Planetary Science/Geology (Day 1)

Which planet spins almost at a 90 degree tilt relative to the ecliptic plane?

• Mars
• Venus
• Jupiter
• Uranus

In the below, the observer is experiencing a spring low tide. What is the most likely position of the Sun?

• Right

• Left

• Above

• None of the above

The two images below show the area swept out by the same planet during two separate time spans. If the first picture represents the area swept out during a time of "A" days and the second represents the area swept out during a time of "B" days, which of the following statements is true about A and B?

• A<B

• A=B

• A>B

• Cannot be determined

Suppose astronomers found a new planet, very close to the Sun. If the average distance from the planet to the Sun were 1/4 AU, how long would the planet's period be?

• 1/2

• 1/4

• 1/8

• 1/16

How far is the planet Neptune from the Sun?

• About 160 million kilometers

• About 4.5 billion kilometers

• About 800 million kilometers

• About 2.4 billion kilometers

1. Suppose astronomers discover a new planet farther away from the Sun than Earth. How would the day and year of this planet compare to Earth's?

• • The planet's year would be shorter, but it is impossible to predict how its day would compare to Earth's.

• • The planet's year would be longer, but it is impossible to predict how its day would compare to Earth's.

• • The planet's day would be shorter, and its year would be longer.

• • The planet's day would be longer, and its year would be shorter.

1. What is the best explanation of Moon phases?

•   A. As the Moon passes behind Earth it is covered by Earth's shadow.

• • Clouds in the sky block parts of the Moon from view.

• • The Moon is brighter when it is closer to the Sun.

• • As the Moon orbits Earth we see different amounts of the illuminated side of the Moon.

When the Moon is in the position shown, how would the Moon look from Earth?

• View A

• View B

• View C

• View D

What is retrograde motion?

• The movement of a planet in a straight line in its orbit
• The rotation of a planet on its axis
• Apparent backward motion of a planet in its orbit as observed from Earth
• The change in a planet's size as observed from Earth

Which moon in our Solar System is the most geochemically similar to Earth?

• Callisto
• Titan
• Io

• The Moon