Press Release

NAS RA V. Ambartsumian Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO)
Press release 05.05.2025

XVII JOINT BYURAKAN-ABASTUMANI (ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN) ASTRONOMICAL COLLOQUIUM

On May 5, 2025, the official opening ceremony of the XVII Joint Byurakan-Abastumani (Armenian-Georgian) Astronomical Colloquium— already a well-established tradition — took place at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO).

Welcome speeches were delivered by BAO Director Areg Mickaelian, Abastumani Observatory Deputy Director Teimuraz Kvernadze, as well as Professor Pedro Russo from Leiden University and Georgian Professor Otar Kvaratskhelia. The opening ceremony was followed by the first session of the colloquium.

The colloquium sessions cover a variety of topics, including Solar Physics, Stars and Nebulae, Galaxies and Cosmology, as well as Theoretical Astrophysics.

The scientific collaboration and friendship between the Armenian and Georgian astronomers were established since 1930s due to Viktor Ambartsumian’s (1908-1996) and Evgeni Kharadze’s (1907-2001) efforts. Ambartsumian, working at that time at the Leningrad State University (LSU), several times visited the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory (AbAO) founded in 1932 as a scientific adviser. The famous Georgian astronomers Mikhail Vashakidze and Shalva Gordeladze were Ambartsumian’s PhD students at LSU and a number of important results were published resulting in PhD theses in 1936 and 1937, respectively. In 1946, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) was founded and the collaboration was continued at a new level.

Lilit Darbinyan