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Battle at Valley Forge Invitational
Astronomy
Test Booklet
Team Number: ___________
School Name: ______________________________
Participant Names: ______________________________________________________________
Participant Names: ______________________________________________________________
Instructions
1. Turn in all exam materials at the end of this test. There is an exam packet as well as a
blank answer sheet.
2. You may separate the exam pages.
3. You may write in the exam.
4. Only the answers selected on the answer sheet with be considered. Do not give multiple
answers unless specified.
5. Write your team number, school name, and participant names on the exam packet, but
put ONLY the answers on the answer sheet. Check that the name and team number on
the answer sheet are correct. Ensure that all markings on the answer sheet and
specified answer boxes are legible. All illegible marking will be considered incorrect. The
correctness of poorly filled bubbles will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
6. Each question is worth one point. Tiebreaker questions have been indicated with a (T#).
In the event of a tie, the proctors will first consult (T1), then (T2), and so on until the tie
is broken. A random number generator selected the tiebreaker questions.
7. You will have 50 minutes to complete the exam. When the time is up, place your pencil
on the table and cease working on the exam. Writing after the time has finished risks
immediate disqualification.
8. Each team member is permitted to bring “either a laptop computer or one three-ring
binder of any size” and a programmable calculator. Accessing the Internet is not
permitted.
9. Nonsensical, mocking, or inappropriate answers will result in disqualification. Achieving
this on a multiple-choice test will be a challenge.
10. You may refer to this page at any time during the testing time period.
Part I: Image-Based Questions
1. What object is shown in Image A?
A. Omicron Ceti
B. HM Cancri
C. SS Cygni
D. Henize 3-1357
E. NGC 2392
2. What units are displayed along the vertical axis of Image A?
A. Intensity
B. Magnitude
C. Luminosity
D. Angle
E. Frequency
3. Which of the following drives the variability of such an object as the one in Image A?
A. The CNO cycle
B. The triple-alpha process
C. Helium ionization
D. Iron ionization
E. Hydrogen ionization
4. What object is shown in Image B?
A. NGC 2392
B. SNR G1.9+0.3
C. Tycho’s SNR
D. Henize 2-248
E. M15
5. What two types of objects are orbiting in the object depicted in Image B?
A. White Dwarf – Neutron Star
B. White Dwarf – White Dwarf
C. Neutron Star – Neutron Star
D. Main Sequence Star – White Dwarf
E. Main Sequence Star – Neutron Star
6. In what spectrum was Image B taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
7. What object is shown in Image C?
A. SS Cygni
B. Sirius A and B
C. HM Cancri
D. J075141/J174140
E. Henize 3-1357
8. The object in Image C can be considered a prototypical what?
A. Neutron Star
B. Binary white dwarf system
C. Trinary white dwarf system
D. Dwarf Nova
E. AM CVn System
9. What object is shown in Image D?
A. SN 2011fe
B. NGC 2392
C. NGC 1846
D. SS Cygni
E. HM Cancri
10. Which of the following are true about the object in Image D?
A. It is one of the largest sources of gravitational waves in the Milky Way
B. It is the shortest orbital period binary system
C. The two objects in the system are spiraling away from each other
D. Both A and B
E. Both B and C
11. What object is shown in Image E? (T3)
A. SS Cygni
B. SN 2011fe
C. J075141/J174140
D. Sirius A and B
E. Henize 2-248
12. What object is shown in Image F?
A. Henize 3-1357
B. SNR G1.9+0.3
C. SNR 0509-67.5
D. M15
E. NGC 2392
13. In what spectrum was Image F taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
14. What object is shown in Image G?
A. SNR 0509-67.5
B. SNR G1.9+0.3
C. Tycho’s SNR
D. Henize 2-248
E. Henize 3-1357
15. What object is shown in Image H?
A. Omicron Ceti
B. SNR 0509-67.5
C. SN 2011fe
D. HM Cancri
E. J075141/J174140
16. In what spectrum was Image H taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
17. What object is shown in Image I?
A. SNR G1.9+0.3
B. SNR 0509-67.5
C. Tycho’s SNR
D. Sirius A and B
E. NGC2440
18. What object is shown in Image J?
A. Tycho’s SNR
B. Henize 2-248
C. Henise 3-1357
D. NGC 1846
E. Omicron Ceti
19. In what spectrum was Image J taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
20. What object is shown in Image K? (T20)
A. NGC 1846
B. NGC 2392
C. NGC 2440
D. M15
E. J075141/J174140
21. In what spectrum was Image K taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
22. What type of object is the green blob in the center of Image K?
A. Globular cluster
B. Open cluster
C. AM CVn system
D. Planetary nebula
E. Dark nebula
23. What object is shown in Image L?
A. Tycho’s SNR
B. M15
C. SN 2011fe
D. SS Cygni
E. Sirius A and B
24. In what spectrum was Image L taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
25. What object is shown in Image M?
A. Henize 2-248
B. Henize 3-1357
C. M15
D. SN 2011fe
E. NGC 2440
26. In what spectrum was Image M taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
27. What is the Shapley-Sawyer Concentration Class of the object in Image M?
A. I
B. IV
C. VII
D. X
E. XII
28. What object is shown in Image N?
A. HM Cancri
B. SS Cygni
C. Sirius A and B
D. SNR 0509-67.5
E. SNR G1.9+0.3
29. In what spectrum was Image N taken?
A. Gamma
B. Infrared
C. Optical
D. Radio
E. X-Ray
30. What object is shown in Image O?
A. Henize 2-248
B. Henize-31357
C. Tycho’s SNR
D. NGC 2440
E. NGC 1846
Part II: Object and Conceptual Knowledge
31. Which of the following are alternative names for NGC 2392?
I. Eskimo Nebula
II. Clownface Nebula
III. Caldwell 29
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. Only III
D. I and III
E. I, II, and III
32. What object is the first non-supernova variable star discovered?
A. Omicron Ceti
B. SS Cygni
C. Sirius A and B
D. HM Cancri
E. SS Cygni
33. What is the youngest known supernova remnant in the Milky Way?
A. SNR 0509-67.5
B. SNR G1.9+0.3
C. Tycho’s SNR
D. NGC 2392
E. Henize 2-248
34. A red giant is _______ than its main sequence counterpart.
A) More luminous, hotter at the surface
B) Less luminous, hotter at the surface
C) More luminous, cooler at the surface
D) Less luminous, cooler at the surface
E) None of the above
35. What type of star has a high temperature but a low luminosity?
A) Blue giants
B) Red supergiants
C) Spectral class O main sequence stars
D) Spectral class M main sequence stars
E) White dwarfs
36. A red giant star has a surface temperature of 3200 K and luminosity 1000 time that of
the sun. What is its approximate radius in solar radii?
A) About 10 solar radii
B) About 50 solar radii
C) About 100 solar radii
D) About 500 solar radii
E) About 1000 solar radii
37. Carbon detonation is a term for the:
A) Violent reignition of thermonuclear fusion in a white dwarf
B) Violent reignition of thermonuclear fusion in a red supergiant
C) Contraction of a main sequence star to fuse heavier elements
D) Switch to fusing heavier elements that signals a star leaving the main sequence
E) Process of a collapsing neutron star
38. At which of the following distances would a Type Ia supernova be most useful for
determining a cosmological distance? (T7)
A) 500 Kpc
B) 1 Mpc
C) 500 Mpc
D) 1000 Mpc
E) 1500 Mpc
39. A white dwarf is unable to have a mass greater than how many solar masses? (T9)
A. 1.22
B. 1.44
C. 2.25
D. 3.14
E. 3.69
40. What scenario raises questions about the use of Type Ia supernovae as standard
candles?
A. Their rarity
B. Atmospheric haze
C. Interstellar haze
D. Single degenerate progenitors
E. Double degenerate progenitors
41. What is the sub-luminous type of supernova that may not destroy a what dwarf called?
A. Type Iab
B. Type Ib
C. Type Ix
D. Type Iax
E. Type II
42. A star with a surface temperature hotter than the Sun will live a(n):
A. Longer life on the main sequence
B. Shorter life on the main sequence
C. Equally long life on the main sequence
43. For stars less massive than the Sun, the dominant reaction during the “hydrogen
burning” stage is:
A. The CNO cycle
B. The triple alpha process
C. Carbon burning
D. Oxygen burning
E. The proton-proton chain
44. How does a planetary nebula die?
A. The expanding gas cloud becomes invisible to us
B. The expanding gas cloud starts to contract
C. The expending gas cloud decelerates and a solar system is born
D. The expanding gas cloud begins to fuse into heavier elements
E. The expanding gas cloud gains angular momentum and creates a wormhole
45. Which of the following stars was the AAVSO Variable Star of the Month for June of
2000? (T6)
A. HM Cancri
B. NGC 1846
C. SS Cygni
D. Omicron Ceti
E. Sirius A and B
46. What force keeps neutron stars from collapsing?
A. Convection
B. Gravitational waves
C. A differing hydrostatic equilibrium
D. Neutron degeneracy pressure
E. The CNO cycle
47. An AM CVn star is a rare type of:
A. Cataclysmic variable star
B. Recurring Type Ia supernova
C. Mira variable star
D. Pulsar
E. Dead planetary nebula
48. The SN 2011fe event was significant to our understanding of Type Ia supernovae
because:
A. It was an excellent candidate for interstellar exploration
B. It was detected very early
C. It was first classified as a Type II supernova
D. It had a much higher absolute magnitude than expected
E. It had a much lower absolute magnitude than expected
49. Which of the following are true about Tycho’s SNR?
A. It was one of eight supernovae visible to the naked eye in historical records
B. It contradicted the Aristotelian dogma of the invariance of the realm of stars
C. Astronomers alerted the Chinese emperor that the new “star” was an evil omen
D. All of the above
E. None of the above
50. In how many years is it roughly expected that Henize 2-248 will undergo a Type Ia
supernova?
A. 70 years
B. 7,000 years
C. 700,000 years
D. 70,000,000 years
E. 700,000,000 years
Part III: Mathematical Questions
Refer to the following image for questions 51-56.
B
C
A
51. What is the X-Axis of the above light curve? (T4)
A. Time (months)
B. Distance from parent star (light years)
C. Luminosity
D. Absolute Brightness
E. Phase
52. What is the Y-Axis of the above light curve?
A. Magnitude
B. Distance (light years)
C. Inclination
D. Transit Time
E. Both C and D
53. Identify length “A” labeled in the above light curve. (T8)
A. One Month
B. One Luminosity
C. One Orbital Period
D. One Light Year
54. Identify local minimum “B” labeled in the above light curve. (T1)
A. Primary Eclipse
B. Primary Minimum
C. Standard Eclipse
D. Orbital Zenith
E. Orbital Primary
55. Identify local minimum “C” labeled in the above light curve.
A. Orbital Trough
B. Secondary Eclipse
C. Second Standard Eclipse
D. Secondary Minimum
E. Orbital Secondary
56. If the entire X-Axis (as strictly measured on the graph) spans 1.641 units, calculate the
approximate period and frequency of the described binary system.
A. Period: .876; Frequency: 1.14
B. Period: .853; Frequency: 1.17
C. Period: .821; Frequency: 1.21
D. Period: .432; Frequency: 2.31
E. Period: .410; Frequency: 2.44
The following description will be used for questions 57-62.
A binary system is 1.495 pc distant and has an absolute magnitude of 14.2. The period is 81.12
years. Although the orbits of the A and B components of this binary system are highly elliptical,
the system has a mean separation of 22.4 AU. Component A has a mean distance of 10.7 AU
from the system’s barycenter. Let component A describe the star with the smaller mass, and
component B describe the star with larger mass.
57. Calculate the total mass of the system.
A. 3.424 x 1030 kg
B. 4.125 x 1030 kg
C. 8.143 x 1030 kg
D. 1.727 x 1031 kg
E. 3.256 x 1031 kg
58. Calculate the mass of component A.
A. 8.899 x 1029 kg
B. 9.973 x 1029 kg
C. 1.005 x 1030 kg
D. 1.125 x 1030 kg
E. 1.789 x 1030 kg
59. Calculate the mass of component B.
A. 1.241 x 1030 kg
B. 1.636 x 1030 kg
C. 3.726 x 1030 kg
D. 5.192 x 1030 kg
E. 9.214 x 1030 kg
60. Calculate the radius of component A.
A. 7.415 x 1011 m
B. 8.142 x 1011 m
C. 8.469 x 1011 m
D. 1.605 x 1012 m
E. 2.993 x 1012 m
61. Calculate the radius of component B.
A. 1.755 x 1012 m
B. 2.452 x 1012 m
C. 4.683 x 1012 m
D. 6.197 x 1012 m
E. 8.555 x 1012 m
62. Calculate the period of revolution of the binary star system.
A. 52.4 years
B. 63.9 years
C. 76.1 years
D. 81.2 years
E. 90.7 years
63. What is the typical absolute magnitude of a Type Ia supernova?
A. -22.3
B. -19.3
C. -18.0
D. -16.9
E. -16.3
The following description will be used for questions 64-65.
A typical type Ia supernova was seen in the Pinwheel Galaxy of Ursa Major. The brightest
apparent magnitude this supernova obtained was +15.
64. Calculate the distance from Earth to the Pinwheel Galaxy.
A. 105.8 million light years
B. 175.4 million light years
C. 236.3 million light years
D. 258.6 million light years
E. 290.9 million light years
65. Let the distance above describe the proper distance from the galaxy to the observer.
Calculate the recessional velocity.
A. 2043 km/s
B. 2348 km/s
C. 2781 km/s
D. 3389 km/s
E. 4726 km/s
The following image will be used for questions 66-67.
66. What law does the above diagram describe?
A. Spectroscopic Parallax
B. Hubble’s Law
C. Kepler’s Third Law
D. Luminosity-Distance Relationship
67. In 2014, a Type Ia supernova was observed in the galaxy Messier 82. If this supernova
had a peak magnitude of 11, how far away was this supernova?
A. 10 Mpc
B. 12 Mpc
C. 14 Mpc
D. 15 Mpc
E. 16 Mpc
The following image will be used for questions 68-71.
Match each stage to its corresponding orbital description and spectroscopic binary. If Stage 1,
record A on the answer sheet. If Stage 2, B. If Stage 3, C. If Stage 4, D.
68.
69.
70.
71. (T2)
The following description will be used for questions 72-77.
A binary system has a period of 16.7 days. The maximum observed velocity of component A is
94 km/s, and the maximum observed velocity of component B is 23 km/s. The inclination angle
of the reference plane is 87 degrees.
72. Calculate the radius of component A.
A. .092 AU
B. .127 AU
C. .144 AU
D. .167 AU
E. .189 AU
73. Calculate the radius of component B.
A. .035 AU
B. .041 AU
C. .048 AU
D. .053 AU
E. .065 AU
74. Calculate the total radius of the binary system.
A. .156 AU
B. .179 AU
C. .194 AU
D. .215 AU
E. .223 AU
75. Calculate the total mass of the binary system.
A. 3.453 x 1030 kg
B. 5.534 x 1030 kg
C. 6.784 x 1030 kg
D. 4.256 x 1031 kg
E. 7.178 x 1031 kg
76. Calculate the mass of component A.
A. 7.421 x 1029 kg
B. 1.927 x 1030 kg
C. 3.599 x 1030 kg
D. 4.446 x 1030 kg
E. 6.579 x 1030 kg
77. Calculate the mass of component B.
A. 7.774 x 1029 kg
B. 8.452 x 1029 kg
C. 1.088 x 1030 kg
D. 2.487 x 1030 kg
E. 4.683 x 1030 kg
78. Star A has a parallax of 0.3". Star B has a parallax of 0.03". The stars have identical
luminosities. How much brighter or fainter does Star A appear compared with Star B as
seen from Earth.
A. 10 times brighter
B. 100 times brighter
C. 1,000 times brighter2
D. 10,000 times brighter
79. If the parallax (arc seconds) and the distance (pc) of some star are equivalent, calculate
this equivalent value.
A. 0
B. .5
C. 1
D. 2
E. Infinity
80. As determined by Kepler, what could be a possible value for the eccentricity of a
planetary system in which planets orbit some stellar object?
A. 0
B. .5
C. 1
D. 1.5
E. 2