Astronomy quiz question: last zodiac constellation to set

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2015
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The diagram at right shows the positions on April 25 of the zodiac constellations Sagittarius, Scorpius, and Libra for an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA. Ignore daylight saving time. Assume you can see stars in daylight. Within the next 24 hours, __________ will be the last zodiac constellation to completely set below the horizon.
(A) Sagittarius.
(B) Scorpius.
(C) Libra.
(D) (There is a tie.)
(E) (None of these zodiac constellations will completely set below the horizon.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Using a starwheel to advance the time hourly from 1:00 AM on April 25, Libra will completely set below the horizon at approximately the same as Scorpius, then Sagittarius will be the last to completely set approximately 10-11 hours later.

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01nW0r
(A) : 23 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 7 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 8 students
(No response: 1 student)

Success level: 56% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.29

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01Su8L
(A) : 24 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 11 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 7 students

Success level: 46% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.53

Astronomy quiz question: Cepheus to highest position in sky

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, fall semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The diagram at right shows the position of the constellation Cepheus as seen on December 31 by an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA. Ignore daylight saving time. Assume you can see stars in daylight. Cepheus will be at its highest point in the sky __________ after the view shown at right.
(A) 5 hours.
(B) 7 hours.
(C) 9 hours.
(D) 12 hours.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Using a starwheel (planisphere), the sky as shown is 10:00 AM on December 31. Cepheus will be above Polaris at 3:00 PM on the same day, December 31, approximately five hours later.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz01s7e8
(A) : 28 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 4 students
(No response: 1 student)

Success level: 64% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.69

Astronomy quiz question: diurnal motion of sun versus zodiac constellations

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

[Version 1]
The diagram at right shows positions of constellations and the sun, as seen at 12:00 PM by an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA. Ignore daylight saving time. Assume you can see stars in daylight. Which will set first on this date?
(A) The sun.
(B) Sagittarius.
(C) (There is a tie.)
(D) (Neither will set, as they are circumpolar.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

Generally objects low in the southern sky, located to the east of the meridian will set after objects that lie on or towards the west of the meridian. (This can be demonstrated using a planisphere (starwheel) for Sagittarius and Scorpius, as the sun would take approximately one month to move to the next zodiac constellation, and will remain within Scorpius during this date.)

Section 30674
Exam code: quiz01nYe3
(A) : 11 students
(B) : 6 students
(C) : 10 students
(D) : 3 students

Success level: 38% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.43

[Version 2]
The diagram at right shows positions of constellations and the sun, as seen at 12:00 PM by an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA. Ignore daylight saving time. Assume you can see stars in daylight. Which will set first on this date?
(A) The sun.
(B) Libra.
(C) (There is a tie.)
(D) (Neither will set, as they are circumpolar.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

Generally objects low in the southern sky, located to the west of the meridian will set before objects that lie on or towards the east of the meridian. (This can be demonstrated using a planisphere (starwheel) for Scorpius and Libra, as the sun would take approximately one month to move to the next zodiac constellation, and will remain within Scorpius during this date.)

Section 30676
Exam code: quiz01SLo3
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 32 students
(C) : 5 student
(D) : 1 student

Success level: 73% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.33

Astronomy quiz question: Camelopardalis from lowest to highest position in sky

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, fall semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The diagram at right shows positions of constellations and stars near the horizon, as seen at 9:00 PM by an observer in 
San Luis Obispo, CA. Ignore daylight saving 
time. Assume you can see stars in daylight. How many hours will pass 
until the constellation Camelopardalis 
reaches its highest point in the sky?
(A) 1 hour.
(B) 6 hours.
(C) 12 hours.
(D) 24 hours.

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (C)

Using a starwheel (planisphere), the sky as shown is 9:00 PM on July 20 (or some other start time/date can be selected). Camelopardalis will be above Polaris at 9:00 AM on the next day, July 21, approximately 12 hours later.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz01n9YE
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 22 students
(D) : 1 student

Success level: 73% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.51

Astronomy quiz question: Arcturus setting versus Spica setting

Astronomy 210 Quiz 1, fall semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

The diagram at right shows positions of constellations and stars near the horizon, as seen at 8:00 PM by an observer in San Luis Obispo, CA. Ignore daylight saving time. 
Assume you can see stars in daylight. Which star will set first?
(A) Arcturus.
(B) Spica.
(C) (There is a tie.)
(D) (Neither star will set, as they are circumpolar.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (B)

Using a starwheel (planisphere), the sky as shown is 8:00 PM on April 10 (or some other start time/date can be selected). Spica will set first at 5:30 AM the next day (April 11), while Boötes will set later at 8:30 AM.

Section 70158
Exam code: quiz01S0u7
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 37 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 3 students

Success level: 80% (including partial credit for multiple-choice)
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.42

Astronomy in-class activity: diurnal motion of circumpolar constellations

Astronomy 210 In-class activity 2 v.13.06.09, fall semester 2013 (spring semester 2014)
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students find their assigned groups of three to four students, and work cooperatively on an in-class activity worksheet to use a starwheel ("planisphere") to determine the clockwise or counterclockwise diurnal motion of circumpolar constellations.