Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory

Victor Ambartsumian
1908 - 1996

Victor Amazasp Ambartsumian was born in September 18, 1908, in Tbilisi. After the graduation of the Leningrad (Saint-Petersburg) University and post-graduate studentship in Pulkovo Observatory, he founded in the University the first department of astrophysics in the Soviet Union. In 1943 V.A.Ambartsumian was one of the founding members of the Armenian Academy of Sciences and its vice-president. Soon, in 1947, he became the president of the Academy, and since 1993 he was its honorary president.

In 1946 the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory of the Academy of Sciences of Armenia was founded. Since the first days till 1988 V.A.Ambartsumian was the director and scientific leader of the Byurakan Observatory. And since 1988 he was its honorary director. Thanks to Ambartsumian’s and his colleagues’ works it became one of the known observatories in the world. Ambartsumian’s works are distinguished in perfection and almost every time opened new directions in astrophysics. His works on physics of gaseous nebulae and radiation transfer theory are classic. They played important role in this field, in particular, in the theory of multiple light scattering. The invariance principle, formulated in these works for the first time, had a wide application in a number of other fields of the science. Ambartsumian’s investigations on the problem of stellar evolution brought in 1947 to revealing of stellar systems of new type - stellar associations. The existence of stellar associations in the Galaxy, dynamically non-stable and disintegrating systems, was the first observational evidence in favour of continuing at present star-formation in it. Ambartsumian put forward a hypothesis about the joint origin of the diffuse matter and stars of dense matter of unknown nature - protostars. Ambartsumian’s studies of early stages of evolution of stars and stellar systems are rather significant. It was shown, that in the early stages of the evolution, the instability of state reveals itself, being the regular phase of the cosmogonic processes. Among these results the conclusions about the existence of stellar systems of positive total energy in the Galaxy, non-thermal nature of ultraviolet stellar radiation of T Tauri type and flare stars, are to be mentioned. New principle results were achieved by V.A.Ambartsumian in study of evolution of galaxies. It was shown for the first time, that the central regions of galaxies - their nuclei, play decisive role in the phenomena of instability, observed in galaxies. Besides the stars and diffuse matter they must contain dense massive bodies of unknown nature. The activity of galactic nuclei defines their evolution. At present the active galactic nuclei (AGN) are the most intensively studied objects in extragalactic astronomy.

Ambartsumian has carried out some other investigations of great importance in astrophysics as well, such as the study of interstellar absorbing matter in the Galaxy (the idea of its ragged structure, the theory of fluctuations of light of the Milky Way), works on stellar dynamics (establishing of the base of new, statistical mechanics of stellar systems), statistical investigations of flare stars, and others. Ambartsumian was an outstanding organizer of science, who significantly promoted the international scientific cooperation. In 1948-1955 he was the vice-president, and in 1961-64 - the president of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), in 1968 and 1970 he was twice elected the president of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). His many-sided activity accepted high estimate. He was awarded governmental prizes, orders and medals of a number of countries (Twice Hero of Socialist Labour in 1968 and 1978, USSR State Prizes in 1946 and 1950, Russian State Prize in 1995, National Hero of Armenia in 1994), gold medals of a number of academies and scientific societies. He was elected honorary and foreign member of 28 Academies of Sciences, including USA, UK, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Czechoslovakia, India, Argentina, and other National Academies, honorary member of scientific societies of many countries, honorary doctor of the Universities of Canberra (Australia), La Plata (Argentina), Warsaw and Torun (Poland), Praha (Czechoslovakia), Liege (Belgium) and Sorbonne (France).V.A.Ambartsumian has published about 20 books and booklets, more than 200 scientific papers, numerous popular articles.

Victor A. Ambartsumian passed away in August 12, 1996 in Byurakan. He will remain forever as one of the most outstanding scientists of the XX century.

V.A.AMBARTSUMIAN’S ACHIEVEMENTS,

HONOURS and AWARDS

1931-1932	Scientific Secretary of the Pulkovo Observatory
1931-1934	Lecturer of astrophysics of the Leningrad State University
1934	Professor of the Leningrad State University
1934-1946	Head of the first in the Soviet Union department of astrophysics, founded by himself in the Leningrad State University
1935	Awarded the scientific degree of doctor of physical-mathematical sciences without defense of thesis
1937-1944	Scientific head of the Yerevan Astronomical Observatory
1939	Corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1939-1941	Director of the astronomical observatory of the Leningrad State University
1940	Member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
1940	Title of Honored Scientist of the Armenian SSR
1941-1943	Pro-rector of the Leningrad State University on scientific affairs and head of scientific-research branch of University, evacuated to Yelabuga (Tatar ASSR)
1943	Founding member of the newly organized Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1943	Full member of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1943-1947	Vice-President of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1944	Labour Red Banner Order for outstanding services in preparing astronomy specialists and on the occasion of 125th anniversary of the Leningrad University
1944-1946	Chairman of the Astronomical Commission of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1944-1946	Director of the Yerevan Astrophysical Observatory of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1944-1959	Editor-in-chief of the journal "Reports of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences"
1944-1979	Member of the editorial board of the "Astronomical journal" of the USSR Academy of Sciences ("Astronomy Reports")
1944-1994	Head of the newly founded department of astrophysics of the Yerevan State University
1945	Lenin Order for outstanding services in development of science & engineering and on occasion of 220th anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1946	Member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
1946	USSR State prize for creation of new theory of light scattering in turbid medium
1946-1985	Editor-in-chief of the "Communications of the Byurakan Observatory"
1946-1988	Director of the newly founded Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1947	Chairman of the "Knowledge" society administration of the Armenian SSR
1947	Honorary member of the American Astronomical Society (AAS)
1947	Professor of the Yerevan State University
1947-1951	Deputy of the Armenian SSR Supreme Soviet
1947-1956	Chairman of the Editorial-Publishing council of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1947-1972	Member of the Committee on Lenin and USSR State prizes in the field of science and engineering at the USSR Council of Ministers
1947-1993	President of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences
1948	Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Armenian SSR
1948-1955	Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
1949-1953	Chairman of the Armenian Republican Committee of defenders of peace
1950	USSR State prize for the discovery and study of new type of stellar systems ("Stellar associations") (together with B.E.Markarian)
1950	Deputy of the USSR Supreme Soviet
1952-1964	Chairman of the Committee on cosmogony of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1953	Labour Red Banner Order for prolonged meritorious service and unexceptionable work
1953	Full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1953	Honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society (Great Britain)
1953	Corresponding member of the Royal Society (Academy of sciences) of Belgium (Liege)
1955	Member of the Council on the coordination of works of Academies of Sciences of the Union Republics
1955	Member of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1956	Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Austria
1956	Jansen medal of the French Astronomical Society for scientific services
1957	Corresponding member of the German Academy of Sciences in Berlin
1957	Foreign Honorary member of the American Academy of Sciences and Arts (Boston)
1958	Lenin Order for outstanding services in the field of development of astronomy and on the occasion of his 50th anniversary
1958	Corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of France
1959	Member of the USA National Academy of Sciences
1959	Member of the German Academy of naturalists "Leopoldina" (Halle)
1959	Honorary member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
1959	Catarine Brus gold medal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (California, USA) for outstanding services in the field of astronomy
1960	Gold Medal of the Great Britain Royal Astronomical Society for works in the field of theoretical astrophysics and stellar astronomy
1960	Medal "For labour valour"
1961-1964	President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
1963	Title of Honorary Doctor (honoris causa) of the Australian National University (Canberra)
1965	Title of Honorary Doctor (honoris causa) of the Paris (Sorbonne) University as a recognition of services to world science
1965-1987	Editor-in-Chief of the newly founded journal "Astrofizika"
1966	Member of Executive Committee of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU)
1967	Chairman of the editorial board and scientific-publishing council of the first "Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia
1967	Member of the Italian National Academy of Sciences "Dei Lincei"
1967	Title of Honorary Doctor (honoris causa) of the Liege University (Belgium)
1967	Title of Honorary Doctor (honoris causa) of the Carlov (Praha) University (Czechoslovakia)
1968	Title of the Hero of Socialist Labour with investiture of Lenin Order and Gold medal "Hammer and sickle" for great services in the development of astronomical science and on the occasion of his 60th anniversary
1968	Title of Honoured Scientist of the Georgian SSR
1968-1972	President of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) (two periods)
1969	Cyrill & Mefodiy Order of I degree by Presidium of the People's Assembly of the People's Republic of Bulgaria for successes in development of science
1969	Honorary member of the London Royal Society (Great Britain Academy of sciences)
1969	Honorary member of the Cambridge Philosophical Society (England)
1970	Chairman of the Committee of the Armenian SSR State prizes in the field of science and engineering at the Armenian SSR Council of Ministers
1970	Gold medal of the Slovak Academy of Sciences for outstanding scientific and social activity and for services to humanity
1970	S.I.Vavilov medal by the Presidium of Administration of All-Union society "Knowledge" for services in popularization of political and scientific knowledge
1970	Member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences
1971	Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Denmark
1971	Helmholz medal by the German Academy of Sciences in Berlin (GDR) for successes in the field of natural sciences
1971	The highest award of the Academy - M.V.Lomonosov Gold medal by the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences for outstanding achievements in the field of astronomy and astrophysics
1972	Honorary member of the Azerbaijan SSR Academy of Sciences
1973	Honorary member of the New-York Academy of Sciences
1973	Honorary member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Sweden
1973	Order of "Service" of the 3rd degree by the Government of Poland for outstanding scientific services
1973	Title of Honorary Doctor (honoris causa) of the Nicolaus Copernic Torun University (Poland)
1974	Chairman of the United Scientific Council on astronomy of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1974	Foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of Bulgaria
1974	Title of Honorary Doctor (honoris causa) of the La-Plata University (Argentina)
1974	Kotenius Gold medal by the German Academy of naturalists ("Leopoldina") in Halle (GDR)
1974	Foreign member of the Cordoba (Argentina) Academy of Sciences
1974	Sarmiento medal by the Cordoba (Argentina) Academy of Sciences for scientific and pedagogical services
1974	Lenin Order for scientific services on the occasion of 250th anniversary of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1975	Order of "Banner" of the Hungarian People's Republic
1976	Foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of India
1976	Member of the Editorial board of the "Reports of the USSR Academy of Sciences"
1977	Chairman of the Joint Scientific Council on Astronomy (JSCA) of the USSR Academy of Sciences
1978	Corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics
1978	Foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of Czechoslovakia
1978	Foreign member (Associe etranger) of the Academy of Sciences of France
1978	Lenin Order and second Gold medal "Hammer and sickle" of the Hero of Socialist Labour for outstanding services in the development of the Soviet science and on the occasion of his 70th anniversary
1978	Honorary member of the Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences
1979	Honorary member of the Academy of Sciences of Hungary
1982	Honorary citizen of Tbilisi (Georgia)
1983	Foreign member of the Academy of Sciences of Athens (Greece)
1983	"October Revolution" Order for scientific services and on the occasion of his 75th anniversary
1984	Gold medal of the Academy of Sciences of Czechoslovakia for scientific services
1984	Deputy of the USSR Supreme Soviet
1984	Foreign member of the Syrian Scientific Society (Academy of sciences)
1988	Honorary director of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory
1992	Full member of the European Academy (London)
1992	Full member of the Russian Academy of Creation
1993	Honorary President of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences
1994	Annual national prize of the All-Armenian Foundation "Hayastan" in the field of science and culture
1994	Counsellor of the Russian Academy of Sciences
1994	George Gamov prize and medal of the Russian Academy of Creation for outstanding contribution in the development of astrophysics
1994	Motherland Order and title of "National Hero of Armenia" for creation of scientific values of international significance, exceptional services in the field of organization of science
1995	State prize of the Russian Federation in the field of science and engineering for the scientific work "Dynamics of the structure of stellar systems"
1996	Member of the Euro-Asian Astronomical Society (EAAS)

Victor Ambartsumian 1908 - 1996

Victor Ambartsumian
1908 - 1996