site.btaSummer Astronomy School Brings Together Students from across Bulgaria

The annual Summer School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Belite Brezi resort near Ardino once again brings together young astronomy enthusiasts from across Bulgaria, said the school's technical director, Agop Uzunbogosyan.

"The school builds on what students learn in the classroom while giving them the chance to carry out observations that simply are not possible in urban environments with the equipment we use," he emphasized. This year's edition, which runs until July 25, has nearly 50 participants from more than 10 cities across the country, most of them students from science and mathematics high schools. University students and leaders of astronomy observation groups are also taking part.

Uzunbogosyan noted the scientific value of the summer school, pointing out that three research projects from last year's school were selected for presentation at the annual conference of Bulgarian astronomers. This year's programme includes telescope observations of meteors, classification of active cool stars, studies of young stars in clusters, and research into the morphology of nearby galaxies.

The Summer School of Astronomy and Astrophysics has been held for more than 50 years. First organized in 1970 with around 30 young participants, seven small telescopes, and plenty of enthusiasm, it has been based almost exclusively at Belite Brezi near Ardino and is now organized by the Vega Astronomy Club.