Reach for the Stars

This event rotates with Solar System.

2009 Rules
In 2009 each team was only 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.

The following is the class of each of the stars on the list:

Class O- None on the list

Class B- Rigel, Spica, Regulus, Algol, and Spica

Class A- Vega, Sirius A, Deneb, Altair, and Castor

Class F- Procyon, and Polaris

Class G- The Sun, and Capella

Class K- Arcturus, Aldebaran, and Pollux,

Class M- Betelgeuse, Wolf 359, and Antares

Yerkes Spectral Classification
The Yerkes Spectral Classification is based on luminosity and temperature. It is also known as luminosity classes. There are seven main luminosity classes:

Type Ia- Bright Supergiants

Type Ib- Normal Supergiants

Type II- Bright Giant

Type III- Normal Giant

Type IV- Sub-Giants

Type V- Main Sequence

Type VI- Sub-Dwarf

VII- White Dwarf

Galaxies
There are three main types of galaxies: Spiral, Elliptical, and Irregular.

Spiral Galaxies


Spiral Galaxies are named so because they have prominent spiral arms and a central "galactic nucleus" or central bulge. Spiral Galaxies also have a very large rate of star formation in the spiral arms of the galaxy. Also, almost all spiral galaxies have a galactic halo that surrounds the galaxy. These halos contain stray stars and globular clusters. It is also theorized that many spiral galaxies have supermassive black holes at the center of the galaxy. Our own galaxy, The Milky Way, is a spiral galaxy, and is also theorized to have a supermassive black hole at its center, called Sgr A*. There is also a sub-division of spiral galaxies, known as barred-spiral galaxies. Barred-spirals have a central bar, and then have spiral arms shooting off at each end of the bar.

The spiral galaxies on the list for 2009 are:

- M31 Andromeda Galaxy (in Andromeda)

- M51 Whirlpool Galaxy (In Canes Venatica)

- Milky Way Galaxy (Barred-Spiral)

Elliptical Galaxy
Elliptical Galaxies appear just like they sound- they are elliptical/ spherical. Elliptical Galaxies contain mostly old Population II stars, and also, they have a very low rate of star formation because there is barely any interstellar matter in elliptical galaxies. There is the least amount of elliptical Galaxies in the known Universe. The Elliptical Galaxies on the list for 2009 are:

-M84 (in Virgo)

Concerning M84, some astronomers believe that it actually may be a Lenticular Galaxy (which is a half-way point between a Spiral galaxy and an Elliptical galaxy)

Irregular Galaxies
Irregular also appear just how they sound- they are without a definite shape. They are normally formed by Spiral or Elliptical Galaxies that have been deformed by different forces- such as gravity. They contain a lot of interstellar matter.

The Irregular Galaxies on the list for 2009 are:

-Large Magellanic Cloud (in Dorado and Mensa)

-Small Magellanic Cloud (in Tucana)

The Sun
Here is a good breakdown of the layers of the sun



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. You may also need to know about other pictures and the pictures of the stars on the list.

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.

Also, there is always a chance that a bad star map may be used, so make sure to get yourself accustomed to anything that may be thrown at you.

The best way to study for the identification part, is not only maps, but actually going outside and finding constellations and stars in the night sky. Not only is star-gazing fun, but it is one of the best ways to learn the location of the constellations and the stars that are on the list.

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)]]