My first meeting with B.E.Markarian was held under rather interesting circumstances. The young astronomers have decided to congratulate V.A.Ambartsumian with the New Year. On December 31, at 11:30 in the evening, beforehand celebrated together, a group of young astronomers - H.Harutyunian, R.Kandalyan, N.Melikian, S.Mkrtchian and me - were directed to V.A.Ambartsumian's house, located in depth of the territory of the Observatory.
A lot of snow, almost of half-meter had dropped out; we were weared in the so-called form of the observers given out by the Observatory for winter observations - heavy Kirovakanian sheep fur coats and fur shoes.
Narrow road to Victor Amazaspovich's house was cleared away, around there was a snow of a height more than a meter; and we by a line-up have reached the door.
Knocking the door and deciding, that nobody was present in the house, we already were going to leave, as suddenly the voice of Victor Amazaspovich was heard behind the door: "Who is there?". From unexpectedness all have rushed back, I had to answer, that it was J.Stepanian, and to name the remaining, and that we, young astronomers, came to congratulate him with the New Year. There was no answer for a long time, then the door opened and Victor Amazaspovich invited us inside. Telling us to take off the coats and shake off the snow, he disappeared somewhere in depth of the house.
We were noisy shaking off and on queue hang up fur coats on a hanger, while the hanger with a roar was broken and fall. The door of Victor Amazaspovich's office on the first floor was opened, his head seemed, and he showed us by signs to pass to him faster. We had no time to make even several pitches, as from above, from the second floor, Vera Fyodorovna's voice was heard: "What are you doing here?". Victor Amazaspovich continued to invite us by signs, but Vera Fyodorovna required to clean the wear.
We long entertained Victor Amazaspovich by news in a youth medium of the Observatory; who in what was engaged, who married, who was going to marry, etc.
Saying good-bye to Victor Amazaspovich, and going out on cold air, by relaxing from shock, we, finally undrinkening, decided, that it was necessary anyway to find a possibility to congratulate the New Year at someone.
We suddenly noticed light in the window of B.E.Markarian and resolutely were directed to him, already somewhere in a middle of night. The door was opened to us by himself Beniamin Egishevich, we passed to a large hall, where the New Year's table was covered. Here we have made corresponding New Year's toasts, drank Armenian cognac and have celebrated the New Year. The first words of Beniamin Egishevich were remembered when we lodged for long table: "We are not in the English Parliament, you may sit closer to the table, instead of on opposite edges".
Certainly, before we many times met the high figure of B.E.Markarian in a coat or raincoat, shirking on Byurakan avenues, but as did not find an occasion about something to talk.
In one year by the recommendation of V.Yu.Terebizh, which was my M.Sc. degree advisor (afterwards also my opponent of candidate and doctoral theses), and also Nina Leonidovna Ivanova I was invited to the office of Beniamin Egishevich for an interview. I then not absolutely had relations with Victor Amazaspovich. Victor Amazaspovich insisted on necessity to be engaged in the new computing tools which have appeared at the beginning of the 70s in Armenia, and I, having diploma of the theorist, should master them. By losing one year in various computer centers of Yerevan, I have decided to leave from the Observatory; and here I was helped by the recommendations of V.Yu.Terebizh and Nina Leonidovna.
B.E.Markarian at once put conditions: as the observations bodily depend on weather, and there was not so much good weather in Byurakan, irrespective of all exterior conditions (holidays, family matters, etc.), as soon as there was a weather, it was necessary to observe. A two-months trial period was defined, during which Beniamin Egishevich each evening walked in neighbourhoods of the 1 m telescope, inspecting realization of conditions, posed by him. Simultaneously negotiation passed with Victor Amazaspovich, who did not agree to transfer me in no way to the department of Beniamin Egishevich.
Thus I have got acquainted with Beniamin Egishevich, when he was already 60 years old, and has worked with him from 1974 and up to his death (in 1985).
Certainly, being a theorist, I before had not matter with observations and consequently it was necessary to listen much complains that I had not approached to the telescope from the needed end. Many times I was brought to Victor Amazaspovich and Beniamin Egishevich with the requirements to prohibit to me to appear on a telescope. Because of fear to be incompetent and not consult with the requirements of Beniamin Egishevich it was necessary independently to take apart various knots of a telescope, finding the reason, why that or other does not work, that categorically was forbidden. The reversion to the experienced experts as a rule brought to numerous advices, from which I understood very little. Afterwards, when we have begun the first tests on Second Byurakan Survey, this "experience" very much was useful.
From the first days I have joined to the realization of the First Byurakan Survey and continued up to its termination in 1980.
One of the dramatic moments, probably, was the beginning of the Second Survey. In a parallel way since 1974 passed test observations, with the use of available then various emulsions with the purpose of reaching possibly greater limiting magnitude.
Thanking Beniamin Egishevich and the help of many foreign astronomers of the world we managed to extract new, just produced by the corporation Kodak fine-grained plates IIIaJ, IIIaF and IV-N. The American radioastronomer G.Kojoyan with the help of W.Sargent one of the first brought just appeared IIIaJ plates of the Palomar Schmidt telescope with sizes 30x40 cm.
I remember the complains of Beniamin Egishevich that many pack IIIaJ were spent, and still there was no solution. L.Mirzoyan also complained that too much plates 103aO and IIaO were used, the telescope time was spent, and there was no any outcome. Certainly many plates were spoiled extracted with such difficulties and time on the telescope and, though they ceased to give plates to us, observations under the program of the First Survey nevertheless proceeded. Very much helped in time a professional in the photographic matter, former photographer at APN (Publishing Agency and News), then the photographer of the Byurakan Observatory V. Amalian. According to his advice, the plates were sawn on hundreds slices by sizes 1x1 cm, and sensitized in specially made by Varpet Aram (Aram Astvatsaturian) device, then developed in new developers of MWP type (Mount Wilson Palomar) made by V.Amalian, which were recommended by the corporation Kodak and which were not at us at that time.
At last developer was found, then the sensitization regime was selected, and the first prism plate with limiting magnitude close to a direct limit of the Palomar Atlas was obtained.
I was so hit with a denseness of objects on a plate (practically - black plate), that at once after observations, in the morning, from the telescope brought the plates to the office, where in the main building on the first floor "under" V.A.Ambartsumian I then worked.
By rising on the second floor, where Beniamin Egishevich worked, I informed him that all has turned out and reached a crazy limit. The first response of Beniamin Egishevich (you continue this matter, instead of finishing the First Survey) passed quickly, and I went down to bring the plates up, to the office of Beniamin Egishevich. The desire was so great to see new plates, that he practically at once after me went down and instantly "stuck" to the plates. It seemed, that now after deserved praises it would be possible to have a rest and to sleep. More than an hour passed, while Beniamin Egishevich carefully compared the plates of the First and Second surveys to the maps of the Palomar Survey, then with his plates. I already practically slept, when he rase and, telling nothing, left upward. I already was going to leave, when he returned and, by beginning to go back and forth on the office (one of his favourite habits, when something was considered new), became to explain, what means the obtained result.
By reading the lecture about new possibilities in area of extragalactic astronomy and cosmology and by taking away new plate before his leave, Beniamin Egishevich told, that it was necessary immediately to begin new more intensive observations, and God do not give to spoil without that the small amount of available plates.
Then he noticed - give me 100 new weak Seyfert galaxies and we shall change the usual understanding about them. It is remarkable, that he said "not quasars", but namely "Seyfert galaxies". Just now, after 30 years, we succeeded to execute this task. And really, new weak Seyfert galaxies of Markarian of the Second Survey require revising of our usual understanding about them.
Daniel Weedman was the first western astronomer, who arrived in Byurakan with plates, obtained in Sierro-Tololo in 1975-76 to show them to Beniamin Egishevich. Earlier Beniamin Egishevich has received the letter from Malcolm Smith that he began a survey in the Southern sky, where the method of Markarian was taken as a basis.
D.Weedman was hit, by seeing near his IIIaJ plates, obtained in Sierro-Tololo with sizes 25x25 см, similar IIIaJ plates, but sizes 16x16 cm of the Byurakan Schmidt. For a long time all surveyed the images of various types of objects on both plates. Afterwards D.Weedman, and also R.West sent to us plates IIIaJ and IIIaF for the continuation of the Second Survey.
The tutoring of survey of plates passed at Beniamin Egishevich in the office. He cautiously pulled out from the carefully numbered series of packs with plates from located in the office an ancient case of plates, arranged them on specially made by Varpet Aram accomodating with 7 multiple lense, moving in horizontal and vertical directions, and the survey of the plates began.
My study proceeded many months. In the first months before a leave for dinner Beniamin Egishevich frequently "forgot" and locked the door. It was necessary to wait for his returning and to show, what had I learned for this time. By finding in next time me sleeping in one of his favourite seats, he did not lock the door any more.
Final survey of the plates and the compilation of the list of objects usually passed in his office. Many times overlooked plates, on which the future Markarian galaxies were marked by the ink from the reverse emulsion, were put on the surveying little table, and a careful object-by-object examining and discussion began. For each object was made a card with its description, which at the discussion was recovered and specified. If with object all was clear, it at once was brought in the list. If the object was interesting, its discussion could be delayed for all the day. The objects, not past selection on any criterions, were brought in the reserve list.
Very much loved Beniamin Egishevich his garden located in the territory of the Observatory. All Observatory knew about his love to his garden, what connoisseur of various sorts of pears and apples was Beniamin Egishevich. Very many astronomers of the former USSR are familiar about the stories connected with pears of Beniamin Egishevich, as the astronomers, for the first time hitting in Byurakan Observatory, passing near the pear trees located near to a road between the main building of the Observatory and the house, where lived Beniamin Egishevich, necessarily picked off a pair of pears. Many of them got acquainted with Beniamin Egishevich just here. I, as well as many others, until now cannot forget the taste of these most juicy pears ever tasted, which were supplied by Beniamin Egishevich for all time of life of my family in Byurakan.
Very frequently it was possible to meet various visitor astronomers and Yerevan familiars at Beniamin Egishevich at home, just near the entrance. The talk began with scientific work, but very soon passed to political themes. At Beniamin Egishevich in the office, there was a short-wave radio set of war time, on
which we could listen to the undubbed foreign information.
The last years of Markarian's life passed in the rebuilding atmosphere of alteration of the Byurakan Observatory, which affected both his garden and close environment of his house in Byurakan. The construction of a new huge building strongly depressed Beniamin Egishevich by its unnecessity and intrusion of its various parts butt-joint to his house. Great tragedy, to which he could not reconcile, was unsuccessful operation brought to the premature loss of his son.
The insistence, scrupulousness and carefulness of the approach of Beniamin Egishevich is known to any sorts of problems. In spite of the others he always spoke essentially of problem, despite of the competent judgements. Also essentially he solved many hard in the post-Sovietic period everyday problems.
It was natural, that because of it he had many enemies, not liking him and fearing of his acute and neat notes.
Many times the employees, working with him, came back to the same, seemed to the finally discussed problem. And they discovered new and new errors. Beniamin Egishevich did not cease to remind, that the finally written paper should lie down some time with the purpose of growing, therefore in defined time, as a rule in three-four months, coming back to it, we had all anew to process. Each time he reduced as an example Chekhov, which masterly reduced the story, not changing its sense. When the phase of growing of the paper passed, the next listening of the matter (discussion of the paper) began.
Next such listening assigned a day before his death, was not held. When I arrived in the morning to the hospital, he was not alive any more.
He is buried in Byurakan near the family grave of Ambartsumian, on advice and insisting of Victor Amazaspovich, whence a beautiful view on all Ararat valley opens, the Bible mountain Ararat (Masis) raising at its end.
Dr. Jivan A. STEPANIAN
Senior researcher, Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), Armenia,
Special Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Russia
and UNAM, Puebla, Mexico