Astronomy olympiads

International

IOAAInternational Olympiad on Astronomy and AstrophysicsFirst held in Chiang Mai in 2007 with 22 countries. IOAA JrInternational Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for JuniorsThe junior counterpart of the IOAA, first held in Romania in 2022, with a theory round and observation rounds on sky maps and at the telescope.

National

USAAAOUSA Astronomy and Astrophysics OlympiadThe olympiad that picks the US team for the IOAA: an online First Round, then the National Astronomy Championship, and in 2026 a third exam with theory and practical papers. INAOIndian National Astronomy OlympiadIndia's national astronomy olympiad, run by HBCSE, from which the country's IOAA team is chosen. BAAOBritish Astronomy and Astrophysics OlympiadThe astronomy olympiad of the British Physics Olympiad, whose Round 2 paper picks the UK's IOAA team. JAOJapan Astronomy OlympiadJapan's astronomy olympiad, whose national final picks the country's IOAA team. SAOSingapore Astronomy OlympiadSingapore's astronomy olympiad, from which its IOAA team is chosen. CAAOCanadian Astronomy and Astrophysics OlympiadCanada's astronomy olympiad, from which its IOAA team is chosen. BDOAABangladesh Astronomy and Astrophysics OlympiadBangladesh's astronomy olympiad, the route to the country's IOAA team. CzAOCzech Astronomy OlympiadThe Czech Republic's astronomy olympiad, from which its IOAA team is chosen.

Open

ROSAORussian Open School Astronomical Olympiad by CorrespondenceA Russian astronomy olympiad for school students, solved at home and sent in by post. AOACAO Guide Astrophysics ChallengeAn online astronomy contest run in 2025 by AO Guide, the site behind aoXiv: a multiple-choice Open round, then an Invitational paper of five problems for the top scorers.

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