ASTRONOMY 



ASTRONOMY 



Outline and Questions on Astronomy Continued 



What legend accounts for the fact that Orion seems to be pursuing the Pleiades 

 in the sky? 



How long is a year on Mercury? A day? 



Why are some comets seen at stated intervals, while others appear once and never 

 again? 



Draw a circle two inches in diameter to represent the earth. How large a circle 

 will represent the moon? The sun? The planet Venus? 



Could a blind man make astronomical discoveries? 



Is the earth the only planet that has a moon? 



If you were lost on the prairies on a starry night, how could you determine 

 directions? 



When Caesar said, 



But I am constant as the northern star, 

 Of whose true-flx'd and resting quality 

 There is no fellow in the firmament, 



was he speaking accurately, or has the North Star changed since the beginning of 

 time? 



What star used to be called the Winking Star, and why? 



Which of the planets are visible in the heavens, and when? 



Who were the earliest astronomers? 



What was their chief purpose in studying the stars? 



What does the word planet mean? 



To how many heavenly bodies is it applied? 



What was the center of the universe according to Ptolemy's system? 



Was Copernicus the earliest astronomer who figured out that the views of 

 Ptolemy were not correct? 



What heavenly bodies are a part of the solar system? 



Are there any bodies conspicuous in the heavens which do not belong to this 

 system? 



Which planet is closest to the sun? 



Which, as far as is known, is farthest away? 



Which is the largest body in the solar system? 



Is that same body the largest in the universe? 



Which of the planets is known to have the most satellites? 



Which are more frequently seen, comets or meteors? 



Beyond the farthest planet, what is the nearest heavenly body which may be 

 seen from the earth? 



About how far away is the brightest star in the heavens? 



What is meant by light years? Why do astronomers measure time by means 

 of them? 



What was there especially interesting about the discovery of the planet Neptune? 



Name five astronomers and tell something which each contributed to the science. 



Divide the "heavenly bodies" listed in the index into stars, planets and constella- 

 tions. 



What is meant by the "signs of the zodiac"? Name them. 



Name and locate two great observatories. 



What is meant by a "binary system"? 



Pick out on the charts of the heavens four constellations which have names drawn 

 from mythology and look up the myths in connection with them. 



