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: Lilit Hovhannisyan

 

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

 

 

 

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CONTENTS:

 

 

1.    V.A. Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary meeting

2.    Second Byurakan International Summer School

3.    ANSEF call 2009

 

 

 

 

Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary

 

As informed before, this year we celebrate Professor V.A. Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary. Ambartsumian was the founder of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. He was the greatest Armenian astronomer of all times and one of the greatest astronomers of the XX century in the world. Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary will be celebrated worldwide and is included in UNESCO’s official list as well.

 

Victor Ambartsumian, one of the founders of modern astrophysics, had founded the first in the Soviet Union astrophysics department at the Saint-Petersburg State University, and the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory in Armenia (1946). He was among the founding members of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences (1943), having consequently served as its President (1947-1993). He was elected the IAU President (1961-1964), as well as twice the ISCU President (1968-1972). You can read more about Ambartsumian's biography, his achievements, honours and awards at http://aras.am/Ambartsumian.html or http://www.bao.am/VAmbartsumian.html. 

 

Celebrations include an international conference on Sep 15-18 in Byurakan (see below “V.A. Ambartsumian’s 100th Anniversary Meeting”), an international summer school on Sep 20-30 in Byurakan (“Second Byurakan International Summer School”), a Ceremonial Meeting with concert at the Yerevan Opera House on Sep 19, publication of books and a DVD devoted to V.A. Ambartsumian, opening of V.A. Ambartsumian’s statue in Yerevan, release of commemorative medals and stamps, etc.

 

 

V.A. Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary MEETING

15-18 September 2008

 

The conference "Evolution of cosmic objects through their physical activity" will be the most important event in Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary celebrations. It will take place on September
15-18, 2008 in Byurakan (the scientific sessions) and Yerevan (the opening session as well as the ceremonial meeting on the 19^th), Armenia.

 

The Second Announcement of the conference was released on May 30. You can find all available information about this event at http://www.bao.am/VA100.html. The registration is still open and available online at http://www.bao.am/registration.html. Here we give most important information in brief.

 

The opening session will be held at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences on Sep 15 in Yerevan, and all other sessions, including the closing one will be held at the conference hall of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO).

 

Armenian National Academy of Sciences and the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) are the organizers of the conference.

 

Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC):

Halton Arp (Germany)
Yuri Balega (Russia)
Geoffrey Burbidge (USA), Co-chair
Anatoly Cherepashchuk (Russia)
Michael Dopita (Australia)
Hayk Harutyunyan (Armenia), Co-chair
Daniel Kunth (France)
Jayant Narlikar (India)
Sadanori Okamura (Japan)
Elma Parsamian (Armenia)

Ian Robson (UK)

David Sedrakian (Armenia)
Roberto Terlevich (Mexico)
Yervant Terzian (USA)

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) consists of H.A. Harutyunyan & A.M. Mickaelian (Co-Chairs), E.H. Nikoghosyan (Secretary), and the members S.K. Balayan, A.L. Gyulbudaghyan, A.A. Hakobyan, T.Yu. Magakian, N.D. Melikyan, A.G. Nikoghossian, and A.R. Petrosian.

Registration

 

Registration of the participants and guests will start on Monday September 15, at 10:00 at the Yerevan State University Guest House. You may register at the Presidium of Armenian National Academy of sciences from 13:00, where at 15:00 the Conference Opening session will start.

 

A limited number of travel grants will be available, reserved mainly for invited speakers and young participants.

 

Abstract submission

 

Abstracts of all oral and poster contributions should be submitted through the VA100 web interface, filling the type of the contribution, title, authors/affiliations, and the abstract (10-15 rows). If you have difficulty with the web interface, please, send your abstract(s) to the Conference LOC address or to the LOC Co-Chairs.

 

Proceedings

 

The typical allocated size will be 10-12 pages for invited talks, 5-6 pages for contributed talks, and 2-3 pages for poster contributions. More details will be given in the final announcement and at the Conference. The deadline for submission is November 30, 2008.

 

Some important deadlines:

 

May 30, 2008             Second Announcement

Jun 30, 2008               Deadline for Submission of Abstracts and Travel Grant Applications

Jul 20, 2008                Applicants to be informed on outcome of Travel Grant Applications and Confirmation of Acceptance of Abstracts

Jul 20, 2008               Deadline for Early Registration and Hotel Reservation

Jul 30, 2008                Final Submission of Abstracts of accepted papers for the Abstracts book
Aug 15, 2008              Final Announcement with the detailed Program
Sep 15-18, 2008         Conference in Byurakan
Nov 30, 2008              Deadline for submission of papers for publication in the Proceedings

 

Contacts: 

 

Hayk Harutyunyan, Co-chair, SOC and LOC: hhayk@bao.sci.am and
Areg Mickaelian, Co-Chair LOC: aregmick@apaven.am.

 

 

SECOND BYURAKAN INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL

20-30 September 2008

 

The Second Byurakan International Summer School for young astronomers "Practical Astrophysics" will take place on September 20-30, 2008 in Byurakan (Armenia). It is being organized jointly by the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) and the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS). The School is also devoted to Prof. V.A. Ambartsumian’s 100^th anniversary and will be linked to Ambartsumian's Centennial meeting, so that the students may also participate in these events before the school.  

 

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 various 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 astrophysics to young people. In addition, a number of well-known scientists are invited to lecture during the school on various interesting topics.

 

Topics:

 

Ground-based Telescopes and Modern Observational Techniques;

Space Telescopes and Space Missions;

2D spectroscopy;

Computers for Astronomy: Astronomical Data Reduction;

Archives, Databases and Virtual Observatories;

Studies of Planets, Stars, Nebulae, and Galaxies by various methods;

Astronomical Surveys and Future Giant Projects;

 

Participation and Accommodation:

 

Upper-level University students and post-graduate students are eligible to apply for participation. Please fill in the registration form online at http://www.bao.am/SBISS_registration.html or send the completed registration form (see below) by e-mail to Areg Mickaelian (aregmick@apaven.am) before August 10, 2008. Online registration will be also available soon at the BAO and ArAS web pages.

 

The students must have a working knowledge of English which will be the official language of the school, as well as sufficient level in physics and mathematics. A maximum of 30 students will be selected. The participants will stay in the Byurakan Observatory hotel and hostel. Meals will be offered in Byurakan, too.

 

There is no participation fee. All lecturers and students may stay in Byurakan for free and the meals will be also offered for free. Those participants who wish to stay in Yerevan hotels should take care for the payments by themselves.

 

The organizers will also take care for the transportation of all participants from the airport to Byurakan and back.

 

Sponsors and Financial Support

 

The school is supported by the Armenian Government, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), and the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS). 

 

All participants’ local expenses will be covered by the organizers. A limited number of travel grants have been allocated for students from countries with limited possibilities.

 

International Organizing Committee (IOC)

 

Don Barry (USA)

Michel Dennefeld (France)

Dieter Engels (Co-chair, Germany)

Haik Harutyunian (Armenia)

Daniel Kunth (France)

Areg Mickaelian (Co-chair, Armenia)

 

Local Organizing Committee (LOC)

 

A.M. Mickaelian (Chair), K.S. Gigoyan, L.R. Hovhannisyan, N.D. Melikyan, E.H. Nikoghosyan, L.A. Sargsyan, P.K. Sinamyan.

 

 

Programme:

 

September 20, Saturday

 

Arrival and registration day

 

September 21, Sunday

10:00-13:00    Acquaintance to the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory

14:30-16:00    Meeting with IAU President Catherine CESARSKY; lectures:

International Year of Astronomy (IYA) in 2009; Galaxies, LIRGs, and ULIRGs

19:00-20:00    Welcome dinner

 

September 22, Monday

09:00-09:30    Official opening of the Summer School

09:30-13:00    Lectures

Areg MICKAELIAN (Armenia): Large astronomical surveys, databases and Virtual Observatories 

Don BARRY (USA): Existing astronomical software and programming in astronomy

14:30-17:30    Lectures

Daniel KUNTH (France): Galaxy evolution and star-formation in Starbursts

Daniel KUNTH (France): Ly-alpha: local and high redshift galaxies

 

September 23, Tuesday

09:00-13:00    Lectures

Tigran MOVSESSIAN (Armenia): 3D spectroscopic methods in astronomy

Tigran MAGAKIAN (Armenia): Discoveries and studies of young stellar objects and related objects

14:30-17:30    Practical courses

Don BARRY (USA): Astronomical software

Don BARRY (USA): Data reduction with MIDAS and IRAF packages

Lusine SARGSYAN (Armenia): Spitzer spectra reduction course with SMART package

 

September 24, Wednesday

09:00-13:00    Lectures

Artashes PETROSIAN (Armenia): Activity in galaxies and starburst - AGN connection

Lusine SARGSYAN (Armenia): Spectroscopy with the Spitzer Infrared Observatory

14:30-17:30    Practical courses

Dieter ENGELS (Germany): Radioastronomical data reduction course with GILDAS and AIPS packages

21:00-24:00    Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope

 

September 25, Thursday

09:00-13:00    Lectures

Dieter ENGELS (Germany): The LOFAR project in radioastronomy

Dieter ENGELS (Germany): Public radio data archives

Areg MICKAELIAN (Armenia): Science based on Spectroscopic Databases

14:30-17:30    Practical courses

Dieter ENGELS (Germany): Usage of the radio archives

Lusine SARGSYAN (Armenia): Usage of the Spitzer archives

21:00-24:00    Observations with small telescopes

 

September 26, Friday

09:00-13:00    Lectures

Michel DENNEFELD (France): OPTICON, the EU Co-ordination Network for Optical-Infrared Astronomy

Avetis SADOYAN (Armenia) Gravitational wave astronomy

Haik HARUTYUNIAN (Armenia): Cosmology: new facts and new problems

14:30-17:30    Practical courses

Lusine SARGSYAN (Armenia): Dedicated Extraction and Reduction Software for the DFBS

21:00-24:00    Observations with small telescopes

 

September 27, Saturday

10:00-17:00    Excursion to Yerevan with lunch

 

September 28, Sunday

14:00-18:00    Excursion to medieval fortress Amberd

19:00-21:00    School Banquet

 

September 29, Monday

09:00-10:00    Haik HARUTYUNIAN (Armenia): IYA-2009: astronomical education and knowledge in the world 

10:00-13:00    Students' reports

16:00-17:30    General discussion

 

September 30, Tuesday

Departure day

 

Deadlines

 

April 28, 2008                         First Announcement

June 30, 2008                        Deadline for applications for support

July 20, 2008                         Notification on distribution of travel grants

July 20, 2008                         Second Announcement with tentative program

August 10, 2008                     Deadline for registration

August 20, 2008                     Final Announcement with detailed program

September 20-30, 2008         Second Byurakan International Summer School

 

Contact Addresses

 

Address: Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Byurakan 0213, Aragatzotn Province, Armenia.

Phone:                       +374-10 58-06-56 (Areg Mickaelian)

Fax:                +374-10 51-92-05

E-mail:           aregmick@apaven.am (Areg Mickaelian)

Web page:     http://www.bao.am/SBISS_index.html

 

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                        REGISTRATION FORM

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Name:

First name:

Age:

Sex:

 

University, department:

Year and stage of Academic studies:

Country:

 

Your reasons for wishing to attend the school:

 

 

Name and address of your supervisor or a person who will give recommendation:

 

Postal Address:

Phone:                          Fax:

E-mail:                         Web page:

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DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION:   August 10, 2008.

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ANSEF CALL 2009

 

The Armenian National Science & Education Fund (ANSEF) invites 2009 grant proposals. Proposals should be submitted electronically through the ANSEF website (http://www.ansef.org/). Each grant is worth US$ 5000; The deadline is August 31, 2008. A total of 25 awards will be announced at the end of December 2008.

 

Applicants may proceed filling out their applications immediately through the ANSEF website. The electronic system allows applicants to gradually prepare, edit, and change their applications on-line over the next weeks until the deadline of the competition is reached.

 

Since 2001, ANSEF has supported research of more than 500 scientists in Armenia. In the field of astronomy and astrophysics, ANSEF has supported 23 projects (more than 60 scientists), including 17 from Byurakan and 6, from the Yerevan State University (YSU).

 

Past ANSEF grants

 

2008

Nikogosian, E.H. (BAO), The investigation of the very active star formation region in Cygnus OB7 complex 

Sadoyan, A.A. (YSU), Investigation of Gravitational Wave Sources in Medium Frequency Band

2007

Balayan S.K. (BAO), Reconstraction of the BAO 1m Schmidt Type Telescope

Mickaelian A.M. (BAO), Science with the Armenian Virtual Observatory

2006

Mahtesyan A.P. (BAO), The Influence of the Surroundings on the Physical Characteristics of Galaxies in Groups

Nikoghosyan E.H. (BAO), Search and the Proper Motions of Herbig-Haro Objects in the Star Forming Regions

Ter-Ghazaryan G.T. (BAO), Multi-Nuclei Features of Markarian Galaxies and Physical Mechanism Beyond

2005

Andreasyan R.R. (BAO), The 3-D structure of the magnetic field of the Galaxy

Saharian A. (YSU), Casimir Densities and Induced Cosmological Constant in Higher-Loop String Cosmology

Sedrakyan D.M. (YSU), Gravitational Waves from Relativistic Superdense Stellar Objects

2004

Andreasyan R.R. (BAO), The Distribution of Free Electrons in the Galaxy

Hakopian S.A. (BAO), 3D-study of SBS galaxies

Ter-Kazarian G.T. (BAO), An Activity of Galactic Nuclei and Superdence “Protomatter” Sources in the Universe

2003

Movsessian T.H. (BAO), Multi-Component Investigation of Extragalactic Radio Sources

Vardanyan Yu. (YSU), Quark Matter in Superdense Stellar Objects

Zalinian V.P. (BAO), Updating the Control of the Telescope ZTA-2.6

2002

Hovhannisyan M.A. (BAO), The Investigation of the Extended Radio Galaxies

Magakian T.Yu. (BAO), Searches and Detailed Studies of Outflows from PMS Stars

Mickaelian A.M. (BAO), Digitization of the First Byurakan Survey (FBS)

Shahabasyan K. (YSU), Problems of Magnetic Field Behavior and Rotational Dynamics of Pulsars

2001

Khachikian E.Ye. (BAO), Radio and Optical Investigations of Extragalactic Objects

Mickaelian A.M. (BAO), Study of Starburst/AGN/Interaction Phenomena in IRAS Galaxies

Saharian A. (YSU), Dynamics of Higher-Loop String Cosmology and Dilaton Stabilization