In 2015, the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory—named after Victor Ambartsumian—of Armenia discovered new domains, where the stars are either young or are just emerging.

Observatory Director Haik Harutyunian told the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am, as he summed up their activities in the year past.

“To understand the way of development, we also studied the unstable stars which burst into flame, [and] change,” Harutyunian added.

As per the scientist, the greatest achievement of the observatory was the restoration and modernization of its two large telescopes because for many years there was a wish to operate them again, but the respective financial resources were insufficient.

“Last year, office of the Regional Astronomical Center also opened at Byurakan Observatory,” Haik Harutyunian noted. “At this moment, Iran, Armenia, [and] Georgia have joined the center.

“For the first time in [the observatory’s] history, we have started talks with European observatories, to join, or carry out joint projects with them.” 

As per Harutyunian, over 70 scientists visited the observatory last year, to either participate in conferences or conduct research there. 

“And the number of visitors reaches several thousand,” the observatory director added. “People come in groups, to look from the small telescope.”