Nina Ivanova

Dr. Nina Leonidovna Ivanova is presently the oldest staff member of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory. where she works since 1950. Dr. Ivanova was born on May 1, 1922 in St.Petersburg (former Leningrad), and graduated from the Leningrad State University (LSU). Even during her student years she visited Armenia a few times to conduct observations. Her Ph.D. thesis was devoted to spectrophotometry of B type stars in Pleiades and Orion; the observations were carried out during the special expedition on the Mt. Aragatz at 3200 meters altitude. After that N.L. Ivanova decided to become resident and associate of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, at that time as a postgraduate student under the supervision of V.A. Ambartsumian.

During her work in BAO she published 60 papers, mainly on the investigation of non-stable processes in the early spectral type and various types of variable stars: Be and shell stars, P Cyg stars, symbiothic stars, novae stars (from flares to nebular stage), eclipse variables with extent atmospheres, T Tauri stars.

Using mainly spectral method of investigation (spectrophotometry of lines, continuum, radial velocities, measuring of shifts of the lines not connected with the kinematics of star), Ivanova investigated physical conditions in the atmospheres of stars and their changes with time. For solving these problems she has obtained a large observational material, more than 3000 spectrograms, observing with various telescopes, starting from the 10" ASI-5 of BAO and then with the big telescopes of the Soviet Union, including the 6m BTA of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO, Russia).

The papers of Ivanova are rich with observational information and are devoted to solution of actual problems of modern astrophysics.

Dr. Ivanova always held a great authority and respect among her colleagues in Byurakan and abroad. She is a member of International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS), has participated in several General Meetings of IAU, many symposia and colloquia, was a member of various coordinating commissions.