Astronomy quiz question: evening/morning stars

Astronomy 210 Quiz 3, Fall Semester 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[Version 1]

Consider Earth and Venus in their orbits as shown below. (This drawing is not to scale, and orbits have been simplified as circles instead of ellipses.)


The position of Venus in the San Luis Obispo, CA sky at sunset (6:00 PM) will be:
(A) low over the east horizon.
(B) somewhere high up in the sky.
(C) low over the west horizon.
(D) (None of the above choices, as Venus would not be visible in the San Luis Obispo, CA sky at sunset.)

Correct answer: (C)

Section 70158
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 9 students
(D) : 7 students

[Version 2]

Consider Mars and Earth in their orbits as shown below. (This drawing is not to scale, and orbits have been simplified as circles instead of ellipses.)


The position of Mars in the San Luis Obispo, CA sky at sunrise (6:00 AM) will be:
(A) low over the east horizon.
(B) somewhere high up in the sky.
(C) low over the west horizon.
(D) (None of the above choices, as Mars would not be visible in the San Luis Obispo, CA sky at sunrise.)

Correct answer: (A)

Section 70158
(A) : 14 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 3 students

Success level: 52% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.24