Astronomy Concepts and Light-Year Understanding

If the Earth were represented by a tiny ball held by tweezers, what would represent the Sun, and how far apart would they be?

• A basketball, 1 meter away.

• A large glass sphere, 20 meters away.

• A soccer ball, 100 meters away.

• A small pebble, 5 meters away.

What is a light-year?

• A unit of time equal to one year.

• The distance light travels in one year.

• The speed of light in a vacuum.

• The time it takes for the Earth to orbit the Sun.

If a star is 4.3 light-years away, what does this imply about our current observation of it?

• The light we see left the star 4.3 years ago.

• The star is exactly 4.3 kilometers from Earth.

• The star will reach Earth in 4.3 years.

• The star is moving away from Earth at 4.3 times the speed of light.

What is the primary purpose of constellations?

• To predict future events

• To help locate and identify stars

• To measure distances between stars

• To determine the age of stars

Why is Polaris (the North Star) particularly useful for navigation in the Northern Hemisphere?

• It is the brightest star in the night sky.

• It is directly above the Earth's North Pole.

• It changes position frequently, indicating time.

• It is visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

What is one way an astrolabe can be used?

• To measure the temperature of stars.

• To determine the composition of planets.

• To find the motion of stars.

• To predict meteor showers.

What is the main purpose of Space Camp?

• To learn about space and planets.

• To train for military aviation.

• To design and build new spacecraft.

• To conduct advanced astronomical research.

Where do atoms, the fundamental building blocks of the universe, originate?

• They are created within the Earth's atmosphere.

• They are formed through the force of exploding stars.

• They spontaneously generate in deep space.

• They are produced in the cores of planets.