Astronomy

Type of Event: Study Event

Competitors: 2 participants

Materials Required: Each competitor can bring either a computer (internet is not allowed but consulting anything already downloaded on the computer is legal) or a 3-ring binder. Also, 2 calculators (of any type) are allowed for calculation.

Competition Checklist: 2 calculators + 2 computers/1 computer & 1 binder/2 binders

Exam Format: The format varies, but in general there is a sheet of figures/images to consult, a separate answer sheet, and three main sections (here's an example test and sheet):

1. Conceptual questions about the two topics (stellar evolution & galaxies) -- multiple choice + short answer questions.

2. Identification of DSOs (deep space objects) -- based on the images, identify a DSO and answer several questions about it.

3. Astrophysics questions -- there are usually around 4 or 5 multi-part math questions.

Here's a useful study guide for the astrophysics section (make sure to be familiar with all the terms and formulae, and feel free to add to it):

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/134x4uEhnHR_PX3jRUVHR61vLMdZqA6o3bbAO_3ybXDg/edit?usp=sharing

For the conceptual questions, I used this website (it's ugly but it's super useful), and downloaded each page individually of chapters 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 (it's worth going through, but if you're short on time here's the Drive version to download). Do NOT wait until the day of, since it takes a long time to save/download.

• https://www.astronomynotes.com/

• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PwFCH8yAX5x29f0nk0BZaJwvlNRf45uF?usp=sharing

DSOs: I suggest going through the list and downloading information for each DSO. For example, for SN UDS10WIL, I would download the top ten or so images on google images (since to answer questions about the DSO you need to recognize it from an image) -- the test writers have access to basically the same images as we do, so it's likely that most of the images on the test are pulled from google. I would also download the wikipedia page, the hubble site images, and the NASA page. Then go through for each DSO. Here's a folder with DSO images (science olympiad.zip), but I don't know how comprehensive/well-organized it is:

• https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SSwhWZTxKGASUvlDznIHng_2cV-xrLFK?usp=sharing

ASTROPHYSICS: For the math questions, I usually rely mostly on the study guide (which is still incomplete), but I would highly recommend going through astronomynotes.com for the formulae/math and compiling the information/adding to the doc, since it can be very confusing due to terms used interchangeably. The wiki can be helpful in some circumstances, but I've found that it's not enough. Overall, the key is to go through old tests so that you know when to use which formula.

• Astronomy Notes: https://www.astronomynotes.com/

• Study Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/134x4uEhnHR_PX3jRUVHR61vLMdZqA6o3bbAO_3ybXDg/edit?usp=sharing

• Wiki: https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Astronomy

ACK: Since there will be a lot of information installed, it can get very difficult to search through it. Jerry uses ack to search for keywords in files. It's difficult to rely on for the whole test, but it can be useful in a difficult situation to find information on a given term.

• • Downloading ack for windows: I would just google how to install ack for windows. If nothing useful comes up, I would install chocolatey (https://chocolatey.org), then follow this: https://chocolatey.org/packages/ack. After installing chocolatey, choco install ack should work.

  • Using ack for windows: Open the command prompt, navigate to the folder with all the stuff (the science olympiad folder), and type in: ack "keyphrase to search for"

    • Example: If on my desktop I have a folder called SciOly, and inside that is the "science olympiad" folder (attached) and I want to search for "supernovas", type (into command prompt):

      • cd SciOly/science\ olympiad

      • ack "supernovas"

  • Downloading ack for Mac: Install Homebrew (https://brew.sh/), then go to Terminal. Then brew install ack should work.

  • Using ack for Mac: Open Terminal (command line) and navigate to the science olympiad/astronomy folder.

    • Example: If it's in a folder called astronomy inside a folder called scioly, to search for "supernovas", type

      • cd astronomy/scioly

      • ack "supernovas"

  • ack will return the location and line number of all the files in the folder containing the word supernovas, and then you can go to that file and look at it to see the necessary information. I've found that it's time-consuming and usually only helpful in niche circumstances.

CONCEPTUAL: For the conceptual questions, it is testing your knowledge of the subject. I would go through the rules list and find information on each term mentioned (for example, wikipedia pages), in addition to astronomynotes.com, then go through old tests and compile information not found. Important concepts include the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (HR Diagram), types of galaxies, and variable stars (among many others).

• Astronomy Notes: https://www.astronomynotes.com/

• badly-organized information: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1t9BCBe7tNMB_3Vf7NKq_5_UpdAxw1_iS?usp=sharing

One person works on astrophysics questions while the other works on DSOs, and together approach the conceptual questions. Although 2 computers are allowed, I've found the most important part is organization/wading through all the information.