Astronomy midterm question: Orion rising at 2:00 AM?

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, spring semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[20 points.] An astronomy question on an online discussion board(*) was asked and answered:

Kat: When will Orion start to come over the horizon? I watched it rise last year, and it's so beautiful. It's my favorite constellation.
Ryan: You just need to wake up around 2:00 AM to see it rise.

Discuss a specific plausible date (or range of dates) for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA to see the constellation Orion rising at 2:00 AM. Support your answer by clearly explaining how you used a starwheel to do this, along with any assumptions that you may have made.

*Adapted from: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111005161811AA1OFlP.

Solution and grading rubric:

• p = 20/20:
  Correct. Describes steps taken to determine plausible date (or range of dates) for Orion rising at 2:00 AM. Typically places Orion at/above the horizon (in southeast), and then reading date that coincides with 2:00 AM, or uses trial-and-error of different dates at 2:00 AM and sees if Orion is at/above horizon (in southeast).
• r = 16/20:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors. Does not explicitly describe steps, but has plausible date (or range of dates) for Orion rising at 2:00 AM.
• t = 12/20:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors. May have instead found a plausible date (or range or dates) for Orion setting at 2:00 AM.
• v = 8/20:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. Response based on first placing Orion nearest 2:00 AM marking on starwheel (such that Orion is well under the horizon mask). Other arguments and times discussing lining Orion up with a time or date (rather than lining up the time with a date).
• x = 4/20:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Discussion not based on use of starwheel, but on some understanding of celestial sphere motions.
• y = 2/20:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z = 0/20:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 30674
Exam code: midterm01n4sT
p: 17 students
r: 1 student
t: 3 students
v: 9 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 1 student

Section 30676
Exam code: midterm01sAb1
p: 33 students
r: 1 student
t: 3 students
v: 9 students
x: 0 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 9250):
A sample "p" response (from student 8178):
A sample "v" response (from student 0411):