Astronomy quiz question: aberration of starlight

Astronomy 10 Quiz 3, Fall Semester 2007
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Astronomy 10 learning goal Q3.4

[3.0 points.] Which one of the following choices best explains what the aberration of starlight demonstrates in order to disprove geocentrism and/or prove heliocentrism?
(A) The Earth spins on an axis.
(B) Kepler's laws must be true.
(C) Circular epicycles cannot accurately predict positions of the planets.
(D) The Earth has an oblate (squashed) shape.
(E) The Earth is orbiting the Sun.

Correct answer: (E)

The direction of the aberration of starlight varies over the course of a year, which provides evidence that the Earth is not stationary, but is orbiting the Sun.

Student responses
Section 1073
(A) : 11 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 15 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 16 students