Astronomical Olympiads in Sakhalin Oblast

Regional Context in the Content of Problems

Authors

  • Marina Smirnova Sakhalin State University
  • Igor Minervin Sakhalin State University
  • Anastasia Chernaya Regional Center for Education Quality Assessment of the Sakhalin Region

Keywords:

astronomy, olympiad, olympiad problems, regional context, Sakhalin Oblast, All-Russian School Olympiad

Abstract

The article describes the experience of developing and using astronomy olympiad problems related to the geographical features of Sakhalin Oblast. It shows how regional context can be incorporated into olympiad tasks to increase students’ motivation to study astronomy and the natural sciences. Examples of different types of problems (engaging, problem-based, and estimation tasks) are provided; they require the application of basic astronomical concepts and skills: estimating speeds and angles, working with coordinates, accounting for the Earth’s daily rotation, and using the geometry of the celestial sphere. The proposed approach can be used by teachers and subject-methodological committees when preparing sets of tasks.

Author Biographies

Marina Smirnova, Sakhalin State University

Associate Professor, Department of Electric Power Engineering and Physics, Institute of Natural Sciences and Technosphere Safety, Sakhalin State University; Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences (PhD); Chair of the Jury, Regional Stage of the All-Russian Astronomy Olympiad (2026)

Igor Minervin, Sakhalin State University

Associate Professor, Department of Electric Power Engineering and Physics, Institute of Natural Sciences and Technosphere Safety, Sakhalin State University; Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PhD); Full Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences

Anastasia Chernaya, Regional Center for Education Quality Assessment of the Sakhalin Region

Senior Methodologist, Olympiad Movement Department, Sakhalintech Alaid, Regional Center for Education Quality Assessment of the Sakhalin Region

References

Федеральная рабочая программа среднего общего образования. Физика (базовый уровень) : для 10–11 классов образовательных организаций / Институт содержания и методов обучения им. В. С. Леднёва. 2025. URL: https://edsoo.ru/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/31_frp_fizika_10_11-klassy_baza_18062025_itog-na-sajt.pdf

О звёздном небе расскажут школьники Южно-Сахалинска / ASTV.RU. 2016. URL: https://astv.ru/news/society/2016-04-26-o-zvezdnom--nebe-rasskazhut-shkolniki-uzhno-sahalinska

На Сахалине стартовала школьная олимпиада / СахГУ. 2019. URL: https://sakhgu.ru/post/na_saxaline_startovala_shkolnaya_olimpiada/

Олимпиады по астрономии : учебно-методическое пособие / М. А. Смирнова [и др.]. Южно-Сахалинск : СахГУ, 2017. 40 с. ISBN 978-5-88811-545-9. URL: https://sakhgu.ru/wp-content/uploads/page/record_85102/2019_04/Смирнова-М.-А.-Олимпиады-по-астрономии.pdf

Методическая программа Всероссийской олимпиады школьников по астрономии / Центральная предметно-методическая комиссия ВсОШ по астрономии. 2019. URL: https://vos.astroedu.ru/syllabus

Две кометы погибли на Солнце с интервалом в несколько часов / Лаборатория солнечной астрономии ИКИ РАН и ИСЗФ СО РАН. 10.2025. URL: https://xras.ru/project_diary.html?post_id=3114

Solar Explosions / NASA Scientific Visualization Studio. 10.2014. URL: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11678/

Утешев И. А. Всероссийская олимпиада по астрономии 2020/2021 учебного года. Школьный этап. 10–11 классы : решения и критерии оценивания / ГАОУ ДПО ЦПМ. 2020. URL: https://vos.olimpiada.ru/upload/files/Arhive_tasks/2020-21/school/astr/tasks-astr-10-11-sch-msk-20-21.pdf

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Published

2026-03-20

How to Cite

[1]
Smirnova, M. et al. 2026. Astronomical Olympiads in Sakhalin Oblast: Regional Context in the Content of Problems. Astronomy Education. 1, 1 (Mar. 2026), 70–73.

Issue

No. 1 (2026)

Section

Astronomy Olympiads

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Marina Smirnova, Igor Minervin, Anastasia Chernaya

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