Ralph Yirikian urges his business colleagues to promote development of science in RA

PanARMENIAN.Net - Today VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian participated and spoke at the session "Astronomy and Society" in the framework of the 8th Annual Meeting of the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) organized in connection with the International Year of Astronomy declared by UNESCO and dedicated to the 10th anniversary of ArAs.



Ralph Yirikian urged his business colleagues to promote development of science in RA.



Byurakan Observatory is the most important center of Armenian astrophysics where for decades scholarly research have been conducted by Armenian astronomers, and among them was also the outstanding scientist Viktor Hambardzumyan. Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) was founded in 1946 on the initiative of academician Victor Hambartsumian, who became the first director of the observatory. Since 1998, the Byurakan Observatory bears the name of V.A. Hambartsumian.



In the course 2007, VivaCell-MTS provided 23.3 million drams contribution for upgrading and renovation of Byurakan Observatory telescopes' management system. The 2.6 meters long telescope of the famous Byurakan Observatory was in a very bad working condition. Because of the lack of means to cover the maintenance costs the telescope has become non-operational.



VivaCell-MTS' contribution also extended to the 1 meter long Schmidt telescope. Possession of such a telescope in 1961 was considered so important that the opening of the telescope was also attended by the leader of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev. Thanks to VivaCell-MTS' support the electronic system was also be renovated. In particular, a CCD matrix was created and the management system was put into operation.



Owing to VivaCell-MTS' support these two large telescopes again were made available to the employees of the observatory and our scientists, VivaCell-MTS website reported.