*** IceInSpace 1st Birthday Competition! ** Answers Released **

[iceman]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/picture/comp2005_celeb.jpg (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=73,227,0,0,1,0)

On the 9th of September 2005, IceInSpace will be 1 year old! To celebrate this special occassion we will be having a competition open to IceInSpace members. The competition is kindly supported by Bintel, Eddie Trimarchi and Australian Sky & Telescope.

There are over $500 worth of prizes on offer and to enter, all you have to do is be an IceInSpace Forum member (register here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/register.php?)) and answer 30 quiz style questions before 5pm the 23rd September 2005 AEST.

The competition will be officially launched on IceInSpace's 1st birthday which will be at 9am on the 9th of September 2005 AEST, at which time the questions will be posted and you can start researching!

For more information, including details of the prizes on offer and the important competition rules, can be found here on the Competition Page (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=73,227,0,0,1,0). Please be sure to read the rules carefully to ensure your entry is valid and eligible to win the great prizes!

Thankyou to our supporters, and we welcome all new members to be part of our 1st birthday celebrations!

Discussions about the competition, questions etc, please keep to this thread.

[davidpretorius]

happy birthday for the upcoming and a great idea!

8 sleeps to go!!!

just like xmas!

9am launch, it is unfair, who looks at this website whilst at work????

not me...., well sometimes...., well alot!!!

it is not my fault that i have set the system to send me instant email when a thread is added to. it is not my fault that i immediately drop everything and read the thread........it is simply not my fault that i am addicted......!!!


ps:

just had a funny image of mike at 9:01am trying to keep ahead of the 200 private message limit as we start flooding his private mail inbox.

[h0ughy]

Congratulations Mike et al. what a way to celebrate a milestone!!

questions sample:

1. How many administrators does it take to change a light globe?

2. Name the founding member of Ice in Space?

3. From question 2, what is his favourite hobbie?

4. What time of day is it called when the sun sets?

5. Spell Nagler!

6. What is the name of the telescope that Mike uses?

7. If an astronomer had a 12"Dob, 16"SCT, 20"RC, 10"SN, ED110, and a CaK90, how many telescopes does he actually own?

8. From question 7, how many extra friends would he have?


9. Name one annoying source of water?

10. how many questions have you answered correctly? :P :P :P :P :rofl: :D

[Starkler]

Indeed Houghy :)

I especially like this bit :party:

[[1ponders]]

Me too Geoff :thumbsup:

[Robby]

Nice initiative Mike. Congats on the tremendous growth of this site. It's a credit you you & your teams efforts!
Still the best astro forum on the planet. :)

[Robby]

Although I assume Kiwi's are eligible to enter? Even if we beat you in Rugby this weekend? :D

[ving]

so many people upso early!!! :)

congrats mike. gee it doesnt seem like a year, feel like this place has been going for a few years. :)

kiwis' should be allowed, they're choice mate, fully sick! :P

[Thiink]

Wow, what a way to celebrate a birthday! I have to ask, though, don't you normally celebrate a birthday by getting people to give you gifts? :p

The site has grown a lot in one year, you must be proud Mike!

[chunkylad]

Congrats Mike

Great site mate. I suppose there haven't been too many websites that I simply 'must' vist first, last and during each day, so I guess I have to admit I'm an addict too..........

Good onya Mike. Keep it up. One of THE best home-grown Aussie resources ever. Oh, and thanx for organising a competition for US to win!!!!

Cheers

Dave W

[seeker372011]

I think Houghy should be allowed to make up the questions, I'd have a chance of winning then

wow has it really been only 12 new moons?

[slice of heaven]

Shouldn't that be 13 new moons seeker? :)

[Striker]

Way to go Mike.....I bet this has out weighed your Forum expectations from a year ago.

If a Moderators wins....I'm claiming rigged.....If I win I'm also claiming rigged....lol

Good luck to all.

P.S Mike I like red cars and it must have tint.

[mojo]

hehe. I would have paid to see that! It's ok, there are limits and then there are limits ;) Anyway, you should realise by now that it would take more than a flood to stop Mike talking :poke:

Good luck to everyone! They should be eeeeasy questions for such a knowledgable group of astronomers :thumbsup:

[[1ponders]]

C'mon Tony. Put your 20Da up for 4th prize :D

[Starkler]

Have you factored in postage costs if someone who can see polaris wins?

[Rodstar]

Anniversaries provide a good time to reflect on the past and plan the future (my wife and I recently went to Tassie to celebrate our 12th anniversary!)

Regarding the past, I'm so fortunate to have stumbled across this site in January 2005. Had I not, then I would:

1. Be struggling with a C11-SGT rather than my almost dummy-proof LX200
2. Have no idea how to use a microfocuser
3. Have no clue about collimation
4. Consider astronomy a lonely sport
5. Have never have been to a star party
6. Know several less Kiwis (Hi Robby!)
7. Have an extra 30 minutes every second day
8. Never have met the "Kulnura Gang", some of whom I am proud to call "friends"

Regarding the future, I am very intrigued to wonder:

1. How many IIS members there will be in another year?
2. When the IIS Political Party will be founded, and what the hell its policies would be, other than strict light pollution regulations enforced under martial law
3. When all astronomical societies in Australia and New Zealand will fold in favour of all amateur astronomers joining IIS
4. When Mike's wife is going to put her foot and down, and tell Mike, "This has all gotten too far out of hand!"?

I for one will be raising a glass (or beer bottle) on Saturday night to honour this fantastic site, and all who contribute to make it what it is. :thumbsup:

[atalas]

Boy I just don't know what to say really ,but a big congrats to the founding member and his helpers and all the IceInSpace members who make this site what It is !
I'm looking forward to celebrating IIS birthday on Saturday night with a great bunch of people who get out to Kulnura . To tell you the truth I feel like I celebrate the existence of this site every meet.
Good luck in the competition averyone ! :thumbsup:
Louie :drink: :cool:

[gaa_ian]

To Celebrate the upcoming birthday I will make this my 500th post ...
:cool: :thumbsup: :cool: :thumbsup: :cool:
Iceinspace rules .... :bowdown:
:party2:

[davidpretorius]

here here Rod, nicely said!!

Hey everyone, lets tell asimov that asimovtares needs splitting again and andromeda and saturn need close scrutiny, so that asimovs usual sleep time of 5 am to 8:30 am might get extended to say 9:15!

he is so gonna whip my butt with the answers off the top of his head along with a few others. I will need til the end of sept i reckon

[iceman]

If it only takes you 1 minute to answer 30 questions, I'll be impressed :D


Of course, all IceInSpace Forum members are eligible to enter.


hmm, good point Simon! Time to rework the page :poke: ;)


It sure has Tony, by a long shot. I'm very proud of what this site has become.

Thanks Rod, for your great post. I'm also very happy to call many people here on IceInSpace my friends, especially the Kulnura gang. And thanks to everyone else for your kind comments, it's very much appreciated.

This competition has 4 main purposes, from my point of view:
1. To celebrate our 1st birthday
2. To unite the community
3. To be a promotional tool to extract new members out of the woodwork into our great community
4. To give something back to you, the IceInSpace community, for your support over the past year.

Announcing the competition a week before the launch date is to give the people who don't browse every day, a chance to catch up and see the news. When the 1st birthday ticks over and the competition is launched on the 9th of September, you can be sure there'll be another long post from me to mark the event :)

[asimov]

iceinspace FOREVER!:)

This site rocks, & everyone that partakes in it! :thumbsup: Congrats Mike & everyone else involved on a terrific site!

And Dave? I split antares again tonight! :D Good luck in the comp everyone!

[cometcatcher]

Don't make the questions too hard pleeeze. Take the young members into consideration as well as those going through their second childhood like me. :whistle:

[iceman]

The Questions are posted!

Check it out, at the competition page.

Don't forget to read the rules and the instructions for how to enter.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=73,227,0,0,1,0

[davidpretorius]

what???? 5 minutes late!!!!


thanks mike!

[Striker]

OMG....I just read the questions....

Why...why...why are the questions related to astronomy....I think I only know the answer to 1....lol....ask me about Computers or Marine Aquariums or even women...but not astronomy.....I failed....good luck too all....Eddie can I buy that image of the tarrantula.

Congrats to IceinSpace first birthday....may it be 1 of 50 to come....hahah Mike at 80years...lol

[mojo]

rofl. c'mon Tony! You've got 2 weeks! :rolleyes:
If I could answer them, you certainly can!

It's not a race. If you answer them correctly, you have as much chance of winning as anybody else.

[Striker]

Can I just pay someone to take out first prize...so whats it going to take Terry just between the 2 of us no one else will read this thread trust me.... how about $100 or I will even consider 2 x $50's.

[mojo]

If you answer all the questions correctly, I promise Mike will put your entry on the top before the barallel gets spun :)

[ballaratdragons]

Geez,

I just read the 30 questions and I don't know the answer to any of them. Not even one!!!!

[iceman]

I don't expect anyone to know the answers without researching (http://www.google.com.au) it :D

[ballaratdragons]

Homework!!!! Yuk!!!!!!!!!!!!

[acropolite]

Google Tony,.. Google.......:P

[Striker]

Research....I'm with Ken..Yuk

If I did research that would mean I know everything.....which means all you intelligent people wouldn't get the high out of answering all our noob questions....see it's all about balance...actualy you should thank us for not knowing anything....hehehe

[cometcatcher]

We'd be lost without google!

[iluvsaturn]

May you have many many more. This site is one best sites I have the privilege of being a member of, yes I have entered the competition and Google helped a lot but I did manage to get the Galileo questions without help, oh and the magnitude one I think ooh hang on the Rupas recta and the space craft and of course the Saturn one. Great quiz you guys I am waiting with anticipation to see my results, I hope they are given, :prey: gee just like being back at school again.
I hope the tickets don't blow off when I stand in the wind!!!!

All the best to everyone and goodluck from

Iluvsaturn:cool: :scared2: :thumbsup: 1.11am

[33South]

I found Google quite often returned a link back to the IIS quiz, but with perseverance and coffee the final score was

Chris 5 (maybe) :confuse2:
Google 25 (probably):whistle:

[netwolf]

Try this secret word with your Google search "wiki" magic word that wiki.
I spent 2-3 hours on those questions, i just wan to know if i got em right or not. Some were easy some were very difficult even with Google. Some are tricky, i mean how do you pick from 48 moons...

[janoskiss]

It's tough enough as it is! I want to win that Bintel $200 credit & the framed Eddie Trimarchi print! Or the Rigel & S&T subscription! (Second prize is almost as good as first!) There's no way any of you are getting any help from me! :P :P :P

[RB]

Yes but how do I find Google? :rofl: :doh: :help3::poke:

[h0ughy]

www.dogpile.com then type in google :whistle:

[h0ughy]

there are some obscure and hard to find answers out there

[RB]

Thanks Houghy,
I new someone would help me. :rofl:

:thumbsup:

[netwolf]

I recall the first science joke i ever heard..

Some visiting guests at a University Faculty of Science are shown there most priced possesion. It hangs in an illuminated display, and it is the Final Quizz questions.. The guests ask but wont the students learn the answers, to which the lecturers reply dont mater the answers change every year... ;)

I mean really which 2 moons.. out of 48 and counting... lol I did not even know there were 48 plus to chose from. And every website provides a diffrent answer, because they dont all know about new discoveries.. Nice closing question Mike..
And i could go on but i wont.. not till the comp is over..

[h0ughy]

I must ask the progenitor of the questions to clarify one question, number 21. There are significant differences in answers for this one. Is it possible for you to clarify your question?

[netwolf]

That question was awful, infact i think i got it wrong.. so many diffrent answes. Like i said before the answer keeps changing. Those darn scientists..

Is it too late to change my answer... pls pls pls..

[iceman]

Regarding question 21, I'll accept answers that include the sun or don't include the sun. So don't worry if you didn't include the sun, you won't be wrong.

I didn't think of the sun when the question came up, so i'll defer to this rule:


Thanks for bringing it up h0ughy.

[iceman]

I'm quite sure the number of stars brighter than 0 haven't changed for a long time. I'll get back to you.

[h0ughy]

No worries Mike! BTW have you got the answers for questions 1-30 that you could give me :whistle:

[h0ughy]

hang on a minute, now i am thoroughly confused :confuse2: :confused: . this is the question:
21. How many stars have (visual) magnitudes of less than 0? Name them.

should the question read
21.(houghy version) How many stars have (visual) magnitudes of more than 0? Name them.

what is going on Mike?

[iceman]

I thought -1 is less than 0 houghy?

It means brighter.. does that make it easier to understand? :)

[h0ughy]

No to be a complete PITA :poke: , I understood the question to take in magnitudes from 0 to 6.5 or even 7.1 as these are less than 0 astronomically speaking which means that you have xxxx items and not yy (not to give too much away). Thats what I understood the meaning of "less than".

[iceman]

Well I dunno h0ughy, so far out of the entries received, you're the only one who has been confused by it. I certainly wouldn't expect you to name thousands of stars dimmer than magnitude zero :)

Less than = brighter than.

[h0ughy]

dumber than houghy = brighter than houghy = 1 :doh: :doh: :rofl: :rofl:

sorry Mike! I get stuck on fine print (must be left over from work) :D

[slice of heaven]

Their is one question I'm stuck on Mike.
Will the common answer be accepted, or the 'new' answer? Surely only one is correct? :shrug:
Like netwolf said, "they keep changing the answers"

[iceman]

I don't know which question (or answer) you're talking about Geoff, either post it here or PM me and i'll clarify.

In general, if there's a common answer most likely it will be accepted to be correct. If there's something new that I didn't discover when researching Q's and A's, then of course that will also be correct.

[netwolf]

Are we allowed to change our answers to a question post entry, but before closing date??

[iceman]

Will get back to you on that.

[slice of heaven]

In reply to your PM

Thanks Mike :thumbsup:
That makes it fair for everyone :)

[iceman]

Yes, you can.

[h0ughy]

Hey Mike Nice countdown clock on the left Mate!! Does IIS self destruct at the third stroke?

[iceman]

Thanks Terry for the countdown timer, looks great!

[[1ponders]]

Mojo Mojo He's our Man. If he can't do it, no one can. :party2: :party2: :party2:

Love it Terry! Lets me know how much time I have left before procrastinating beats me :lol:

[acropolite]

Maybe when the contests over we can countdown to the next new moon, or even christmas....:xmas:

[iceman]

Plans are already afoot for an event calendar with a countdown timer :)

[[1ponders]]

I Know! I Know....A countdown to the completion of the members map :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::poke::poke ::poke::D

[iceman]

I don't think the timer goes that high Paul! :P

Also, for competition hopefuls, to answer a question I received via PM, i'll answer it here incase others are also wondering:

You won't receive any indication of whether your answers are right or wrong before the competition closes.

[mojo]

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<param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" />
<param name="movie" value="/countdown/countdown_map.swf" />
<param name="menu" value="false" />
<param name="quality" value="best" />
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<param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" />
<embed src="/countdown/countdown_map.swf" menu="false" quality="best" salign="t" bgcolor="#000000" width="120" height="50" name="countdown2" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" />
</object>

[RB]

That's so cool mojo,

Well done. :rofl:

[[1ponders]]

:lol: You're a funny man Terry :lol: We"ll hold you to it too :rofl:

[janoskiss]

I despise each and every one of you! :mad2: Especially the person who came up with Q. 28! :doh:

[netwolf]

Yes agreed Q28 could be a little more specific. Ok so if we say its should be astronomy related there is still a bit of ambiguity over her discoveries.

[janoskiss]

All done! :D
That was hard work...

BTW. I like the passive use of the flash plugin on the countdown clock. Today I am on a PC without a flash plugin and I'm pleased to see that the site does not annoy me about. :thumbsup:

[netwolf]

I reserve the right to correct my answers again, iceman must be quiet tired of me by now. I have sent him 2 variations. But for the time being i think i am done and hope they are all right. I also hope that i win... but winning is not everthing. I would like to see more of these quizes, even though i lost a lot of sleep over them i enjoyed the research. Leraned lots of things along the way, there is defenetly more to astronomy than looking through a telescope.

Regards

[jackenau]

:confused: I found the competition to be very challenging and at the same time educational. a credit to Mike and Terry who must have spent quite a bit of time looking for difficult questions that would be difficult to google.

Jeeves helped quite a bit :thumbsup:

All aside there are still a couple of answers I am doubtful on. :shrug:

Would have preferred to send my answers as an attachement as they included relevant supporting documentation. Had to shorten by 75% and stick to basics.

I hope all those that participated had as much fun as I did in seeking out the answers. :D

Keep up the great work Mike. :thumbsup:

Ken M

[h0ughy]

YEs have to agree with you there, well done Mike ;)

[janoskiss]

Ken, Houghy, everyone, Quit sucking up to the boss! :lol: It won't help you win. :P :P

[h0ughy]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: not true :whistle:

[netwolf]

Only those with one scope or less should win, the rest have to much gear already.. ;)

[janoskiss]

And people with EQ platforms and any electronic DSO finding aides should not be allowed to win either. :P

[mojo]

Actually Mike & Mike came up with those excellent questions.

[jackenau]

:whistle: Thanks for the correction Terry, my mistake. Love the countdown clock on the side. :D

OK then. Congratulations to Mike & mike for coming up with the challenging questions. I am sure that must have taken equally if not more time to complile then actaully finding the answers. :scared: :scared: :scared:


Ken M

[dugnsuz]

Thanks for the learning curve - I enjoyed the search...Google that is

Cheers

Doug

[iceman]

Thanks guys, Mike Smith from Bintel and I came up with the questions. It was difficult finding a good variety of questions that actually took some research and was not just the 1st answer in google all the time.

I understand that some of them are a bit ambiguous and have multiple answers, which is why the rules say that if there are more than 1 correct answer, any of those correct answers will be accepted in your entry.

Also, while it's nice that some people are including supporting documentation on how they arrived at the answer, it's not strictly necessary. If your answer differs from mine, i'm not going to immediately mark it as wrong - i'll do some searching to find out how you arrived at your answer to see if it's an example of multiple correct answers. Especially if more than one person submitted the same answer as you.

Thanks to those that are supporting the quiz by getting your entries in. I would've expected to see more entries by now, but there's still 3 days to go. I hope I see an influx of entries in the last 3 days!

[[1ponders]]

Mike, don't you remember your school rules. Always leave your assignments til the last minute. :lol: Those still at school ignore my last comment. :P

[janoskiss]

No, no, no! Don't listen to Mike! The quiz is too hard. It's not worth your trouble! :D :whistle:
...mmmmm prizes prizes prizes prizes prizes! Mine, mine, mine! :wink2:

http://www.blackwolf-images.com/images/wbg/loon/d_sq.jpg

[TidaLpHasE]

Mike, They were great questions and not at all easy, well some of them were sort of, i learnt a fair bit reading all the info google produced, and found it enjoyable to participate in the comp.:thumbsup:

[cristian abarca]

I agree. It was not a very easy quiz but it was a lot of fun. The only thing though I wish I had of used google sooner. It only took me 10 questions to work that one out. There should be more of these. Very educational. Well done Mike.

Regards Cristian:thumbsup:

[wavelandscott]

I enjoyed it a bunch...however, it did drive my wife and kids crazy as I took valuable internet time from everyone else in search of the answers...

Good Work All!

[iceman]

I sent out a blanket email to all members this morning, reminding them that the closing date is approaching.

So if you have already submitted your entry, don't worry! The email wasn't specifically targetted at you :)

[iceman]

Not long to go folks, get those last minute entries in!

[Striker]

30 minutes to go before I take out first prize....

Easiest 30 questions I have ever answered...lol

Please post it direct Mike ASAP.

[h0ughy]

Get a life Striker :rofl: I have first prize sewn up :poke:

[Thiink]

Thanks for the quiz Mike, it was good fun. Even if I got some of them wrong and am not entered it was great anyway, and I learnt some stuff!

2min30seconds to go! I hope everyone got their entries in.

edit: aw, I watched it go to zero and was half expecting something cool to happen. :P

[Striker]

Still waiting for my phone call Mike...lol

[janoskiss]

You've got all the toys you need already, Tony! :P

[netwolf]

I think its going to take some time to mark or is it... At lest give us the answers that you think are right, and we can have some heated discussions ;)..

[ving]

I can tell you who the winner isnt ;)

[ausastronomer]

Well I have no idea who the winner is. Don't think it will be me because I probably got a couple wrong and someone will get them all right. I knew the answers to 15 or 16 questions off the top of my head but I also own a lot of astronomy/telescope books and have read them all numerous times. I think this was one of the best ever astronomy quizzes I have seen, as there were a lot of really obscure answers and researching the questions I didnt know in my books and with google taught me a lot so my heartiest congratulations to the 2 Mikes for coming up with such an excellent set of questions.

Clear Skies and good luck to everyone

CS-John B

PS: Mike, now that the quiz has closed maybe you should post the answers as "you" currently have them for everyone to see :)

[janoskiss]

Are you sure about that? Go on, read question 15 again very very carefully and have a good think about exactly what it is asking.

[ausastronomer]

Steve,

I made a statement that I knew the answers to over 1/2 the questions off the top of my head without researching them. I don't see what question 15 itself actually has to do with this because that was 1 that I didn't actually know and had to look up. I knew roughly what it was but didn't know the exact number.

CS-John B

[janoskiss]

:doh: Sorry John! I read your post too quickly, and read "15-16 questions" as "questions 15-16". :doh:

I guess it was too hard to believe that you could answer so many questions without looking them up, so my brain subconsciously "fixed up" what you wrote. :scared2: :D

[ausastronomer]

Steve,

I just checked my bookcase. I own 36 Books on Astronomy, telescopes or telescope optics not counting star charts, Atlases or Emphemeris. I know a lot of people who will own lots more than 36. I have read all of them at least once, some several times and I also continually refer back to them as I reference other things. I have also spent thousands of hours on the internet researching and reading other Astronomy papers and newsgroups over the years. You would like to think something stuck over all this time :)

CS-John B

[netwolf]

15 is easy if you look up the Albedo....

[davidpretorius]

thanks Mike et all, well organised, well run & well done!

[ausastronomer]

Netwolf,

That encyclopedia thingy is excellent. Unfortunately I didn't even bother to follow this thread till about 2 hrs ago which was after the quiz closed. I read all the posts tonite and saw your link to that Wikipedia thing but didn't follow it before. Just went there now and its got some excellent info, thanks for the link. Wish I went there before quiz closing actually.

CS-John B

[netwolf]

Yeah Wiki's are great, because the are opent to all to edit, and the edit is recorded. Generraly the realy truth (if that possible in the real world), the garbage is usualy replaced by real facts.

I think the Wiki concept would work even in our forums for the howto's etc. Allowing others to correct anything from spelling errors, to mathamatical ones etc etc...

I am big SCI-FI buff so i use the wiki to look up all the show information etc..


Regards

[TidaLpHasE]

:cool:Whoohooo i won! Didn't i................ someone............ hello........:D

[h0ughy]

Yes you've won!!!








the right to wait like the rest of us :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :poke:

[iceman]

I will put up what I end up using as the correct answers. But it won't be till next week, after I've had the chance to go through everyone's entries and finalise what the correct answers are - because as most of you will have found out, there's sometimes more than 1 answer. So before I mark someone wrong on a particular question if their answer differed from mine, I have to find out how they arrived at that answer and whether anyone else arrived at the same conclusion.

So I will put the answer up that were used to mark everyone.

However I won't be contacting individuals to say "you got X out of 30" or "you got Y out of 30". If you care, you will mark your own I'm sure.

I also won't be posting who is in the draw for the prizes. It will be a surprise to everyone until the 1st/2nd and 3rd names are pulled out. Hopefully this will take place next week (later in the week).

Remember guys, the quiz was for fun and it was great to have prizes to offer. I will be marking on the side of leniancy for the questions with multiple answers, so I'm hoping I don't get complaints from people along the lines of "no way man, my answer was right" or "no way man, you shouldn't include that as a correct answer".

Just remember it was all for fun to celebrate our first birthday, don't take it too seriously.

It was great to hear the positive feedback about how many of you enjoyed actually researching and doing the quiz. With feedback like that, i'll make sure there's more of these lined up in the future. I'll think of some other occassion to have one, rather than wait until our 2nd birthday :)

I didn't get quite as many entries (or new members) as I had hoped, I'd hoped to have cracked 500 members by the end of the quiz, but oh well.. maybe next time :) Next time i'll try and arrange a $5k LX200 as a prize, maybe then more people will take the time to (sign up and) enter :)

Thanks again for the feedback, and i'll keep you updated with the draw early next week.

I'm planning to do the draw in the Bintel office in Sydney, and i'm sure locals will be more than welcome to come along too!

[h0ughy]

Thanks Headmaster Mike !

We always enjoy being marked fairly and with consistancy and of course your answers are always correct (you wrote the questions). we who need to be quite while the game is afoot and salute you for a wonderful quiz

[RapidEye]

I haven't followed the thread that closely lately, but I'm assuming he is talking about the Wikipedia. You are correct: IMHO, it may actually be the best thing on the internet! It certainly embodies many of the best principles of the internet at least: free information, multilingual, collaboration, self healing, etc.



LOL - its only been advertised on the left hand side of ever page on this website for the last 2 weeks:rofl:

Just yankin' yer chain John...:scared:

[slice of heaven]

Thanks Mike and Mike, it was a great excercise :thumbsup:
I probably spent more time sidetracked on sites that were irrelevent to the quiz. Found some great astronomy databases that will prove invaluable in the future.
How about 1 for Xmas then, the LX200 would be nice under someone's tree. :xmas:

Your not far off the 500 member mark Mike :thumbsup:

[Striker]

As the winner of this comp I would like to congratulate the efforts of all the runners up...well done...better luck next time.

Seriously the winner will deserve the prize's after those questions.

[Astroman]

I will be away when the draw is announced, hope there is no short time limit for receiving of goods.

[33South]

Who needs Google

Just reading Oct 2005 AST as opposed to looking at the images (and ads) - there on page 56 the answer to Q18, wonder how many more can be found ?

Chris

[iceman]

Ok guys, I've finished marking everyone entries. It took far too long copying them into excel! :) Next time, i'll write an online system for people to answer them :)

I've sent them to mojo to double-check my accepted answers, and once I hear back from him, i'm hoping to post the answers tonight so you can check your own entries (if you care ;)) and predict whether you're in the running! :)

I'm expecting there will be some debate over some of the answers, especially if it means you got 29 out of 30 instead of 30 out of 30! :tasdevil: I'll be doing my best to explain how I arrived at the answers or why some were not accepted.

I'm hoping the debate will be over by Friday at lunch, which is when I'm planning to head into Bintel to draw the winners!

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to enter the quiz!

[davidpretorius]

thanks for organising it, turn off your phone, email & head for the hills with the family. that way when we get kranky, you can argue amongst ourselves.

[toetoe]

A few people will be bitting finger nails now, good luck to all.

[RB]

Hey Mike can people come down to Bintel and watch the draw? :cool:

:thumbsup:

[iceman]

Yep, for sure!

Though I just found out I might have something on at work on Friday at lunch, so it'll either be Thursday this week, or Tuesday next week.

I'll let everyone know as soon as i've sorted out what i'm doing.

[ving]

this friday?
I will see if i can pop in, just for support :)
I am having training at the state library that day.

[iceman]

It will now probably be thursday afternoon, rather than Friday.

[ving]

well actually I am in the city thursday AND friday :P
what time you looking at mike?

[iceman]

Damn, couldn't get rid of him :P

Sometime between 2pm and 5pm :) Sorry, will be more accurate in the next day or so.

[iceman]

Guys,

The answers are released!

Competition Answers! (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=73,227,0,0,1,0)

Please check your answers over. Now, before you post here or email/PM me with a complaint, or to ask whether you were marked right or wrong, remember the following:

Only entries who scored 30/30 will go into the draw for the prizes.
Check the answer in question again, do the research again.
Use common sense, remember, I said I would be fairly relaxed on the marking. I've commented in the answers where more than one answer is accepted as correct.
I will not be revealing who makes it to the final draw.


If you still have questions or want to debate an answer, feel free to post it here or PM me.

You have until Thursday, 11am. It's up to you if you want to tell people how many you got correct.

Thanks guys, it was a lot of fun!

[davidpretorius]

how nervous was i, i had butterflies whilst checking my answers....

[toetoe]

Like being back in school David.:)

[ballaratdragons]

I didn't get any right! :shrug:



Oh, that's right, I didn't enter :D

[Chrissyo]

I'm out of the running. I got 12 wrong I think (Darn Astonomy for Idiots!) and I misread question 21.

Maybe next time. It sure was fun though! :D

[davidpretorius]

i have one of my answers that is 50/50, needing clarification from the good man up there in NSW.

nervous wait......

[ving]

ok I wont come then :tantrum:
we need a tantrum smilie....

tantrum smilie? almost as bad as a fun run! what an oxymoron! :D

[Striker]

Looks like I got all 40 right.....lol

[TidaLpHasE]

:prey: :prey: :shrug: :confused: :whistle::prey2: :scared: :doh: :sad: :lol: :poke::poke:

[netwolf]

Looks like i got all 30 right... I think.. now i have to get through the draw...

Mike, can you advise how many got all 30 right? How many entrants? How many new members we got? etc etc..

[ving]

you will be put into mike undies draw!:scared3:

:poke:

[davidpretorius]

what 40???? there is only 2, i answered "what is your secret question" and "what is your name" sections properly in the iceinspace sign up?

i am sure i got them right.


where are the other 38??


mike....MIKE.....wait.....hang on a tick!

[iceman]

Not now, maybe after the draw.


About 50, off the top of my head. +/- 2.


Impossible to tell how many new members that signed up in the last month were a direct result of the competition, the advertising in AS&T, the advertising in S&S, the article on the ASV site, or any of the other means that people find their way here.

There were only a handful of entries to the competition that were new members; that is, members who signed up after the competition was announced and then entered the competition. I was hoping there'd be a few more in that category, but as Greg B pointed out to me in a PM, at first glance, the questions look quite hard and it may have turned some people off.

However a number of entries were from older members who generally haven't posted on the forums yet - hopefully this will be a first step to getting them to contribute to the broader forum chatter and saying g'day!


To answer (publicly) a PM about the Lunar Prospector question (in-case anyone else is also wondering), if you answered both Lunar Prospector and Clementine, you were marked correct.

[[1ponders]]

:(:(:( half an answer wrong. the only one I didn't check :tasdevil: :tasdevil: :tasdevil: Dobson is not a chinese name :(:(:(

[Astroman]

I wont brag WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO 30 out of 30 best score in a test out of my whole life. YAY
:party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party:

Great competiton!!!!

[iceman]

I couldn't believe it when I saw your answer to that one, Paul! :poke: Don't trust that old rusty brain of yours! :)

[ausastronomer]

Mike,

If you Mark Clementine correct for question 11 when it is clearly incorrect in terms of the "strict" wording of the question, you have to mark "Comet C/1790 A1" correct for question 28. This is just being consistent as the scenarios surrounding both questions and answers are identical and yup I am saying it cause its the only 1 I got wrong :D

CS-John B

[xstream]

:( :( :( One part of one question wrong. I just went and burnt the book that gave the answer. :evil: :evil: :evil: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[[1ponders]]

Rusty!!! Damn thing is petrified :mad: I tell my students "Check your answers. Check your answers." And what do I do "I know that one :D " :tasdevil: :tasdevil: :tasdevil:

[wavelandscott]

I am assuming that other names for Rigil Kent are accepted in question 21...

Is this reasonable to assume?

[iceman]

Sorry John B, but I have to say, the Comet one was probably the most incorrectly answered one. You weren't the only one to find the 3rd comet discovery.. about 10-15 other people did as well :)

Scott, Rigel Kent and Alpha Centauri were both marked correct. It's perfectly reasonable to assume that :)

[ausastronomer]

I think your missing my point entirely Mike, your clearly not being consistent, I couldn't give a Rats ar-- about going in the draw so take me out and mark the others correct that answered Comet C1790 A1. Or, mark Clementine incorrect for Q11 to at least be consistent.

CS-John B

[janoskiss]

John, if your answer was sg like "Her third DSO discovery was NGC253 and third comet discovery was C/1790 A1", then you might have some sort of a case. Otherwise no prizes for you! :P

[Howzat]

Damn. :doh: I blame Greg Bryant (http://www.asnsw.com/universe/1997/comet-0597.htm) :D

[elusiver]

ohhhhhhhh :( :( :( :(

missed out on 28.. the comet one also.. DOH! :doh:

got spot on for everything else. :(

el :(

[janoskiss]

Don't blame Greg, Phil. You've got to read the passage you quoted in context. Early in the article we read "Herschel's first comet discovery came on the night of 1st August, 1786".

But I don't think NGC 253 is correct either. There are webpages saying so, but if you look at the records there is a enough ambiguity that any one of around 10 or so objects might have actually been the third discovery.

http://cometography.com/biographies/herschelc.html

I believe the above article is so definite about NGC 253 being the third because it's easier to tell (make up) the story in this way. First this happened on this date, second this on that date and third another thing on another definite date. Bang, bang, bang. Now that sounds really convincing, and makes the author sound like they know their stuff. But if they honestly said that there were these dozen or so early discoveries in 1783, a few of which we have exact dates for, but most of which we don't know exactly when, and some of those might not really have happened at all, or might have happened later or were due to someone else, and there is some conflicting data and ambiguities in the historical records and so on; that sort of thing is much harder to narrate.

www.seds.org has the facts on C. Herschel along with useful references.

[iceman]

John, I did not mark Clementine correct, as Steve has pointed out. I only marked it correct where someone had the answer something like "Clementine and then Lunar Prospector".

Only 2 people (I think) put Clementine on it's own, and they were marked wrong.

[h0ughy]

Hey Mike, I did a stupid thing and didnt keep a copy of what I sent you, can you send my PM of the answers I gave back to me?

[janoskiss]

Isn't it in your PM Sent folder, Houghy?

[h0ughy]

ordinarily Iwould say yes, but I had a cleanout, and I thought i did keep it but I can't find it. :whistle:

[cristian abarca]

Dough missed by that much (3). still lot's of fun.

regards Cristian

[slice of heaven]

Out of pure curiosity only. Which PN is actually the largest of the other 3 mentioned ?

[ausastronomer]

Mike,

Then I have no issues.

You said in your earlier post, " If you put 'Clementine' you were marked correct" which I did have issue with because its not the correct answer to the question that was asked.

CS-John B

[ausastronomer]

Slice,

I am not sure which is the actual correct answer.

I put Sharpless 2-216 which has an angular size of 1.6 degrees. PG1034+001 which has only recently been discovered has an angular size of almost 2 degrees. The Helix has an angular size of 16' (that depends on which source you check). The Helix is generally regarded as the largest visible in amateur telescopes but as they grow that no longer really holds true as Sharpless 2-216 is visible in scopes over 16" aperture under pristine conditions.

CS-John B

[ballaratdragons]

By the sound of the confusion, I'm glad I didn't enter LOL!!! On the page before this one someone mentioned that maybe people didn't enter because the questions looked too hard. BINGO!

I am one of those. I really didn't feel like spending endless hours googling all the answers. But I am glad others had fun doing it.

[slice of heaven]

Thanks John.
Hewett 1 is over 2 degs, but extremely faint and probably not visible in amateur scopes visually.
http://www.rdcrisp.darkhorizons.org/Hewett1_page.htm

[asimov]

Yeah, I must confess I did'nt bother entering the comp for the same reason Ken..Not my idea of fun. :confused: But everyone to their own hey! :thumbsup:

[ballaratdragons]

Cheryl gave it a go but found conflicting answers in different googled sites! Work that one out.

[netwolf]

This was my source
"The Largest Known Planetary Nebula on the Sky"
http://www.ing.iac.es/PR/newsletter/news8/science2.html


I also mentioned SH2-216.

[slice of heaven]

Netwolf
So PG1034+001 is the white dwarf in Hewett1 ?
Therefore Hewett1 comes out on top as the largest ?

[janoskiss]

According to a very recent issue of S&T Sh 2-216 is the largest PN. But, just like galaxies, the sizes of these objects are fuzzy, because they are defined by the the ability of the instruments available to distinguish material in the object from the background sky. As the instruments get better, the measured sizes of nebulae and galaxies grow.

[slice of heaven]

So using that assessment Steve the Helix should still be regarded as the largest as neither you nor I can see any of the others in our scopes :confuse3:

[janoskiss]

No, Slice, it's not what we as individuals can see. It's about what is known. And what is known is revealed by the best instruments there are here on Earth and also in space.

[ballaratdragons]

I like simple questions like: How far is 'up'? :scared2:

[janoskiss]

Simple questions are the hardest to answer.

[ausastronomer]

Not IMO

The question was:-

Quote "What is the largest (degrees of arc) planatery nebula?"

I don't see how the Helix fits this criteria in any way other than a lot of people probably gave it as their answer. I don't see the words "visible in 16 telescopes or smaller" anywhere in the wording of the question.

CS-John B

[cahullian]

Gee do we all have to be so pedantic about this? I got all the answers Mike posted after a lot of hard research, some of it quite conflicting. But don't forget it was meant as a bit of fun and the judges decision is final. I knew something like this was going to happen, the site has been getting a bit petty lately and that was the reason I didn't enter the comp. I had a real blsst finding the answers and learnt a lot along the way. That was the real prize for me. :thumbsup:

Gazz

[wavelandscott]

According to Doug Snyder from the Planetary Nebulae Observers Home Page (www.blackskies.com) in an e-mail I recieved from him when replying to the question stated that Hewitt1 was the current largest but that the answer could and would change as new observations with more sensitive equipment were made...

[janoskiss]

Gazz, judges decisions may be final, but don't let that stop us arguing about them. :D It's half the fun! :jump2:

I'll throw another one in for fun:

"Q 15: What percentage of sunlight is reflected from the Moon?"

What does that say? Consider how much sunlight there is (A) and how much of that light is reflected by the Moon (B). Then the answer to the question is the ratio of B to A in percentage units. And the answer is around a billionth of one percent. Not anywhere near the judges' answer. :P :D

[ballaratdragons]

I think everyone that entered should be placed in the draw coz you all tried. That's gotta be worth something. Sods like me miss out coz I was too lazy to study and that's fair too.

[ausastronomer]

Gaz,

Stirring the pot and chewing the fat is 1/2 the fun.

CS-John B

[iceman]

Ken,

Next quiz we'll make the question like those raffle tickets..



That way, everyone will get off their butt and enter! :D

[slice of heaven]

Then why quote a source with out of date information that names SH 2-216 as the largest PN?

[slice of heaven]

I agree John
I was only replying to the statement Steve made.

[slice of heaven]

Gazz, I only brought the subject up to see which PN rightfully should be wearing the crown,out of pure curiousity, not to doubt the validity of the answers. I Pm'd Mike before submitting the answer to that question and happily accepted his reply.
Yes it was fun doing the search, I learnt a lot more than just the answers to the questions. I cant wait for the next one.

[ving]

wouldnt radio astronomy bring even more out? was the question "visual"
I dont know, I am just clutching at straws.

I didnt enter either, mainly cause I am lazy but also the questions were over my head....

I think your idea for the next one is good mike :thumbsup: ;)
tho i am having problems working it out... :shrug:

[mick pinner]

where are the answers?

[Astroman]

Click on the 1st Birthday thing on the Left or go here >>> http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=73,227,0,0,1,0

[RB]

G'day Mike,

Still on for tomorrow arvo @ Bintel? Time?

:D

[iceman]

Yep, still on tomorrow @ Bintel. I expect it will be about 4pm-ish. I'll post here tomorrow when I know for sure.

[ving]

gee I might be late :P
or maybe not... just have to keep you guessing huh! ;)

[RapidEye]

Wooot!!! :cool:
Got all 30 right then :scared:

Fun stuff Mike - Thanks again for a great site and a fun contest!!! :thumbsup: :bowdown:

[Thiink]

I got one wrong! :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

I put Caroline Herschel's third comet discovery instead of her third actual discovery! :doh: Oh well, maybe next time. Good luck to everyone who got them all right! :)

[iceman]

I'll be at Bintel around 4pm or 4:15pm this afternoon for the draw, if anyone wants to join us!

[33South]

Oh My Darling Clementine - NOT
and retrospective thoughts on my other answers

I don't think I deserve a point for Helix

Without being pedantic about the validity of the answers given, my research showed technicaly the correct answers s/be

Q 20 "Freidrick Otto Schott"
Q 21 "Alpha Centauri A" (plus the others)

or am I just plain wrong ?

Anyway great fun, thanks IceMan. :thumbsup:

May force myself into to Bintel this arvo I only work round the corner,
but I have a problem with always finding something 'I need' whenever I drop by.

[iceman]

Hi 33South..

It was never my intention to be that pedantic about the answers, it wasn't in the spirit of the competition.. after all, it's not like we were giving away a $10,000 prize :)

So technically, you're correct but I answered everyone with the same leniancy (and warned it would be that way) so in that respect it was fair :)

Hope to see you there this arvo.

[iceman]

Well i'm off to Bintel, i'll be there about 3:50pm or so.

[ballaratdragons]

OK, it's 3:50pm and you are now at Bintel. So who won Mike?

[Striker]

Remember Mike..just post it to Tingalpa Brisbane...I will be waiting.

[h0ughy]

here we are waiting, its 5.43 and Mike hasn't posted who won the competition yet. You would have though the kind people at Bintel would lend their PC to him to post the winning entrants :poke:

now remember to type Houghy on the winning certificate......... :whistle:

[janoskiss]

:poke: :poke:

:tasdevil: :tasdevil: :tasdevil:

[Greg Bryant]

Houghy,

You're right - it's best that Mike announces the winners. However, he's just rung me on his way home from Bintel with the results, and he says he might not be able to log on tonight... :)

Then again, maybe he will...

[h0ughy]

Geez your a tease :doh:

[iceman]

Winners announced here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4479