Solar System B

[amerikestrel]

Wait, so we will have to know what constellation each planet is in on the day of the competition? Then what does this mean:

...either with the unaided eye or a telescope.

[SOninja]

you may have to find the constellation and/or planet yourself, in a planetarium.

[gyourkoshaven]

Can I get some example questions on this? I think I get it but I want to be sure.
Other than that I'm good.

(Can guarantee you won't get this question, but I haven't studied other planets enough.)

Put the following in order:Vaalbara, Pangea, Laurasia and Gondwana.

Wait a minute, weren't Laurasia and Gondwana part of Pangea?

Pangea broke apart to form them. *Moves conversation to DP thread*

[amerikestrel]

But you can't say that either of them "came before" the other.

you may have to find the constellation and/or planet yourself, in a planetarium.

How would there be a planetarium at the competition?

[gyourkoshaven]

I meant Laurasia and Gondwana were one thing in the order.

[amerikestrel]

I meant Laurasia and Gondwana were one thing in the order.

Oh, OK. I thought they were separate things in the list.

[AlphaTauri]

But you can't say that either of them "came before" the other.

you may have to find the constellation and/or planet yourself, in a planetarium.

How would there be a planetarium at the competition?

PA states always has an inflatable planetarium that they use for RFS (they set it up in one of the raquetball courts at Juniata). I don't know if they'll use it this year because the only thing that involves it is finding where the planets are in relation to the constellations. If they use it, a couple words of advice about the planetarium:

• ~You often have to twist your neck at awkward angles to see what the event sup. is pointing at because it's crowded.
  ~They provide pencils for this part so you don't accidentally poke a hole in the planetarium.
  ~Don't look at the flashlight. Afterwards, you can't see anything for a couple minutes. This was how we did not-so-well last year.

[EastStroudsburg13]

When I did Solar System in 7th grade (this statement is for PA states), it wasn't with the inflatable planetarium, and it was just a test in a lecture room. However, there were pictures for planets and moons that we had to match and identify, so that would be a good thing to study.

[AlphaTauri]

At my regionals, we basically sat down in a classroom and answered questions based on a Powerpoint the event sup. was projecting on the screen. (This was for RFS, but I think the same format would work for Solar System.) I'm not sure why they didn't just give everyone a test packet and let us work at our own pace, but I guess it was easier to grade and saved a few more trees...

[brobo]

Last year for RFS, they handed us a big packet and said "Start working now!"
That was it. It was in a small lecture room, but it had some pretty steep stairs. Most study events are done that way. At least thats what I would prepare for.