Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

THEORETICAL PART 1

1. Two persons, on the equator of the Earth separated by 180 in longitude, observe the
Moon’s position with respect to the background star field at the same time. If the
declination of the Moon is zero, sketch the situation and calculate the difference in
apparent right ascension seen by those two persons.

Solution:
From the Astronomical and Physical constant:
Mean distance Earth to Moon: r = 384399 km
Diameter of the Earth: D = 12742 km
D (25%)
Moon r= ,  in radian ( )

In arcminutes,
12742
 = 3438'  = 113.96'
384399
Earth = 7.60 minutes (50%)
Thus, the difference in apparent right
(25%) ascension is 7.60 minutes

2. On April 2, 2008 a telescope (10 cm diameter, f /10) at the Bosscha Observatory was
used to observe the Sun and found an active region 0987 (based on the NOAA
number) at 8o South and 40o West from the center of the solar disk. The region was
recorded with a CCD SBIG ST-8 Camera (1600  1200 pixels, 9 μm/pixel) and its size
was 5  4 pixels. According to the Astronomical Almanac, the solar diameter is 32'.
How large is the corrected area of the active region in unit of millionth of solar
hemisphere (msh)?

Solution :
Pixel size () = 206265pixel size (μm)/(1000  focal length (mm))
= 206265  9/(1000  1000) = 1.86" (30%)

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

Solar diameter = 32  60"/1.86"/pixel = 1034 pixels = 9306 μm

Solar radius, R = 4653 μm (25%)
If As is the measured area, then
As = 5  4  81 μm2 = 1620 μm 2 (15%)
The corrected area due to the projection effect is
Am = As . 106/(2 π R2 cos B cos L)
= 1620  106/ (2  3.14  46532  cos 8  cos 40)
= 15.7 msh (30%)

3. A full moon occurred on June 19, 2008 at 00h 30m West Indonesian Time (local civil
time for western part of Indonesia with reference to geographic longitude of 105 E).
Calculate the extreme values of duration of the Moon above the horizon for observers
at Bosscha Observatory (longitude: 107º 35' 00″.0 E, latitude: 6º 49' 00″.0 S,
Elevation: 1300.0 m). Time zone = UT +7h 00m.

Solution:
The position of the Sun on June 19, 2008:   +23.5 ,  ≈ 6h = 90
At full moon phase, the declination of the Moon is between  ≈ – 18o.5 and (20%)

 ≈ – 28o.5 depending on the position of node.

Spherical triangle: ZPM, Z = zenith, P = south celestial pole and M = moon.

ZP = m = (90º – 6º 49') = 83º 11'; ZM = p = 90º and,
PM = z = 90º – 23º 30' = 66º 30'

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

The greatest possible value of PM = z = 90º – 18º 30' = 71º 30' and the smallest
possible value of PM = z = 90º – 28º 30' = 61º 30'
cos p = cos m cos z + sin m sin z cos P (20%)
The maximum value of PM
cos 90º = cos 83º 11' cos 71º 30' + sin 83º 11' sin 71º 30' cos P
cos P = –cot 83º 11' cot 71º 30' = – 0.1195  0.3346
= – 0.0401
 P = 92º 17' 53″ = 6h 9m 11s
2P = 12h 18m 22s (30%)

The minimum value of PM

cos 90º = cos 83º 11' cos 61º 30'+ sin 83º 11' sin 61º 30' cos P
cos P = –cot 83º 11' cot 61º 30' = – 0.1195  0.5430
= – 0.0649
 P = 93º 43' 16″ = 6h 14m 53s
2P = 12h 29m 46s (30%)

4. Suppose a star has a mass of 20 M. If 20% of the star's mass is now in the form of
helium, calculate the helium-burning lifetime of this star. Assume that the luminosity
of the star is 100 L, in which 30% is contributed by helium burning. The carbon mass,
12
C, is 12.000000 amu.

Solution:

The mass of three helium nuclei = 3  4.002603 amu = 12.007809 amu (20%)
The mass converted to energy is the difference between the sum of the
masses of three helium nuclei and the mass of the resulting carbon nucleus:
12.007809 amu – 12.000000 amu = 7.81  10-3 amu. (15%)

7.81  10−3 (15%)

This represents a fractional loss of mass of = 6.5  10-4 of the
12.007809
original mass.
( )
The stellar mass m = 20  1.99 1033 = 3.98 1034 g

Thus 6.5  10-4 of 20% of the star's mass will be converted into energy
during triple- process, or

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

E = mc2 = 0.2(3.98 1034 )(6.5 10-4 )(3 1010 ) 2 = 4.66 1051 erg (25%)

The helium-burning lifetime is

E 4.66 1051 (25%)
t= = = 3.92 1016 s = 1.24 109 years
0.3L 0.3(100)(3.96 1033 )

5. The average temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is currently

T = 2.73 K, and it yields the origin of CMB to be at redshift zCMB =1100. The densities
of the Dark Energy, Dark Matter, and Normal Matter components of the Universe as a
whole are, respectively,  = 6.7 × 10−30 g/cm3, DM = 2.4 × 10−30 g/cm3, and
NM = 0.5 × 10−30 g/cm3. What is the ratio between the density of Dark Matter to the
density of Dark Energy at the time CMB was emitted, if we assume that the dark
energy is vacuum energy?

Solution:
• Universe change in size and redshift relation:
size now 1 1
1+ z = size at z = size now = size now
size at z 1+ z 1 + 1100

= 0.00091 size now

so that the size of the Universe at the time of CMB emission was 0.00091 of
its size now . (50%)

VCMB at emissiontime
• If A = = (0.00091)3 = 7.5  10−10 , then the density of the Dark
VNow

Matter at CMB emission time

 DM 2.4  10−30
 DM at CMB = = −10
= 3.2 × 10−21 g/cm3.
A 7.5  10 (25%)
The ratio between the density of Dark Matter to the density of Dark Energy
 DM at CMB 3.2  10−21
at the time CMB was emitted = = = 4.8  108
 6.7  10 − 30
(25%)

6. Radio wavelength observations of gas cloud swirling around a black hole in the center
of our galaxy show that radiation from the hydrogen spin-flip transition (rest frequency
= 1420.41 MHz) is detected at a frequency of 1421.23 MHz. If this gas cloud is
located at a distance of 0.2 pc from the black hole and is orbiting in a circle, determine

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

the speed of this cloud and whether it is moving toward or away from us and calculate
the mass of the black hole.

Solution:
Rest frequency  o = 1420.41 MHz

Detected frequency  = 1421.23 MHz

 = o −  = 1420.41 − 1421.23 = −0.82 MHz (25%)

Using Doppler’s shift, the speed of the cloud is :

 − 0.82
v=
o
c=
1421.23
( )
3 1010 = −1.73 10 7 cm / s (15%)

Since v is negative, then the cloud is moving toward us. (10%)

(Since   o , then the cloud is moving toward us)

If M is mass of black hole, v is the speed of the cloud and R is the orbital
radius of cloud, then
Rv 2 (25%)
M=
G
R = 0.2 pc = 0.2  (3.086  1018 cm) = 6.17  1017 cm, and from the Table of
Astronomical and Physical constants: G = 6.67 x 10-8 cm3/s2 g

Then, M =
( )(
Rv 2 6.17 1017 − 1.73 107
=
)2

= 2.78 1039 gr = 1.40 106 M (25%)

G 6.67 10 −8

7. A main sequence star at a distance 20 pc is barely visible through a certain space-based

telescope which can record all wavelengths. The star will eventually move up along
the giant branch, during which time its temperature drops by a factor of 3 and its radius
increases 100-fold. What is the new maximum distance at which the star can still be
(barely) visible using the same telescope?

Solution:
L = Luminosity of the giant stars in the giant branch
LMS = Luminosity of the main sequence star
F = Flux of the giant stars in the giant branch
FMS = Flux of the main sequence star
T = Temperature of the giant star

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

TMS = Temperature of the main sequence star

R = Radius of the giant star
RMS = Radius of the main sequence star
Use the radius-luminosity-temperature relation
2 4
 R   T 
4

 = (100 )2   = 123.5
L R 2T 4 1
= 2 4 =   
LMS RMS TMS  RMS   TMS  3 (50%)

L
F=
4d 2
2
F L  d MS 
=  
FMS LMS  d 

that is, the star becomes 123.5 times brighter when it becomes a giant star. To
be just barely visible using the same telescope, we push the star farther so that
it becomes 123.5 times dimmer (flux is inversely proportional to a square of
the distance).
2
1  1/ d  d
=  = 11.11 d = 11.11 dMS
123.5 1 / d MS  d MS

= 11.11 (20) pc = 222.20 pc (50%)

8. Gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon lead to raising and lowering of sea water
surfaces. Let  be the difference in longitude between points A and B, where both
points are at the equator and A is on the sea surface. Derive the horizontal acceleration
of sea water at position A due to Moon’s gravitational force at the time when the Moon
is above point B according to observers on the Earth (express it in  , the radius R of
Earth, and the Earth-Moon distance r ).

Solution:

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

A 
gA

g' A
R


C gC B D (10%)

D in the figure is the center of the Moon. The Moon’s gravitational

acceleration at A and at center of the Earth C are
 GM
g A = − 2 rˆA
rA
 GM GM
g C = − 2 rˆC = − 2 rˆC
rC r

Their directions are toward the Moon. M is the mass of the Moon.
rA = AD and rC = CD =r. rˆA , rˆC are unit vectors from the center of the Moon

toward A and C, respectively (20%)

The Moon’s gravitational acceleration at A according to observers is

    GM GM   GM  GM  
g ' A = g A − g C = − 2 rˆA − 2 rˆC  = − 3 rA − 3 rC 
 rA r   rA r 
   
   
Since rA = rC + R , R is the position of A with respect to the Earth’s center

of mass

   GM   GM GM  
g ' A = g A − g C = − 3 R −  3 − 3 rC (20%)
rA  rA r 

The first term is in radial direction. The tangential or horizontal component
of the second term is equal to the horizontal component of the acceleration
of sea water at A:
 GM GM 
g ' A (horizontal ) =  3 − 3 r sin 
 r rA 

 1 1 
= GM 3 − 2 r sin 
r ( r + R 2
− 2 Rr cos  ) 3/ 2 
 
(50%)

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

GM  1 
 sin 
= 2 
1− 3/ 2 
r  [1 + ( R / r ) − 2( R / r ) cos  ] 
2

9. The radiation incoming to the Earth from the Sun must penetrate the Earth’s
atmosphere before reaching the earth surface. The Earth also releases radiation to its
environment and this radiation must penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere before going out
to the outer space. In general, the transmittance of the Sun radiation during its
penetration to the Earth’s atmosphere (t1) is higher than that of the radiation from the
Earth (t2). Let T eff  be the effective temperature of the Sun, R the radius of the Sun, r
the radius of the Earth, and x the distance between the Sun and the Earth. Derive the
temperature of the Earth’s surface as a function of the aforementioned parameters.

Solution:

Sun
Earth

Atmosphere

Power of radiation received by the Earth from the Sun is

 r2
Pm = Teff4  4R2 t1 (40%)
4 x 2
Power radiated by the Earth and reach the outer space
Pout =  T4 4 r2 t 2 (30%)

In equilibrium Pin = Pout (5%)

r2
Teff4  4R2 t1 = T4 4r2 t 2
4x 2

Teff4 t1 R2

T4 =
4t 2 x 2

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

2
T 4 t R2 t R 
T = 4 eff  1 2  = Teff  4 1    25%)
4t 2 x 4t 2  x 

10. An eclipsing binary star system has a period of 30 days. The light curve in the figure
below shows that the secondary star eclipses the primary star (from point A to point D)
in eight hours (measured from the time of first contact to final contact), whereas from
point B to point C, the total eclipse period is one hour and eighteen minutes. The
spectral analysis yields the radial velocity of the primary star to be 30 km/s and of the
secondary star to be 40 km/s. If we assume that the orbits are circular and has an
inclination of i = 90o, determine the radii and the masses of both stars in unit of solar
radius and solar mass.

A D E H
Intensity

F G

B C

Time

Solution:
Binary Periode : P = 30 days = 0.0821 years A te D
Time of eclipse: te = 8 hours = 0.0009 years
Time of total eclipse : tt = 1 hour 18 minute = 0.0001
years
B C
Radial velocity of primary star :Vr1 = 30 km/s = 6.3285 tt

AU/year
The velocity of secondary star :Vr2 = 40 km/s = 8.4380 AU/year

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

2 a PVr
For circular orbit Vr = a= (a = radius orbit)
P 2
For primary star : (10%)
PVr1 (0, 0821)(6.3285)
a1 = = = 0.0827 AU = 1.24  107 km
2 2
For secondary star : (10%)
PVr 2 (0.0821)(8.4380)
a2 = = = 0.1103 AU = 1.65  107 km
2 2
a = a1 + a2 = 0.0827 + 0.1103 = 0.1930 AU = 2.89  107 km
The radius of primary star can be determined from the equation: (10%)
(te + tt ) 4 R1 2a 2 (0.1930)
= or R1 = (te + tt ) = (0.0009 + 0.0001)
P 2a 4P 4(0.0821)
= 0.0039 AU = 5.86  105 km = 0.84 R (20%)
The radius of secondary star can be determined from the equation: (10%)
(te − tt ) 4 R2 2a
= or R2 = (te − tt )
P 2a 4P
2 (0.1930)
= (0.0009 − 0.0001)
4(0.0821)
= 0.0028 AU = 4.22  105 km = 0.61 R (15%)

a 3 sin 3 i
From the Kepler’s third law : = (M1 + M2 )
P2
M1 a2
and =
M2 a1

Since i = 90o, sin i = sin 90o = 1 , and then

a3 (0.1930)3 (15%)
M1 = = = 0.61 M
P 2 (1 + a1 / a 2 ) (0.0821)2 (1 + 0.0827 / 0.1103)

a3 (0.1930)3 (10%)
M2 = = = 0.46 M
P 2 (1 + a 2 / a1 ) (0.0821)2 (1 + 0.1103 / 0.0827)

11. Below is a picture on a 35 mm film of annular eclipse in Dumai, North Sumatra on

August 22, 1998, taken with a telescope having effective diameter 10 cm and f-ratio
15. The diameter of the Sun’s disk in original picture on the film is 13.817 mm and the
diameter of the Moon’s disk is 13.235 mm. Estimate the distances of the Sun and the
Moon (expressed in km) from the Earth and the percentage of the solar disk covered by
the Moon during the annular eclipse.
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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

Solution:
D = 10 cm, f-ratio 15 or f = F/D = 15, then F = 150 cm
(D = diameter of the telescope and F is the focal length of the telescope).
S = scale of the image on the focal plane of the telescope = (206265/F) (/mm)
= (206265/1500) = 137.51 /mm (25%)

Angular diameter of the Sun = 137.51 /mm  13.817 mm

= 1899.97567  = 0º.527771019 = 0º 31' 39″.98
Distance of the Sun = 1 392 000/ ((0º.527771019/180º) x π)
= 151 118 045.9 km (25%)
Angular diameter of the Moon = 137.51 /mm  13.235 mm
=1819.94485  = 0º.505540236 = 0º 30' 19″.94
Distance of the Moon = 3476/(0º.505540236/180º  π) = 393955.0515 km. (25%)
The percentage of the solar disk covered by the Moon is (13.235 mm/13.817
mm)2  100% = 91.75 %. (25%)

12. Consider a type Ia supernova in a distant galaxy which has a luminosity of 5.8 × 109L
at maximum light. Suppose you observe this supernova using your telescope and find
that its brightness is 1.6 × 10−7 times the brightness of Vega. The redshift of its host

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

galaxy is known to be z = 0.03. Calculate the distance of this galaxy (in pc) and also
the Hubble time.

Solution:
L
The relation between flux F and luminosity L: F =
4d 2
LV
For Vega : FV =
4 dV2
LSN
For Supernova : FSN =
4 d SN
2

FSN = 1.6 × 10−7FV

LSN
4 d SN
2
(
= 1.6  10 −7
LV
4 dV2
)
( )
LSN d V2 = 1.6  10 −7 LV d SN
2
(25%)
1/ 2 1/ 2
 1 LSN   1 5.8 10 9 
= dV   = 7.76 = 129581812.59 pc
130 
d SN −7 −7
1.6 10 LV  1.6 10
= 1.3 x 108 pc (35%)
If tH is the Hubble time, then the relation between redshift, distance, and
Hubble time is:
d SN  1.3 108 pc  3.26 lyr 
tH = =   = 1.411010 years
cz  (1 lyr / yr )(0.03) 1 pc
(40%)


13. In the journey of a space craft, scientists make a close encounter with an object and
they would like to investigate the object more carefully using their on-board telescope.
For simplicity, we assume that the position of the space craft is stationary in (0,0) and
the shape of the object is a disk and the boundary has the equation
x 2 + y 2 − 10 x − 8 y + 40 = 0.

Find the exact values of maximum and minimum of tan  where  is the elevation
angle of the telescope with respect to the “horizontal” direction (x-axis) during
investigation from one edge to the other edge.

Solution:

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

I. Algebraic Solution

Let y = mx be the line of sight of the telescope. (20%)

Then, the intersection of the line of sight and the circle is
x 2 + (mx) − 10 x − 8(mx) + 40 = 0
2

(1 + m )x − (10 + 8m)x + 40 = 0
2 2 (20%)

The equation will have solution if its discriminant

D = b2 − 4ac  0,
= (−(10 + 8m)) 2 − 4(1 + m2 )40  0.

5 10 5 10 (20%)
The solution of the inequality is − m +
6 12 6 12

5 10 (20%)
Therefore the exact value of the maximum value of tan  is +
6 12

5 10 (20%)
and the minimum value is −
6 12

II. Geometric Solution

(5,4)

Let us write the equation of the circle in the following form (20%)
( x − 5) 2 + ( y − 4) 2 = −40 + 25 + 16
=1

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

The centre of the circle is (5,4) and the radius is 1

4 1 (20%)
First we obtain tan  = and tan  =
5 40
The minimum value of tan of elevation angle is (30%)
4 1
−
tan  − tan 
tan ( −  ) = 40 = 5 − 10
5
=
1 + tan  tan  1 + 4 6 12
5 40
The maximum value of tan of elevation angle is
4 1
+
tan  + tan 
tan ( +  ) = 40 = 5 + 10
5
= (30%)
1 − tan  tan  1 − 4 6 12
5 40

14. Consider a Potential Hazardous Object (PHO) moving in a closed orbit under the
influence of the Earth’s gravitational force. Let u be the inverse of the distance of the
object from the Earth and p be the magnitude of its linear momentum. As the object
travels, the graph of u as a function of p passes through points A and B as shown in the
following table. Find the mass and the total energy of the object, and sketch the shape
of u curve as a function of p from A to B.

p (×109 kg m s-1) u (×10-8 m-1)

A 0.052 5.15
B 1.94 194.17

Solution:

The mechanical energy is conserved and has the form (10%)

p 2 GMm p 2
E= − = − GMmu
2m r 2m
Insert the values for p and u for points A and B and solve for m and E.

(20%)

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

2
p
E A = A − GMmu A
2m
2
pB
EB = − GMmu B
2m
2 2
pA p
− GMmu A = B − GMmu B
2m 2m
p A − pB
2 2

m=
2GM (u A − u B )

(5.2  10 7 ) 2 − (1.94  10 9 ) 2
m= = 50 tons.
2(6.6726  10 −11 )(5.9736  10 24 )(5.15  10 −8 − 1.94  10 −6 ) (20%)

Thus,
2
p
E = E A = A − GMmu A
2m
(5.20  10 7 ) 2 (20%)
E= − (6.6726  10 −11 )(5.9736  10 24 )(50000)(5.15  10 −8 )
2(50000)
= −1.0  1012 J
To sketch the curve, we use the equation
p2 1 E (10%)
E= − GMmu u= p2 − Parabolic curve
2m 2GMm 2
GMm

(20%)

15. Galaxy NGC 2639 is morphologically identified as an Sa galaxy with measured

maximum rotational velocity vmax of 324 km/s. After corrections for any extinction, its
apparent magnitude in B is mB = 12.22. It is customary to measure a radius R25 (in
units of kpc) at which the galaxy’s surface brightness falls to 25 magB/arcsec2. Spiral
galaxies tend to follow a typical relation:
log R25 = −0.249MB − 4.00,

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

where MB is the absolute magnitude in B. Apply the B-band Tully-Fisher relation for
Sa spirals
MB = −9.95 log vmax + 3.15 (vmax in km/s)
to calculate the mass of NGC 2639 out to R25. If colour index of the sun is (mB – mV)
= 0.64, write the mass in units of solar mass M and its luminosity B-band in unit of
L .

Solution:
Absolute B magnitude of NGC 2639:
MB = −9.95 log vmax + 3.15 = −9.95 log (324) + 3.15 = −21.83 (20%)
log R25 = −0.249MB − 4.00 = 1.4357 R25 = 27.2678 pc = 8.41  1019cm (20%)
Mass estimation of NGC 2639:
v 2 R25 (324  10 5 ) 2 (8.41  1019 ) (20%)
M= = −8
= 1.32  1042 kg = 6.62  1011 M
G 6.6726  10
The B magnitude of the Sun:
MB = MV + (mB – mV) = 4.82 + 0.64 = 5.46 (20%)
meaning the Sun is fainter in the blue band relative to the A0 standard star.
Luminosity of NGC 2639 in solar luminosity (L):
−M B )
L = 100.4( M B = 100.4(5.46+ 21.83) L = 8.24 1010 L (20%)

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Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

THEORETICAL PART 2

1. The coordinates of the components of Visual Binary Star μ Sco on August 22, 2008 are
given in the table below

 (RA)  (Dec)
μ Sco 1 (primary) 20h 17m 38s.90 -12˚ 30' 30"
μ Sco 2 (secondary) 20h 18m 03s.30 -12˚ 32' 41"

The stars are observed using Zeiss refractor telescope at the Bosscha Observatory with
aperture and focal length are 600 mm and 10,780 mm, respectively. The telescope is
equipped with 765 × 510 pixels CCD camera. The pixel size of the chip is
9 μm × 9 μm.
a. Can both components of the binary be inside the frame? (“YES” or “NO”, show it
in your computation!)
b. What is the position angle of the secondary star, with respect to the North?

Solution:
a. Chip size: (9×765) μm ×(9×510) μm = 6885 μm × 4590 μm
≈ 6.9 mm × 4.6 mm (10%)
For Zeiss telescope: FL = 10780 mm
Pixel size (arc sec) = 206265 × pixel size (μm)/(1000 × focal length (mm))” (10%)
= 206265 × 9/(1000 × 10780) = 0.1722” (10%)
FOV CCD chip = (765 × 510) × 0.1722 = 131.7330 × 87.8220”
= 2.1956 × 1.4637’ (10%)
For  Sco 1 : 1 = 20h 17m 38s.90 = 20.2941h = 304.4121˚

1 = -12˚ 30' 30" = -12.5083˚

For  Sco 2 : 2 = 20h 18m 03s.30 = 20.3009h = 304.5138˚

2 = -12˚ 32' 41" = - 12.5447˚

Let the angular separation between the stars be γ
Use spherical trigonometry :
cos   cos(90o  1 ) cos(90o   2 )  sin( 90o  1 ) sin( 90o   2 ) cos( 2  1 ) (10%)

cos   cos(90o  (12o.5083)) cos(90o  (12o.5447)) 

1
Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

sin( 90o  (12o.5083)) sin( 90o  (12o.5447)) cos(304.5138o  304.4121o )

cos   cos(102.5083o ) cos(102.5447 o ) 

sin( 102.5083o ) sin( 102.5447 o ) cos(0.1017 o )  0.999998298 (10%)

  0.1057o  6.3424'

P NO, because  > 2.19562  1.4637 2 (diagonal (10%)

1 - 2
of FOV Chip).
90o - 1
90o - 2


S1 S2

b. Position angle (S1):

sin(  2  1 ) sin S1

sin  sin( 90 0   2 )

sin( 0o 6' 6") sin( 102o 32'41")

sin S1   0.9388
sin( 6'.1020)
S1 = 69.8535˚ or 110.1466˚ (20%)

From the figure above, we found that the correct position angle is 110.15 ˚ (10%)

( 6o is full mark)

2. A UBV photometric (UBV Johnson’s) observation of a star gives U = 8.15, B = 8.50,

and V = 8.14. Based on the spectral class, one gets the intrinsic color (U – B)o = -0.45.
If the star is known to have radius of 2.3 R, absolute bolometric magnitude of -0.25,
and bolometric correction (BC) of -0.15, determine:
a. the intrinsic magnitudes U, B, and V of the star (take, for the typical interstellar
matters, the ratio of total to selective extinction R = 3.2),
b. the effective temperature of the star,
c. the distance to the star.

Solution:
U = 8.15, B = 8.50, and V = 8.14.
(U – B)o = - 0.45. R = 2.3 R = 1.60 x 1011 cm ,

2
Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

Mbol = - 0.25 , BC = - 0.15

a) U – B = 8.15 – 8.50 = - 0.35
The color excess for U-B:
E(U – B) = (U – B) - (U – B)o = - 0.35 – (-0.45) = 0.10
The relation between color excess of U - B and of B - V:
E(U – B) = 0.72 E(B – V) E(B – V) = 0.10/0.72 = 0.14 (15%)
Let Av be the interstellar extinction and R = 3.2, then
Av = 3.2 E(B-V) = 3.2 (0.14) = 0.45
V – Vo = Av Vo = V – Av = 8.14 – 0.45 = 7.69
E(B – V) = (B – V) - (B – V)o (B – V)o = (B – V) - E(B – V)
= (8.50 – 8.14) – 0.14 = 0.22 (15%)
(B – V)o = Bo – Vo = 0,22 Bo = 0.22 + Vo = 0.22 + 7.69 = 7.91 (10%)
(U – B)o = Uo – Bo = - 0,45 Uo = Bo – 0.45 = 7.91 – 0.45 = 7.46 (10%)

b) Luminosity - absolute magnitude relation:

Mbol – Mbol = -2.5 log L/L L/L = 10 ( M bol  M bol )/2.5
= 10  ( 0, 254, 75) / 2,5
= 100 (10%)
L = 100 L = 3.90 x 1035 erg/det
L = 4 R2 Tef4
1/4
 3.90 1035 
1/4
 L 
Tef   2 
 11 2 
= 12 092 K
 4 R   4 (5.67 10 )(1.60 10 ) 
5 (15%)

c) Mv – Mbol = BC Mv = Mbol + BC = -0.25 – 0.15 = -0.40 (10%)

mv – Mv = -5 + 5 log d + Av 5 log d = mv – Mv +5 - Av
= 8.14 + 0.40 + 5 – 0.45 = 13.09
d = 1013.09/5 = 102.62 = 414.9 pc (15%)

3. Measurement of the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) shows that its
temperature is practically the same at every point in the sky to a very high degree of
accuracy. Let us assume that light emitted at the moment of recombination (Tr ≈
3000 K, tr ≈ 300000 years) is only reaching us now (To ≈ 3 K, to ≈1.5 x 1010 years).
Scale factor S is defined as such S0= S  t  to   1 and St  S  t  to   1. Note that

the radiation dominated period was between the time when the inflation stopped

3
Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

(t = 10-32 seconds) and the time when the recombination took place, while the
matter dominated period started at the recombination time. During the radiation
dominated period S is proportional to t1/2, while during the matter dominated period
S is proportional to t3/2.
a. Estimate the horizon distances when recombination took place. Assume that
temperature T is proportional to 1/S, where S is a scale factor of the size of the
Universe.
b. Consider two objects which are currently observed at a separation angle  = 5.
Could the two objects communicate each other using photon? (Answer with “YES”
or “NO” and give the reason mathematically)
c. Estimate the size of our Universe at the end of inflation period.

Solution:

d 

o Xo = do

d 

Time Now

a) X 0  d 0

where d  cto  t r   cto , to  t r .

Scale factor S is defined as such S0= S  t  to   1 and St  S  t  to   1.

Maximum distance between objects at the time of recombination

X r  Sr X o  Sroto c

On the other hand X r  ctr , such that

tr
ct r  S r 0to c or o 
S r to (20%)
1 S T 1 Tr
From T  then o  r and  .
S S r To S r To

o 
trTr

 
3  105 yr 3000 K 
 2  10 2 rad  1.14
So,
toTo 
1.5  1010 yr 3 K  (20%)

4
Theoretical Competition 2nd IOAA August 23, 2008

b) NO, because  >  o (20%)

c)

radiation dominated matter dominated

Universe S  t1/2 Universe S  t3/2

time at inflation time at recombination current time

ti = 10 -32 s tr = 3  105 years to = 1.5  1010 years

From the time at recombination (tr) to the current time (t0) S  t2/3, we
derive
2/3
So  to   1.5  1010 years 
    1.36  103
S r  tr   3  105 years 

The size of our universe at tr is

1.5  1010 light years
 1.11  107 light years (20%)
1.36  103
When the inflation stopped, the Universe was radiation dominated
t r 
 3 105 years to ti  10 32 s , we get
1/ 2 1/ 2
Sr  tr   9.46  1012 s 
      3.08  10 22 .
S i  t i 
32
 10 s 
The size of universe at the end of the inflation period was
1.1  107 light years (20%)
 3.57  1016 light years  3 m
3.08  10 22