Abstract

The First International Astronomy and Astrophysics e-Competition

Author(s): Richard Gomez

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, which had been postponed owing to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, was replaced with the inaugural Global e-Competition on Astronomy and Astrophysics in September–October 2020. Despite the limited time provided for planning, the tournament was run effectively, attracting 325 students from more than 42 nations without any serious concerns. The attendees' comment was favorable and highlights how similar activities may increase interest in astronomy and astronomy education. In order to serve as a reference for other event organizers, and given that online activities are expected to become more common in the future, we offer an overview of the competition process as well as some lessons discovered after the fact.