IOAA 2017 Newsletter Vol.7

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Vol.7

IOAA 2017 Newsletter

19th November 2017

MIXED TEAM OBSERVATION

EXAMINATION TEAMS TAKE ON DOME OBSERVATION TASK

HIGHLIGHTS!!

Another Great Day for Contestants to Get to Know Each Other READ MORE

ARTICLES

INTERVIEWS

NAMING ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS IN THAILAND

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READ MORE

he “Pleiades Team” also took a moment to gather the thoughts and expectations of each participant as the excitement begins to stir just a few hours before the competition.

Let’s see what the participants had to say READ MORE

GIVING STUDENTS THE BEST EXPERIENCE Since the day Thailand was first announced to host the IOAA 2017, the event organizer team has been working hard to coordinate and prepare the resources and personnel necessary to ensure that the IOAA 2017 turns out a success. The success of IOAA 2017 is based on challenging the abilities of the astronomy contestants while promoting a greater overall interest in astronomy.

As for the examinations, in accordance with the standards of the IOAA, team leaders must be responsible for grading the student’s exams. We have seen the team leaders in this year’s competition be very cooperative in doing their part for the event and we are glad to see IOAA 2017 become a great experience for each student that has come to compete.

Student Program Details Programme

Venue

Sunday 06.30 - 09.00 19 November 10:00 12:00 - 13:00 18:00 - 22.00 22:00

Breakfast Excusion Lunch Buffet dinner / cultural shows Departure to Duangjitt hotel

Phuket City Kan Eng Seafood restaurant Phuket Fantasea

06.30 - 09.00 Monday 20 November 09.30 10.00 - 12.00 12.30 - 14.00 18.00 - 19.00

Breakfast Ready at the Hall Closing ceremony Lunch Lunch Departure

Date

Time

Duangjitt hotel

Leader Program Details Date

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Time

Programme

Venue

Sunday 06:30 - 09:00 19 November 09:00 - 12:30 12:30 - 13:30 13:30 - 17:00 18:00 - 19:00 19:00 - 21:00

Breakfast Moderation Lunch Moderation Dinner IBM. Final meeting

06:30 - 09:00 Monday 20 November 08.00 10:00 - 12:00 12:30 - 14:00 14:00 18:00 - 19:00

Breakfast Departure to Duangjitt Hotel Closing ceremony Duangjitt Hotel Lunch Departure to Marriott Hotel Dinner Departure for those leaving on November 20, 2017

IOAA 20172017 ์ Newsletter IOAA Newsletter

Beach front, Marriott hotel

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Vol.7

IOAA 2017 Newsletter

19th November 2017

Another Great Day for Contestants to Get to Know Each Other

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t is now day 6 (November 18th, 2017) of the IOAA 2017 Phuket Thailand. In the morning, contestants were randomly mixed into teams to perform the situational observation task. During this time, team leaders and scoring committees were given time to rest. However, for tonight everyone will join the dinner party at Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa Merlin Beach, where each country is required to dress up according to their national attire. Cultural performances and many other activities will also be held to strengthen the relationships of the participants in the IOAA 2017.

The exam this morning took place at Prince of Songkla University, Phuket Campus. Contestants were divided into teams of seven joining contestants from different countries.

All of them have to work together to observe the stars in the simulated sky. Each of them had the chance to discuss and share their knowledge in order to solve the assigned task. The purpose of this task is to strengthen team work and cooperation all the participants.

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NAMING ASTRONOMICAL OBJECTS IN THAILAND Pisit Nitiyanant, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand Siramas Komonjinda, Chiang Mai University

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resently, the official naming system for objects in astronomy is very clear for the stars, planets and small objects in the solar system, and also the details on the planet surfaces, and other small objects in solar system. They are under the responsibility of the International Astronomical Union: IAU. There are many methods to name these given objects. For example, they can be named after famous people or locations; or IAU members can suggest the names or arrange the event for everyone in world to suggest or pick the names as they prefer. For objects in astronomy which are named based on IAU naming system, some of them have Thai names with terms for the planet's landscape, minor planets as well as planets outside the solar system.

VENUS CORONA

Corona is an oval-shaped feature on Venus and Uranus’s moon Miranda. On Venus, coronas are typically several hundred kilometers across with crown-like, volcanic features. It's originally believed to be related to the volcanic mechanism. Venus Coronae was named after fertility and earth goddesses from many cultures. These included two from Thailand: Dhorani Corona and Phra Naret Corona. Dhorani is the Goddess of Earth, while Naret means king, but IAU refers this name to the Goddess of fertility.

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ARTIAN CRATERS & VALLES

Large Martian craters are named after famous scientist and science fiction authors such as Huygens, Cassini or Bradbury. Small craters (less than 60 km in diameter are named after towns on Earth. This includes Chatturat, Kantang, Nan, Phon, Tak, Thom, and Yala from Thailand.

Large valles are named after the words for “Mars” or “star” in various languages. There is one in Thai and Dao Vallis.

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ASTEROIDS

The official names of minor planets consist of codes in the front, which tell the order of when the planets were found. The codes are followed by the name of the minor planets that have Thai names, or names given after the astronomers (For example, 6125 Singto), or after the names of people who support or take part in the science sector (For example, 7604 Kridsadaporn, 21464 Chinaroonchai, 21540 Itthipanyanan, 21632 Suwansri, 23308 Niyomsatian, 23310 Siriwon, 23313 Supokaivanich) with some named after Thai kings who were involved in science (For example, King Rama IV or King Mongkut : 151834 Mongkut )

EXOPLANET

In 2014, IAU organized an event called "NameExoWorlds", which opened for astronomy-related sectors to suggest the names for Exoplanets. This allows the world to have a part in voting for the best names through their website. Thai Astronomical Society suggested the names from the Thai literature, Kraithong. They suggested the name “Chalawan" (a crocodile who can transform into a human in the tale) for star 47 Ursae Majoris (47 UMa) and the names “Taphao Thong” and “Taphao Kaew”, (the two main female characters in the tale) were given for 47 UMa-b and 47 UMa-c. This is because the Thai name for the Ursa Major constellation is

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IOAA

ASSOC.PROF.DR.PINITI RATANANUKUL CHAIRPERSON OF ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE OF THE IOAA 2017

is very important and beneficial. It helps encourage youth throughout the world and especially Thai youth to see the importance of astronomy. In addition, the exam is designed to allow youth from across the world to interact with one another more during the team work session. For instance, the task today is very interesting and is completely new for the Olympiad exams.

As the host, I think we have done a good job. I can say maybe about 90 percent perfect. We all know unexpected obstacles are bound to happen, but we always managed to solve each problem well.

Astronomy is very easily relatable to our daily lives. It is a multi-disciplinary subject as there are many skills involved such as calculation, observation, analysis etc.

From this, I see the potential of Thai youth in the astronomy sector. I believe that astronomy as well as the youth in Thailand are moving forward.

Besides hosting the IOAA, we have also been working with many relevant sectors to boost and support astronomy in Thailand to create a bright future for our youth and a reputation for Thailand in the world.

MATIPON TANGMATITHAM

SUPARERK KARUEHANON

ACADEMIC STAFF

AND ASTRONOMY INFORMATION SERVICES

designed and Iobservation created the exams.

or the task today, we want F all the contestants to have fun. After data analysis and

I applied all the skills and experiences I’ve gained from being a professional

astronomer, theorist, astronomy researcher and amateur star-watcher to develop this year’s exam. I don’t want to make too many tasks, but rather focus on a true understanding of real observation that cannot be found in the book. Many observers from many countries agreed with this strategy and really liked our exam during the IBM Discussion. They found it to be a new and creative observation method for the IOAA.

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CHIEF OF CENTRE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

observation exam, contestants should enjoy something new.

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he purpose of these kinds of activities is to encourage more team work between the contestants so that they will get to know each other more.

We designed the task to simulate a situation where each team is lost on an unknown island. Each team must find their way off the island by calculating the latitude and longitude of that island by observing the stars in the sky.

Therefore we simulate the sky inside the dome. The students are required to observe the movements in the dome and calculate in accordance with the month

and date using astronomic theory. After getting the answer, they use the code to unlock the door and get out.

The team that uses the shortest time to get out will be the winner.

The game is not only fun, but is in fact very beneficial as everyone can apply their astronomy knowledge in reality.

This is the first time for IOAA to have something like this, and Thailand is the first country to do so. We want to make something that is new and fun and most importantly useful in real life for the contestants.

Patryk Rechwas Contestant from

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Hua Duc Tran

Radu Andrei

Peter Dimitrov

Contestant from

Contestant from

Contestant from

Poland

he exam today was really tough. I don't have enough time to do it. If they gave more time, I would have done it better than this. But, I am not so worried about it as I have done my best. Anyway, I really love the dolphin show last time. All the dolphins were so big and talented. While the botanic garden was also nice. There are many plants that I've never seen in Europe before.

Here, I think the weather is quite hot for me. For the food, they are all very tasty, some are a bit spicy though.

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he exam this year was very hard and challenging. There are so many questions in the exam, actually I could not solve all the questions.

Anyway, I am not so worried at least I have done my best.

I came here with a lot of my friends and I started making a lot of new friends here too.

Gene Herman Contestant from Philippines Chameleon Team

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Vietnam

he activity in dome today were pretty hard and challenging. But, I think my team did well anyway.

Besides, we were having a lot of fun though. It was so exciting.

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Romania

am pretty confident for the exam today. Actually, there were a lot of works to do, but very little time. But finally, I still managed to solve all of them. Just stay focus. By the way, I really love Phuket and Thailand as this is my first time here. Everything is so nice here such as the sunny weather, scenery, cultural, tradition, food, and many others.

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Bulgaria

think I have done well in the exam so far. I'm not really worried about it and hope to get any of medals back home. By the way, I'm really impressed with Thailand. I really enjoy being here and I can earn a lot of new experiences.

Jana Svrckova Contestant from Slovakia

he exam was actually harder than last year. But, I think I did well so I am satisfied with myself. Hope I can get some medals back home. I will do my best in the observation exam. Besides, I really like the excursion. They were such a fun trip and I really enjoy it.

Hrachya Zakaryan Contestant from Cyprus Cygnus Team

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ur task in dome today were interesting, fun, creative, but maybe a little scary for some people.

Though, it was such a new experience. My team did very well.

We were very excited as it was our first time doing something like this.

Ber Fang Lin Contestant from Malaysia Columba Team

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he exam inside the dome was hard. Our team managed to solves only two steps of the task. We were working to find the latitude and longitude of the island we assigned to be in. Anyway, I think we have done our best already. We had such a great discussion with the team there.

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OT SHOT

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