The Hardest (and Most Fun)
Astrophysics Challenge on Earth.
Forget standard exams. This is where Olympiad theory meets real-world research. Problems written by IOAA medalists, designed to push your physical intuition beyond ever before.
Pre-Registration Open
Secure your spot for the AOAC 2026.
Try solving this.
No formulas. Just reasoning.
Starry Night Over the Rhône, Vincent van Gogh, 1888
Determine the month in which the painting above, Vincent van Gogh's iconic Starry Night Over the Rhône, was drawn. Assume it was painted at midnight.
If this made you think, you'll enjoy AOAC.
Two Rounds. One Philosophy.
We aren't here to test your memory. We are here to see how you handle ambiguous, open-ended astrophysics problems when standard formulas leave you stranded.
The Open MCQ
A fast-paced, exclusively multiple-choice exam designed to test your foundational physics and astronomy knowledge.
The Playground
Breeze the MCQ and reach the Invitational: a 3-day window to write custom code and solve non-linear differential equations.
Learn Something New
Whether you are a gold medalist at the IOAA or just starting out, there is a question for everyone, aiming to teach you something you never knew before.
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Everything you need to master olympiad astrophysics is completely free.