Understanding Astronomy: Mapping and Measuring the Cosmos

What coordinate system is commonly used in astronomy instead of Cartesian coordinates?

• Spherical polar coordinates

• Polar coordinates

• Cylindrical coordinates

• Celestial sphere coordinates

What phenomenon limits the ability to focus light into a smaller point, causing stars to blend together in images?

• Diffraction

• Reflection

• Dispersion

• Refraction

What does the diffraction limit describe in the context of telescopes?

• The highest magnification possible

• The largest distance that can be measured

• The smallest angular separation that can be resolved

• The maximum size of the telescope lens

What is the main advantage of launching telescopes into space?

• To utilize solar power more effectively

• To reach closer to celestial objects

• To avoid atmospheric interference

• To achieve higher magnification

What is the term for the apparent shift in position of a star due to Earth's movement around the Sun?

• Redshift

• Parallax

• Luminosity shift

• Doppler effect

What is the primary challenge in measuring the third dimension, or distance, to celestial objects?

• Measuring the object's angular size

• Determining the object's true size

• Calculating the object's brightness

• All of the above

What unit is commonly used to express the distances to stars in astronomy?

• Light year

• Astronomical unit

• Parsec

• Kilometer

Which type of variable star is used as a standard candle because its luminosity can be predicted from its pulsation period?

• Main sequence star

• Neutron star

• White dwarf

• Cepheid variable

How does the flux-luminosity relationship help astronomers measure distances?

• All of the above

• By determining the absolute brightness of celestial objects

• By using the inverse square law of light

• By comparing the brightness of known and unknown stars

What is the significance of Type Ia supernovae in measuring cosmic distances?

• They are predictable in their luminosity

• All of the above

• They help calibrate other distance measurement methods

• They can be seen across vast cosmic distances