Official Model Answer Key & Marking Scheme

For the
National Qualifying Test – Algerian Team for the International Olympiad
on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2025
Total Score: 40 Points

(Distributed as per the problem breakdown below)

Issued by the Scientific Committee & Correction Jury

EXO 0 (5 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1. Close to the Sun’s surface. 1
Detailed explanation (Not requested): Jupiter has the most
potent effect. Since the Sun is vastly more massive, the
barycenter usually lies very close to (or inside) the Sun. 1p
However, Jupiter's large orbit can sometimes pull it just outside
the Sun's surface. Yet most of the time, it is inside the Sun and
close to its surface.
2. Photons, everywhere in the Universe. 1
Detailed explanation (Not requested): It pervades the entire
observable universe, emitted when atoms first formed
~380,000 years after the Big Bang, appearing as a nearly 1p
uniform microwave glow in all directions at temperature: ~2.7
°K.
2𝐺𝑀
3. We have: 𝑅S = , thus we can solve for 𝑀:
𝑐2
𝑅S 𝑐 2
𝑀= 0.5
2𝐺
either by direct computation using 𝐺 and 𝑅S
1.4
× 106 × 103 × (3 × 108 )2
𝑀= 2 ≈ 4.75 × 1035 kg 0.5 1p
2 × 6.67 × 10 −11

or remembering that 𝑅S⨀ of the Sun is 3 km and there is a linear

relationship between mass and radius.
1.4
𝑅S × 106
𝑀= 𝑀⨀ = 2 𝑀⨀ ≈ 2.33 × 105 𝑀⨀
𝑅S⨀ 3
4. Take 𝐻0 = 70 km⁄Mpc. s
From Hubble's law:
𝑣 = 𝐻0 𝑑 0.25
We find:
𝑣 = 70 × 2.5 = 175 km⁄s 0.25
The local gravitation dominates over cosmic expansion due to 0.5
the relative closeness of Andromeda to us, so its proper velocity
could dominate which is the case.
1p
Detailed explanation (Not requested): The expansion of the
universe (Hubble flow) only dominates on very large scales (>
~10 Mpc), where the gravitational attraction between galaxies
is weak. However, Andromeda (2.5 Mpc away) is
gravitationally bound to the Local Group and indeed moves at
~300 km/s toward us, overwhelming the Hubble expansion
(~175 km/s away) and is in collision course with the Milky
Way.
5. That’s where the massive Black Hole of our galaxy is
1 1p
situated.

EXO 1 (4 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1. Synodic period 𝑆:
1 1 1
= − 0.5
𝑆 𝑃Venus 𝑃Earth
Then:
𝑃Earth 𝑃Venus 2p
𝑆= 0.5
𝑃Earth − 𝑃Venus
365 × 255
𝑆= ≈ 586 days 1
365 − 255

2. The time between successive elongations is precisely the

half synodic period:
586 1 1p
= 293 days
2
3. Physical diameter:
Consider Venus’s disk seen from Earth and solve the « small »
triangle: 1 1p
1′
Diameter = 0.28 AU × ≈ 12,350 km
206265
 EXO 2 (3 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1. Semi-major axis:
𝑎3 = 𝑇 2 𝑀⨀ 1
(In units of Earth years and solar masses 𝑀⨀ )
2
1 2p
10 3
⟹ 𝑎 = [( ) × 1.2] ≈ 0.096 AU 1
365.25
(It is a so called “hot” Jupiter…)
2. Planet radius:
Rather obvious (Think of percentage of covered star surface by
the planet’s disk):
∆𝐹 𝑅P 2
0.5% = =( ) 0.25
𝐹 𝑅∗
1p
Then:
∆𝐹
𝑅P = 𝑅∗ √ 0. 5
𝐹
𝑅P = 1.1𝑅⨀ × √0.005 ≈ 0.078𝑅⨀ 0.25

EXO 3 (4 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1. At meridian transit, the latitude:
ℎ = 𝛿 + (90 − 𝜙) = 105° 1
from South (culminates north of Zenith), that is equivalently 2p
75° from North.
Azimuth A=180∘ due South, (or A=0∘ due North). 1
2. Maximum and minimum altitudes:
- The maximum altitude is the same as the altitude when
crossing the meridian. Thus, 105° from South (It culminates
North of zenith). That is the star passes the zenith (90°) and 0.5
reaches 105° on the other side, which is equivalent to 75° from 1p
the opposite horizon (North).
- The minimum altitude occurs at lower culmination:
ℎmin = 𝛿 − (90° − 𝜙) = −15° S 0.5
(not visible)
3. Distance of the star from us:
1p
Compute the absolute magnitude 𝑀∗ :
 𝐿∗
Given = 15 and 𝑀⊙ = 4.8. We have:
𝐿⊙
𝐿∗
𝑀∗ = 𝑀⊙ − 2.5 log ( )
𝐿⊙ 0.25
𝑀∗ = 4.8 − 2.5 log(15) ≈ 1.86
Compute Distance 𝑑
Given 𝑚 = 3.0 and 𝑀∗ known from step 1. We have:
𝑀∗ − 𝑚 = 5 − 5 log(𝑑) 0.25
Solve for 𝑑:
𝑚−𝑀∗ +5
𝑑 = 10 5 0.25
3−1.86+5
𝑑= 10 5 ≈ 16.93 pc 0.25

EXO 4 (6 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1. Net Reaction Equation for Hydrogen Burning (Proton-
Proton Chain):
To find the net reaction, combine the equations while canceling
intermediate products (𝑑 and 3𝐻𝑒)
Multiply the first and second reactions by 2 (to produce 2𝑑 and 0.25
1p
2 3𝐻𝑒)
Add the reactions:
6𝑝 + 2𝑑 + 2 3𝐻𝑒 ⟶ 2𝑑 + 2𝑒 + + 2𝜈𝑒 + 2 3𝐻𝑒 + 2𝛾 + 4𝐻𝑒 + 2𝑝 0.25
Simplify by canceling common terms, we get:
4𝑝 ⟶ 4𝐻𝑒 + 2𝑒 + + 2𝜈𝑒 + 2𝛾 0.5
2. Total energy released per 4He nucleus formed:
Calculate the mass defect ∆𝑚:
∆𝑚 = 4𝑚𝑝 − (𝑚4𝐻𝑒 + 2𝑚𝑒 ) 0.25
∆𝑚 = 4 × 1.0078 − (4.0026 + 2 × 0.00055) 0.25 1.5p
∆𝑚 = 0.0275 u 0. 5
Convert to energy:
𝐸 = ∆𝑚 × 931.5 = 0.0275 × 931.5 = 25.6 MeV 0.5
3. Mass of hydrogen (in kg) required to power the Sun
luminosity for 1 billion years:
Total energy 𝐸T released during ∆𝑡 = 1 billion years:
𝐸T = 𝐿⊙ ∆𝑡 0.25 1.5p
𝐸T = 3.8 × 1026 × 1 × 109 × 365.25 × 24 × 3600 J
𝐸T = 1.2 × 1043 J 0.25
Number of 4𝐻𝑒 nuclei needed:
 1.2 × 1043
𝑁4𝐻𝑒 = −13
≈ 2.9 × 1054 0.5
25.6 × 1.6 × 10
Number of hydrogen nuclei needed:
𝑁𝐻 = 4𝑁4𝐻𝑒
Mass of hydrogen nuclei needed:
𝑚𝐻 = 𝑁𝐻 𝑚𝑒 = 4𝑁4𝐻𝑒 𝑚𝑒 0.25
𝑚𝐻 = 4 × 2.9 × 1054 × 1.67 × 10−27 ≈ 1.9 × 1028 kg 0.25
4. Energy released by 1 kg of Hydrogen:
Number of hydrogen nuclei needed in 1 kg of Hydrogen:
1 kg
𝑁𝐻 = −27
≈ 6 × 1026 0.5
1.67 × 10 kg
4
Number of 𝐻𝑒 nuclei needed:
𝑁𝐻
𝑁4𝐻𝑒 = 1p
4
Total energy released:
𝑁𝐻
𝐸T = 𝑁4𝐻𝑒 × 25.6 = × 25.6 0.25
4
6 × 1026
𝐸T = × 25.6 ≈ 3.8 × 1027 MeV 0.25
4
≈ 3.8 × 1027 × 1.6 × 10−13 J = 6.1 × 1014 J
5. Net reaction of the CNO cycle:
Add all the reactions and cancel common terms, we get: 0.5 1p
4𝑝 ⟶ 4𝐻𝑒 + 2𝑒 + + 2𝜈𝑒 + 2𝛾 0.5

EXO 5 (6 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1.1. Angular Resolution at 500 nm:
We use Rayleigh’s criterion:
𝜆
𝜃 = 1.22 0.5
𝐷
5 × 10−7
𝜃 = 1.22 = 2.44 × 10−7 radians 0.5
2.5 2p
Convert to arcseconds:
180 × 3600
𝜃 = 2.44 × 10−7 × ( ) ≈ 0.0504 arcseconds 0.5
𝜋
Conclusion: Since the stars are separated by 0.12 arcseconds,
and the telescope can resolve ~0.050 arcsec, the binary system
can be resolved at 500 nm. 0.5
1.2. Angular Resolution at 2.0 μm: 1p
 2 × 10−6
𝜃 = 1.22 × = 9.76 × 10−7 radians
2.5
180 × 3600
𝜃 = 9.76 × 10−7 × ( ) ≈ 0.2015 arcseconds 0.5
𝜋
Conclusion: Since 0.2015 arcsec > 0.12 arcsec, the binary
system is not resolvable in the infrared. 0.5
2.1. Absolute Bolometric Magnitude of the B0 Star:
We use the formula:
𝐿 1p
𝑀bol = 𝑀bol,⊙ − 2.5 log10 ( ) 0.5
𝐿⊙
𝑀bol = 4.74 − 2.5 log10 (1.05 × 107 ) ≈ −12.81 0.5
2.2. Distance to the Star :
We use the distance modulus:
𝑚bol − 𝑀bol = 5 log10 (𝑑) − 5 0.5
with:
𝑚bol = 𝑚V + BC = 2.0 + (−2.7) = −0.7 0.5
2p
So:
𝑚bol −𝑀bol +5
𝑑= 10 5 0.5
−0.7−(−12.81)+5
𝑑= 10 5 ≈ 2650 pc 0.5
Estimated distance to the star: 2650 pc.

EXO 6 (6 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total
1. Solar Flux at 1 AU:
The flux 𝐹 from a radiating object at a distance 𝑟 is related to
its luminosity 𝐿 by the inverse square law:
𝐿 0.5 1p
𝐹=
4𝜋𝑟 2
4 × 1026 0.5
𝐹= 11 2
= 1414.7 W⁄m2
4𝜋(1.5 × 10 )
2. Power Received by the Astronaut:
The power 𝑃 received is:
1p
𝑃 =𝐹×𝐴 0.5
𝑃 = 1414.7 × 0.75 = 1061 W 0.5
3. Astronaut's Equilibrium Temperature:
0.5
In equilibrium, the absorbed power = emitted power: 2p
Absorbed power: 𝑃abs = 1061 W
Emitted power from the total body surface (Stefan-Boltzmann
law): 𝑃emit = 𝜎𝑇 4 × 𝑆
We have: 0.5
𝑃abs = 𝑃emit ⟹ 𝑃abs = 𝜎𝑇 4 × 𝑆
Then:
1 0.5
𝑃abs 4
𝑇=( )
𝜎𝑆
1
1061 4 0.5
𝑇=( ) = 311 °K ≈ 37.85 °C
5.67 × 10−8 × 2
4. Effect of Albedo on Absorbed Energy and Temperature
(a) Recalculate the absorbed power:
We first calculate the absorbed power: Albedo 85%, then only
0.5p
15% of the incident solar radiation is absorbed. Therefore:
15
𝑃abs = × 1061 = 159.15 W 0.5
100
(b) Estimate the new equilibrium temperature:
At thermal equilibrium:
𝑃abs = 𝑃emit ⟹ 𝑃abs = 𝜎𝑇 4 × 𝐴
Then:
1
𝑃abs 4 1p
𝑇=( ) 0.5
𝜎𝑆
1
159.15 4
𝑇=( ) = 193.55 °K ≈ −79.6 °C 0.5
5.67 × 10−8 × 2
(c) Comparison with the Blackbody Case:
• Perfect blackbody (0% albedo): 37.85 °C (All radiation
absorbed, higher temperature) 0.5 0.5p
• High albedo (85%): −79.6 °C (Most radiation reflected,
much colder)
 EXO 7 (6 points)
Score
Answer Elements
Partial Total

ountain's ba
M s

e
0.5

• The two points 𝐴 (base) and 𝑇′ (summit) observe the sunset

at slightly different times 𝛥𝑡.
• The two points 𝑇 and 𝑇′ (summit) observe the sunset at the
same time.

Since Earth rotates 15.0411∘ per hour, the time delay is given
by:
1 hour = 60 minutes ⟶ 15.0411∘ 60
⟹ ∆𝑡 = 𝜃 0.5
∆𝑡 ⟵ 𝜃 15.0411 6p
We have:
𝑥
𝑥 ≈ 𝜃 cos 𝜙 ⟹ 𝜃 = 0.5
cos 𝜙
′
From the triangle ∆𝐸𝑇𝑇 :
𝑅⨁ + 2 𝑅⨁ + 2 1.5
cos 𝑥 = ⟹ 𝑥 = arccos ( )
𝑅⨁ + 2 + 𝐻 𝑅⨁ + 2 + 𝐻
Then:
𝑅⨁ + 2
arccos (
𝑅⨁ + 2 + 𝐻 ) 0.5
𝜃=
cos 𝜙
Then finally:
𝑅⨁ + 2
arccos (
60 𝑅⨁ + 2 + 𝐻 ) 1
∆𝑡 =
15.0411 cos 𝜙
6378 + 2
60 arccos (6378 + 2 + 1) 1
∆𝑡 = ≈ 4.4 min
15.0411 cos(23.29)
The estimated sunset delay between the summit and base of 0.5
Mount That is 4.4 min.