Measuring Angles in Astronomy

Which instrument is commonly used to measure angles in astronomy?

• Telescope

• Sextant

• Microscope

• Barometer

In astronomy, the angle between two celestial objects is often measured in ____.

• Degrees

• Meters

• Liters

• Kilograms

What are angular measurements used for in astronomy?

• To measure the brightness of stars

• To describe how large an object appears in the sky or how far apart two objects seem from one another when observed from Earth

• To calculate the distance to the moon

• To determine the color of planets.

Angular measurements are based on the angle that the object or the distance between two objects _______ at the observer's eye.

• reflects

• absorbs

• subtends

• emits

What happens to the appearance of the Statue of Liberty as you move farther away from it?

• It appears larger

• It appears smaller

• It remains the same size

• It disappears

Fill in the blank: As you move away from the Statue of Liberty, the angle it subtends at your eye ______.

• A) increases

• B) decreases

• C) remains the same

What is the total number of degrees in a full circle around the sky?

• 180 degrees

• 360 degrees

• 90 degrees

• 270 degrees

Fill in the blank: There are 60 arcminutes in one ____.

• arcsecond

• degree

• circle

• radian

How many arcseconds are there in one arcminute?

• 30 arcseconds

• 60 arcseconds

• 90 arcseconds

• 120 arcseconds

What is a subtended angle?

• An angle formed by two lines at your eye to each edge of an object.

• An angle formed by two lines at the center of an object.

• An angle that decreases as the object moves closer.

• An angle that remains constant regardless of distance.