Astronomy Quiz #3 - Regents Based

Base your answer to the question on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the orbital paths of the four Jovian planets and Halley’s comet around the Sun. Halley’s comet has a revolution period of 76 years. In 1986, Halley’s comet was at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun. Letters A, B, C, and D represent locations of Halley’s comet in its orbit. Location D represents Halley’s comet at aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun. The comet’s tail is shown at perihelion and at locations B and C.

Compared to the orbit of the Jovian planets, the orbit of Halley’s comet is

• 1. less elliptical, with a shorter distance between its foci

• 1. less elliptical, with a greater distance between its foci

• 1. more elliptical, with a shorter distance between its foci

• 1. more elliptical, with a greater distance between its foci

The diagram below shows a satellite in four different positions as it revolves around a planet.

Which graph best represents the changes in this satellite’s orbital velocity as it revolves around the planet?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

NGSS.MS-PS3-5

The diagram below represents the Moon at one position in its orbit around Earth. The numbers represent locations on Earth’s surface.

At which numbered location would high tide be occurring when the Moon is in the location shown in the diagram?

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• 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer to this question on the diagram below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The diagram represents the Moon at different positions in its orbit around Earth. The phases of the Moon as seen by an observer in New York State have been labeled.

Which diagram best represents the new gibbous phase of the Moon as seen by an observer in New York State?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

The diagram below shows Earth in orbit around the Sun, and the Moon in orbit around Earth. M₁ and M₂ indicate positions of the Moon in its orbit where eclipses might be seen from Earth.

Which table correctly matches each type of eclipse with the orbital position of the Moon and the cause of each eclipse?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Base your answer to this question on the diagram below, which shows Earth’s orbit and the orbit of a comet within our solar system.

Explain why the time required for one revolution of the comet is more than the time required for one revolution of Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Base your answer to the question on the reading passage and on your knowledge of Earth science.

The Blue Moon

A "Blue Moon" is the name given to the second full moon in a calendar month. Because there are roughly 29.5 days between full moons, it is unusual for two full moons to "fit" into a 30 or 31 day month (and impossible to fit into a 28 or 29 day month, so February can never have a Blue Moon). The saying "Once in a Blue Moon" means a rare occurrence, and predates the current astronomical use of the term, which is quite recent. In fact, Blue Moons are not all that rare, on average there will be one Blue Moon every 2.5 years. After 1999, the next Blue Moons will be in November 2001; July 2004; and June 2007. The last one before 1999 was in July 1996.

The term Blue Moon is believed to have originated in 1883 after the eruption of Krakatoa. The volcano put so much dust in the atmosphere that the Moon actually looked blue in color. This was so unusual that the term "once in a Blue Moon" was coined.

– “The Blue Moon,” David R. Williams, nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/blue_moon.html

Explain why a Blue Moon never occurs during the month of February.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1