THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Q1. Sun will appear at the same latitude :

a) Once a year b) Twice a year c) once a day

Q2. Seasons are due to the:

a) Earth’s elliptical orbit around the Sun

b) Inclination of the polar axis with the ecliptic plane
c) Earth’s rotation on its polar axis.

Q3. At what approximate date is the earth furthest from the sun (aphelion)?

a) Beginning of January
b) End of December
c) Beginning of July

Q4. At what approximate date is the earth closest to the sun (perihelion)?

a) End of June
b) Beginning of July
c) Beginning of January

Q5. What is the highest latitude listed below at which the sun will reach an altitude of 90° above the horizon at some time during
the year?

a) 23° b) 45° c) 66°

Q6. Which is the highest latitude listed below at which the sun will rise above the horizon and set every day?

a) 72° b) 68° c) 66°

Q7. The angle between the plane of the ecliptic and the plane of equator is approximately:

a) 66.5°
b) 23.5°
c) 27.5°

Q8. In its path around the Sun, the axis of the Earth has an inclination :

a) Of 66° 33’ with the plane of the path.

b) Varying between zero and 23° 27 with the plane of the pat.
c) Varying with the season of the year.

Q9. The mean sun:

a) Is only of interest to users of astronomical navigation.

b) Moves with constant speed along the celestial equator.
c) Is the middle position of the sun.

Q10. The direction of the Earths rotation on its axis is such that:

a) Observed from the point above the North Pole, the rotation is counter – clockwise.
b) Any point on the surface of the Earth will move eastward.
c) Any point on the surface of the Earth will move westward.

Q11. When the length of the day is measured with reference to the passage of the apparent sun:

a) The length of the day will be the same once every month.
b) The length of the day will vary with the latitude of the observer.
c) The length of the day will wary in the course of the year.
Q12. All heavenly bodies rise

a) In the East.
b) In the West.
c) Some in the East and some in the West depending upon the hemisphere.

Q13. The term Aphelion is used to describe:

a) The relative position between the earth and the moon.

b) The situation when the distance between the sun and the earth is at its longest.
c) The relationship between the length of the day and the length of the night.

Q14. Civil twilight is defined by:

a) Sun altitude is 18° below the celestial horizon

b) Sun altitude is 12° below the celestial horizon
c) Sun altitude is 6° below the celestial horizon

Q15. The duration of civil twilight is the time:

a) Needed by the sun to move from the apparent height of 0° to the apparent height of 6°.
b) Between sunset and when the centre of the sun is 12° below the true horizon
c) Between sunset and when the centre of the sun is 6° below the true horizon.

Q16. Atmospheric refraction:

a) Cause the sunrise to occur earlier and the sunset to occur later.
b) Causes the sunrise and the sunset to occur earlier.
c) Causes the sunrise to occur later and the sunset to occur earlier.

Q17. The times given for sunrise, sunset, morning and evening twilight in the air almanac:

a) Are given in UTC.

b) Are given in standard time.
c) Are given in LMT.

Q18. Civil twilight is defined by:

a) Sun upper edge tangential to horizon.

b) Sun altitude is 6° below the celestial horizon.
c) Sun altitude is 18° below the celestial horizon.

Q19. What is the reason for seasonal changes in climate?

a) Because the Earth’s spin axis is inclined to the plane of its orbit round the Sun.
b) Because the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies over a year.
c) Because the Earth’s orbital speed round the sun varies according to the time of the year.

Q20. The main reason that day and night, throughout the year, have different duration, is due to the?

a) Relative speed of the sun along the ecliptic.

b) Inclination of the ecliptic to the equator.
c) Earth’s rotation.