STAR PARTY 2009 : Rules and Regulations

Every participating team should contain a maximum of 5 participants and only two teams can represent a
school. All participants should be currently attending school whereas the students who had already written
for the A/L exam are not eligible to take part under any circumstance whatsoever. All the participants
should be in school uniforms for the opening ceremony. It’s mandatory that the participants are
accompanied by a teacher and a parent.

All the participants should be present at the gymnasium of University of Peradeniya on or before
4.00 pm , 25th September 2009 together with clothes for warming . Students are advised to be present
before 4.00 pm. Registration will be started at 3.15 pm and closed at 4.30 pm. You will not be able to take
part in the first Theoretical round (Sun observation round) if you get late.

The Star Party mainly comprises of two segments which are Observation Competition and Workshop.

Every group, participating for the Observation Competition should possess a telescope with minimum
aperture of 2 inches maximum aperture of 8 inches. Telescopes which have electronic controlling system
(Automatic star tracking systems) are strictly prohibited for the event. The mounting system of the
telescope must be manual. Any types of binoculars are also allowed to be used.

Though you do not have a telescope, still you have a chance to participate. Please be kind enough to inform
that to either president or secretary of Anandian Astronomical Association before 10th September 2009.

If you have more than one telescope we would be pleased if you could give it to a fellow school during the
competition. If so, please be kind enough to inform us since there are many schools without telescopes.

The aperture of your telescope does not affect the final result of this competition, since the judging panel
judges your skill and the quality of your work according to the telescope aperture you use, not on the size or
the prize of equipment or apparatus you use.

Scientific calculators are allowed to be used for calculations during any observational or theoretical rounds.

Anandian Astronomical Association will be responsible for the preparation of questions and answers and
complete secrecy is guaranteed.

On all issues regarding the observation competition, the unanimous opinion of the judging panel, which
includes accredited astronomical personnel, will be the ultimate decision.

Anandian Astronomical Association will take entire responsibility regarding your personal security and your
equipment as long as you obey the rules and regulations, imposed for STAR PARTY 2009.

In connection with this event a special workshop has been arranged to promote the observation awareness
among amateur astronomy students of schools. The schools, willing to participate at the workshop, will not
be eligible to take part at the competition and vice versa. Please inform us your participation on workshop
before 10th September 2009.
About the STAR PARTY 2009 ( Competition )

Star Party 2009 Interschool Observation Competition Rounds can be divided into two sections of
Observational Astronomy
Section 01) - Observational Astronomy (Theoretical)
Section 02) – Observational Astronomy (Practical & Experimental)

Rounds of the competition
Theoretical Rounds Practical Rounds
01.) Theoretical Paper 04.) Lunar Observation
02.) Lunar observation round 05.) Jupiter Observation
03.) Viva test 06.) Mars Observation
07.) Mapping Constellations
08.) Deep sky Observation

In this competition, we will evaluate your ability on Practical Astronomy, Observational Skills in Planetary
Observation, Moon mapping , Deep Sky Observation, Mapping of constellations, Making Observation
Reports as well as theoretical knowledge of Solar observation , observational concepts and calculations
based on Observation.

Winners will be selected by overall marks of above rounds and the team that scores highest marks will be
awarded the STAR PARTY trophy.
 The Theoretical paper will consist of 30 MCQs and 20 structured essay type questions. Duration will be
1 hour. This will evaluate your knowledge of theoretical concepts in Observational astronomy.
 Solar observation round will be a paper which will consist of 20 MCQs and 20 structured essay type questions.
Duration will be 50 minutes.
 Viva test will evaluate your both practical and theoretical skills.
 Every practical round stated above, will be held at the playground of University of Peradeniya.
You are required to bring the equipment necessary for observational sessions.
 There will be a section to examine your knowledge on experimental astronomy, exclusively in Jupiter
observation round.

Past papers of STAR PARTY competition are now available at

For more information:

President ( AAA) : Eranga Jayashantha - 0112667920
Secretary ( AAA) : Kasun Jayalath - 0332227887
President ( ASMGCK) : Chalani Kendaragama - 0812233523
Secretary ( ASMGCK) : Deshini Premawrdhana
STAR PARTY 2009 ( Competition)

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