Explain the cause and possible consequences of a depletion of earth’s ozone layer.
9. Explain the concept of global warming and describe the probable causes and consequences.
10. Name the various types of surface features on the moon and discuss their nature and origin.
11. Sketch a labeled map of the Moon, showing the proper names of the most prominent surface features.
12. Outline the four-stage history of the moon, beginning with differentiation.
13. Discuss the pros and cons of three major theories of the origin of the moon, including the current theory.
14. Describe the appearance of the far side of the moon and explain why it is different from the near side.
15. Discuss the major achievements of the early American Space Program.
16. Outline the major achievements of the early Soviet-Russian space program.
17. Describe several types of rocks found on the moon. How do they compare with rocks on Earth?
18. In what ways is Mercury like and unlike the moon? What kinds of surface features on Mercury are not found as much on the moon? Discuss their natures possible origins.
19. Discuss Mercury’s size, orbit, and rotation.
20. Name two particular (proper-name) surface features on Mercury and discuss evidence for their causal relationship.
21. Describe the appearance of Venus
(a) as seen through a telescope from the earth;
(b) as seen in photographs using ultraviolet light;
(c) as seen in photographs taken by the Russian Venera landers.
22. What is meant by the “runaway greenhouse effect” that makes Venus so hot? How does it work?
23. Describe the composition and characteristics of the atmosphere of Venus.
24. Sketch a labeled map of the surface of Venus showing the proper names of the most prominent surface features.
25. Describe the appearance, nature, and origin of the types of surface features found on Venus.
26. Discuss the possibility of the presence of life on Mars, today or in the past.
27. Name, describe, and explain the origin of some of the major geological features on the surface of Mars.
28. What are
some of the major discoveries made by the Mars rovers, Spirit and
29. Sketch a labeled map of the surface of Mars, showing the proper names of the most prominent surface features.
30. Name and describe the moons of Mars.
31. Describe the atmosphere and the weather on Mars.
32. What are the main characteristics of the polar caps of Mars?
Chapter 18
1. Discuss the main differences between the terrestrial planets and the Jovian planets.
2. Describe Jupiter in terms of size, composition, rotation rate, atmosphere, and magnetic field.
3. Explain the belts and zones of Jupiter and the Great Red Spot.
4. Describe the interior of Jupiter and draw a labeled sketch of a cross section through Jupiter.
5. Be able to identify by sight, and to describe the Galilean satellites of Jupiter.
6. What observational evidence indicates that the possibility that the outer four satellites of Jupiter were captured?
7. What is the source of energy of Io’s volcanoes?
8. What is the evidence for liquid oceans beneath the crusts of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto?
9. Why does Saturn’s surface look less contrasty than Jupiter’s?
10. Discuss the Roche limit, its cause, effects, and how it depends on the mass of the planet.
11. Describe the rings of Saturn in terms of size, appearance, composition, and motion.
12. Describe the surface and atmosphere of Titan. What is the evidence for the existence of hydrocarbon lakes on its surface?
13. Describe the appearance of Iapetus and discuss some possible explanations for why one half of Iapetus is so dark.
14. Describe the appearance of the surface of Enceladus. What is the evidence for the existence of liquid water in that moon?
15. How did the Voyager scientists determine the sizes of the particles making up the rings of Saturn?
16. Describe Uranus in terms of size, composition, appearance, rotation rate, atmosphere, and magnetic field.
17. Discuss one theory explaining why Uranus lacked cloud features when photographed by the Voyager spacecraft. What evidence supports that theory?
18. Describe several of the moons of Uranus, including Miranda, and discuss possible explanations for their surface features.
19. How does
20. Name two of
21. Why was the discovery of a moon around Pluto so important? What are the two most important things were learned by observing it?
22. Briefly relate how Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were discovered.
23. How were the rings of Uranus first discovered?
Chapter 19
1. Sketch the major components of a comet and discuss its probable composition and structure.
2. Describe the probable origin of comets and their motion around the sun.
3. Distinguish between meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites and describe the different types of meteorites.
4. Describe the characteristics of meteors and meteor showers, and explain how they relate to cometary orbits.
5. Sketch the orbit of a comet around the sun, showing the comet and its tail in several positions. Explain why the tail of the comets point the way it does.
6. Describe the appearance and the characteristics of the asteroids Gaspra, Ida, Mathilde and Eros. What is the evidence that Mathilde is a loose conglomeration of rocks?
7. Discuss the origins of the different types of asteroids and the three major locations where asteroids are found in the solar system.
Chapter 20
1. What chemical elements are people mainly made of, and how were those elements originally formed?
2. Briefly
discuss
3. Describe some of the tactics used by project SETI in searching for life in other stellar systems.
4. How does the Miller-Urey experiment in 1953 encourage us to expect to find life on other planets?
5. Explain how the Drake equation is used to determine the number of possible extraterrestrial civilizations in the galaxy.
6. Explain the nature and function of DNA.
7. What are some of the techniques that astronomers are using to detect planets orbiting other stars?