15 Astronomy Competitions for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 25 minutes ago
- 12 min read
If you’re interested in astronomy, astrophysics, or space science, competitions can be a great way to explore these subjects beyond the classroom while building advanced STEM skills. Astronomy competitions often combine concepts from physics, mathematics, engineering, coding, and data analysis, allowing you to apply scientific reasoning to complex questions about space and the universe. Some competitions focus on theoretical problem-solving and Olympiad-style exams, while others emphasize engineering design, scientific research, astronomy observation, or creative space-related projects.
Why should I participate in an astronomy competition in high school?
Astronomy competitions can help you strengthen analytical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and scientific communication skills while introducing you to advanced concepts in astrophysics and space science. Depending on the competition, you might solve challenging astronomy problems, analyze observational data, design experiments for microgravity environments, build engineering models, or develop original research projects related to space exploration. These experiences can help you explore STEM interests in greater depth, collaborate with other motivated students, and demonstrate initiative and intellectual curiosity on college applications.
To help you find the right challenge, we have narrowed down 15 astronomy competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online competitions, check out our blog here.
Location: Phenikaa University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Cost: Fee: €600 ($702.7)/team (fee waivers available for select countries; local hospitality covered);
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 250 – 300 students globally (extremely selective; participation via national Olympiads)
Dates: September 25 – October 5
Application deadline: Pre-registration: March 12 – April 12; Main registration: May 6 – June 26
Eligibility: High school students who will not turn 20 or graduate from high school in the year of the competition
IOAA lets you test your astronomy knowledge through multiple exam components, including theoretical problem-solving, observational astronomy tasks, and astrophysics data analysis. Questions often require knowledge of mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and optics applied to astronomical scenarios. You may analyze star spectra, calculate orbital parameters, or interpret telescope observations. The competition format tests both conceptual understanding and quantitative reasoning ability. Participants are typically selected through national Olympiad pipelines, making the pool highly competitive.
Location: Online
Cost/Prize: Free for Qualification Round; €13 (~$15) for Pre-Final Round (financial aid available); cash prizes up to $2500, certificates, national awards, and global recognition
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open entry (thousands participate globally)
Dates: Qualification Deadline: April 17; Pre-Final Round: Late May – Early June; Final Round: June 30
Application deadline: April 17 (Qualification Round)
Eligibility: High school and university students worldwide; applicant pool split into separate age groups, with high schoolers eligible under Junior/Youth categories.
IAAC allows you to test your understanding of astronomy and astrophysics through multiple rounds of theoretical and applied questions requiring mathematical reasoning. Problems often involve celestial mechanics, cosmology, and astrophysical calculations. Later rounds introduce open-ended questions based on scientific literature. You will be evaluated on analytical thinking and clarity of explanation. The experience can help you refine your reasoning skills while testing your problem-solving abilities. Winners will receive cash prizes, awards, and global recognition, while all contestants receive participation certificates.
Location: Online (Global)
Cost/Prize: ~$5 registration fee; winners receive a fully sponsored trip to NASA, medals, certificates, and awards
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open entry (thousands participate; top performers advance across 3 levels)
Dates: Preliminary Exam: September 12; Intermediate Exam: December 12; Final Exam: April 10
Application deadline: May 31 January (for preliminary exam)
Eligibility: Students in grades 5 – 12 worldwide; Junior category is open to 5th – 7th graders, Senior category is for 8th – 10th graders, and Super Senior category is open to 11th and 12th graders.
The International Space Olympiad (ISO) is a global astronomy competition for high school students that combines quizzes, learning sessions, and global competition to spark interest in space science. Designed to be accessible, the competition is conducted entirely online across three levels, allowing students from any country or academic board to participate. You will test your knowledge in a quiz-based format while also getting access to resources and expert-led training sessions, and structured progression from basic to advanced events. Winners get the opportunity to go on a fully sponsored educational trip to NASA. Awards also include certificates, medals, and international recognition.
Location: Online | Optional participation at International Space Development Conference in Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, McLean, VA
Cost/Prize: $15 entry fee (waivers available); awards include $5,000 scholarship grand prize and $500 category scholarships + certificates + global recognition
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open entry (thousands of global submissions)
Dates: Submission window: December – February 15; Announcement of Results: March
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students up to grade 12 worldwide; participation is open to individuals or teams of 2–12 students.
The Gerard K. O’Neill Space Settlement Contest is a globally recognized astronomy competition for high school students that challenges participants to design innovative human settlements in space. Inspired by physicist Gerard K. O’Neill, the competition encourages you to explore real-world challenges such as artificial gravity, space agriculture, energy systems, and human survival beyond Earth. You can submit your ideas in the form of designs, research, essays, stories, models, artwork, or any other orbital space settlement-related materials. Top entries will earn scholarships, certificates, and opportunities to present at a space conference, which offers access to professional space talks and exposure to the space industry.
Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ (sites can vary by year)
Cost/Prize: No direct entry fee (qualification required through affiliated fairs); top prize $100,000, category awards up to $6,000, and total awards worth $4 million (including scholarships, internships, and trips)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective (1,800 finalists worldwide, selected through affiliated fairs across 75+ countries)
Dates: May 9 – 15
Application deadline: Varies (students must qualify via local/regional/state-affiliated fairs by early April)
Eligibility: High school students who qualify through a Regeneron ISEF/Society for Science-affiliated science fair
ISEF is among the most well-known science competitions in the world that encourages students to conduct original research across STEM fields, including astronomy. To participate in the fair, you must qualify through multiple levels of affiliated science fairs, which already makes participation highly competitive. As a finalist, you will present your original research to panels of scientists, industry experts, and academic professionals. Projects often span areas like advanced astrophysics, space engineering, or data science, with the work mirroring undergraduate-level research. The week includes a Grand Awards Ceremony where winners will be announced. Through this experience, you will gain exposure to a global community of young researchers, which can lead to networking opportunities and collaborations.
Location: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Cost/Prize: ~$1,200 registration fee/team + $150 membership fee (amount can vary yearly); prizes include awards, certificates, and international recognition.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective (invitation-based; limited number of school teams globally)
Dates: January 30 – 31
Application deadline: Invitation-based participation; schools must apply or be invited in advance
Eligibility: High school students; participation is open to teams of up to 4 students from the same school, accompanied by a faculty mentor
USIYPT is a two-day tournament that allows you to work within a team to solve open-ended physics problems through experimental investigation and theoretical modeling. You will work with peers from your school to design experiments, collect data, and present findings in structured scientific debates. Each round involves defending your methodology while critiquing competing solutions. Topics may include wave mechanics, fluid dynamics, or optics with applications to astrophysics. Judges will evaluate your solutions based on reasoning quality, experimental design, and clarity of explanation. The debate-based structure allows you to practice public speaking and science communication.
Location: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL
Cost/Prizes: No fixed entry fee, but teams must fund rover design, travel, and logistics (can be several thousand USD; sponsorships common)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective (top proposals chosen globally; limited teams per division)
Dates: Prep, webinars, and proposal submissions: August – March | Competition dates: April 9–11
Application deadline: Not specified; Proposal due on September 15
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 19, participating in teams; applicants must submit a competitive engineering proposal to be selected for the competition.
NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge lets high schoolers work in teams to design and construct a human-powered rover capable of navigating simulated lunar terrain. The engineering process includes working with CAD design, testing materials, and achieving structural optimization. You will submit design documentation clearly explaining mechanical and safety considerations. During the final event, your rover must complete obstacle courses that simulate extraterrestrial environments. Judges will evaluate performance based on efficiency, safety, and engineering design quality. This competition can help you connect physics concepts with real-world aerospace engineering challenges.
Location: United States (school-based teams; experiments flown on commercial flight platforms)
Cost/Prize: Free; winners receive $1,500 funding + mentorship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open to all; ~60 winning teams selected annually from thousands of applicants
Dates: Applications Open: September; Winners Announced: January 20; Flight Tests: Summer
Application deadline: Typically late fall (varies yearly)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12 in U.S. public, private, or charter schools (including territories); team-based participation with educator supervision is required.
NASA TechRise requires you to design experiments that can operate in high-altitude or microgravity conditions. You will work as part of a team of peers to submit proposals detailing research objectives, methodology, and technical requirements. Selected teams will receive mentorship and funding to build experimental payloads. Experiments will then be tested using suborbital platforms or high-altitude balloons. You gain experience in experimental design and instrumentation. The real flight-testing component makes this an opportunity to gain exposure to the complete experiment design cycle.
Location: Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Cost/Prize: €500 ($585) fee/participant (main teams) + guest teams/observers €1,000 ($1,171) (cost includes accommodation, meals, and local transport); prizes include medals, certificates, and international recognition
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective (30 official national teams; limited guest teams based on capacity)
Dates: November 1 – 8
Application deadline: Pre-registration Deadline: March 20; Final Registration Deadline: June 30
Eligibility: Middle school and junior high school students up to 16 years old selected through national Olympiad programs; participation is open to teams of up to five students + 2 leaders
The IOAA-jr 2026 is an international astronomy competition for middle schoolers and high school students at the junior level from across the globe. You will test your understanding of astronomy through theory-based exams, observational astronomy challenges, and data analysis tasks. The event provides a fully immersive experience with accommodation, structured activities, and international peer interaction. During the event, you will also gain exposure to global scientific communities and advanced astronomy concepts.
Location: Online
Cost/Prize: Free; prizes worth $111,000+ available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 700+ participants; top 32 teams advance to final round
Dates: Round One: October 10 – 13; Round Two and Announcement of Winners: October 25 (tentative)
Application deadline: October 5 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students worldwide; participation open to teams of three students
Cosmic Quest, organized by the STEM October Astronomy Club, is an online competition featuring a two-round structure: an open analytical round followed by a high-stakes invitational buzz round. In the first stage, you and your team will solve 30 challenging questions over multiple days with a live leaderboard. If you are one of the top 32 teams, you will advance to the final round, where you will compete in a fast-paced live quiz format that tests real-time problem-solving skills. You stand to win high-value prizes, including telescopes, cash-equivalent rewards, and international recognition.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: Free to enter; prizes include a $250,000 post-secondary scholarship, a $50,000 prize for a teacher of their choice, and a $100,000 science lab renovation at their school.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open to all
Dates: Submission window: May 1 – September 15; Peer-to-peer review: September 17 – 30; Popular vote: November 24 – December 9; Announcement of finalists: December 10; Announcement of winner: TBD
Application deadline: September 15
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 18, worldwide, excluding countries subject to U.S. economic sanctions); previous winners are not eligible.
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is an annual global video competition where you get to create a short original video explaining a concept in life sciences, physics, or mathematics. Your video must run for two minutes or under and can focus on topics in astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, or related areas. The entry will be judged on how creatively and clearly you can communicate a complex scientific idea. The competition runs through several rounds, including a peer review by fellow entrants, an expert evaluation panel, and a public popular vote on Facebook and YouTube. If you win, you walk away with a $250,000 college scholarship and prizes for one of your teachers and your school.
Location: Online
Cost/Prize: Free; winning art pieces featured on the competition website
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open entry; selected entries featured monthly
Dates: Monthly challenge cycles
Application deadline: End of each month
Eligibility: Students worldwide (primarily school-aged participants); submissions require consent from a parent/guardian.
The NASA Space Place Art Challenge is a creative astronomy competition for high school students that encourages participants to explore space through imagination and artistic expression. Each month, the challenge comes with a space-themed prompt and asks you to create original artwork. Unlike traditional competitions, this challenge emphasizes creativity, storytelling, and scientific curiosity rather than technical problem-solving. Selected entries will be featured on NASA’s Space Place website, giving you global recognition for your work. The competition also helps you connect scientific concepts with visual creativity.
Location: United States (experiments conducted on the International Space Station)
Cost/Prize: Free; winners receive mentorship + experiment launch opportunity, and winning students’ schools get a miniPCR bio DNA Discovery System
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Annual cycle — Submission window: January 5 – April 10; Announcement of awardees and semifinalists: May; Announcement of Finalists: May; Mentoring: June – July; Announcement of winners: July; Space Biology Camp: Fall; Winning DNA experiment in space: Dates TBA
Application deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up, in grades 7–12 in U.S.-based schools
Genes in Space is an opportunity for middle and high schoolers to design a proposal addressing biological or genetic challenges in microgravity environments. Projects often involve DNA sequencing, cellular response analysis, or radiation exposure studies. For your proposal, you must clearly define research questions, hypotheses, and experimental procedures. Judges will evaluate submissions based on feasibility and scientific rigor. Winning experiments will be conducted aboard the ISS using laboratory equipment adapted for space conditions. This competition integrates biology with space science and astrophysics, making it a worthwhile option for students looking for an interdisciplinary astronomy competition.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: $99 registration fee (scholarships available upon request); winning designs are published in book form by the Mars Society.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open registration; past years have welcomed over 100 students from around the world.
Dates: June 8 – July 10 (Mid-program review: June 22; Design reports deadline: July 2; Presentations: July 6; Awards ceremony: July 10)
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 – 19, from anywhere in the world; team-based competition
In this five-week virtual program, you and your team take on the challenge of designing a real 18-month crewed mission to the surface of Mars, focusing on the habitat, power system, surface vehicles, and crew composition. Your team will be split into three departments (Science, Engineering, and Human Operations) and work within actual engineering constraints like a 30-metric-ton mass budget and a crew of up to six. During the competition, you will attend lectures from NASA scientists and aerospace engineers, submit a 25-page design report, and then present and defend your mission in three rounds of peer critique. Judges focus on the science, engineering, and human factors of your design. Top submissions will be published by the Mars Society. This can be an opportunity to get hands-on experience in real engineering design thinking within the context of space science.
Location: University of Alabama Student Center, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost/Prizes: Free to enter | Top two written exam finishers who enroll at UA receive four-year in-state tuition scholarships; Books, trophies, plaques, and medals awarded to top individual and team finishers. The E. Scott Barr scholarship, which awards $1,200/year to physics majors, is also one of the prizes.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Up to ~75 teams (can vary based on space availability)
Dates: January 30
Application deadline: Thursday before the contest; contest information is sent to schools each October.
Eligibility: High school students (and home-schooled students at equivalent levels), primarily from Alabama and surrounding states; ciphering teams must have four members.
The UA High School Physics Contest is a one-day, in-person competition held on the University of Alabama campus, where you will compete with students from across the region on physics topics, including astrophysics. The competition is split into two parts: an individual written multiple-choice exam (no calculator allowed) and a fast-paced team "ciphering" round where your four-person team will work quickly to solve problems, scoring points for how fast you work. Beyond the competition itself, the day includes a career panel with speakers from industry and government, a teachers' program, and a physics show. If you're one of the top two scorers on the written exam and you end up attending UA, you could walk away with a four-year in-state tuition scholarship. All students scoring in the top 20% on the written exam receive recognition.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.