Name ______________________________________ Astro 12 Final Exam Spring 2007 You are to complete this take home exam on your own. If you have any questions, please seek assistance from your faculty. This exam is due on Thursday, May 17th. Part I. Fill in and short answer. Instructions: Fill in the blank or, for short answer questions, write in your answer. Use complete sentences. Improper English usage will lower your grade (your English teachers were correct when they told you that writing was important!). What do we mean when we say a telescope is big? What is the principle function of a telescope? If you go to an observatory and look at a telescope, how can you tell if it is: a refractor? _________________________________________________ a reflector? __________________________________________________ Galileo’s telescope was a __________________. Newton’s telescope was a __________________. On our observation session at the Pinnacles the optical system of the telescopes we used were _________________________ and they used a _______________ type of mount. What is the limiting magnitude of a telescope? Why is the Dawes’ limit of a telescope important? Suppose you are observing M44. What is the significance of the designation? What are you looking at? Suppose you are given a telescope with a 3-inch diameter lens with a focal length of 36 inches and an eyepiece with a focal length of ½ inch. What is the magnifying power of the telescope? Show me your calculations, not just the answer.Name ______________________________________ Astro 12 Final Exam Spring 2007 Write the name of point a and lines b and c labeled in the diagram at the left. Note the person at the center with the sky above them: a. ________________________ b. ________________________ c. ________________________ Write the names of lines a, b c and d identified in the diagram at the left: a. ________________________ b. ________________________ c. ________________________ d. ________________________ What are the coordinates of the point marked on the celestial sphere at the left? Fill in the blanks and be sure to include the proper units. _______ R__________ A____________ ________ D___________Name ______________________________________ Astro 12 Final Exam Spring 2007 As viewed from Saratoga or the Pinnacles, the stars seen in the north move ______________ along diurnal paths and those seen in the south move ______________. The measured altitude of Polaris is related to your _____________ on the surface of the Earth. What is a circumpolar star? What is going on inside a star that allows it to shine? What is the most common element in the Universe? ___________________________. What is the second most common element in the Universe? _____________________. What single attribute of a star determines its fate in life? ________________________. What is the brightest nighttime star that you can see with the naked eye? _____________. How far away is it? ________________. What is the closest nighttime star you can see from Saratoga or the Pinnacles? ________. What constellation is it in? _______________. If you stretch you arm out and hold up your index finger at the sky and close one eye, how much of the sky will your finger cover (angular size)? ________________ What about your closed fist? _________________ What is gamma Leonis? Draw a sketch of the constellation in the space below and indicate where it is. Which of the 88 constellations is the biggest? _____________________ Part II. True/False Instructions: If the following statement is True then write true in the space following the statement. If the answer is False, provide a correct explanation.Name ______________________________________ Astro 12 Final Exam Spring 2007 The “Big Dipper” is a constellation. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ The iron in our hemoglobin comes from stars like the Sun. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ High mass stars live longer than low mass stars. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Double stars are necessary for determining the masses of stars. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Four hydrogen nuclei weigh more than a helium nucleus. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Stars that have used up their hydrogen will then use lithium as their fuel. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ All the elements on the periodic chart were made during the Big Bang. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________Name ______________________________________ Astro 12 Final Exam Spring 2007 The Sun will end its life in a supernova. ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ PART III. Write descriptions of the following objects: Galaxy Emission Nebula Planetary Nebula Globular Star Cluster Binary Star The official exam ends here. Please answer the following questions about the astronomy segment of the course to help me improve the course. Use additional paper if necessary. What did you like best about the astronomy segment? What would you like to do more of? Any other comments that you feel might be