Stellar IQ: Space Quiz

Overview

• Date: 17 October (round1), 24-25 Oct (round2)
• Mode: Hybrid
• Participation: Individual
• Organized by: Army Institute of Technology, Pune

About the Event:

Stellar IQ: Space Quiz is an exciting inter-college quiz competition designed to test participants' knowledge, awareness, curiosity, and quick thinking about the fascinating world of space and astronomy.

The quiz will bring together students from different colleges and provide them with an opportunity to explore topics ranging from the Solar System and stars to galaxies, space missions, astronauts, satellites, cosmology, and major developments in space science.

The competition will be conducted in two rounds. The first round will serve as an elimination round, where individual participants will compete to qualify for the final stage. The shortlisted participants will then compete in an intense Buzzer Round, where speed, accuracy, presence of mind, and decision-making will be crucial.

Objectives:

The event aims to:

• Encourage students to develop an interest in astronomy and space science.
• Promote scientific curiosity and knowledge beyond the classroom.
• Provide an engaging platform for inter-college interaction and competition.
• Test participants' knowledge, logical thinking, observation, and decision-making skills.
• Encourage students to stay informed about important developments in the field of space exploration.
• Develop quick thinking and rapid decision-making through the buzzer-based final round.
• Create an exciting and intellectually stimulating experience for college students.

Competition Format:

The quiz will consist of two rounds:

Round 1 — Elimination Round:

The first round will be conducted online and will act as the qualifying/elimination stage of the competition.

Each participant will compete individually and will be presented with a series of questions covering different areas of space science and astronomy. The questions may include multiple-choice questions, image-based questions, identification questions, and other objective formats.

Participants will be required to answer within the specified time limit.

Key Features:

• Individual participation.
• Online preliminary round.
• Questions covering a broad range of space-related topics.
• A specified time limit for each question or section.
• Scores calculated based on correct answers.
• Participants achieving the required qualifying score or position will advance to Round 2.
• The number of participants qualifying for the final round will be decided by the organizing committee.

Purpose:

This round is designed to test participants' fundamental knowledge, awareness, accuracy, and ability to perform independently under time constraints.

Round 2 — Buzzer Round:

The second round will be the final and most competitive stage of Stellar IQ.

Qualified participants will compete individually in a live Buzzer Round, where questions will be asked by the quizmaster. Participants will have to use the buzzer to indicate that they are ready to answer.

In this round, participants will be tested not only on their knowledge but also on their:

• Speed of response
• Presence of mind
• Accuracy
• Decision-making
• Risk assessment
• Ability to perform under pressure

Buzzer Round Procedure:

• The quizmaster will read out a question.
• Participants may activate their buzzer according to the rules announced before the round.
• The first eligible participant to press the buzzer will be given the opportunity to answer.
• A correct answer will earn the participant the prescribed points.
• An incorrect answer may result in a penalty, depending on the rules announced by the organizing committee.
• If the first participant gives an incorrect answer, the question may be opened to the remaining participants according to the round rules.
• Participants must answer within the time limit specified by the quizmaster.
• The quizmaster's decision regarding the correctness and validity of an answer will be final.

The detailed scoring and buzzer rules will be explained to all finalists before the beginning of the round.

Suggested Quiz Domains:

Questions may be drawn from a wide range of topics, including:

Astronomy:

• Stars and constellations
• Planets and moons
• Galaxies
• Nebulae
• Black holes
• Asteroids and comets
• Meteors and meteorites
• Exoplanets
• Solar and lunar phenomena
• Cosmology and the universe

Space Exploration:

• Historic space missions
• Human spaceflight
• Moon missions
• Mars missions
• Deep-space exploration
• Space telescopes
• International space missions
• Major milestones in space exploration

Space Agencies:

• ISRO
• NASA
• ESA
• JAXA
• Roscosmos
• CNSA
• Other major national and international space organizations

Indian Space Programme:

• ISRO missions
• Chandrayaan missions
• Mangalyaan
• Aditya-L1
• PSLV and GSLV
• Indian satellites
• Indian space centres
• Major Indian scientists and space pioneers

Space Science & Technology:

• Rockets and launch vehicles
• Satellites
• Space stations
• Remote sensing
• Communication satellites
• Navigation systems
• Astronomy instruments
• Space technology and applications

General Space Awareness:

• Important discoveries
• Famous astronauts
• Historic milestones
• Major astronomical events
• Space terminology
• Recent developments in space science

Eligibility:

The event is open to college/university students from participating institutions.

Participation in the quiz will be individual, and each registered participant will compete independently.

Online Participation:

Since the event will be conducted in online/hybrid mode, participants must ensure:

• A stable internet connection.
• A working computer/laptop or compatible device.
• Functional microphone and camera, wherever required.
• Access to the designated Unstop SmartHire quiz/meeting platform.
• Participation from a quiet and suitable environment.
• A properly charged device or access to a power source.

Participants should join the designated online platform before the reporting time to complete attendance and technical verification.

General Rules & Regulations:

• Participation is strictly individual.
• Each participant must register separately within the specified registration period.
• Participants must provide accurate information during registration.
• Only registered participants will be permitted to participate.
• Participants must follow all instructions provided by the organizing committee and quizmaster.
• Participants must answer questions independently.
• The use of unauthorized external assistance, communication, reference material, search engines, AI tools, or other unfair means will not be permitted during the competition.
• Participants may be required to keep their cameras and microphones enabled during specified portions of the competition.
• Any attempt to manipulate the quiz, use unfair means, receive assistance from another person, or disrupt the event may result in disqualification.
• Participants must maintain proper discipline and decorum throughout the event.
• In case of a technical issue, participants should immediately inform the organizing team through the designated communication channel.
• Participants are responsible for ensuring that their device and internet connection are functional before the competition begins.
• The organizing committee reserves the right to modify the format, timings, or rules if circumstances require.
• The decision of the quizmaster and organizing committee will be final and binding in matters concerning the quiz.
• In case of a tie, an additional tie-breaker question or round may be conducted.

Tie-Breaker:

If two or more participants have the same score at the end of the final round, a tie-breaker may be conducted.

The tie-breaker may consist of:

• Additional questions
• A sudden-death question
• A buzzer-based question
• Any other format decided by the quizmaster

The tie-breaker format will be announced to the finalists if required.

Scoring:

The scoring system will be announced by the quizmaster before the beginning of each round.

For the Buzzer Round, the scoring may include:

• Points for correct answers.
• Negative marking for incorrect answers, where applicable.
• Bonus points for specific questions, if announced.
• Penalties for rule violations, if applicable.

The exact scoring structure will be communicated to participants before the respective round begins.