Astronomy midterm question: time for northeast-rising constellation to reach meridian

Astronomy 210 Midterm 1, fall semester 2016
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The following claim was made on an online discussion board[*]:

Ricd: Assuming that a constellation is rising in the east (and not the northeast), then it will be at its highest point in the sky around six hours later.

Discuss how the time for a constellation to rise from the northeast and reach its highest point would be different than six hours, for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA. Support your answer by clearly explaining how you used your starwheel to do this, along with any assumptions that you may have made. (Ignore daylight saving time. Assume you can see stars in daylight.)

[*] answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20121011073839AA7dhdS .

Solution and grading rubric:

• p:
  Correct. Discussion includes the following:
  1. selects a constellation that rises in the northeast;
  2. determines on a given date that there are more than six hours from the rise time to the highest overhead time (when at the meridian); or finds that six hours after rising from the northeast, the constellation has not yet reached the meridian.
• r:
  Nearly correct (explanation weak, unclear or only nearly complete); includes extraneous/tangential information; or has minor errors.
• t:
  Contains right ideas, but discussion is unclear/incomplete or contains major errors.
• v:
  Limited relevant discussion of supporting evidence of at least some merit, but in an inconsistent or unclear manner. At least attempts to use starwheel in a systematic manner.
• x:
  Implementation/application of ideas, but credit given for effort rather than merit. Discussion not clearly based on using a starwheel in a systematic manner.
• y:
  Irrelevant discussion/effectively blank.
• z:
  Blank.

Grading distribution:
Section 70158
Exam code: midterm01s4uL
p: 18 students
r: 11 students
t: 4 students
v: 5 students
x: 5 students
y: 0 students
z: 0 students

Section 70160
Exam code: midterm01n4AN
p: 10 students
r: 2 students
t: 5 students
v: 6 students
x: 6 students
y: 1 student
z: 0 students

A sample "p" response (from student 4135) for Gemini:
Another sample "p" response (from student 2727) for Boötes:
Yet another sample "p" response (from student 0730), comparing the "Great Square" asterism with Aquarius: