THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM 207-780-4249 www.usm.maine.edu/planet <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usm.maine.edu%2Fplanet&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNHulkHuLP13bOG2PkNrPazsGWFs2A> 70 Falmouth Street Portland, Maine 04103 43.6667° N 70.2667° W Altitude: 10 feet below sea level Founded January 1970 Julian Date: 2459335.18 2020-2021: CXXI THE DAILY ASTRONOMER Friday, April 30, 2021 Exploratorium XLIX: Week 10 Quiz Even though life is not quite back to normal, yet, at least we can still rely on the weekly quiz. This week's test focuses on the night sky, Galilean moons and, at least at the beginning, on the Southworth Planetarium, itself. *1. The Southworth Planetarium will open on ________________.* a. May 3, 2021 b. May 10, 2021 c. May 15, 2021 d. May 31, 2079 *2. Which one of the following is NOT one of the Galilean Moons?* a. Io b. Europa c. Miranda d. Ganymede *3. When did Galileo invent the telescope?* a. 1608 b. 1609 c. 1610 d. he didn't Hans Lipperhey invented the telescope *4. The largest Galilean moon is _______________.* a. Miranda b. Callisto c. Ganymede d. Europa *5. What is the Cross Quarter Day between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox?* a. Beltane b. Lammas c. Imbolc d. Halloween *6. ______________ is the parent comet of the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower.* a. Halley's Comet b. Temple Tuttle c. Shoemaker-Levy d. Asteroid Phaeton *7. Saturn currently occupies the constellation ________________* a. Aquarius b. Capricornus c. Sagittarius d. Virgo *8. When will Mercury be at opposition in May?* a. May 11 b. May 17 c. May 28 d. Mercury can never be in opposition. *9. Mythologically, Scorpius killed __________, which explains why one never sees these two constellations in the sky simultaneously. * a. Orion b. Hercules c. Perseus d. Aquarius *10. During the week of May 12 - 19, the moon will appear to move near each of the following planets except ___________.* a. Mercury b. Venus c. Mars d. Jupiter ANSWERS *1. The Southworth Planetarium will open on ________________.* a. May 3, 2021 After nearly fourteen months of dormancy, the Southworth Planetarium will reopen its doors on May 3! We'll have a 1:00 p.m. matinee each day M - F. *2. Which one of the following is NOT one of the Galilean Moons?* c. Miranda Miranda is an ice moon of Uranus. The Galilean moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Although Galileo discovered these moons in 1609-1610, his contemporary Simon Marius named each one of them. *3. When did Galileo invent the telescope?* d. he didn't. Hans Lipperhey invented the telescope Galileo often receives undue credit for having invented the telescope. In fact, Dutch lens maker Hans Lipperhsy invented the telescope in 1609. However, Galileo was the first person to use the telescope to make astronomical observations. *4. The largest Galilean moon is _______________.* c. Ganymede With a 1,636.8 mile radius, Ganymede is not only the largest Galilean moon, it is also the largest moon in the solar system. In fact, it is 26% larger than Mercury by volume, but is 45% as massive. *5. What is the Cross Quarter Day between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox?* b. Lammas Occuring on August 1st, Lammas is the next cross-quarter day after Beltane (May Day) which happens on May 1st. Imbolc (Groundhog's Day) falls on Feb 2nd and Halloween on October 31st. *6. ______________ is the parent comet of the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower.* a. Halley's Comet The famous comet due to reappear in our sky in 2061 is the parent body of the minor shower Eta Aquarid, which peaks in early May. Halley's Comet is also the parent body of the Orionid Meteor shower which peaks around October 20th. *7. Saturn currently occupies the constellation ________________* b. Capricornus One will find Capricornus and Saturn in the early morning eastern sky. Saturn will remain in Capricornus until 2023. *8. When will Mercury be at opposition in May?* d. Mercury can never be in opposition. Mercury will be at greatest eastern elongation on May 17th. *9. Mythologically, Scorpius killed __________, which explains why one never sees these two constellations in the sky simultaneously. * a. Orion Orion is a prominent winter constellation. Scorpius is a prominent summer constellation. Orion will soon vanish into the dusk and Scorpius will soon move into the eastern sky. *10. During the week of May 12 - 19, the moon will appear to move near each of the following planets except ___________.* d. Jupiter Mercury, Venus and Mars are now all evening sky planets. Jupiter is a morning sky planet and so the moon will not appear to pass close to it this week. To subscribe or unsubscribe from the Daily Astronomer: https://lists.maine.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=DAILY-ASTRONOMER&A= <https://lists.maine.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=DAILY-ASTRONOMER&A=1>