Astronomy

[Sheogorath]

As in we had never seen them before regionals, and we were sorta able to do them, however when we went to states it was set up completely different. So really any information regarding them would be helpful, in particular a lab assignment would be best.

[Glacierguy1]

So, have any of you decided if you are going to use a binder or a laptop(If you have a choice i.e if you have a laptop)

[Sheogorath]

We've always used binders, I find it easier to find information when you can touch it not having to scroll through it.

[tweedlebeetle]

I never used a laptop for this event because of the disaster factor/ Murphy's law.

And on a binder, I'm able to write every main fact about a section of information right on the divider, where it's right at hand and easy to read. That cuts out all of the flipping through pages or waiting for pdfs to load. And as we're allowed to have any size binder....

I find a 4 in binder, 1 in devoted to star specifics and ids, the rest backup information for those random questions they give you, and plenty of glossaries and acronym guides.

[rocketman1555]

that should work, and binders are a lot easier than computers, the only advantage of computers is that you can hold a lot more stuff in them more easily

[moonwatcher211]

hey guys, a question about how the competition works. Do they typically ask questions that are very data based, such as "what is the absolute magnitude of T Tauri?" or will the research type questions typically be more qualitative? or, it is a combination of both?

[eak227]

Some examples of very good tests are here. Your particular test all depends on the writer and how knowledgeable he/she is with the rules and astronomy itself. For instance, the Indiana IUN regional test has been the exact same test, word for word, 3 years in a row, where they completely ignore DSOs and ask general astronomy questions that don't necessarily pertain to the rules at all.

Take a look at the past 2 years' national exams though for what to expect for a good test. Usually each question will have varying levels of difficulty within itself, so you can get partial points as you go along. For instance, they'll start with simple chart reading and ask the period of a star given its chart, and then ask what kind of star it is, and then maybe ask a difficult math question, so that even if you don't know how to do the math, you can get some points.

Most questions will not be straightforward however. It won't just be copying numbers directly from your binder onto the test page. Usually you have to know the reasons behind it or use the information in a different way or something.

[piqua_stephen]

I do Astronomy, and yes, unfortunately it is Variable Stars yet again. I hate them. Not going to lie. I miss the days of Division B Reach for the Stars and the constellations it needed.

I'm not a fan of the resources this event allows. Not only do I disagree with the use of any resources for any event, I absolutely hate the fact that you can use a laptop in this event. It makes it completely unfair for those teams that can't afford them.

[eak227]

Nah, a laptop really only gives an unfair advantage if you (illegally) use it to connect to the Internet. Otherwise it is just a better way to organize information.

It would be nice to mix up the topics though, as variable stars is certainly not the only important aspect of astronomy and 3 straight years seems a bit excessive.

[Sheogorath]

yeah, I've medaled without a laptop, and the first year I did Astronomy we could have brought two, our school has some we could use, but it all depends on whether or not you know your stuff. If you spend all your time looking up stuff in a laptop or even a binder for that matter, you will get the questions right more often, if you even saved the right information, then if you already knew it and could skim through the entire test. And resources help cover a required information that people just would rather not memorize. Who wants to memorize the position, apparent, and absolute magnitudes of each and every DSO among everything else you need to know. Resources also help students learn to research the required information, sifting through the stuff that is unnecessary as well as being able to organize it in a sufficient way. Resources are a good thing. It helps broaden the mind.

And having a topic 3 years in a row is stupid, plain and simple. If they were going to keep variable stars they should have kept Mars, that would have been much better.