From tigmag@sci

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 )

No. 17 (March 29, 2006)

Editor: Lilit Hovhannisyan (lilithov11@yahoo.com)

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

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CONTENTS:

1) The 60-th anniversary of the Byurakan Observatory

2) First Byurakan International Summer School - 2006

3) ANSEF 2006 Grants

4) The 75-th anniversary of Arsen Kalloghlian

5) The 50-th anniversary of Emilia Karapetian

The 60-th anniversary of the Byurakan Observatory

This year, we celebrate the 60-th anniversary of the Byurakan Observatory’s foundation. 60 years ago, academician Victor Ambartsumian founded the observatory on the slope of Mount Aragatz. Thanks to Ambartsumian’s and his colleagues’ efforts it became one of the well-known observatories in the world. Many international scientific meetings were held in Byurakan and a lot of astronomical institutions from all over the world collaborate with the Byurakan Observatory. Several events will take place in the Byurakan observatory for this purpose: a Solemn Meeting, a Scientific Conference “Active Universe”, an International Summer School.

Scientific Conference “Active Universe”, devoted to the 60-th anniversary of the Byurakan Observatory

The meeting will take place on September 1-3 in Byurakan. Scientific sessions, welcome reception, a conference dinner and other events are foreseen. Talks about the history and achievements of the Byurakan Observatory, its present state and current projects, as well as recent scientific results obtained in Byurakan and elsewhere will be presented.

The meeting is open for all interested astronomers. Contact: Areg Mickaelian (aregmick@apaven.am)

FIRST BYURAKAN INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL

FOR YOUNG ASTRONOMERS

"OBSERVATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS"

26 August - 3 September, 2006, Byurakan (Armenia)

S E C O N D A N N O U N C E M E N T

An international summer school "Observational Astrophysics" will take place on August 26 - September 3, 2006, in Byurakan (Armenia). It is being organized jointly by the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) and the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS). The School will be linked to the Byurakan Observatory 60th Anniversary Meeting, which will be held in combination with the ArAS 5th Annual Meeting on September 1-3, so that the students may also participate in these events during the last days of the school. The official language of the School is English.

The Byurakan Observatory is one of the main observational centers of the former Soviet Union and is an important observatory with modern facilities in the Middle East region. It was founded in 1946 by V.A. Ambartsumian and is well known for its large spectroscopic surveys: the First and Second Byurakan Surveys, undertaken by B.E. Markarian and colleagues.

The Byurakan Observatory hosts a number of medium-size optical telescopes, the most important being the 2.6m classical telescope and 1m Schmidt telescope. There are different modern astronomical instruments, including the multi-pupil spectrograph (VAGR). The Byurakan Observatory holds the Digitized First Byurakan Survey (DFBS, or the Markarian survey), containing low-dispersion spectra for ~20,000,000 objects. Many qualified specialists work presently in Byurakan, who are prepared to teach modern observational astrophysics to young people. In addition, a number of well-known scientists are invited to lecture during the school on different interesting topics.

AIM OF THE SCHOOL:

The aim of the school is to promote and reinforce the development of professional astronomy in countries of the middle East and eastern Europe and to foster integration with other countries in the world.

The school is devoted to young predoc and postdoc young astronomers of those countries but students from all countries are welcome in order to create an international environment.

TOPICS:

· Ground-based Telescopes and Modern Observational Techniques;

· Space Telescopes;

· 2D spectroscopy;

· Computers for Astronomy: Astronomical Data Reduction;

· Archives, Databases and Virtual Observatories;

· Solar System Exploration by Space Missions;

· Observations of Stars and Nebulae;

· Extrasolar planets;

· Observations of Extragalactic Objects;

· Observational Cosmology.

· Astronomical Surveys and Future Giant Projects;

EVENTS:

Most of the time will be devoted to lectures (2-3 lectures daily) and practical courses (observations and data reduction). The following events will take place during the School:

· Lectures on different aspects of observational astrophysics;

· Observations with 2.6m telescope;

· Data reduction with MIDAS and IRAF packages;

· Observations with small telescopes;

· Practical courses of astronomy with computers;

· Acquaintance with the Byurakan Observatory and its research;

· Visit to Orgov Radio-Optical Telescope (ROT);

· Excursions to famous Armenian sightseeing.

TENTATIVE LIST OF LECTURERS AND LECTURES:

· Dr. Vladimir AIRAPETIAN (Goddard Space Flight Center, USA): Solar System Exploration with the Space Missions

· Dr. Don BARRY (Cornell University, USA): Computers in Astronomy

· Prof. Alec BOKSENBERG (UNESCO; UK, TBC):

· Prof. Vassilis CHARMANDARIS (University of Crete, Greece): Infrared

Properties of Interacting Galaxies and Mergers

· Dr. Riccardo CLAUDI (Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Italy): Astereoseismology of solar - like stars (observation techniques and theory)

· Dr. Michel DENNEFELD (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France): Introduction to spectroscopic observations

· Dr. Serguei DODONOV (Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia, TBC):

· Dr. Dieter ENGELS (Hamburger Sternwarte, Germany, TBC): Imaging with Radio Interferometry

· Dr. Armen GYULBUDAGHIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia, TBC):

· Dr. Arsen HAJIAN (United States Naval Observatory, USA): Search and Study of Exasolar Planets

· Dr. Haik HARUTYUNIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia):

· Dr. Rafik KANDALYAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia, and Al-Albayt University, Jordan): Molecular maser sources in external galaxies

· Dr. Daniel KUNTH (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France):

· Dr. Tigran MAGAKIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia): Young stellar objects and related phenomena

· Dr. Areg MICKAELIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia): Large astronomical surveys and projects

· Dr. Tigran MOVSESSIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia): 3D methods in astronomy

· Dr. Artashes PETROSIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia, TBC):

· Dr. Levon POGOSYAN (University of Syracuse, USA): Problems in Modern Cosmology (TBC)

· Prof. Massimo TURATTO (Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Italy): Supernovae: Lighthouses in the Universe

· Prof. Daniel WEEDMAN (Cornell University, USA): Science with the Spitzer Space Telescope (SST)

TENTATIVE PROGRAM:

August 26, Saturday

Arrival and registration

Lunch

Acquaintance with the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory

Welcome dinner

Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope

August 27, Sunday

Breakfast

Official opening of the Summer School

Lectures on Astronomical Instrumentaion and Methods of Observations:

Introduction to spectroscopic observations (M.DENNEFELD)

3D methods in astronomy (T.MOVSESSIAN)

Imaging with Radio Interferometry (D.ENGELS)

Computers in Astronomy (D.BARRY)

Lunch

Practical courses of astronomy with computers

Dinner

Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope

August 28, Monday

Breakfast

Lectures on Planets: Solar and Exasolar:

Solar System Exploration with the Space Missions (V.AIRAPETIAN)

Search and Study of Exasolar Planets (A.HAJIAN)

Lunch

Practical courses of astronomy with computers

Dinner

Visit to Orgov Radio-Optical Telescope (ROT)

Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope

August 29, Tuesday

Breakfast

Lectures on Stellar Studies:

Astereoseismology of solar - like stars (observation techniques and theory) (R.CLAUDI)

Young stellar objects and related phenomena (T.MAGAKIAN)

Lunch

Data reduction with MIDAS and IRAF packages

Dinner

Observations with small telescopes

August 30, Wednesday

Breakfast

Lectures on Extragalactic Studies:

Infrared Properties of Interacting Galaxies and Mergers (V.CHARMANDARIS)

Supernovae: Lighthouses in the Universe (M.TURATTO)

Molecular maser sources in external galaxies (R.KANDALYAN)

Lunch

Data reduction with MIDAS and IRAF packages

Dinner

Observations with small telescopes

August 31, Thursday

Breakfast

Lectures on COsmology, Large Surveys, etc.:

Science with the Spitzer Space Telescope (D.WEEDMAN)

Problems in Modern Cosmology (TBC) (L.POGOSYAN)

Large astronomical surveys and projects (A.MICKAELIAN)

Lunch

Excursion to Yerevan

Dinner

September 1, Friday

Breakfast

Official opening of the Byurakan Observatory 60th anniversary meeting