Subject: Reach for the Stars 2004

Two sessions, 90 min each (plan for 1h15m, or ~35m per half-session):

A. 12:30 - 2:00 p.m. (45min/45m)

B. 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (45m/45m)

[Boldface = new item for 2004]

DESCRIPTION: Students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of all objects located within our Solar system; Sun-Earth-Moon relationships; the Earth as a planet; stars; galaxies and clusters. The focus will be limited to extensions of topics commonly included in standard middle school/junior high school textbooks.

EVENT PARAMETERS: Participants must provide their own red-filtered flashlight, clipboard, and calculator. Resources are not permitted.

A TEAM OF UP TO: 2

APPROXIMATE TIME: 50 minutes

THE COMPETITION: This event is divided into two parts.

Part I: Participants will be asked to identify the stars, constellations, asterisms, and deep sky objects (and Messier Object numbers for those that have them) included in the lists below as they appear on star charts, portable star labs, photos, or planetariums. Participants should be prepared to identify any planets visible on the testing date and the constellations in which those planets are located.

_Stars_: Alcor, Aldebaran, <B>Algol</B>, Altair, Antares, Arcturus, Betelgeuse, Capella, Castor, Deneb, Denebola, Mira, Mizar, Polaris, Pollux, Procyon, Regulus, Rigel, Sirius, Spica, and Vega.

_Planets_: All planets visible on the testing date.

_Constellations_: Andromeda, Aquila, Auriga, Bootes, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Corona Borealis, Cygnus, Lyra, Ophiuchus, Orion, <B>Pegasus</B>, Perseus, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, plus the twelve constellations of the Zodiac.

_Asterisms_: Sickle in Leo, Big Dipper in Ursa Major, and the Little Dipper in Ursa Minor.

_Deep Sky Objects_: Andromeda Galaxy (<B>M31</B>), Beehive (<B>M44</B>), Crab Nebula (<B>M1</B>), Hyades, Orion Nebula (<B>M42</B>), Pleiades (<B>M45</B>), Ring Nebula (<B>M57</B>), and Whirlpool Galaxy (M51).

Part II: Participants will be asked to complete one or more hands-on or interpretive tasks selected from the following topics:

* The solar family including the Sun, the inner and outer planets andtheir satellites, asteroids, meteors, meteoroids, and comets.

* Sun-Earth-Moon relationships including eclipses, tides, seasons, and phases.

* Stars, including <B>stellar evolution</B>, clusters, multiple star systems, and spectra.

SAMPLE PERFORMANCE TASKS: (three examples)

SCORING: Each task and/or question will have been assigned a predetermined number of points. Places are to be determined by the total number of correct responses. Ties will be broken by the accuracy and thoroughness of responses.