Useful Information
(Latest update: 15 Aug 2014)

Venue
Accommodation
Transportation
Visa support
Registration fee
Travel grants
Instructions for presenters
Mobile phone policy
Electricity
Smoking policy
Lunches
Conference dinner
General and tourist information

The Journées 2014 will be organized by Pulkovo Observatory, Pulkovskoe Shosse 65, St. Petersburg, Russia; B = 59o 46' 19", L = 30o 19' 35".

The registration, reception, scientific sessions and most of the Working Groups meetings will be organized in the West Building of Pulkovo Observatory. Some of WG meetings may be organized in the East Building. See plan for details.

See an overview showing the airport, Pulkovo Observatory and the metro station "Moskovskaya" (blue/M2 line at the Metro map) and read transportation details below.

Participants are advised to make their own reservation for accommodation as soon as possible. It is highly recommended making hotel reservation before the summer period.

You can select a hotel and book a room using following sites:
Booking.com
Hotels in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Hotels
Conveniently located Low- and medium-cost hotels

The nearest to the conference venue medium-price hotel is Park Inn by Radisson Pulkovskaya. It is located in less than 10 min walk from metro station "Moskovskaya" and in about 15 min by bus from Pulkovo Observatory. We plan to organize a bus from this hotel to Pulkovo Observatory in the morning and from Pulkovo Observatory to the hotel in the evening on the Conference days.

All flights arrive to and depart from the airport Pulkovo. It is currently under reconstruction, including possible changes in logistics. Please look up actual departure and arrival information, as well as the transportation details, at the airport Website.

Most of the airport transport routes start/finish by the metro station "Moskovskaya" (blue/M2 line at the Metro map). It is also the case for transport routes to/from Pulkovo Observatory. To go from/to the airport you can take regular bus route 39. Cost is 25 Rubles, you may also be requested to pay for large bags. The bus 39A is the express one and has no stops between the airport and metro station "Moskovskaya". Cost is 25 Rubles, you may also be requested to pay for large bags. Please notice that the transportation can be a subject of change. Please consult airport website for actual information.

If you stay at the hotel "Park Inn by Radisson Pulkovskaya" you should get out one bus stop before metro station "Moskovskaya". Please inquire passengers or driver about the stop "Ploshchad' Pobedy" (Victory square) or "Gostinitsa Pulkovskaya" (hotel Pulkovskaya).

The metro station "Moskovskaya" is located under ground and has two escalators and several exits to the city. Exit the station following the "Bus to airport" direction (go forward if you arrived from the town center), use the escalator to come up and then follow the most far-left stair to exit to the street, as shown in the plan. You will found yourself just near the bus stop to go to the airport or Pulkovo Observatory. Note that the next bus stop will be near the hotel "Park Inn by Radisson Pulkovskaya".

To go to Pulkovo Observatory from the metro station "Moskovskaya" you can take either regular bus routes 90, 150, 155, 301, 431 (cost is 25 Rubles, you may also be requested to pay for large bags) or shared taxi ("marshrutka") routes 403, 449 (cost is 30 Rubles). The ride from metro to Pulkovo Observatory takes about 15 min. You should get out at the first stop after climbing the Pulkovo Hill. It would be better to ask the driver of the regular route bus beforehand to stop there. It is mandatory if you ride in "marshrutka".

When you go back to the city, all the buses bring you to the metro station "Moskovskaya". Additionally to the routes listed above you can also take shared taxi bases 18 and 100 (cost is 30 Rubles).

If you go directly from the airport to Pulkovo Observatory or from Pulkovo Observatory to the airport you have to change bus at the stop "Platforma Aeroport".

See plan of Pulkovo Observatory for Venue details and an overview showing the airport, Pulkovo Observatory and the metro station "Moskovskaya".

We plan to organize a bus from/to the metro station "Moskovskaya" and the hotel "Park Inn by Radisson Pulkovskaya" to/from the Pulkovo Observatory in the morning and in the evening on the Conference days.

Foreign participants from most countries need a visa to enter Russian Federation. Participants who need a visa should receive a formal invitation from the Russian Academy of Sciences (which may make the process of obtaining the visa easier and cheaper). To receive the invitation, please contact Dr. Kirill Maslennikov through km@gaoran.ru, the sooner the better (for some countries, it may take almost two months to issue an invitation), but no later than 1 June 2014, and enclose the scan of your passport (the page with the personal data). In addition, please indicate:

Registration fee

Regular registration fee for Journées 2014 is 6000 Rubles. It includes Conference materials, coffee breaks, the reception, the buffet and a copy of the Conference Proceedings.

Registration fee for young participants (up to 35 years) who are the primary author (first author and presenter) of oral or poster presentation included in the Conference program is 3000 Rubles. If you are eligible for this award, please submit your abstract in time and provide LOC (journees2014@gaoran.ru) no later than 1 September 2014 with a copy of your ID and a cover letter with confirmation that you are the presenter of the contribution.

The registration fee generally must be paid in cash in Rubles on arrival to the Conference. Russian institutions can make the payment via bank transfer, see instruction here.

Local Organizing Committee may consider further assistance, such as reducing or waiving the registration fee and/or free lodging at the Pulkovo hotel, for limited number of young participants of the Conference who are an author of oral or poster presentation included in the Conference program. The application should be sent to journees2014@gaoran.ru no later than 30 April 2014. Applicants will be notified of the result of the application before the end of June 2014.

Please note that an application for a free accommodation at the Pulkovo hotel means that you should book a room yourself as advised above, and in the case of accepting your application the room cost will be paid by Pulkovo Observatory fully or in part.

Young scientists can also apply for the IAG Travel Award. The winners of the IAG Travel Award should inform the LOC and apply for waiving the registration fee if necessary.

The language of the meeting will be English.

The oral and poster sessions will be held in the West Building of Pulkovo Observatory (see plan).

Duration of invited talks will be 20 min including questions; duration of oral presentations will be 12 min including questions.

Please note that each participant can give only one oral presentation at the meeting.

Maximum poster size is A0 (841 x 1189 mm) in portrait orientation.

Our presentation notebook is equipped with:

Please use our notebooks, and please bring your presentation on USB stick. Please avoid using your own notebook. In an exceptional case, please contact our staff well prior to your presentation. An assistant will help you to save your file to the presentation notebook and during your presentation.

Please switch off your mobile phone in all meeting rooms and in the poster area.

Electricity supply in Russia is 220 V, 50 Hz. Double round-pin Europlug (Type C) or Schuko (Types E and F) plugs and sockets outlets are mostly used.

This is a non-smoking conference. Russia has a non-smoking policy. Smoking is prohibited in and near public buildings and stations, as well as in public transport.

We offer lunch boxes delivery to the Pulkovo Observatory. The cost is 150 Rubles for registered participants and 350 Rubles for others. Lunch tickets will be available at the registration desk.

Conference dinner will be on Tuesday 23 September free of charge for registered partipants.
General and tourist information

The currency in Russia is Ruble (RUB). The official exchange rate can be found here. Actual exchange rate in banks, hotels, etc. usually can differ from the official rate by several percents.

Don't miss a possibility to discover St. Petersburg! The following resources can help you to plan your visit.
St. Petersburg
City map
City Tourist Information Centre
City Tourist portal of St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Encycopaedia
St. Petersburg City Transport

General information about St. Petersburg city transport can be found here. Metro is the fastest and most convenient transportation. More detailed info about St. Petersburg city transport is available here. Your trip by the ground transports should be paid directly in the bus/trolleybus/tram to the driver (when entering or exiting, usually you will not be given a ticket) or to the conductor (when present).

You can purchase Petersburg Card, which allows you to get free entry to museums and tours, benefit from using an electronic transport purse and enjoy a lot of special offers and discounts at cafes, restaurants, hotels and shops of the city.

Average temperature in St. Petersburg in the last decade of September is 10-12oC by day and 5-7oC at night. Rain is quite possible during this season. So, don't forget your umbrella and a few warm clothes. Please check the weather forecast, e.g., from Hydrometeorological Centre of Russia or Intellicast before you trip.

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