When the moon is getting bigger, do we say it is "waxing" or "waning?"
When it is getting bigger, the moon is said to be "waxing".
100
Where does the Sun rise and set?
The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West.
100
At what time of day are shadows the shortest?
Shadows are shortest at noon.
100
What star is closest to the Earth?
The Sun is the closest star to Earth.
100
What instrument makes faraway objects seem closer?
A telescope.
200
Why does the Moon look a little bit different every night?
The Moon looks different to us each night because it revolves around the Earth.
200
Why do you see different stars in winter and summer?
Because the Earth revolves around the Sun.
200
Are shadows longer or shorter during the wintertime?
Shadows are longer during the winter, because the Sun is lower in the sky.
200
What is a group of stars that forms a pattern called?
A group of stars that forms a pattern is called a constellation.
200
What star is closest to Earth?
The Sun is the closest star to Earth.
300
During which phase does the moon look bigger, crescent or gibbous?
A gibbous moon looks bigger than a crescent moon.
300
Why does the Sun look bigger than the other stars?
The sun looks bigger because it is much, much closer to us than any other star.
300
What ancient invention uses a shadow to tell time?
A sundial.
300
During the night, how do the stars appear to move?
During the night, the stars appear to rise in the East and set in the West.
300
Which of the following would be a good location to build a telescope: downtown Los Angeles; a mountaintop in the Sierra Nevada; a beach near San Francisco?
A mountaintop in the Sierra Nevada would be best.
400
Why does the moon look like it shines?
The moon reflects light from the sun.
400
How long does it take for the Earth to rotate on its axis?
One day (24 hours)
400
When you are facing the Sun, where will your shadow be?
Your shadow will be behind you.
400
What is a star?
A star is a huge sphere of very hot gas.
400
Which Italian scientist is sometimes called "the Father of Modern Astronomy?"
Galileo Galilei.
500
About how long does it take for the Moon to orbit around the Earth?
About one month.
500
Where is the Sun at noon: at the horizon; at the equator; or at its highest point in the sky?
At noon, the Sun is at its highest point in the sky.
500
In the late afternoon, which direction will a shadow fall?
It will fall to the East, since the Sun is coming from the West.
500
Why don't we see constellations during the daytime?
Because their light is overpowered by the glare from the sun.