Senin, 14 November 2011

Syllabus of International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)


General Notes

1. Extensive  contents  in  basic  astronomical  concepts  are  required  in theoretical and practical problems. 

2. Basic  concepts  in  physics  and  mathematics  at  high  school  level  are required in solving the problems. Standard solutions should not involve use  of  calculus  and/or  the  use  of  complex  numbers  and/or  solving differential equations.

3. 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  freewares  or  low-cost  ones enabling  all countries to  obtain them easily for  practice purpose.  The chosen  softwares  should  preferably  be  available  on  multiple  OSs  (Windows / Unix / GNU-Linux / Mac).

4. 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. 

5. Sophisticated practical equipments 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 case, students should be given opportunity to familiarise themselves with such equipments.

6. The original texts of the problems have to be set in the SI units, wherever applicable. Participants will be expected to mention 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  correct  number  of significant digits.