In 2016, the leading center of Russian observational astronomy, Special Astrophysical Observatory RAS, celebrates its 50th anniversary. The major observatory telescopes, the optical BTA telescope with a primary mirror diameter of 6 m and radio telescope RATAN-600, are so far among the world's largest telescopes. The observatory is a common use center: astronomical object observation programs are carried out on requests from Russian and foreign astronomers.

As a part of the anniversary festivities, our observatory organizes the "Stars: from Collapse to Collapse" International Conference concerned with a wide range of issues on astrophysics of stars and star systems. The 6-m SAO RAS telescope is the main supplier of spectral material to study physics of such objects and the only Russian telescope, in which the stellar interferometry is performed.

We invite members and PG students of RAS, foreign scientists, and teachers and students of departments of physics and astronomy to participate in the conference.

One can find the full information of the conference topics and conditions of participation in the conference website.

The Organizing Committee of the "Stars: from Collapse to Collapse" International Conference (SAO RAS, October 3-7, 2016) hereby requests all potential participants to register as soon as possible. A paper's title and abstract can be sent later.

We need to know the actual number of participants even now in order to book accommodation for them. SAO RAS hotels and hostels can accommodate about 100 people. We expect about 150 non-resident astronomers to arrive for the conference. SAO will provide transportation to the conference venue in Nizhny Arkhyz for all the participants.

The participants can pay the registration fee by cash (directly at the registration desk) or cashless. In the case of a cashless payment, one of the two contracts should be signed (one is for a bank transfer for a single person and the other is for a group of participants from an institute). Contract forms are available in the conference website. The participants are strongly requested to inform the Organizing Committee about their wish to pay with a bank transfer and agree on everything before transferring money. The possibility to pay reduced registration fees is prolonged until August 1, 2016.