REACH FOR THE STARS (2005)

DESCRIPTION: Students will demonstrate an understanding and basic
knowledge of all objects located within our [S]olar [S]ystem;
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 <B>(and Messier Object numbers for those
that have them)</B) 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 [Ursa Major], Aldebaran [Taurus], <B>Algol</B> [Perseus],
Altair [Aquila], Antares [Scorpius], Betelgeuse [Orion], Capella [Auriga],
Castor [Gemini], Deneb [Cygnus], Denebola [Leo], Mira [Cetus], Mizar [Ursa
Major], Polaris [Ursa Minor], Pollux [Gemini], Procyon [Canis Minor],
Regulus [Leo], Rigel [Orion], Sirius [Canis Major], Spica [Virgo], and
Vega [Lyra].

Planets: All planets visible on the testing date. [26 FEB 2005; 09 APR 
2005]

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
[Z]odiac.

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 and
their 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:
* Given the luminosity and temperature of several stars, participants will
identify their proper placement on an H-R Diagram.
* Given a diagram of the [S]olar [S]ystem and each planet's solar
longitude, participants will plot the planets at their proper positions.
They will then respond to a series of interpretive questions using those
plots as their source of information.
* <B>Utilizing the principle of superposition, participants will attempt
to determine the relative ages of overlapping lunar features.</B>

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 throughness of
responses.

National Science Education Standards: Science as Inquiry. Content Standard
A: Understandings about scientific inquiry: Physical Science. Course
Standard B: Motions and forces. Transfer of energy: Earth and Space
Science. Content Standard D: Earth in the Earth System: History and Nature
of Science. Content Standard G: Nature of Science.