National Science Olympiad

Reach for the Stars B Event 2016

Stellar Evolution, Star Formation Regions & Supernova Remnants

Sponsored by the NASA Astrophysics Division

NASA Astrophysics Division

Donna L Young Educator

Chandra X-Ray Observatory

http://chandra.harvard.edu/edu/olympiad.html

REACH FOR THE STARS, Division B

DESCRIPTION: Students will demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of the
properties and evolution of stars especially star forming regions and supernova
remnants and their observation with different portions of the electromagnetic
spectrum: Radio, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, X-Ray and Gamma Ray.
EVENT PARAMETERS: Each team may bring only two 8.5x11 two-sided pages
of notes containing information in any form from any source. (clipboards/red lights)
THE COMPETITION: This event is divided into two parts.
Notes may be used during both parts.
Part I: Constellation, Star, and Deep Sky Object Identification
Part II:
i: Stellar Evolution
ii: Spectral Classification of Stars
iii: Observation using multiple portions of the electromagnetic spectrum
iv: The relationship between stellar temperature, radius, and luminosity
v. Magnitude & luminosity scales, distance modulus, inverse square law

a. Part I: Constellations, Stars, and Deep Sky Objects

Aquila: Altair, W49 region
Aquarius: NGC 7293
Auriga: Capella
Bootes: Arcturus
Canis Major: Sirius
Canis Minor: Procyon
Carina: NGC 3603, NGC 3372
Cassiopeia: Cas A, NGC 281,

Leo: Regulus
Lyra: Vega
Monoceros: Rosette Nebula
Ophiuchus: Zeta Ophiuchi
Keplers SNR
Orion: Betelgeuse, Rigel, M42
Perseus: Algol
Sagittarius: Sgr A*, M17, M8

Tychos SNR, W3 Main

Cygnus: Deneb, Cygnus X-1
Dorado: 30 Doradus, LMC
Gemini: Castor & Pollux
Hydrus: NGC 602

Scorpius: Antares
Taurus: Aldebaran, M1
Ursa Minor: Polaris
Ursa Major: Mizar & Alcor
Virgo: Spica

Part IIi: Stellar Evolution

Star Formation Regions (10):
W49 region, NGC 3603, NGC 3372 (Carina Nebula), NGC 281,
W3 Main, 30 Doradus (Tarantula Nebula), Rosette Nebula, M42
(Orion Nebula), M17(Omega Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula)
Supernovas (4):
Cas A, Tychos SNR, Keplers SNR, M1 (Crab Nebula)
Evolutionary Stages (3):
NGC 7293 (planetary nebula & white dwarf), Cygnus X-1 (black
hole), NGC 602 (Open Cluster)
Galactic (2):
LMC (galaxy), Sgr A* (MWG galactic black hole)
DO NOT FORGET THE CONSTELLATION STARS!

Stellar Evolution

Aquila: Altair (A7IV/V), W49 region Star Formation

W49A

W49B

Aquarius: NGC 7293 (The Helix Nebula)

Planetary Nebula & White Dwarf

Auriga: Capella (K0/G1III)

Bootes: Arcturus (K0III)

Canis Major: Sirius (A1V)

& white dwarf companion
Canis Minor: Procyon (F5IV)
& white dwarf companion

Carina: NGC 3603, NGC 3372 (The Great Carina Nebula)

Carina: NGC 3603, NGC 3372 (The Great Carina Nebula)

NGC 3372
NGC 3603

Cassiopeia: Tychos SNR, Cas A, NGC 281, W3 Main

Cassiopeia: Cas A, Tychos SNR (Supernovas)

Cas A
Type II
Neutron Core

Tycho
Type Ia
No Stellar Core

Cassiopeia: NGC 281 (Pacman Nebula), W3 Main

Star Formation Regions
NGC 281

W3 Main

Cygnus: Deneb (A2I), Cygnus X-1 (Black Hole)

Dorado: 30 Doradus (Tarantula Nebula), Large Magellanic Cloud

(LMC)

Dorado: LMC, 30 Doradus (Tarantula Nebula)

Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)
Galaxy

30 Doradus
Star Formation Region

Gemini: Castor (A1V) & Pollux (K0III)

Hydrus: NGC 602 (The Flying Lizard) Located in the Small

Magellanic Cloud (SMC)

Hydrus: NGC 602 (The Flying Lizard) - Star Formation Region

& Open Cluster

Leo: Regulus (B8V)

Lyra: Vega (A0V)

Monocerous: Rosette Nebula

Monocerous: Rosette Nebula Star Formation Region

Astrophotography

Ophiuchus: Zeta Ophiuchi

Ophiuchus: Zeta Ophiuchi (O 9.5V)

Orion: Betelgeuse (M2I), Rigel (B8I), M42 (Orion Nebula)

Orion: M42 (The Great Orion Nebula) Star Formation Region

Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Hubble

Chandra X-Ray

Hubble

Perseus: Algol (B8V)

Sagittarius: Sgr A* - MWG Galactic Black Hole

Sagittarius: M17 ( Omega Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula)

Star Formation Regions
M8
M17

Scorpius: Antares (M0.5I)

Taurus: Aldebaran (K5III)

M1 (Crab Nebula) Type II Supernova & Pulsar

Ursa Minor: Polaris (F71)

Ursa Major: Mizar (A2V), Alcor

Virgo: Spica (B1III/IV)

b. Part II:
i. Stellar Evolution

The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram

RIGEL

b. Part II:
ii. Spectral Classification of Stars
Sun G2

Arcturus K1

Procyon F5

Spectroscopy & Stellar Classification

Spectral Image
& Spectral Plot

Hydrogen
Balmer Lines

Spectral Image,
Spectral Plot &
Balmer Lines

He, Ca, H Lines

Summary of the Classification of Stars

Spectral
Class

Temperature (oK)

Strength of Balmer lines

Other lines to look for

30,000 - 60,000

weak or not visible

Ionized He (4540)

10,000 - 30,000

moderate

7,500 - 10,000

strong

6,000 - 7,500

weak

Ionized Ca (3930, 3970) strong

compared to neutral H (4340)

5,000 - 6,000

weak

Ionized Ca (3930, 3970) strong

compared to neutral H (4340)

3,500 - 5,000

weak or not visible

Many lines, neutral Ca 4230

< 3,500

not visible

Many lines

b. Part II:
iii. Observations across the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Radio

Cas A

Crab Nebula

Orion Nebula

IR

Optical

X-ray

Composite

b. Part II:
iv. Stellar Temperature, Radius, and Luminosity
v. Magnitude & Luminosity Scales

b. Part II
v. .Distance Modulus & Inverse Square Law
The Distance Modulus: M = m - 5log10 (r)
10

Inverse Square Law: L = 1/r2

Blackbody Radiation:
Plancks Law & Wiens Law

max = 2.9 x 107 /T

Resources

apod.nasa.gov

http://soinc.org

chandra.harvard.edu

http://www.stsci.edu/hst/

http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/

https://public.nrao.edu/

aavso.org

National Reach for the Stars Event Supervisor:

Dustin Schroeder - dschroed@gmail.com
Rules clarifications:
available at www.soinc.org under event information
Event Preparation:
1. Read the Event Description for content and allowable resources.
2. Use the Webinar (Chandra) and PowerPoint (AAVSO) for an
overview of the content topics and deep sky objects.
3. Use the Astronomy Coaches Manuel for background information
on stellar evolution.
4. Use the websites in the event description for images and content.
5. Download the 2013 Reach for the Stars Event from the AAVSO
website to use as a guide for the types of questions and to use as
practice with different types of star charts.