Researches of the Department

Nowadays at the Department the experimental and theoretical investigations, including astronomical and ionospheric observations, active experiments with space vehicles are taking place. Since 1992 the group of theoretical physists - plasma physicists - joined the department to work here.

Main fields of scientific research:

• Solar Corona physics and erruptive phenomenae.
• Solar-Terrestrial physics.
• Ephemeris astronomy.
• Stellar astronomy.
• Physics, Dynamics and Cosmogony of comets and small bodies of the Solar system.
• Optical observations and aurora physics.
• Active space experiments, explorations with space probes.
• Theory of the wave processes in space plasma.
• Ozone ('ozone holes') and upper Terrestrial atmosphere investigations on Antarctic Vernadsky Station.
• Astronomical instrument-making and observation automation.

The Main Scientific and Scientific-Organizational Advances of the Department

The Department has organized and put into practice more then 50 expeditions for observation of Solar ecllipces, aurorae polaris, comets, meteor streams, controlled space experiments, and also for investigations of geophysical characteristics. Among them there are expeditions beyond the polar circle and to the equator, to Cuba and Antarctica, to the rocket ground in Kapustin Yar and island Sahalin. Active participants of the expeditions were always students and post-graduates of the Department. Regular geophysical observations are also kept. Permanently the computer ephemeris are calculated and represented in the Internet.

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Aurorae Polaris Observations:

• 1958-1959, 1960-1961, 1961-1962, 1962-1963, 1965, 1967, 1973-1974, 1976, 1979 - Tiksi bay, island Muostoaux, Schmidt cape.

Computer Ephemeris:

• Computer Ephemeris of 2000-2003 Years.

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Radiomeasuring of Ionosphere Emissions:

• 1974 - Arkhangelskaya region,
• 1981, 1991 - Turkmenistan,
• 1988, 1989 - Pushchino, Moskovskaya region.

Active Space Experiments:

• 1973, 1975-1992 - Kapustyn Yar ground, Arkhangelskaya region, scientific-research ship Professor Zubov, Kuba, cosmodrom Baykonur.

Complex Geophysical Measuring (Magnetic Field, Ozon, Ionosphere):

• 1995-2001 - Vernadsky Station, Antarctic.

Scientific works (publications of staff):

• 1997 year
• 1998 year
• 1999 year
• 2000 year
• 2001 year
  
• 2002 year

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Scientific Advances:

• conception of permanently dynamic Solar corona consisting of corpuscular Solar streams(coronal prominences), has been proposed
• first real model of Solar corona (hydrodynamic, 1953-1957), which has led to the discovery of Solar wind phenomena, was made;
• eruptive theory of comet origin as a result of their ejection from planetary systems has been made; existance of giant planets' rings and volcanoes on their satelites has been predicted;
• comet and radioastronomical station has been created in Lisnyky;
• structure elements of Solar corona - hyperfine jets, coronal rain, voids, subtrasients - have been discovered;
• Helium emissions in aurorae polaris luminescence and shore effects have been identify, for the first time in the USSR mass levelling of aurorae polaris was realized and space-time characteristics of fine parts of aurorae have been learned;
• succesful observations of 11 Solar ecllipces, 60 comets, other celestial objects by various methods, 43 guided space experiments, aurorae polaris of 16 seasons have been realized;
• regular annual publication 'Computer Ephemeris'
• comets Churiumov-Gerasymenko(1969) and Churiumov-Solodovnikov(1986) have been discovered;
• model of comets flares under the influence of high-velocity streams of Solar wind has been made;
• unique catalogue of physical characteristics of comets, which had been observed in 1985, has been created;
• space coronograph VK-I, UV space spectrometers BUFS-1, -2, highly sensitive photometer UV-ZK (for 'Intercosmos-24' satellite), rocket IR radiometer 'IKAR';
• r-radiation of terrestrial ionosphere has been registered in the range of meters on the medium latitudes;
• many articles in the field of theory of turbulence and non-lineal wave structure in space plasma were published in international journals; unexpected results of international satellite projects ARAKS (1975), Porcupine (1982), APEX (1991-1995), CRRES (1991-1995), Freja (1992-1995), Interball (1995-98) were explained;

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International Relations

Since 50th the Department take an active part in international projects, deducated to Sun, Solar-Terrestrial bonds, near-Earth outer space investigations: International Geophysical Year, International Year of Quiet Sun, 'Dinamics of Solar Corona', and also international rocket and satellite projects ARACS, Zirnytsya, Spoloh, APECS, CRESS, INTERBALL, 'Warning' etc.

Participation in realization of National space program stimulate international contacts. Joint data processing of INTERBALL and Forecast in Terrestrial Magnetosphere is realized together with Institute of Space Investigations of RAS (Moscow) and Centre of Space Investigations (Poland). Data processing and interpretation of plasma observations at Freja satellite is realized together with Sweden Institute of Space Physics.

National space agency of Ukraine developes space project 'Warning' (study of ionospheric harbinger of earthquakes) together with Russia, USA, France, Sweden, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland. The Department is the main organization in coordination of scientific program and creation of airborne equipment complex. From 1993 to 1995 the Head of the Department M.Kotsarenko was a scientific supervisor of the project 'Warning'.

Systematical geophysical observations are carried out at Vernadsky Station (former Britain station Faraday, which was given to Ukraine in 1996). Joint investigations are realized with Britain Antarctic Service. During 1995-97 the Head of the First Ukrainian Antarctic expedition was Dr. G.Milinevsky . At Vernadsky Station scientists investigate ozonosphere ('ozone holes') and upper atmosphere by International Geosphere Biosphere Program, and also continue ionospheric and geomagnetic measuring, starting by Britain researchers in 50th. The Department maintains scientific relations with the most of its graduates, which work abroad in the field of astronomy and space physics.

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