This year (2019) Hungary will host the 13th International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). High school students from all over the world come to the event to challenge their knowledge in the field of astrophysics and astronomy.
The history of IOAA
Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, China and Poland were the five countries that joined together and established International Olympiad on Astronomy in 2006. Their aim was not less than to popularize astronomy among high school students, and to promote the development of international professional contacts, for which this meeting is a great opportunity.
The first event was held in Thailand in 2007, followed by Indonesia in 2008, Iran in 2009, China in 2010, Poland in 2011, Brazil in 2012, Greece in 2013, Romania in 2014, Indonesia in 2015, India in 2016, Thailand in 2017, China in 2018 and Hungary now, in 2019.
The Hungarian event will take place in Keszthely, near Lake Balaton, which is the largest lake in Central Europe and is also a popular tourist destination.
Competition procedure
For the IOAA event, competitors from 47 countries come in teams, but it is important that the challenge will be individual. Young people need to be excellent in a total of 5 stages:
theoretical stage
- data analysis stage
- observational stage
- planetary stage
- team competition
The competitors gain points in each stage on the basis of which the winner will be announced at the end of the event.
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