ASTRONOMICAL SURVEYS and BIG DATA

International Symposium, dedicated to 50th anniversary of Markarian Survey and 10th anniversary of Armenian Virtual Observatory

5-8 October 2015, Byurakan, Webpage: http://asbd.aras.am

S E C O N D A N N O U N C E M E N T

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Contents

Scientific Rationale 2 Byurakan Surveys 3 Topics 3 Organizers and Sponsors 3 Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) 3 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) 4 Invited Speakers 4 List of Participants 5 Programme 6 List of Posters 7 Presentation of Talks and Posters 7 Abstracts of Contributions 7 Proceedings 8 Registration and Payments 8 Travel to Armenia 9 Visas Arrival/Departure Accommodation 9 Meals 10 Social Events 10 Practical Information 11 Time Zone Climate Local Currency Electric Plugs Dates and Deadlines 11 Contacts 11

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Scientific Rationale

Astronomical surveys are the main source for discovery of astronomical objects and accumulation of observational data for further analysis, interpretation, and achieving scientific results. In 1940s- 1950s Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS, at present digitized as DSS1) gave more data that it was collected during the whole epoch of astronomical observations before. Similarly, Markarian Survey (or the First Byurakan Survey, FBS) was the first large-area spectroscopic survey resulting at low-dispersion spectra of 20,000,000 objects. Later on, many all-sky or large-area surveys appeared (POSS2 (DSS2), SDSS, etc.). Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) so far has provided the largest database (both photometric and spectroscopic) and SDSS-based virtual sky may be explored for new discoveries. CALIFA gives a new large set of spectra. Gaia and LSST are the next source for vast amount of information. Modern multiwavelength surveys include GOODS, COSMOS, GAMA, and others. The large amount of data requires new approaches to data reduction, management and analysis. We now deal with Big Data. Powerful computer technologies are required, including clusters and grids. Virtual Observatories (VOs) have been created to coordinate astronomers’ and computer scientists’ actions and help in accomplishment of complex research programs using all the accumulated data. International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) unifies 20 VO projects for joint efforts toward handling of Big Data and creation of an environment for more efficient research. The International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) has recently created World Data System (WDS) to unify data coming from different science fields for further possibility of exchange and new science projects.

A meeting “Astronomical Surveys and Big Data” dedicated to 50th anniversary of Markarian Survey and 10thanniversary of the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO) will be held on Oct 5-8, 2015 in Byurakan, Armenia. We intend to combine astronomers and computer scientists with heavy involvement of astronomical surveys, catalogs, archives, databases and VOs.

Our meeting will contribute to the following:

• Review and discuss large astronomical surveys to summarize observational data obtained in • Give tribute to Markarian Survey and other important surveys • Review and discuss astronomical catalogues, databases and archives • Learn about major upcoming surveys (including PanSTARRS, Gaia, and LSST) • Learn and discuss how large observational data sets are changing astronomy • Introduce tools and techniques for working with large data sets (including access, analysis, and visualization) • Discuss the future of astronomical research by joint efforts of astronomers and computer scientists

The Symposium is dedicated to Markarian Survey 50th anniversary. Benyamin Markarian (1913- 1985) was the first to conduct and accomplish a large-area (17,000 sq. deg.) spectroscopic survey in 1965 to search for active galaxies. Markarian survey is until now the largest objective-prism spectroscopic survey, it was the first systematic search for active galaxies using a new method of UV-excess, it resulted in the discovery of 1515 UVX galaxies (Markarian galaxies), including many AGN and Starbursts, first classification of Seyferts into Sy1 and Sy2, and definition of Starburst galaxies. BAO is famous for other surveys as well: Arakelian and Kazarian galaxies, Shahbazian compact groups, Parsamian cometary nebulae and other objects also are well known. Byurakan is a right place for organization of such meeting.

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A number of important astronomical meetings have been organized in Armenia, mostly in the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO): IAU Symposia: #29 in 1966 (Non-Stable Phenomena in Galaxies), #121 in 1986 (Observational Evidence of Activity in Galaxies), #137 in 1989 (Flare Stars in Star Clusters, Associations and Solar Vicinity), #194 in 1998 (Activity in Galaxies and Related Phenomena) and #304 in 2013 (Multiwavelength AGN Surveys and Studies), IAU Colloquium #184 in 2001 (AGN Surveys), as well as the all-European JENAM meeting in 2007. Moreover, the Byurakan International Summer Schools (BISS) are being organized since 2006, and four successful schools have been held in 2006, 2008, 2010 (combined with the 32th IAU ISYA), and 2012.

Byurakan Surveys

Markarian Survey (or the First Byurakan Survey, FBS) was the first systematic objective prism survey in the world and the first survey for active galaxies. 1500 UV-excess galaxies were discovered, later named Markarian galaxies. Its digitized version, DFBS, was created in 2002-2005 and the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO) was founded in 2005 as well. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) always has been famous with its surveys and discovery of new objects, such as Markarian, Arakelian and Kazarian galaxies, Shahbazian groups, Parsamian nebulae, etc. More information on Byurakan surveys may be found at: http://www.aras.am/Dfbs/dfbs.html and http://markarian.aras.am/bsmick.html

Topics

• Historical surveys; Byurakan surveys for active galaxies (Mrk, Akn, Kaz and others) • Surveys for • Surveys for stars and nebulae • Extragalactic and cosmological surveys • Cross-identifications between surveys and discovery of new objects • Future large-area surveys • Digitization of astronomical data • Astronomical catalogues, archives and databases • Computational astrophysics and virtual observatories

Organizers and Sponsors

Ministry of Education and Science State Committee of Science (MES SCS) National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO)

Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC)

Christophe Arviset (ESA, ) Hrachya Astsatryan (IIAP, Armenia) Kamo Gigoyan (BAO, Armenia) Ajit Kembhavi (VO-India, India) Andrew Lawrence (Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, AstroGrid, UK) Tigran Magakian (BAO, Armenia) Oleg Malkov (Institute of Astronomy, Russia) Norair Melikian (BAO, Armenia) 3

Areg Mickaelian (BAO/ArVO, Armenia), Chair Elena Nikoghosyan (BAO, Armenia) Ray Norris (ATNF, Australia) David Schade (CVO, Canada) Joachim Wambsganss (GAVO, Germany)

Local Organizing Committee (LOC)

Co-Chairs: Haik Harutyunian and Areg Mickaelian Secretary: Elena Nikoghosyan LOC members: Hayk Abrahamyan, Misha Aleksanyan, Naira Azatyan, Sona Farmanyan, Knarik Khachatryan, Hasmik Melkumyan, Gor Mikayelyan, Gabriel Ohanian, Gurgen Paronyan, Ani Vardanyan, Manush Zohrabyan

Invited Speakers

EXOPLANETS

Joachim Wambsganss (Germany) “Discovering extrasolar planets with gravitational microlensing surveys” Garik Israelian (Spain) “” (TBC)

STARS and NEBULAE

Tigran Magakian (Armenia) “Searches of Herbig-Haro objects: history, current situation and perspectives” Oleg Malkov (Russia) “The Binary star database BDB: current status and scientific tasks” Elena Nikoghosyan (Armenia) “The search and study of PMS stars with Hα emission” Kamo Gigoyan (Armenia) “Cool Carbon Stars in the Halo” Armen Gyulbudaghian (Armenia) “Two Types of Radial Systems of Dark Globules”

GALAXIES and COSMOLOGY

Johan Knapen (Spain) “Nearby galaxy surveys in the next decade” Areg Mickaelian (Armenia) “Search and studies of active galaxies at BAO” Jesus Falcon-Barroso (Spain) “Understanding the nearby Universe through the CALIFA survey” David Schade (Canada) “Big Surveys, Big Data Centres” Andrew Lawrence (UK) “Clues to the structure of AGN through massive variability surveys” Serguei Dodonov (Russia), Tigran Movsessian (Armenia) “Medium Band Byurakan Survey: Scientific goals and Technical Details” Ararat Yeghikyan (Armenia) “On survivability of ices in active galaxies”

DATABASES and VOs

Areg Mickaelian (Armenia) “Astronomical Surveys, Catalogs, Databases and Archives” Hrachya Astsatryan (Armenia) “Computational Astrophysics towards Exascale Computing and Big Data” Christophe Arviset (Spain) “The Gaia Archive: VO in action in the big data era” Alain Sarkissian (France) “Data bases in planetary space research: the International Planetary Data Alliance, IPDA” Haik Harutyunian (Armenia) “Brief Survey of Activity Phenomena in Cosmic Objects” Areg Mickaelian (Armenia) “BAO plate archive digitization project and its scientific usage”

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List of Participants

Surname Name Affiliation Country

Abrahamyan Hayk Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Andreasyan Hasmik Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Arviset Christophe ESA-ESAC Spain Astsatryan Hrachya Inst. for Informatics and Automation Problems Armenia Dodonov Serguei Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) Russia Erastova Lidija Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Falcon-Barroso Jesus Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Spain Farmanyan Sona Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Gebrehiwot Yikdem Entoto Observatory abd Research center Ethiopia Gigoyan Kamo Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Gyulbudaghian Armen Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Gyulzadyan Marietta Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Hakopian Susanna Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Harutyunian Haik Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Israelian Garik Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Spain Karapetian Emilia Yerevan State University Armenia Kazakov Eugene Russia Khachatryan Knarik Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Knapen Johan Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Spain Knyazyan Aram Inst. for Informatics and Automation Problems Armenia Kostandyan Gayane Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Lawrence Andy Royal Observatory Edinburgh, AstroGrid UK Magakian Tigran Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Malkov Oleg Institute of Astronomy Russia Melikian Norayr Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Mickaelian Areg Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Movsessian Tigran Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Nikoghosyan Elena Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Paronyan Gurgen Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Parsamian Elma Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Samsonyan Anahit Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Sangaralingam Vinothini University de Montreal Canada Sarkissian Alain LATMOS, Institute Pierre Simon Laplace, CNRS France Schade David Canadian Virtual Observatory (CVO) Canada Sefilian Antranik American University of Beirut Lebanon Simonia Irakli Ilia State University Georgia Simonia Tsitsino Ilia State University Georgia Topinka Martin Czech Technical University Czech R. Vardanyan Ani Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Wambsganss Joachim Universitaet Heidelberg Germany Yeghiazaryan Anahit Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia Yeghikian Ararat Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory Armenia

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Programme

MONDAY, 05 Oct 2015

10:00-10:10 Opening of the Meeting Alain Sarkissian (France) “The International Planetary Data Alliance (IPDA): overview of the 10:10-10:50 activities” (Invited Review) Joachim Wambsganss (Germany) “Discovering extrasolar planets with gravitational microlensing 10:50-11:30 surveys” (Invited Review) 11:30-12:00 Coffee/tea break Haik Harutyunian (Armenia) “Brief Survey of Activity Phenomena in Cosmic Objects” (Invited 12:00-12:45 Review) Areg Mickaelian (Armenia) “Astronomical Surveys, Catalogs, Databases and Archives” (Invited 12:45-13:30 Review) 13:30-14:30 Lunch 14:30-15:10 Serguei Dodonov (Russia), Tigran Movsessian (Armenia) “Medium Band Byurakan Survey: Scientific

Goals and Technical Details”(Invited Review) Martin Topinka (Czech Republic) “Machine learning classification of transient events in robotic 15:10-15:35 telescope surveys" 15:35-16:00 Anahit Samsonyan (Armenia) “The Cornell Atlas of Spitzer/IRS Sources" 16:00-18:00 BAO tour: museum, 2.6m and 1m Schmidt telescopes 18:00-19:00 Welcome Reception

TUESDAY, 06 Oct 2015

10:00-10:45 Christophe Arviset (Spain) “The Gaia Archive: VO in action in the big data era” (Invited Review) Tigran Magakian (Armenia) “Searches of Herbig-Haro objects: history, current situation and 10:45-11:30 perspectives” (Invited Review) 11:30-12:00 Coffee/tea break Oleg Malkov (Russia) “The Binary star database BDB: current status and scientific tasks” (Invited 12:00-12:45 Review) Hrachya Astsatryan (Armenia) “Computational Astrophysics towards Exascale Computing and Big 12:45-13:30 Data” (Invited Review) 13:30-14:30 Lunch 14:30-15:15 Armen Gyulbudaghian (Armenia) “Two Types of Radial Systems of Dark Globules” (Invited Review) Elena Nikoghosyan (Armenia) “The search and study of PMS stars with Hα emission” (Invited 15:15-16:00 Review) 16:00-16:30 Coffee/tea break 16:30-17:10 Kamo Gigoyan (Armenia) “Cool Carbon Stars in the Halo” (Invited Review) 17:10-17:30 Aram Knyazyan (Armenia) “Armenian Virtual Observatory: Services and Data Sharing" Yikdem Mengesha Gebrehiwot (Ethiopia) “Fictitious and excess data in principal catalogues of 17:30-17:50 visual binaries" 17:50-18:10 Irakli Simonia (Georgia) “DVD database Astronomical Manuscripts in Georgia"

WEDNESDAY, 07 Oct 2015

10:00-10:45 Johan Knapen (Spain) “Nearby galaxy surveys in the next decade” (Invited Review) 10:45-11:30 Areg Mickaelian (Armenia) “Search and studies of active galaxies at BAO” (Invited Review) 11:30-12:00 Coffee/tea break Andrew Lawrence (UK) “Clues to the structure of AGN through massive variability surveys” (Invited 12:00-12:45 Review) Jesus Falcon-Barroso (Spain) “Understanding the nearby Universe through the CALIFA 12:45-13:30 survey” (Invited Review) 13:30-14:30 Lunch 14:30-19:00 Excursion to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery

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THURSDAY, 08 Oct 2015

10:00-10:30 Ararat Yeghikyan (Armenia) “On survivability of ices in active galaxies” (Invited Review) 10:30-10:55 Susanna Hakopian (Armenia) “Exploring the subsample of SBS galaxies. Current results" Areg Mickaelian (Armenia) “BAO plate archive digitization project and its scientific usage” (Invited 10:55-11:30 Review) 11:30-12:00 Coffee/tea break 12:00-12:30 Garik Israelian (Spain) “” (Invited Review) 12:30-13:00 David Schade (Canada) “Big Surveys, Big Data Centres” (Invited Review) 13:00-13:20 Marietta Gyulzadyan (Armenia) “The Spectral Investigation and Physical Properties of Markarian Galaxies from SDSS” 13:20-13:40 Eugene Kazakov (Russia) “About cross-identifications of Almagest catalog and others" 13:40-14:40 Lunch 14:40-15:00 Poster Session 15:00-16:00 General discussion and Closing of the Symposium 16:00-16:30 Coffee/tea break 16:00-19:00 Excursion to medieval Amberd fortress 19:00-22:00 Symposium banquet

List of Posters

Hayk Abrahamyan; A.M. Mickaelian – Properties of IRAS PSC/FSC galaxies Hasmik Andreasyan; R.R. Andreasyan; G.M. Paronyan – The Galactic distribution of Normal pulsars Ivan L. Andronov; L.L. Chinarova; L.S. Kudashkina; V.I. Marsakova; M.G. Tkachenko – Statistically Optimal Approximations of Astronomical Signals: Implications to Classification and Advanced Study of Variable Stars Lidija Erastova – The Tadpole Galaxies in SBS Lidija Erastova – The Sample of Spectroscopic Binary Stars in the SBS Survey. Lidija Erastova; Areg Mickaelian – Revised and Updated Catalogue of the Second Byurakan Sky Survey Susanna Hakopian; Smbat Balayan – Revealing of HII-regions in galaxies with panoramic Anahit Yeghiazaryan; Artur Hakobyan; Tigran Nazaryan – On the interaction in a quartet of galaxies

Presentation of Talks and Posters

The talks presentation files are encouraged to be preferably prepared in MS Powerpoint format. Typically, 1 slide corresponds to 1 minute of the talk; however it is the responsibility of the authors to take care about the timing. Presentation files should be sent to the organizers ([email protected]) before Oct 1.

The poster sessions will take place in the foyer of the meeting venue (BAO Conference Hall). The authors of the posters are expected to be present in the poster halls. A space for 120×80 cm will be allocated for each poster. All necessary attributes will be available. Other details will be given in the final announcement.

Abstracts of Contributions

Abstracts of all contributions (Invited Talks, Contributed Talks and Posters) are available online at http://asbd.aras.am/absofcontr.html

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Proceedings

The Proceedings will be published by Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) Conference Series. Areg Mickaelian (Editor-in-Chief), Andy Lawrence and Tigran Magakian are the editors. Deadline for submission of papers is 15 December 2015. Registration fee includes a copy of the Proceedings book.

Please email your LaTeX file, figures (if any), and individually compiled PDF contribution to [email protected] as attachments with the subject line “Proceedings FamilyName.FirstInitial”. You should name your files familyname.tex, familyname.pdf, familyname_fig1.ps, etc to facilitate the task of the editors.

Authors should refer to Instructions for Authors and Editors (PDF 782 KB). These instructions are formatted as the final volume will be formatted, so it is a useful place to see how to format references, include graphics, etc. You will also want to download the New LaTeX style file (41 KB) and the LaTeX template file (8KB). We note that colour figures will appear in colour at no charge in the electronic version of the proceedings only. For colour figures in the printed proceedings, the publisher will charge the authors USD 300 per page. Authors who are not prepared to cover this sum should ensure that their figures reproduce properly in black-and-white.

Page limits

Invited Talks: 8 Contributed Talks: 5 Posters: 2

Registration and Payments

The early registration (March 15 – June 30, 2015) was EUR 150 and will be accepted for those registered in time. Regular online registration (July 1 – Sep 30, 2015) is EUR 180, and on-site registration (Oct 5-8, 2015) is EUR 200.

The registration fee includes:

• meeting at the airport, airport transfers to/from hotels • participants’ kits (bag, abstract book, program and other info materials) • transportation to/from conference venue to/from hotels • Welcome Reception on October 5 • BAO tour on October 5 • coffee/tea breaks and refreshments on October 5-8 • A copy of the Proceedings Book • organizational expenses

All payments (registration fee, ) will be accepted in EUR or equivalent USD or AMD at registration desk on-site.

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Travel to Armenia

Armenia’s geographical location is very convenient for connections with all of the countries in Europe, Middle East, Asia, and the CIS. There are a number of international airlines landing in Yerevan. One can use the flights from Beirut, Istanbul, Kiev, Moscow, Odessa, Paris, St. Petersburg, Vienna, Warsaw, and others, as well as numerous connecting flights through Moscow, and Vienna. The international airport is Zvartnots, situated 11.8 km southwest from Yerevan. All Yerevan Zvartnots Airport Flights are given here.

Visas

You are strongly advised to contact the nearest Armenian Consulate or Embassy to inquire about visa regulations for your country. You should make your visa application well in advance. Besides, LOC can send on request official letters of invitation to all participants to help for getting visas.

To enter Armenia, foreigners must have a valid passport, entry visa or document of residency status. You should visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website to determine whether you need a visa or not and, if so, whether they also require a letter of invitation.

Visa is not required for the citizens of the following countries holding the mentioned type of passport (based on the principle of reciprocity). The citizens of the following countries can apply for a visa only with invitation. Click here to see the schematic instructions for the process of obtaining Armenian visa.

Arrival/Departure

Please inform your flight details: flight numbers, arrival and departure dates and times, so that we arrange airport transfers. All participants will be met at the airport and transferred to their hotels for free (included in the registration fee), independent of your accommodation reservation through LOC or by your own. LOC representatives will have banners at the airport with your name. Please be careful not to miss our people. In case of emergency, please contact directly to Sona Farmanyan (055-911307). In any case, please do not leave the airport area to be easily found by LOC.

Accommodation

There are many hotels in Yerevan that may be reserved by the participants. The organizers have reserved a number of rooms in Yerevan State University (YSU) Guest House in Yerevan (typical rate for a single room is appr. EUR 35) and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) Guest House in Byurakan (EUR 12 or AMD 6500 for each person in a double/triple room).

For accommodation reservation, please contact Sona Farmanyan ([email protected]).

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Meals

Breakfasts are included in the prices of most of the hotels. In BAO Guest House, breakfast may be served upon request of the guests for EUR 3 or AMD 1600.

Lunches will be served at the meeting venue (BAO) canteen, just 1 minutes walking distance from the meeting hall, at 13:30-14:30. Lunch tickets may be purchased at the registration desk. Standard prices are EUR 5 or AMD 2700 for a lunch, however there is a discount if purchasing all 4-days lunch ticket at once (EUR 16 or AMD 8600). Lunches include salad, main dish, soft drink (water, mineral or lemonade), coffee or tea and cake or fruits. Vegetarians are asked to inform LOC in advance.

Dinners are organized only for October 5, Monday (Welcome Reception at Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory with some meals, included in the registration fee) and October 8, Thursday (Symposium Banquet, EUR 30). All other evenings the participants are free to choose any restaurant in Yerevan or in the surroundings.

Social Events

A number of social events are planned for the participants, including social tours, welcome reception, symposium banquet, etc.

The social program of the meeting includes:

• Tour in Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO, http://www.bao.am) – Monday, October 5, at 16:00-18:00, free of charge, included in the registration fee. The guests will see Viktor Ambartsumian museum, 2.6m and 1m Schmidt telescopes • Welcome Reception – Monday, October 5, at 18:00-19:00, in BAO, free of charge, included in the registration fee • Excursion to Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery – Wednesday, October 7, at 14:30- 19:00, EUR 35 The Sun Temple of Garni (built in the Roman style, very like the Greek Parthenon) is 28 km from Yerevan. There is an architectural complex of the 3rd century B.C. The temple itself was built in the 1st century A.D. by the Armenian King Tiridates. It was destroyed in 1679 in an earthquake, but was reconstructed in Soviet times. This was the summer residence of the Armenian kings. Archaeologists are still working on the Garni complex. Near the temple, down to the gorge you can see the junction two rivers, Azat and Geghard. 6 km from Garni there is a fantastic sample of medieval Armenian architecture, the Geghard Cave Monastery. Its first mention is to be found in the 4th century, but the main cathedral was built in 1215. The structures inside and outside the mount are one, compositionally and stylistically. The visitors will have lunch at Geghard in the open air. • Excursion to medieval Amberd fortress – Thursday, October 8, at 16:00-19:00, EUR 10 A tour to the famous picturesque Amberd fortress, 18.3 km from BAO. In 10-11 centuries it was a well-built settlement and one of the important military strong points of the Armenian Bagratouni kings. Here in 1026, the St. Astvatzatzin church was built. Amberd is at a height of 2,300 metres above sea level. • Symposium Banquet – Thursday, October 8, at 19:00-22:00, in BAO, EUR 30

For details, please contact Sona Farmanyan ([email protected]).

Some excursions may be cancelled if there is not enough number of participants, typically 10 persons. Other tours will be offered instead. Otherwise, a participant may cancel his/her tour without any cancellation fees.

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Practical Information

TIME ZONE

Yerevan and the whole Armenia is in the UTC+3:00 time zone (the time difference with Central European time is +2 hours). During the days of the symposium daylight time will be almost 14 hours. Sunrise time is at approximately 7:30 a.m. and sunset is approximately 7:30 p.m.

CLIMATE

Armenia is often described as a sunny country. Its climate ranges from dry subtropical to cold weather. It is rather hot in summer, but cold in winter. The average temperature in the hottest months July and August is +34°C (max), +17°C (min) and in the coldest month January is -2°C (max) and -9°C (min).

During the Symposium, in October, it will be the best period in Armenia, a soft autumn. The maximum of the temperature, some 21-24°C, at afternoon, and minimum of some 7-10°C at night is expected. You may anticipate dry (an average 52% humidity is expected) and warm weather. The average monthly hours of sunshine in October exceed 200h. Rare light rains may be expected; average rainy days in October are 7 and the average monthly precipitation is 28 mm. However, you can take light coats for evenings, as the daily temperature amplitude is large.

LOCAL CURRENCY

The Armenian currency is called Dram (Armenian Dram, AMD), and all payments (hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops, transport, etc.) are accepted only in AMD. Paper notes are issued in denominations of 1.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000, 50.000 and 100.000 AMD. Coins replace all banknotes less than 1.000 Dram (there are 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500). The exchange rate is now (end of Sep 2015) approximately 1 EUR = 540 AMD and 1 USD = 480 AMD. However, it may slightly change. You may easily change EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, and other international currencies to Armenian Drams in any bank or exchange offices. ATM machines in Yerevan function in accordance with the Plus Global Access Network, Visa, and MasterCard systems.

ELECTRIC PLUGS

Electric plugs in Armenia are like European ones (with two round pins). Both thin (Southern Europe) and thick (Northern Europe) ones are in use. Standard voltage in Armenia is 220V (AC) and the frequency is 50 Hz.

Dates and Deadlines

15.03.2015 First announcement and webpage; call for abstracts and registration 30.06.2015 Abstract submission and registration deadline 31.07.2015 Accepting abstracts and selection of participants 15.08.2015 Final programme and list of participants. Abstracts available online 15.08.2015 Accommodation reservation deadline 01.09.2015 Final announcement with practical information 05-08.10.2015 “Astronomical Surveys and Big Data” symposium 15.12.2015 Submission of papers for the Proceedings deadline 30.04.2016 Publication of the Proceedings Book

Contacts

URL: asbd.aras.am, E-mail: [email protected] Areg Mickaelian. Phone: +374-91-195914, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Elena Nikoghosyan. Phone: +374-91-783149, E-mail: [email protected] Sona Farmanyan. Phone: +374-55-911307, E-mail: [email protected] 11