IOAA 2017 Newsletter Vol.3

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IOAA 2017 Newsletter

Vol.3

15th November 2017

IOAA Hosts 348

Participants from 46 Countries

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HIGHLIGHTS!!

HIGHLIGHTS!!

What is an Astronomical Unit?

READ MORE

HIGHLIGHTS!!

Dobsonian Telescope READ MORE

INTERVIEWS

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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

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

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t is the policy of the IOAA to separate the team leaders and the contestants during the examination periods in order to provide the fairest competition possible by preventing any possibility of test answers being revealed prematurely.

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Vol.3

IOAA 2017 Newsletter

15 November 2017 th

Therefore, during the contestant’s examination, the event management team organized a trip for the team leaders to take a tour around Phuket to visit some of Phuket’s beautiful nature locations as well as cultural destinations. We hope that the team leaders were not only able to learn about the local Phuket lifestyle but were impressed with the friendly hospitality of our people.

As for the students who today took the theory and observation examinations, we hope that each contestant was able to perform to the best of their ability. Lastly, we would like to wish everyone the very best and hope this competition has been a great experience for everyone.

Student Program Details Date

Time

Programme

Wednesday 06.30 - 09.00 Breakfast 15 November

10.00 - 18.00 18:00 - 19:00

Thursday 06.30 - 07.30 16 November 08.00

08.30 - 13.30 13.30 - 14.30 14:30 - 18:00 18:00 - 19:00 19:30 - 22.30

Excursion Dinner

Breakfast Ready at the Hall Theoretical exam Lunch Recreation activity Dinner Rest / 2nd attempt of night observation exam

Venue Phuket excursion Duangjitt hotel

Leader Program Details

Date

Time

Wednesday 15 November

06:30 - 09:00 09:00 - 12.00 12:30 - 13:30 13:30 - 18:00 18:00 - 19:00 19:00 - 24:00 22:00

Programme

Venue

Breakfast Phuket Marriott IBM2.Theory discussion Resort & Spa, Lunch Merlin Beach IBM2.Theory discussion Dinner IBM2.Theory discussion and translation Distribution of Data Analysis answer sheets

Thursday Phuket Marriott 06:30 - 09.00 Breakfast 16 November 09:00 - 12.00 IBM3.Team competition and Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach daytime observation discussion 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch 13:30 - 17:00 IBM3.Team competition and daytime observation translation 18:00 - 19:00 Dinner Distribution of Theory 22:00 answer sheets

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IOAA 2017 ์ Newsletter

IOAA Hosts 348 Participants from 44 Countries

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n November 14th, the Pleiades Team reported on Day 3 of the 11th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics in Phuket, Thailand.

The Day 3 schedule separated the group of team leaders and contestants into two groups as part of the IOAA’s policy in providing a fair competition. Therefore, the schedules set required each group in different locations at different times.

This year's IOAA event hosted 219 students, 89 team leaders and judges and 40 observers from 44 countries. Countries represented in this event are as follows: Armenia , Belarus , Brazil , Bulgaria , Canada , China , Colombia , Croatia , Cyprus , Czech Republic , Estonia , Georgia , Greece , Hungary , India , Indonesia , Iran , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Laos , Lithuania , Malaysia , Mali , Mexico , Nepal , Pakistan , Philippines , Poland , Portugal , Qatar , Romania , Russia , Serbia , Singapore , Slovakia , Slovenia , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Ukraine , United Arab Emirates , United Kingdom , United States , Vietnam.

In the morning contestants were scheduled to meet in the Duangchanok Meeting Room at Duangjitt Resort and Spa for Theory Examination followed by observation examination in the afternoon at Phromthep Cape. During the contestant’s examination, the team leaders were invited on a tour to different sightseeing locations around Phuket including Phromthep (a Phuket Landmark), Phuket Old Town known for its unique Sino–Portuguese Architecture, Thai Hua Museum, Pearl Shops and finished the day with a glamorous light show at Phuket FantaSea Theme Park.

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What is an Astronomical Unit?

By Bruce McClure in SPACE | October 23, 2017

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stronomers use astronomical units – or AU – to describe solar system distances such as distances in AU to prominent solar system objects.

Astronomers like to list the distances to objects within our solar system (planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, spacecraft, etc.) in terms of an astronomical unit. How far is that?

What is the definition of astronomical unit?

It is the distance from sun to each planet.

For example, the distance from sun to some dwarf planets.

The definition of astronomical unit for general reference, we can say that one astronomical unit (AU) represents the mean distance between the Earth and our sun.

An AU is approximately 93 million miles (150 million km). It’s approximately 8 lightminutes.

More exactly, one astronomical unit (AU) = 92,955,807 miles (149,597,871 km).

Earth’s orbit around the sun isn’t a perfect circle. So Earth’s distance from the sun changes throughout the year.

Astronomers measure the Earth’s changing distance throughout the year relative to the

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astronomical unit. For instance, when the Earth is at perihelion – its nearest point to the sun for the year, in January – it’s about 0.983 AU from the sun. When our planet swings out to aphelion – its farthest point, in July – we’re about 1.017 AU away from the sun.

Planets Distances in AU Format Mercury: 0.387 AU Venus: 0.723 AU Earth: 1.000 AU Mars: 1.524 AU Jupiter: 5.203 AU Saturn: 9.582 AU Uranus: 19.201 AU Neptune: 30.047 The dwarf planet Eris has a distance from the sun varying from 38.255 to 97.661 au.

Mean distance from sun to some dwarf planets, in AU. Ceres: 2.767 AU Pluto: 39.53 AU Eris: 67.958 AU Sedna: 518.57 AU

Kuiper Belt: 30 to 55 AU Farthest spacecraft: Voyager 1: 137.053 AU (as of October 2016) OortCloud: 5,000 to 100,000 AU Largest circle with yellow arrow indicates one light year from our sun. Smallest yellow sphere is one light-week. Larger yellow sphere is one light-month.

Amount of distance in a light-year, in AU One light-year = 63,240 AU Bottom line: Astronomers like to list the distances to objects within our solar system (planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, spacecraft, etc.) in terms of the astronomical unit, or AU. One astronomical unit is the approximate mean distance between the Earth and sun. It’s about 93 million miles (150 million km), or 8 light-minutes.

Dobsonian Telescope

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Dobsonian telescope is an altazimuth-mounted Newtonian telescope designed to greatly increase the size of telescopes available to amateur astronomers. These telescopes have a simplified mechanical design that is easy to manufacture from readily available components to create a large, portable, low-cost telescope. The design is optimized for observing faint, deep-sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies. This type of observation requires a large objective diameter with a relatively short focal length making it portable for travel a good for low light or polluted

locations.

Dobsonians are intended to be what is commonly called a "light bucket�operating at low magnification, and therefore the design omits features found in other amateur telescopes such as equatorial tracking. Dobsonians are popular in the amateur telescope making community, where the design was pioneered and continues to evolve. In fact, a number of commercial telescope makers also sell telescopes based on this design.

Equatorial Mount

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n equatorial mount is a mount for instruments that compensate Earth's rotation by having one rotational axis parallel to the Earth's axis of rotation. This type of mount is used for astronomical telescopes and cameras. The advantage of an equatorial

mount lies in its ability to allow the instrument attached to it to stay fixed on any celestial object with diurnal motion by driving one axis at a constant speed. Such an arrangement is called a sidereal or clock drive.

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INTERVIEWS NOVEMBER 14, 2017 Assoc.Prof.Dr. Sukree Hajisamae DEAN, FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRINCE OF SONGKLA UNIVERSITY First of all, I would like to say that we both as the organizers and participants, all feel proud and it is such a great honor for us to have HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to unveil the ceremony.

We would like to thank the Phuket people for giving a warm welcome to all the contestants from over 44 countries who joined this year’s competition. The contestants are certainly qualified in terms of astronomy in their countries. I believe that being able to host these talented contestants has also helped to build a more positive reputation for Thailand and indirectly boost and promote Thailand tourism as well.

For the Thai team, our expectation as the competition’s host, is gold medals. So far, I can see that our students have worked hard and have put their full effort into this.

Ms. Ioana Zelko OBSERVER FROM USA

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ven though I have known the concept of the exam and feel confident in our students, yet, I always tell them that in the competition like this they should not focus only on victory. We should think that 'We have done our best, and that is enough. If we did well, we will win." However, what concerns me is the weather. If it is raining, it will be hard for all of them to see the stars and that would be very discouraging.

Dr. Hossein Haghi OBSERVER FROM IRAN

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his is my first time in Thailand and first time in Phuket. Phuket is an interesting city. After this event, I plan to take my family to visit here again. This time I came with 5 students. All of them are ready and well-prepared. I think that every team is well-prepared, so let’s see what they can do in the real competition.

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Kim Janovski Contestant from Croatia

have spent lots of my free time after school with my team. In our country, there are supporters who give us the chance to try using real telescopes. But, I still feel a little nervous because the telescopes here are different from what we have practiced.

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Aldana Alyafei Contestant from Qatar

n preparation, I have been practicing and learning astronomy three days a week from morning till evening. This is my second time joining the IOAA. I have prepared well and feel confident in this year’s competition. I feel even more confident because this year’s exam is easier than last year. I hope the next stage exam will be easy as well.

Richard Luhtaru Contestant from Estonia

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have prepared myself by reviewing many previous exams. Moreover, I have read a lot of books related to astronomy to learn more. So, I am very confident that I will bring some medals back for my country.

Aldrean Alogon Contestant from

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Philippines

y teachers have taught a lot, especially for the observations.

There were also lecturers from university in Philippines giving special tutoring for 1 week as well.

Actually, I don't expect anything much, but I will at least bring experience back home. But, I think I might win some medals for my country as well because so far the theoretical exam this morning was easier than the exams I have done in my country.

Moch Adzkiansyah Contestant from

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Indonesia

his is the first time for me in the competition. But, I am satisfied and confident after doing the theoretical exam this morning (November 14, 2017). So, now I feel even more confident and I will do my best for the next stages.

Oscar Flores

Contestant from Mexico

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n Mexico, I spent a lot of time practicing and reviewing many of the previous Olympiad exams. So, I know the concept of the exam quite well. So I am confident that I will at least be able to bring a medal back home.

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T O H S OT

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