International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition Final Round 2023

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts from the 2023 IAAC Final Round exam, including celestial mechanics, planetary science, and astronomical measurement tools.

Alpha Centauri

A star discovered through astronomical observation that can be seen only in the Southern Hemisphere.

Crux

A constellation that can be seen only in the Southern Hemisphere.

Large Magellanic Cloud

A type of astronomical object classified as a Dwarf Galaxy.

Milky Way Star Count

There are approximately $100-400\text{ billion}$ stars in the Milky Way galaxy.

Earth's Gravitational Acceleration

On Earth's surface, objects fall with a gravitational acceleration of approximately $9.8\,m/s^2$.

Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)

This radiation can be detected using a radio telescope.

Earth's Rotational Speed at Poles

The rotational speed at Earth's poles is exactly $0\,km/h$.

Ideal Rocket Launch Latitude

A latitude of $5^\circ\text{ N}$ is best suited for a rocket launch due to its proximity to the equator.

International Space Station (ISS) Altitude

The altitude of the International Space Station is around $410\,km$.

ISS Orbital Decay

The phenomenon where the ISS descends over time primarily due to collisions with atmospheric particles.

Karman Line

The altitude at which space is often considered to start, located $100\,km$ above ground.

Einstein Rings

Circular light formations caused by the phenomenon of gravitational lensing.

Initial Mass Function (IMF)

An astronomical function describing the distribution of star masses during their formation.

Spectral Energy Distribution (SED)

A plot in astronomy that displays energy versus wavelength.

Io

A moon of the planet Jupiter known for its significant volcanic activity.

Juno

The spacecraft that is currently in orbit around the planet Jupiter.

Io Polar Volcanism

Volcanoes located at the poles of Io are characterized as being more energetic than those at the equator.

Io Volcanic Hot Spots

Between 2007 and 2011, there were $155$ volcanic hot spots observable on the surface of the moon Io.

Tidally Induced Internal Heating

The mechanism responsible for causing volcanic activity on the moon Io.

Lunar Walkers

As of the year 2023, a total of $12$ people have stepped on the surface of the moon.

Venus

A planet that is never visible at midnight due to its orbital position relative to Earth and the Sun.

Schmidt, Cassegrain, and Gregorian

Historical and technical names for different types of telescope designs.

Infrared Light

The form of energy in which most stars (which are cooler than the Sun) emit the majority of their radiation.

Cepheid Stars

A specific class of stars used by astronomers as a primary measurement for determining distance.