JAS' Leonids Contest

Q1) What is the location on Earth where sunrise and sunset are only due to Earth's orbital revolution around the Sun and not to its axial rotation around itself !?

• Earth's equator.
• Earth's poles.
• Latitude 66.5.
• Longitude 66.5.

Answer: Earth's poles; In such locations, the axial rotation of Earth makes the Sun apparently move parallel to the horizon. While Earth's orbital revolution around the Sun, along with Earth's axial tilt, are responsible for sunrise and sunset in this case.

Q2) What is the Tropical Year ?

• The period of time taken for the Sun to pass (apparently) around the sky from the vernal equinox to the next.
• The period of time taken for the Sun to pass (apparently) around the sky from the perihelion to the next.
• The period of time taken for the Sun to pass (apparently) around the sky from a fixed star to the same fixed star, consecutively.
• It contains either 365 or 366 days.

Answer: The period of time taken for the Sun to pass (apparently) around the sky from the vernal equinox to the next.

Q3) What is the main cause of the seasonal climatic variations ?

• The variation of Earth's distance to the Sun throughout the year.
• The variation of the Sun's output power throughout the year.
• The variation of Earth's internal heat throughout the year.
• The 23.5 degree inclination of Earth's axis of rotation.

Answer: The 23.5 degree inclination of Earth's axis of rotation.

Q4) Which of the following is possible ?

• Seeing Sunspots by naked eyes.
• Seeing Venus at daytime by naked eyes.
• Seeing an artificial satellite at daytime by naked eyes.
• Seeing Uranus by naked eyes.
• Seeing the Asteroid Vesta by naked eyes.
• All of the above
• None of the above

Answer: Unexpectedly, all are possible ! Some JAS members have been able to observe them all, except for Vesta (by naked eyes).

Q5) Over which of the following constellations does the ecliptic pass ?

• Orion.
• Cygnus.
• Ophiuchus.
• Ursa Major.

Answer: Ophiuchus. However, astrologers do not consider it as a zodiacal constellation !!!

Q6) Consider the following A.D. years: 2400, 2500, 2552, 2610, which is a leap year and which is not ?

• They are, respectively: leap, non-leap, leap, non-leap.
• They are, respectively: leap, leap, leap, non-leap.
• They are, respectively: non-leap, non-leap, leap, non-leap.
• They are, respectively: non-leap, non-leap, non-leap, leap.

Answer: The first choice is correct; They are, respectively: leap, non-leap, leap, non-leap. According to the Gregorian calendar -which we adopt- the century-years such as 1700 or 1800 are NOT leap years, except those divisible by 400, such as 2000, 2400.

Q7) To which constellation does the Beehive open cluster belong, and what is its Messier Catalogue number ?

Answer: Cancer, M44.

Q8) Excluding the Sun, what is the brightest star as seen from the Earth ? And what is the brightest star by absolute magnitude ?

Answer: The brightest star as seen from the Earth is Sirius (-1.44), while the brightest star by absolute magnitude is S Doradus, in the large Magellanic cloud (-9.4). However, because of the recent discoveries, other stars may be brighter such as the Piston star. Thus, all reasonable answers were accepted.

Q9) What is/are the planet(s) which has/have rings ?

Answer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Q10) Name five stars whose names are of Arabic origin ?

Persons who are eligible to enter the grand prize's lot are:-

1. Mr. Brad Feinner (USA).
2. Mr. Robert Matson (USA).
3. Mr. Martin Goetz (USA).
4. Mr. Lewis Gramer (USA).
5. Mr. Neil Myres (USA).
6. Mr. Dennis Cowles (USA).
7. Mr. Stephen Tonkin (UK).
8. Mr. Michael Gill (UK).
9. Mr. Robert McNaught (Australia).
10. Mr. Michael MacDonald (Australia).
11. Mr. Omar Bin Abdul Aziz (Pakistan).
12. Mr. Khalid Marwat (Pakistan).
13. Ms. Sana Mulji (Canada).
14. Mr. Andres Valencia (Venzuela).
15. Mr. Urijan Poerink (Netherlands).

Also, the following persons sent great answers, but won't enter the lot because they live in Jordan, and thus are not eligible:-

• Ms. Dua' Riyal.
• Ms. Rasha Aljurf.

After making the lot, the winner of the GRAND PRIZE, which is a FREE visit to Jordan during the long-awaited Leonids Meteors Storm (where Jordan is well-placed to witness it)...... The winner is:-