Sreac Newsletter

issue 04

Dear colleagues,

In the period since our last newsletter was issued, important problems have arisen in the activity of SREAC, and in astronomical research in our region. This issue of our newsletter is aiming to inform you briefly about these problems.

1. A couple of months ago it appeared that the funding for the Rozhen Observatory in Bulgaria was becoming scarce, and that there existed a real risk that the observatory would be closed. Logically, as the news spread, the public –astronomers,physicists but also simply people interested in science reacted. An online petition to the Bulgarian governement was signed. The chairman of SREAC, dr. Zoran Knežević, wrote to the prime minister of Bulgaria. Luckily, this problem has been resolved in the best possible way for astronomy. According to information published in the minutes of the Council of ministers of Bulgaria, at the address : http://www.government.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0228&g and received from SREAC secretary dr.Renada Konstantiova-Antova, Bulgaria will develop 7 centers for research and education, and one of them will be Rozhen. If you go to the web address indicated, look for item number 50, and note that the text is in Bulgarian.

2. The world economic crisis is unfortunately making itself felt in astronomy. SREAC has usually been financed by UNESCO. Unfortunately, the Venice office of UNESCO has informed SREAC that problems have arisen in financing, and that SREAC should look for other donors. At the time of this writing preparations are underway by SREAC aiming at a project proposal for COST.

3. Most of you are aware of the fact that the Astronomical Observatory in Belgrade is building a high altitude observing station on Mount Vidojevica near the city of Prokuplje. Work is nearing completition. The interesting news is that this project has received an extension. It is called Belissima http://belissima.aob.rs/ , it is undertaken within the FP7 EU programme, and the aim is to construct a 1,5 m robotic telescope within 3 years. On September 27 and 28 of this year an executive meeting on the project will take place in Prokuplje.

Clear skies and speedy computers to all,