Science Olympiad, and the Citizen Sky Project

Donna L YoungNational Event Supervisor for AstronomyLead Educator, Chandra X-ray Center E/PO OfficeAuthor, Variable Star Astronomy & Astronomy Coaches Manual

Science Olympiad, and the Citizen Sky Project

Variable Stars and Stellar Evolution

1) Have been part of Division C (high school) Event since 1999. 2) Focus topic for all except the competitions for 2010 & 2011 and will become the focus topic again in 2012 3) 48 states send 60 teams to national competition 4) ~2500 teams prepare for regional and state competition each year (5000 students for Astronomy, more than 38,000 overall) 5) AAVSO, Chandra and APOD websites promoted as resources 6) All Deep Sky Objects selected for specific study either on the Chandra website and/or on the AAVSO website 7) Coaches clinics in several states – 1000 coaches and State Directors presentations myself

Epsilon Aurigae – Eclipsing Binary System (2009 – 2011) http://www.citizensky.org/content/star-our-project

http://www.aavso.org/vstar/vsots/eps_aur.shtml

Astronomy C - Variable Stars - 2009 A. Pulsating Variables: 1) Long Period Variables a) Mira type Mira, RU Virginis b) Semiregular Betelgeuse 2) Cepheids RS Puppis 3) RR LyraeB. Cataclysmic (Eruptive) Variables: 1) Recurrent Novae RS Ophiuchi 2) T Tauri T Tauri 3) Symbiotic Z Andromedae 4) U Geminorum RX Andromedae 5) X-Ray Binaries Circinus X-1 6) Supernovae a) Type II G292.0+1.8 b) Type Ia SN 1006C. Eclipsing Binaries Epsilon Aurigae

A. Normal Galaxies: 1) The Milky Way Galaxy (MWG) a) Globular Cluster – M15 b) Galactic Black Hole – Sag A* c) Eclipsing Binary – Epsilon Aurigae 2) The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) a) Globular Cluster – G1 3) The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) a) Stellar Nursery – NGC 604 b) X-Ray Binary – M33 X-7B. Starburst Galaxies (Starburst/Normal): 1) M82 (The Cigar Galaxy, in the M81 Group) 2) M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy, NGC 5457, in Ursa Major) 3) M84 (in the Virgo Cluster) 4) The Cartwheel Galaxy (ESO 350-40, in Sculptor Cluster) 5) C153 (in Abell 2125 Cluster) C. Supernovas 1) Type Ia – SN1994D (in NGC 4526) 2) Type II – SN1993J (in M81)

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NOTE: There is not always a clear distinctionbetween normal and starburst galaxies. Starformation takes place in both – usually a galaxyis classified as a starburst galaxy if some sort ofevent has caused intensified star formation, suchas gravitational disturbance from a nearby galaxy.The classification of normal and starburst is some-times arbitrary.

Deep Sky Objects for 2011:

A. Individual Galaxies: 1) NGC 4603 2) NGC 1068 B. Two Interacting Galaxies: 1) NGC 6240 2) 3C321 3) Cen A 4) NGC 2623 C. Galaxy Groups and Clusters 1) Stephan’s Quintet (Group) 2) MACSJ0717.5+3745 (Cluster) 3) Bullet Cluster (1E 0657-56) (Cluster) 4) Perseus A (NGC 1275) (NGC 1275 – Center of Cluster) 5) NGC 7771 (Group) 6) JKCSO41 (Cluster) D. H2356-309 (Sculptor Wall) E. Supernovas 1) SN2006gy 2) SN1996cr F. Epsilon Aurigae

VSTAR!

Science Olympiad, and the Citizen Sky Project

National Event Supervisor for Astronomy until 2010Lead Educator, Chandra X-ray Center E/PO Office (2019) *** Will continue with nationals, clinics, revised coaches manuals, variable star module on Chandra website, ds9/VSTAR investigations including the Chandra aspect camera variables

National Science Olympiad Astronomy C Event 2012

Supernovas