Questions for Test # 1

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Which planets known in ancient times moved on the celestial sphere like figure A?  Which planets moved like figure B?
  2. List the seven objects known in ancient times that moved on the celestial sphere?
  3. What conditions must be satisfied for a lunar eclipse to occur?
  4. What conditions must be satisfied for a solar eclipse to occur?
  5. Suppose you observe Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon and a few constellations on a particular night at 9:00 p.m.  If you go out the very next night at the same time, which objects are in about the same place (with respect to the horizon and to each other) and which have noticeably moved? Assume naked eye observations – no instruments.
  6. If you are sailing in temperate latitudes, why is it a bad idea to navigate simply by aligning your boat with a particular star over an extended length of time?
  7. Referring to the accompanying map, which of the following places experience a zenith passage of the sun?  How can you tell?

Cuzco, Stonehenge, Yucatan, Greece, Italy

8.      Does any state of the US experience a zenith passage?  Explain your answer.

  1. How did the Maya write the counting numbers 3, 10, 20 and 31?
  2. What do Ishtar, Aphrodite, and Kukulcan have in common?
  3.  What ratio did the Maya use to match the Venus year to the Solar year?
  4.  What is the approximate date for the earliest stone structures at Stonehenge?  What famous structures were being built in North Africa at about the same time?
  5.  What was Stonehenge constructed and used for according to astronomer/archeologist Gerald Hawking?
  6.  The Maya developed a calendar which kept in step with the Venus cycle, accurate to one day in 500 years.  Why is it difficult to achieve this level of accuracy when constructing any calendar based on the motion of heavenly bodies?
  7.  Which of the following are mostly products of human culture and which are universal? Explain.

 

solstices, constellations, equinoxes, calendars, lunar standstills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1. Assume that you are observing from Cerritos College.  In the above diagram identify
    1. north celestial pole
    2. south celestial pole
    3. zenith
    4. nadir
    5. sunrise on June 21
    6. sunrise on March 21
    7. sunrise on December 21
    8. lunar standstill on June 21

 

      17.   What do these Maya number symbols represent (regular counting numbers, not time count)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1.  List the seven objects known in ancient times that moved on the celestial sphere?

 

 

Student submitted questions:

 

  1. What are the three brightest objects on the celestial sphere?  List in order, beginning with the brightest.
  2. Where is the sun located on the celestial sphere at the time of the summer solstice?  When does it occur?
  3. What is meant by retrograde motion?
  4. What is archaeoastronomy?
  5. What is the difference between the sidereal month and the synodic month?
  6. What is a draconic month?
  7. What is meant by the helical rising or setting of a star?
  8. What is the saros cycle?
  9. What is the ecliptic?
  10. What was the Maya’s greatest mathematical achievement?
  11. How is the way in which the Maya studied the stars similar to modern scientific research and how is it different?
  12. What is a henge?
  13. According to Aveni at what age did most Stonehengers die?
  14. How is our modern view of the cosmos contrasted with that of all previous cultures?