THE USM SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
207-780-4249     www.usm.maine.edu/planet
70 Falmouth Street     Portland, Maine  04103
43.6667° N                   70.2667° W
Altitude:   10 feet below sea level
Founded January 1970
Julian date:  2458584.35
2018-19:   CXX
           "Pay no attention to the derisive laughter, harsh scolding,
glowering expressions or stern reprimands.  Those who are fully alive will
always incur the scorn of corpses."


THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Friday, April 12, 2019
Quiz XXVI:   More Constellations

Helpful -we hope- definitions:
--Circumpolar: constellations that are always above the horizon at a given
location.
--Zodiac:  the 13 constellations through which the Sun appears to travel

1.  Lepus, located just south of Orion the Hunter, is what kind of animal?
a.  a fox
b.  a hare
c.  a dog
d.  a lamb

2.  Which one of the following constellation is not part of the zodiac?
a.  Orion the Hunter
b.  Leo the Lion
c.  Taurus the Bull
d.  Gemini the Twins

3.  The constellation Vulpecula, the fox, was once known as Vulpecula et
Anser.   What did that name mean?
a. the fox and axe
b. the fox and goose
c. the fox and swan
d. the fox and snake

4.  Can a zodiac constellation ever be circumpolar?
a. No
b. Yes,  for observers north of the Arctic Circle.
c.  Yes,  for observers south of the Antarctic Circle
d.  Both b and c

5. When will Ursa Major become part of the zodiac?
a.  11,000 years from now
b.  13,600 years from now
c.  It is already
d.  Never

6.  Regulus is the brightest star in which constellation?
a.  Leo the Lion
b.  Cygnus the Swan
c.  Lyra the Harp
d. Aquila the Eagle

7.   Which one of the following constellation animals is not near Orion the
Hunter?
a. a hare
b  a bull
c.  a dog
d.  a unicorn
e.  an eagle

8.  The Pleiades is _______________
a. a constellation adjacent to Taurus the Bull
b. a circumpolar constellation close to the Big Dipper
c. not a constellation at all, but a star cluster in Taurus the Bull
d.  none of the above

9.  Which constellation figure killed Orion?
a.  Sagittarius the Archer
b.  Scorpius the Scorpion
c. Perseus the Warrior
d.  Cetus the Seamonster

10.  Through which constellation does the Sun appear to travel during the
first part of spring?
a. Aries the Ram
b. Pisces the Fish
c. Taurus the Bull
d. Gemini the Twins



ANSWERS

1. b.  a hare

2. a.  Orion the Hunter

3. b. the fox and goose

4. d.  Both b and c

5. d.  Never

6. a.  Leo the Lion

7. e.  an eagle

8.  not a constellation at all, but a star cluster in Taurus the Bull

9. b.  Scorpius the Scorpion
Which is why they occupy opposite regions of the sky so as not to fight
again.

10. b. Pisces the Fish
The Sun used to be in Aries the Ram on the vernal equinox.  For this
reason, this equinox is still known as the "First Point of Aries."