Five schoolchildren from Ukraine won silver awards at the International Youth Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAAjr), which took place in Thailand.
Five schoolchildren from Ukraine won silver awards at the International Youth Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAAjr), which took place in Thailand.
The 5th International Youth Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAAjr) was held from 1 to 8 November 2026 in Ubon Ratchathani (Thailand). 66 young astronomers from 19 countries participated in the tournament. In total, the jury awarded 16 gold, 21 silver, 16 bronze medals, and 13 honorary diplomas.
The host nation, Thailand, won the most gold medals (5 medals), followed by China (3 gold medals). India and Romania each won 2 gold medals, while Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Nepal each won 1 gold medal.
The success of the Ukrainian national team was made up of students from three lyceums:
Vladyslav Litynskyi and Svyatoslav Andreyko (10th grade students of the Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum, LFML). They were prepared for the Olympiad by Honored Teacher of Ukraine Mykola Petruniv, reports Osvita Lviva.
Kirill Khasanov (student of grade 10-A of the Ukrainian Physics and Mathematics Lyceum of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv). The young prizewinner's mentor is astronomy teacher Vasyl Ponomarenko, the lyceum said in a statement.
Maria Nikolaeva and Vladyslav Katrechko (students of Kharkiv Physics and Mathematics Scientific Lyceum No. 27), writes DOU.
IOAA-Jr (International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics for Juniors) is an annual international science competition for schoolchildren of the younger age category (usually up to 15–16 years old).
It is a junior offshoot of the older IOAA (International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics).
The knowledge test consists of three key rounds: solving complex problems in physics, astronomy, orbital mechanics and astrophysics; processing real astronomical data, graphs, photometric and spectral measurements; performing tasks with star maps, working with telescopes or recognizing objects in the night sky (in a planetarium or outdoors).
Participants are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, as well as certificates of honor for individual and team results.
