IOAA Syllabus - IOAA Current IOAA For Participants For Team Leaders For Newcomers For Media News Circulars 2026 About IOAA Organisation and Governance IOAA Foundation History Statistics Future Events Contacts FAQs Alumni Resources IOAA Syllabus Problems from past IOAA Past Proceedings IOAA Publications National Olympiads International Activities IAU Commissions Other STEM Olympiads Other Resources Past Olympiads Junior IOAA Junior IOAA Syllabus Current Junior IOAA Olympiad Past junior IOAA olympiads Current IOAA For Participants For Team Leaders For Newcomers For Media News Circulars 2026 About IOAA Organisation and Governance IOAA Foundation History Statistics Future Events Contacts FAQs Alumni Resources IOAA Syllabus Problems from past IOAA Past Proceedings IOAA Publications National Olympiads International Activities IAU Commissions Other STEM Olympiads Other Resources Past Olympiads Junior IOAA Junior IOAA Syllabus Current Junior IOAA Olympiad Past junior IOAA olympiads IOAA Syllabus General Notes: Extensive contents in basic astronomical concepts are required in theoretical and practical problems. Basic concepts in physics and mathematics at high school level are required in solving the problems. Standard solutions should not involve the use of complex numbers and/or solving differential equations. Astronomical software packages may be used in practical and observational problems. The contestants will be informed the list of software packages to be used at least 3 months in advance. The chosen software packages should be preferably freeware or low-cost ones enabling all countries to obtain them easily for practice purpose. The chosen software should preferably be available on multiple OSs (Windows / Unix / GNU-Linux / Mac). Concepts and phenomena not included in the Syllabus may be used in questions but sufficient information must be given in the questions so that contestants without previous knowledge of these topics would not be at a disadvantage. Sophisticated practical equipment likely to be unfamiliar to the candidates should not dominate a problem. If such devices are used in the questions, sufficient information must be provided. In such cases, students should be given opportunity to familiarise themselves with the equipment before the exam. The original text of the problems must use SI units, wherever applicable. Participants will be expected to give appropriate units in their answers and should be familiar with the idea of correct rounding off and expressing the final result(s) and error(s) with the correct number of significant digits. Theoretical Part Symbol (Q) is attached to some topics in the list, meaning “qualitative understanding only”. Quantitative reasoning / proficiency in these topics is not expected. The following theoretical contents are proposed for the contestants. Basic Astrophysics Contents Topics Celestial Mechanics Newton’s Laws of Gravitation, Kepler’s Laws for circular and non-circular orbits, Roche limit, barycentre, 2-body problem, Lagrange points Electromagnetic Theory & Quantum Physics Electromagnetic spectrum, Radiation Laws, Blackbody radiation Thermodynamics Thermodynamic equilibrium, Ideal gas, Energy transfer Spectroscopy and Atomic Physics Absorption, Emission, Scattering, Spectra of Celestial objects, Doppler effect, Line formation, Continuum spectra, Splitting and Broadening of spectral lines, polarisation Nuclear Physics Basic concepts including structure of atom, Mass defect and binding energy Radioactivity, Neutrinos (Q) Mathematical Methods and Tools Contents Topics Numerical Methods Linearisation of equations and expressions, Iterative solving of functions, estimating area under a curve by graphical method and/or by integration and/or by numerical approximations, Taylor series approximations of common functions Basic Calculus Derivatives of elementary functions, their sums, products, quotients, and nested functions. Integration as the inverse procedure to differentiation. Finding defi­nite and indefinite integrals for elementary functions, and sums of functions. Geometric in­terpretation of derivatives and integrals. Finding constants of integration using initial con­ditions. Vectors Basic properties of vector sums, dot and cross products, Ge­ometrical interpretation of a time derivative of a vector quantity Geometric Instruments Use of ruler, geometric compass, protractor, set-square Statistics & Error Analysis Mean, Median, Mode, percentiles, box plots, Standard deviation, basic probabilities, relative errors, error estimation using maximum error and/or standard error Coordinates and Times Contents Topics Celestial Sphere Spherical trigonometry, Celestial coordinates and their applications, Equinox and Solstice, Circumpolar stars, Constellations and Zodiac (Note: azimuth is measured in the range 0° to 360° starting from N and increasing towards E unless stated otherwise.) Concept of Time Solar time, Sidereal time, Julian date, Heliocentric Julian date, Time zone, Universal Time, Local Mean Time, Different definitions of “year”, Equation of time Solar System Contents Topics The Sun Solar structure, Solar surface activities, Solar rotation, Solar radiation and Solar constant, Solar neutrinos (Q), Sun-Earth relations, Role of magnetic fields (Q), Solar wind and radiation pressure, Heliosphere (Q), Magnetosphere (Q) The Solar System Earth-Moon System, precession, nutation, libration, Formation and evolution of the Solar System (Q), Structure and components of the Solar System (Q), Structure and orbits of the Solar System objects, Sidereal and Synodic periods, Retrograde motion, Outer reaches of the solar system (Q) Space Exploration Satellite trajectories and transfers, Human exploration of the Solar System (Q), planetary missions (Q), Sling-shot effect of gravity, Space-based instruments (Q) Phenomena Tides, Seasons, Factors influencing climate (Q), Eclipses, Aurorae and space weather (Q), Meteor Showers Stars Contents Topics Stellar Properties Methods of Distance determination, Radiation, Luminosity and magnitude, Color indices and temperature, Determination of radii and masses, Stellar motion, Irregular and regular stellar variabilities – broad classification & properties, Cepheids and period-luminosity relation, Physics of pulsation (Q) Stellar Interior and Atmospheres Stellar equilibrium, Stellar nucleosynthesis, Energy transportation (Q), Boundary conditions, Stellar atmospheres and atmospheric spectra Stellar Evolution Stellar formation, Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, Pre-Main Sequence, Main Sequence, Post-Main Sequence stars, supernovae, planetary nebulae, End states of stars Stellar Systems Contents Topics Binary Star Systems Different types of binary stars, Mass determination in binary star systems, Light and radial velocity curves of eclipsing binary systems, Doppler shifts in binary systems, interacting binaries, peculiar binary systems Exoplanets Techniques used to detect exoplanets, Habitable zone, Classes of exoplanets (Q), Spectral signatures of possible life (Q) Star Clusters Classification and Structure, Mass, age, luminosity and distance determination Milky Way Galaxy Structure and composition, Rotation, Satellites of Milky Way (Q) Interstellar Medium Gas (Q), dust (Q), HII regions, 21cm radiation, nebulae (Q), interstellar absorption, dispersion measure, Faraday rotation Galaxies Classifications based on structure, composition and activity, Mass, luminosity and distance determination, Rotation curves Accretion Processes Basic concepts (spherical and disc accretion) (Q), Eddington luminosity Cosmology Contents Topics Elementary Cosmology Expanding Universe and Hubble’s Law, Cluster of galaxies, Dark matter, Dark energy (Q), Gravitational lensing, Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, Big Bang (Q), Alternative models of the Universe (Q), Large scale structure (Q), Distance measurement at cosmological scale, cosmological redshift Instrumentation and Space Technologies Contents Topics Multi-wavelength Astronomy Observations in radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelength bands, Earth’s atmospheric effects, Artificial light and EM pollution Instrumentation Telescopes and detectors (e.g. charge-coupled devices, photometers, spectrographs), Magnification, Focal length, Focal ratio, resolving and light-gathering powers of telescopes, Geometric model of two element interferometer, Aperture synthesis, Adaptive optics, photometry, astrometry Practical Part This part consists of 2 sections: observations and data analysis sections. The theoretical part of the Syllabus provides the basis for all problems in the practical part. The observations section focuses on contestant’s experience in Naked-eye observations. Usage of sky maps and catalogues (note: any stars referred to by name rather than Bayer designation or catalogue number must be on the list of IAU-approved star names; knowledge of the whole list should not be required). Application of coordinate systems in the sky, magnitude estimation, estimation of angular separation. Usage of basic astronomical instruments-telescopes and various detectors for observations but enough instructions must be provided to the contestants. Observational objects may be from real sources in the sky or imitated sources in the laboratory. Computer simulations may be used in the problems but sufficient instructions must be provided to the contestants. Observational objects may be from real sources in the sky or imitated sources in the laboratory. Computer simulations may be used in the problems but sufficient instructions must be provided to the contestants. The data analysis section focuses on the calculation and analysis of the astronomical data provided in the problems. Additional requirements are as follows: Proper identification of error sources. Proper use of graph papers with different scales, e.g., polar and logarithmic papers. Finding “Best Fit” line approximately. Familiarity with the use of basic geometrical instruments (ruler, compass, protractor, set-square). Knowledge of the most common experimental techniques for measuring physical quantities mentioned in Part A. For Media IOAA Sponsors Links © 2026 IOAA. Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy × IOAA Procedural Code 20.07.2026 The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) strives to provide an inclusive atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of scientific ideas. The IOAA is committed to prevent any unpleasant incidents that may occur during the events of the Olympiad itself, at International Board Meetings (IBM), during IOAA related discussions, and in general in any activity of its scientific bodies in which the IOAA has or shares responsibility. This includes any social activities and informal gatherings attached to the above mentioned events.  IOAA opposes any discrimination or harassment based on such factors as ethnic origin, religion, citizenship, language, political or other opinion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or age.  Read more Close