Astronomy

[Sheogorath]

So I haven't gotten the rules yet, what is Astronomy on this year? Please do not tell me it is variable stars again.

[sciolykid101]

Sorry, the topic is Variable Stars.

[Sheogorath]

Urg! Three years in a row is too much!

[Earthsci_dude]

ugh

variable stars again?

well, i guess i dont have to make a whole new binder xD... but a new topic would make it more exciting.

[eak227]

What are the DSOs like this year? Are they fun/interesting?

[tad_k_22]

They seem very similar to the ones two years ago. Heck, mira and betelgeuse are back, even.

[tweedlebeetle]

Oh man are you kidding?! And after I threw away my sophomore binder....

I haven't received the rules yet- does it look like the same format, DSOs/ general knowledge? Because the past few years, NY regionals and states have had this thing against star IDs, and you get less then a page of questions on the part you really studied...

[tad_k_22]

It's pretty much exactly the same as last year's rules, with new DSOs and a couple "new" types of variable stars (the majority of them were from 2 years ago). And wow, all astro tests i've taken are half DSO/variables applications, just like the nationals ones are. But one page of DSOs may not necessarily be bad as they could incorporate more variable star knowledge and astrophysics concepts into the test and make you work more with light curves and O-C diagrams.

[Sheogorath]

Does anyone have any information on O-C diagrams? Preferably like a lab I could do, we started to understand how to get them, but we don't have any resources for finding them.

[eak227]

What do you mean by "started to understand how to get them?"

I can help if you define what you need.

[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