Astronomy Review

Based on the red-shift data on galaxies, most astronomers infer that the universe is currently

• fixed and stationary

• moving randomly

• contracting

• expanding

The planets known as "gas giants" include Jupiter, Uranus and

• Mars

• Pluto

• Earth

• Saturn

A comparison of the age of Earth obtained from radioactive dating and the age of the universe based on Doppler shifts suggests that

• Earth is about the same age as the universe

• the solar system and Earth formed billions of years after the universe began

• the two dating methods contradict one another

• the universe is much younger than Earth

Compared to Jupiter and Saturn, Venus and Mars have greater

• equatorial diameters

• orbital velocities

• mean distances from the Sun

• periods of revolution

The farther a planet is located from the Sun, the...

• longer its period of revolution

• shorter its period of revolution

• shorter its period of rotation

• longer its period of rotation

The length of time that daylight is received at a location during one day is called the location's

• intensity of insolation

• angle of insolation

• eccentricity of insolation

• duration of insolation

On December 21, at which latitude would an observer find the Sun directly overhead?

• 23.5 N

• 90

• 23.5 S

• 0

Which statement best explains the apparent daily motion of the Sun?

• The Earth's orbit is an ellipse

• The Earth rotates on its axis.

• The Earth's shape is an oblate spheroid

• The Earth is closest to the Sun in winter

Some constellations (star patterns) observed in the summer skies in New York State are different from those observed in the winter skies. The best explanation for this observation is that

• the Earth revolves around the Sun

• the Earth rotates on its axis

• constellations are moving away from the Earth

• constellations revolve around the Earth

Which diagram best represents the appearance of the Moon at position P when viewed from the Earth?

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