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FIRST BYURAKAN INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL FOR YOUNG ASTRONOMERS
"OBSERVATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS"
26 August - 3 September, 2006, Byurakan (Armenia)
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T H I R 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
Observations of Active Galactic Nuclei and Starburst galaxies;
Astronomical Surveys and Future Giant Projects;
3D spectroscopy;
Computers for Astronomy: Astronomical Data Reduction;
Archives, Databases and Virtual Observatories;
Observations of Stars and Nebulae;
Extrasolar planets.
EVENTS:
Most of the time will be devoted to lectures (3-4 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.
LIST OF LECTURERS AND LECTURES:
Dr. Vladimir AIRAPETIAN (Goddard Space Flight Center, USA): Physics of
Winds from Cool Evolved Stars
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):
Extrasolar Planets Search with Radial Velocity and Transit Technique;
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): Methods
of the Object Classification by the Spectral Energy Distribution: Past,
Present and Future
Dr. Dieter ENGELS (Hamburger Sternwarte, Germany): Imaging with Radio
Interferometry
Dr. Arsen HAJIAN (United States Naval Observatory, USA): Search and Study
of Exasolar Planets
Dr. Daniel KUNTH (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris, France): Starburst -
AGN Connection
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; The Digitized First Byurakan Survey and
the Armenian VO
Dr. Aleksei MOISEEV (Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia): 3D
methods in astronomy
Dr. Tigran MOVSESSIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia): 3D
methods in astronomy
Dr. Artashes PETROSIAN (Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Armenia,
TBC):
Prof. Massimo TURATTO (Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Italy):
Supernovae: Lighthouses in the Universe
Prof. Daniel WEEDMAN (Cornell University, USA): Spectroscopy with the
Spitzer Infrared Observatory
SCHOOL PROGRAM:
August 25, Friday
Arrival and registration day
August 26, Saturday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
09:00-09:30 Official opening of the Summer School
Lectures and lessons on nuclear and starburst activity of galaxies:
09:30-10:30 Starburst - AGN Connection (D.KUNTH)
10:30-11:00 Coffee break
11:00-12:00 Starburst - AGN Connection (D.KUNTH)
12:00-13:00 Radio properties of AGN (D.ENGELS)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-15:30 Supernovae: Lighthouses in the Universe (M.TURATTO)
16:00-18:00 Acquaintance with the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory
19:00-20:00 Welcome dinner
21:00-24:00 Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope
August 27, Sunday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
Lectures and lessons on nuclear and starburst activity of galaxies:
09:00-11:00 Spectroscopy with the Spitzer Infrared Observatory
(D.WEEDMAN)
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-13:00 Infrared Properties of Interacting Galaxies and Mergers
(V.CHARMANDARIS)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
15:00-17:00 Practical courses: usage of the Spitzer archives
(D.WEEDMAN, V.CHARMANDARIS)
19:00-20:00 Dinner
21:00-24:00 Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope
August 28, Monday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
Lectures and lessons on methods of AGN studies:
09:00-10:00 Introduction to spectroscopic observations (M.DENNEFELD)
10:00-11:00 Computers in Astronomy (D.BARRY)
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-13:00 3D methods in astronomy (T.MOVSESSIAN, A.MOISEEV)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
15:00-17:00 Practical courses of astronomy with computers
(D.BARRY, T.MAGAKIAN)
19:00-20:00 Dinner
20:00-21:30 Visit to Orgov Radio-Optical Telescope (ROT)
22:00-24:00 Observations with the BAO 2.6m telescope
August 29, Tuesday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
Lectures and lessons on methods of AGN studies:
09:00-10:00 Imaging with Radio Interferometry (D.ENGELS)
10:00-11:00 AGN data archives with VLBI facilities (D.ENGELS)
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-13:00 Methods of the Object Classification by the Spectral
Energy Distribution: Past, Present and Future (S.DODONOV)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
15:00-17:00 Data reduction with MIDAS and IRAF packages
17:00-19:00 Starburst - AGN Connection (D.KUNTH)
19:00-20:00 Dinner
21:00-24:00 Observations with small telescopes
August 30, Wednesday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
Lectures and lessons on astronomical archives and Virtual Observatories:
09:00-10:00 Large astronomical surveys, databases and
Virtual Observatories (A.MICKAELIAN)
10:00-11:00 The Digitized First Byurakan Survey and Armenian VO
(A.MICKAELIAN)
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
Lectures on additional hot topics in modern astrophysics:
11:30-12:15 Search and Study of Exasolar Planets (A.HAJIAN)
12:15-13:00 Extrasolar Planets Search with Radial Velocity and
Transit Technique (R.CLAUDI)
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:45 Young stellar objects and related phenomena (T.MAGAKIAN)
14:45-15:30 Physics of Winds from Cool Evolved Stars (V.AIRAPETIAN)
15:30-16:00 Coffee break
16:00-17:30 General discussion
19:00-20:00 Dinner
August 31, Thursday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
10:00-17:00 Excursion to Yerevan with lunch
19:00-20:00 Dinner
September 1, Friday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
09:00-09:30 Official opening of the Byurakan Observatory
60th anniversary meeting
09:30-13:00 Participation in the Byurakan-60 meeting
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-18:00 Participation in the Byurakan-60 meeting
19:00-20:00 Dinner
September 2, Saturday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
09:30-13:00 Participation in the Byurakan-60 meeting
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-18:00 Participation in the Byurakan-60 meeting
19:00-21:00 School and Meeting Banquet
September 3, Sunday
08:30-09:00 Breakfast
09:30-13:00 Participation in the Byurakan-60 meeting
13:00-14:00 Lunch
14:00-18:00 Excursion to medieval fortress Amberd
19:00-20:00 Dinner
September 4, Monday
Departure day
PARTICIPATION AND ACCOMMODATION:
Upper-level University students and post-graduate students are eligible to
apply for participation. 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. Most of the participants will stay in the Byurakan Observatory
hotel and hostel. Some participants may stay in Yerevan at the Yerevan
State University (YSU) hotel. A bus will take these participants every day
to Byurakan and back. Meals will be offered in Byurakan, too.
PARTICIPATION FEES:
Registration fee: 120 $
BAO hotel: 10-15 $ per night
YSU hotel: 25-30 $ per night
Meals: 12 $ per diem
Excursion: 20 $
School Banquet: 20 $
The registration fee includes transportation of all participants from the
airport to Byurakan and back, participants' sets (bags, etc.), welcome
reception, coffee-breaks and refreshments during the working days of the
school, excursions in Byurakan and to Orgov, and organizational expenses.
For a number of participants, the participation fee will be covered by the
organizers/sponsors.
SPONSORS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The Byurakan Observatory, Armenian Astronomical Society, and Prof. Daniel
Weedman (USA) are the sponsors of the school. The organizers are looking
for new sponsors to support the participation of more students.
A small number of travel grants will be distributed for a partial support
of students exceptionally from countries with limited resources. An
application for a financial support with a brief justification should be
sent to Areg Mickaelian (aregmick@apaven.am) and Elena Nikoghossian
(elena@bao.sci.am).
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (IOC):
V. Charmandaris (Greece)
M. Dennefeld (France)
S. Dodonov (Russia)
D. Engels (Germany)
H. Harutyunian (Armenia)
R. Kandalian (Armenia, Jordan)
A. Mickaelian (Co-chair, Armenia)
M. Turatto (Italy)
D. Weedman (Co-chair, USA)
LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE (LOC):
A.M. Mickaelian (Chair), E.H. Nikoghossian (Secretary), S. Ghazaryan, K.S.
Gigoyan, A.A. Hakopian, L.R. Hovhannisyan, T.Yu. Magakian, N.D. Melikian,
A. Melkonian, T.H. Movsessian, L.A. Sargsyan.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DEADLINES:
December 25, 2005 First Announcement
March 1, 2006 Deadline for preliminary registration
April 1, 2006 Second Announcement with tentative program
May 10, 2006 Third Announcement with detailed program
July 1, 2006 Deadline for registration, hotel reservation and
payment
Aug 26-Sep 3, 2006 Byurakan International Summer School
CONTACT ADDRESSES:
Postal Address: Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory,
Byurakan 378433, Aragatzotn Province, Armenia.
Phone: 374-10 58-06-56 (Areg Mickaelian)
374-10 26-00-58 (Elena Nikoghossian)
Fax: 374-10 58-06-56
E-mail: aregmick@apaven.am (Areg Mickaelian)
elena@bao.sci.am (Elena Nikoghossian)
Web page: http://www.aras.am/SS_2006/SS_index.htm
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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:
NOTE:
Motivation for financial support (registration fee and local expenses):
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DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION: July 1, 2006.