Astronomy 161 -- Autumn 2006
Quiz 1 Study Guide


Unit 1: Introduction
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Astronomical Numbers
    Scientific Notation
    Metric system
    Weight vs. Mass

The Night Sky
    The Constellations
    Uses for ritual, navigation and art


Unit 2: Discovering Earth & Sky
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Measuring the Earth
    The Spherical Earth
        Appeal to perfect symmetry
        Demonstration by Aristotle
    The circumference of the Earth
        Method of Eratosthenes
        Ptolemy's estimate and its influence

Mapping Earth & Sky
    Latitude & Longitude
    The Celestial Sphere
    Celestial Poles & Equator
    Declination
    Local Horizon and Zenith

Daily & Annual Motions
    Motions due to Earth's Daily Rotation
    Circumpolar Stars
    Ecliptic: reflection of the Earth's Annual Orbit
    Obliquity of the Ecliptic
    Zodical constellations
    Solstices & Equinoxes

The Four Seasons
    Due to the tilt of the Earth's Axis
    Influence of insolation and the length of the day
    Precession of the Equinoxes

The Phases of the Moon
    Synchronous rotation
    Main Phases of the Moon
    Sidereal & Synodic Periods of the Moon
    Moonrise/set times for the different Moon phases

Eclipses of the Sun & Moon
    Umbral & Penumbral shadows
    Lunar Eclipse: Sun is eclipsed by the Earth
      Total & Partial Lunar Eclipses
    Solar Eclipse: Sun is eclipsed by the Moon
      Total, Partial & Annular Solar Eclipses
    The Eclipse Year
      How often do you see eclipses, and why

Telling Time
    Divisions of the year into months, weeks, & days
    Division of the day into hours, minutes & seconds,
    Mean Solar Time
    Sidereal Time
    Standard Time and Time Zones

The Calendar
    Lunar, Solar, & Luni-Solar Calendars
    Julian & Gregorian Calendar Reforms
    Gregorian Leap Year rule

Planetary Motions
    Inferior Planets
       Inferior & Superior Conjunction
       Maximum Eastern & Western Elongation
       Times of rising/setting associated with each
    Superior Planets
       Conjunction & Opposition
       Eastern & Western Quadrature
       Times of rising/setting associated with each
    Retrograde Motion
       What is it, when does it occur?