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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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NOTE:
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DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION:   July 1, 2006.