Advances in astronomy (Scientific session of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 27 February 2013)

A scientific session of the Division of Physical Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), entitled “Advances in Astronomy” was held on 27 February 2013 at the conference hall of the Lebedev Physical Institute, RAS.

The following reports were put on the session agenda posted on the website www.gpad.ac.ru of the RAS Physical Sciences Division:

(1) Chernin A D (Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, Moscow) “Dark energy in the local Universe: HST data, nonlinear theory, and computer simulations”;

(2) Gnedin Yu N (Main (Pulkovo) Astronomical Observatory, RAS, St. Petersburg) “A new method of supermassive black hole studies based on polarimetric observations of active galactic nuclei”;

(3) Efremov Yu N (Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, Moscow) “Our Galaxy: grand design and moderately active nucleus”;

(4) Gilfanov M R (Space Research Institute, RAS, Moscow) “X-ray binaries, star formation, and type-Ia supernova progenitors”;

(5) Balega Yu Yu (Special Astrophysical Observatory, RAS, Nizhnii Arkhyz, Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic) “The nearest ‘star factory’ in the Orion Nebula”;

(6) Bisikalo D V (Institute of Astronomy, RAS, Moscow) “Atmospheres of giant exoplanets”;

(7) Korablev O I (Space Research Institute, RAS, Moscow) “Spectroscopy of the atmospheres of Venus and Mars: new methods and new results”;

(8) Ipatov A V (Institute of Applied Astronomy, RAS, St. Petersburg) “A new-generation radio interferometer for fundamental and applied research”.

Summaries of the papers based on reports 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 are given below.