Bronze Exam

1

How can you find Polaris using the Big Dipper?

Follow the handle of the Big Dipper Look directly opposite the Big Dipper Draw a line through the two pointer stars at the end of the bowl Follow the curve of the Big Dipper's bowl downward

2

What is the purpose of a finderscope on a telescope?

To increase magnification To reduce chromatic aberration To filter out light pollution To help locate and aim at celestial objects

3

What causes a lunar eclipse?

The Moon passes between the Earth and Sun The Earth passes between the Sun and Moon The Sun passes between the Earth and Moon The Moon enters the shadow of Venus

4

Why do astronomers use red flashlights at night?

Red light preserves night vision (dark adaptation) Red light is brighter Red light makes star charts easier to read Red light repels insects

5

What type of deep-sky object is the Orion Nebula (M42)?

A galaxy An emission/diffuse nebula A planetary nebula A globular cluster

6

What type of telescope uses a lens as its primary light-gathering element?

Refractor Reflector Catadioptric Radio telescope

7

What is the astronomical unit (AU)?

The distance from Earth to the nearest star The average distance from Earth to the Sun The diameter of Earth's orbit The distance light travels in one second

8

What does the aperture of a telescope refer to?

The length of the telescope tube The magnification power The diameter of the primary lens or mirror The field of view

9

What is a constellation?

A group of stars that are physically close together in space A recognized pattern of stars as seen from Earth forming an area of the sky A cluster of galaxies A type of nebula

10

Which planet in our solar system has the most prominent ring system visible through a small telescope?

Saturn Jupiter Uranus Neptune

11

Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet'?

Venus Jupiter Saturn Mars

12

What color are the hottest stars?

Red Yellow Orange Blue-white

13

What does the term 'seeing' refer to in amateur astronomy?

The observer's eyesight quality The atmospheric steadiness affecting image sharpness The transparency of the sky The brightness of the Moon

14

What are the four largest moons of Jupiter collectively called?

The Jovian moons The Classical moons The Galilean moons The Titan moons

15

Which type of telescope is best suited for a beginner on a budget who wants to observe deep-sky objects?

A small refractor on an equatorial mount A Schmidt-Cassegrain A solar telescope A Dobsonian reflector

16

What happens when you use a shorter focal length eyepiece in your telescope?

The magnification increases The field of view gets wider The image gets dimmer The image quality improves

17

What is the Milky Way?

The band of light from our own galaxy as seen from within A distant galaxy visible only through telescopes A large nebula near the solar system A cluster of stars in Sagittarius

18

What is the Messier catalog?

A catalog of all known galaxies A list of the 100 brightest stars A list of 110 bright deep-sky objects compiled by Charles Messier A catalog of comets

19

What is a meteor?

A rocky body orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter A streak of light caused by a small particle burning up in Earth's atmosphere A large rock that has landed on Earth's surface A comet visible to the naked eye

20

Approximately how old is the Sun?

About 1 billion years About 4.6 billion years About 10 billion years About 13.8 billion years