Reach for the Stars

2009 Rules
This year you will only be allowed to bring one 8.5" x 11" single or double sided sheet of paper. You may put anything on this paper such as text, illustrations, tables, and pictures. Participants will need to know the same constellations, stars, and deep sky objects as they did last year. There are a few new things they need to know as noted below.


 * 1) Aquarius: Helix Nebula
 * 2) Cygnus: Deneb, Veil Nebula
 * Leo: Regulus & Wolf359
 * 1) Orion: Trapezium
 * 2) Scorpius: M6 Butterfly Cluster
 * 3) Vulpecula: M27 Dumbbell Nebula

Harvard Spectral Classification
There are 7 spectral Classes (O,B,A,F,G,K,M). This order is based on decreasing surface temperature. A Class stars have the strongest Hydrogen lines, while M Class stars have the weakest hydrogen lines. Each class is then subdivided into 10 subdivisions (0-9).

The following is a table with properties of each of the spectral classes.

Star Identification
The best way to study for the first part of the event is to go outside and look at the sky. If you are not familiar with the constellations this is a great way to learn them. Look up into the sky and use a star chart to find a few constellations and stars. Doing this even a few times a month really pays off.

Another great way to study for this event to get you ready to go outside is to make flash cards with the constellation on the front and the name and the deep sky objects on the back.

It is helpful if you can relate easy-to-find constellations such as Orion or Ursa Major (Big Dipper) to the constellations around them. This guides you to the constellation via others, rather than having to rely only on the shape. On your reference sheet, you may want to include a section about how to find the constellations you have trouble with.

Stellar Information
"Students will demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of mathematics and astrophysics relating to stellar evolution."

For the second part of the event you have to know about the general characteristics of stars, galaxies, star clusters, etc. You must be able to figure out a star's spectral class, surface temperature, and evolutionary stage (i.e. giant, supergiant, main sequence, white dwarf) by reading an H-R diagram.

Another thing you should do is learn the life cycles of various types of stars. Look at some of the pictures below and try to put them in order.

You should also be familiar with redshift and blueshift and how they are related to the (theoretical) creation of the universe, something that many people overlook.

Another aspect of the event that is new for 2009 is that you must be able to label a model of the sun and be familiar with its spectral class and placement on an H-R diagram as well as other general characteristics.

You are asked to use information which includes the following:


 * Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams
 * Spectra
 * Light curves
 * Kepler's laws
 * Energy transfer
 * Impulse-momentum
 * Circular motion
 * Radiation laws (Wien's and Stefan-Boltzmann)
 * Period-luminosity relationship
 * Stellar magnitudes and classification
 * Parallax
 * Slides
 * Photographs
 * Star charts and animations

You may also be asked to complete activities which include:

following objects...'''
 * Determine answers relating to stellar birth
 * Determine answers relating to stellar evolution and the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
 * Determine answers relating to the motions and evolution of star systems
 * Identify and be knowledgeable about multi-wavelength images of the different stages of stellar evolution listed above
 * '''Identify, know the location, be knowledgeable about, and/or answer questions relating to the stellar evolution of the

Pictures
Know these pictures!!!: (Harvard's Chandrasekhar X-Ray Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope are to be credited with these images)

Cas A (Cassiopeia A) - super nova remnant (infrared, optical, radio, and X-ray images)



M1 (Crab Nebula) - Nebula (infrared, optical, radio, and X-ray images

Crab Pulsar - fastest pulsar known (30 pulses per second)

Orion Trapezium Cluster - 4 hot young stars in an open cluster in the Orion Nebula

Familiarize yourself with these pictures, print them out, or put them on your laptop.

Helpful Tips
Identification certainly is not the most important part of this event but I have found it is it easiest way to begin your study. For the rest of the event, you must study the things mentioned in the table above (make it a checklist if you want). This task is facilitated by Astronomy Today--I have found all the information I have ever needed, either during a test or after a test, in that book.

Sometimes, the test will use a StarLab or planetarium for the identification portion. I would advise putting some time in to familiarize yourself with how the skies look on it.

Sample Tests
[[Media: Reach for the Stars Practice Test.pdf|Reach for the Stars Test (2009)]]

Useful Resources
Astronomy Today by Eric J. Chaisson

Foundations of Astronomy by Michael A. Seeds   

New York Coaches Conference

Astronomy Picture of the Day

[[Media:rfts.pdf|An Example of a Reach For The Stars Study Sheet]]

[[Media:Reach_for_Stars_Guide_Sheet.pdf|Another Example of a Reach For the Stars Guide Sheet (2007)]]