Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory: 75 years of outstanding achievements

Abstract

The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) is one of the most famous observatories of the Soviet Union and may be of the world. It was founded in 1946 by the outstanding scientist Viktor Ambartsumian (1908-1996) and became the leader of studies on instability phenomena in the Universe. Many discoveries have been carried out at BAO related to stars, star clusters and other systems, nebulae, galaxies and systems of galaxies. BAO has two major instruments; 1m Schmidt and 2.6m classical telescopes. Together with V. Ambartsumian, outstanding scientists Beniamin Markarian, Grigor Gurzadyan, Marat Arakelian and others have worked at BAO. Many important international meetings and schools for young astronomers have been held. Many important people, including State authorities, Nobel Prize Winners and others have visited BAO. BAO has statuses of RA National Value, Regional Astronomical Centre, it has UNESCO Documentary Heritage item, its garden is recognized as Dendrarium, and there is RA National Hero Viktor Ambartsumian s house-museum.