Correct Answer:
C. (C) East
Explanation:
The correct answer is (C) East because when Venus serves as the Morning Star, it rises low on the horizon shortly before dawn, serving as a directional beacon for East.
The Morning Star: Because Venus orbits closer to the Sun than Earth, it is always seen in the same general region of the sky as the Sun. During its 263-day morning phase, it appears in the eastern sky before sunrise, outshining all other celestial bodies except the Moon.
Celestial Navigation: For ancient travelers, sailors, and nomadic tribes who lacked magnetic compasses, tracking the pre-dawn appearance of this brilliantly reflective planet served as a vital natural indicator to identify the eastern cardinal direction.
Incorrect Options:
(A) North is incorrect because tracking the North direction at night relies on tracking stars like Polaris (the North Star) or utilizing constellations like the Big Dipper rather than inner planets.
(B) South is incorrect because planets do not sit stationary at the Southern celestial pole, which requires tracking specific configurations like the Southern Cross constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.
(D) West is incorrect because although Venus does indicate the West when it acts as the Evening Star right after sunset, general knowledge curriculum questions traditionally focus on its role as the eastern Morning Star.
The correct answer is (C) East because when Venus serves as the Morning Star, it rises low on the horizon shortly before dawn, serving as a directional beacon for East.
The Morning Star: Because Venus orbits closer to the Sun than Earth, it is always seen in the same general region of the sky as the Sun. During its 263-day morning phase, it appears in the eastern sky before sunrise, outshining all other celestial bodies except the Moon.
Celestial Navigation: For ancient travelers, sailors, and nomadic tribes who lacked magnetic compasses, tracking the pre-dawn appearance of this brilliantly reflective planet served as a vital natural indicator to identify the eastern cardinal direction.
Incorrect Options:
(A) North is incorrect because tracking the North direction at night relies on tracking stars like Polaris (the North Star) or utilizing constellations like the Big Dipper rather than inner planets.
(B) South is incorrect because planets do not sit stationary at the Southern celestial pole, which requires tracking specific configurations like the Southern Cross constellation in the Southern Hemisphere.
(D) West is incorrect because although Venus does indicate the West when it acts as the Evening Star right after sunset, general knowledge curriculum questions traditionally focus on its role as the eastern Morning Star.
Venus indicates the direction of: (C) East.
Here’s why:
- Venus is an inner planet, meaning its orbit is closer to the Sun than Earth’s orbit.
- Because of this positioning, Venus can only be seen in the morning or evening sky, never directly overhead at night.
- In the morning sky, Venus appears as a bright “morning star” just before sunrise, indicating the direction of the east.
- In the evening sky, it becomes the “evening star” visible shortly after sunset, again in the east relative to your position on Earth.
Therefore, Venus’s visibility helps determine the east, either as the morning or evening star.
If you think there is any confusion in the given MCQs, you can comment below.
docmcqs.com is Pakistan’s No.1 online platform for preparing for all types of exams including PPSC, FPSC, KPSC, SPSC, Ministry of Defence, and for one-paper MCQs. This includes Pedagogy MCQs, general knowledge MCQs, current affairs MCQs, and much more.