Question

Which of the following claims must be FALSE? Assume the observer is on Earth.

a) I saw the Sun and the Moon in the sky at the same time.
b) I saw the Moon pass in front of Polaris.
c) I saw the full Moon high in the sky at midnight.
d) I saw the Sun rise above the eastern horizon early one morning.
e) I saw Saturn in the sky with my own, unaided eye.

Answer 1

The false statement is that the Moon passed in front of Polaris. Polaris is located above the Earth's North Pole, and the Moon's orbital path around the Earth's equator prevents it from passing in front of Polaris.

Step-by-step explanation:

The claim that must be FALSE is: b) I saw the Moon pass in front of Polaris. Polaris, also known as the North Star, is located nearly above the Earth's North Pole. Therefore, it cannot be occluded by the Moon from the perspective of an observer on Earth because the Moon orbits Earth around the equator and so never passes in front of Polaris.

The other statements can be true under certain conditions:

• a) The Sun and the Moon can appear in the sky at the same time, especially near the time of the first or last quarter Moon.
• c) A full Moon high in the sky at midnight can occur when the Moon is opposite the Sun in the sky, which happens during a full Moon phase.
• d) The Sun rising above the eastern horizon early one morning is a daily occurrence.
• e) Saturn can be seen with the unaided eye, as it is one of the five planets visible without a telescope, although it appears as a star-like object rather than showing its rings or moons.