Since 2009, by the decision of the Armenian government on September 18, the country celebrates Astronomy Day, to which various thematic events have traditionally been timed.
The date was chosen due to the fact that on September 18, 1908, academician Viktor Amazaspovich Hambartsumyan — an outstanding Armenian scientist, founder of theoretical astrophysics, National Hero of Armenia was born in Tiflis. According to the Minister of Education and Science of Armenia Spartak Seyranyan, the great heritage of Hambartsumyan is a contribution to world astronomy.
Twice the hero of Socialist Labor, twice the laureate of the Stalin Prize and the State Prize of the Russian Federation, Viktor Hambartsumyan worked in the field of physics of stars and nebulae, star astronomy and the dynamics of star systems, cosmogony of stars and galaxies. Among his many scientific achievements are — the theory of light scattering in muddy environments, star associations and the evolution of stars, star shell physics and extragalactic astronomy.
The name of Academician Hambartsumyan is the small planet, as well as the Burakan Observatory in Armenia, the founder of which was a great scientist.
Today is the Burakan Astrophysical Observatory. V.A. Hambartsumyan — one of the leading scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. The observatory is located in the Aragatsotn region on the southern slope of Mount Aragats at an altitude of 1490 m. The observatory building complex is an architectural monument. Over the years, the observatory staff have performed many works, studies and discoveries in the field of astronomy. Also, 4 symposia of the International Astronomical Union were held here.