Astronomy Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Preparation Guide

The phenomenon that occurs at the poles during a single night is that nothing rises or sets when viewed from that location. At the North and South Poles, celestial objects exhibit unique behaviors due to the extreme latitude. As the Earth rotates, stars at the poles appear to move in circular paths parallel to the horizon. This means that the stars do not rise above the horizon or set below it; rather, they continue to circle around the celestial axis.

At the North Pole, stars that are visible will circle around Polaris, the North Star, remaining above the horizon, while those below the horizon are not seen at all. Similarly, at the South Pole, stars move around the South Celestial Pole. This unique characteristic is a result of the observer's position at the extremities of the Earth's rotation, which is why the option indicating that nothing rises or sets is correct.

Other options suggest that some or all celestial bodies rise and set, which is true for mid-latitude locations but not at the poles, where this specific phenomenon occurs.