A r A S   N e w s

 

 

 

N E W S L E T T E R   OF  THE

ARMENIAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY   ( A r A S )

 

Editor: T.Yu.Magakian, tigmag@sci.am

 

 

The ArAS Newsletter in the INTERNET:   http://www.aras.am

 

 

 

 

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CONTENTS:

 

1) The First All-Armenian Astronomical Meeting;

2) Jubilees of Armenian astronomers;

3) About the VI General Meeting of EAAS;

4) New ArAS members;

5) Astronomical School Olympiad in Byurakan;

6) Contact Information for ArAS.

 

 

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THE FIRST ALL-ARMENIAN ASTRONOMICAL MEETING

 

 

The First All-Armenian Astronomical Meeting had been postponed for about one month to July 25. It was done to fit the schedule for some astronomers who would like to participate. The topics are rather wide as before covering almost all fields of astronomy, especially those where the Armenian astronomers have achieved outstanding results. 

 

Contact persons and addresses:

Haik Harutyunian (Chairman of the Organizing Committee, hhaik@bao.sci.am),

Elena Nikoghossian (Secretary of the Organizing Committee, elena@bao.sci.am).

 

 

 

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AnnIVERSARIES

 

 

70th anniversary of Prof. Misha KAZARIAN

 

Prof. Misha A. Kazarian, a well-known astronomer, author of famous Kazarian galaxies, celebrated his 70th anniversary.

 

Prof. Kazarian was born on March 5, 1932 in Maralik, Armenia. In 1958, he graduated from the Yerevan State University (YSU), Department of Physics and Mathematics, Chair of Astrophysics. The same year, he started to work in the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. In 1964-67, he was a post-graduate. M.Kazarian received his first scientific degree (Ph.D.) in 1968 from the Yerevan State University. His scientific adviser was the famous astrophysicist G.A.Gurzadyan. The highest scientific degree of Doctor of physical-mathematical sciences Kazarian received in 1981 from the Byurakan Observatory. The thesis was devoted to study of UV excess galaxies. Since 1968, Kazarian works at the Yerevan State University, Chair of Astrophysics, starting as a lecturer and then becoming a Professor (1990) and Head of the Chair of Astrophysics (in 1994). In 1980-1990, he headed the observational station of artificial satellites of the Chair of Astrophysics. For many years he was the acting Head of Chair of Astrophysics, V.A.Ambartsumian being the Head.

 

Prof. Kazarian's research interests include investigations of stars, nebulae and galaxies. He has discovered many new H-alpha stars, cometary nebulae, galaxies with UV excess. Some 600 UVX galaxies have been catalogued, known as Kazarian galaxies. 120 of these objects have been studied photometrically and spectroscopically by Kazarian at the Byurakan 2.6m and Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia) 6m telescopes. Kazarian galaxies are subject of intense studies in many observatories of the world as well. On the mentioned and some other scientific topics he has published about 100 papers, presented a number of talks at different international scientific meetings.

 

For some 35 years Kazarian works at the University, has lectured a number of courses, has been scientific supervisor for a number of Ph.D., M.Sc. and B.Sc. theses.

 

Since many years Kazarian is a member of the Scientific Council of YSU, Scientific Council and Council for Scientific Degrees of the Byurakan Observatory.

 

Prof. Kazarian is a member of ArAS since 2001. In 1979, Kazarian was awarded the prize for the "Best research work" in YSU for the series of papers on discovery and study of UV excess galaxies. The Armenian Astronomical Society wishes to him good health and new interesting scientific results.

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70th anniversary of Prof. Vigen MALUMIAN

 

Prof. Vigen H. Malumian, a well-known radio astronomer and one of the oldest associates of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, is 70.

 

Prof. Malumian was born on March 11, 1932 in Yerevan, Armenia. In 1954, he graduated from the Yerevan State University, Department of Physics and Mathematics, Chair of Astrophysics. The same year, he started to work in the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. In 1956-59, he was a post-graduate. V.Malumian received his first scientific degree (Ph.D.) in 1963 from the Yerevan State University. His thesis was titled "The results of observations of some galactic radio sources at 33cm with the high-resolution radio telescope". Malumian's scientific adviser was the famous radio astronomer S.E.Khaikin. The highest scientific degree of Doctor of physical-mathematical sciences Malumian received in 1991 from the Byurakan Observatory. The thesis was titled "The investigation of radio emission of galaxies with moderate activity and faint radio galaxies".

 

Prof. Malumian's main research interests include investigations of isolated and double galaxies, groups of galaxies, radio galaxies, quasars and other radio sources in both radio and other wavelengths ranges. On these and some other scientific topics he has published more than 70 papers, presented a number of talks at different international scientific meetings.

 

For almost half a century Prof. Malumian works at the Byurakan Observatory. Currently he is a leading scientific researcher (since 1995), member of the Scientific Council and Council for Scientific Degrees of the Byurakan Observatory. For long years Malumian lectures at the Yerevan State University, since 1995 he is a Professor.

 

Prof. Malumian is member of IAU (since 1997), EAS, one of the founding members of ArAS. The Armenian Astronomical Society wishes to him good health and new interesting scientific results.

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80th anniversary of Dr. Nina IVANOVA

 

This May Byurakan astronomers celebrated 80th anniversary of Dr. Nina L. Ivanova, who presently is the oldest staff member of the observatory. where she works from 1950.

 

Dr. Ivanova was born in May 1, 1922 in Leningrad (now St.Petersburg), and graduated from the Leningrad State University (YSU). Even in her student years she was visiting Armenia to conduct the observations. Her PhD thesis was devoted to spectrophotometry of B type stars in Pleades and Orion; the observations were carried out during the special expedition on the Mt. Aragats at 3200 meters latitude. After that N.L. Ivanova decided to become resident and associate of Byurakan Observatory.

 

Dr. Ivanova is the author of about 60 papers, mainly concerning the spectroscopic studies of various unstable and variable stars (Be and shell stars, P Cyg stars, symbiothic stars, T Tauri stars). She obtained more than 3000 spectrograms, observing on various telescopes, starting from the 25 sm ASI-5 and up to the

6m BTA telescope of Special Astrophysical Obs. (Russia). She participated in several General Meetings of IAU, many symposia and colloqia, was member of various coordinating commissions.

 

Dr. Ivanova always held a great authority and respect among her colleagues in Byurakan and abroad. She is the member of IAU, ArAS (since 2001). The Armenian Astronomical Society wishes to her the perfect health and new scientific successes.

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We have had also two other anniversaries during these months:

 

Dr. Artashes R. PETROSIAN, celebrated recently his 50th anniversary. Born 16.02.1952, he works at the Byurakan Observatory since 1974. He took his Ph.D. degree in 1980. Since 1999 A.Petrosian is a Leading Research Associate of BAO. A.Petrosian was the Director of BAO in 1994-1999, and simultaneously the Minister of Education and Science of Armenia in 1996-1998. He is a well-known specialist in AGNs, starburst galaxies and supernovae having more than 100 papers on these topics, and heading a number of international projects as well. A.Petrosian is a member of IAU, EAS, and ArAS since April this year.

 

Dr. Anahit A. YEGHIAZARIAN, celebrated recently her 50th anniversary. Born 18.01.1952, she works at the Byurakan Observatory since 1974. She took her Ph.D. degree in 1987. Since 1988 A.Yeghiazarian is a research associate of BAO. She is a specialist in AGNs and starburst galaxies having some 20 papers on these topics. A. Yeghiazarian is a member of ArAS since 2001. 

 

ABOUT THE VI GENERAL MEETING OF EAAS

 

 

From 2002 May 25 to June 2 two astronomers of the Byurakan Observatory: Dr. Areg M. Mickaelian and Dr. Tigran Yu. Magakian, participated in the VI General Meeting of the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society (EAAS) in Moscow and presented talks at the related scientific conference "International Cooperation in Astronomy: State and Prospects". From the results of the conference one can make an opinion that notwithstanding the well-known difficulties, the Armenian astronomy still holds the third place in CIS after Russia and Ukraine, and the number of cooperative projects steadily increases. At present, Armenian astronomers collaborate with scientists from France, Italy, China, USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Russia, and some other countries.

 

Dr. A.M. Mickaelian was elected in the Administrative Board of EAAS, and Dr. T.Yu. Magakian was elected in the EAAS Scientific-Technical Council. Another Armenian astronomer, Dr. David Mkrtichan from the Odessa Astronomical Observatory (Ukraine) participated in the Meeting and presented a talk.

 

 

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NEW ARAS MEMBERS

 

 

During March-June 2002, another 13 astronomers became ArAS members. 3 are from the USA: Prof. Daniel Weedman (NSF), Prof. Richard Belian (LANL), Dr. Vladimir Airapetian (GSFC); 7 are from the Byurakan Observatory: Dr. Artashes Petrosian, Dr. Tigran Arshakian, Arthur Karapetian, Astghik Karapetian, Dr. Armen Oskanian, Lousine Sargsyan, and Lilit Hovhannisyan; 2 are from the Yerevan Physics Institute: Dr. Vahagn Gurzadyan, and Dr. Anahit Melkonian; and 1 is from Garni Space Astronomy Institute: Dr. Karen Bekarian.

 

Prof. Dan Weedman is the first non-Armenian member of our society. He is a well-known specialist in the field of AGNs, and has visited a few times to Armenia and worked on Markarian galaxies for a long time. D.Weedman is one of the greatest friends of the Byurakan Observatory and the Armenian astronomy!

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ASTRONOMICAL SCHOOL OLYMPIAD IN BYURAKAN

 

 

Last April 20-21, the fourth Astronomical School Olympiad was held in the Byurakan Observatory. It was the fourth time that the Ministry of Education and Science organized officially Astronomical School Olympiads. The children stayed in Byurakan for two days and enjoyed Byurakan scientific atmosphere and sightseeing as well. We would like to state that the ArAS members were among the organizers.

 

It is worth mentioning that Armenian participants were rather good in the International Astronomical Olympiad organized last year in Russia. Four of them took 2 second-rank and 2 third-rank prizes and the Armenian team was one of the best teams in all. 

 

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CONTACT INFORMATION

 

Address:           Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO),

Byurakan 378433, Aragatzotn province, ARMENIA

 

Tel/fax:             +374-1 53-27-51 (Areg Mickaelian)

E-mail:              aras@web.am, aras_org@freenet.am

Web page:        http://www.aras.am