This paper presents a photometric and spectroscopic study of the bright blue eclipsing binary LMC-SC1-105, selected from the OGLE catalog as a candidate host of very massive stars (>=30Mo). The system is found to be a double-lined spectroscopic binary, which indeed contains massive stars. The masses and radii of the components are M1= 30.9+/-1.0 Mo, M2= 13.0+/-0.7 Mo, and R1= 15.1+/-0.2 Ro, R2= 11.9+/-0.2 Ro, respectively. The less massive star is found to be filling its Roche lobe, indicating the system has undergone mass-transfer. The spectra of LMC-SC1-105 display the Struve-Sahade effect, with the HeI lines of the secondary appearing stronger when it is receding and causing the spectral types to change with phase (O8+O8 to O7+O8.5). This effect could be related to the mass-transfer in this system. To date, accurate (<=10%) fundamental parameters have only been measured for 15 stars with masses greater than 30 Mo, with the reported measurements contributing valuable data on the fundamental parameters of very massive stars at low metallicity. The results of this work demonstrate that the strategy of targeting the brightest blue stars in eclipsing binaries is an effective way of studying very massive stars.

We present a photometric analysis of the star clusters Lindsay 1, Kron 3, NGC339, NGC416, Lindsay 38, and NGC419 in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), observed with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) in the F555W and F814W filters. Our color magnitude diagrams (CMDs) extend ~3.5 mag deeper than the main-sequence turnoff points, deeper than any previous data. Cluster ages were derived using three different isochrone models: Padova, Teramo, and Dartmouth, which are all available in the ACS photometric system. Fitting observed ridgelines for each cluster, we provide a homogeneous and unique set of low-metallicity, single-age fiducial isochrones. The cluster CMDs are best approximated by the Dartmouth isochrones for all clusters, except for NGC419 where the Padova isochrones provided the best fit. The CMD of NGC419 shows several main-sequence turn-offs, which belong to the cluster and to the SMC field. We thus derive an age range of 1.2-1.6 Gyr for NGC419. Interestingly, our intermediate-age star clusters have a metallicity spread of ~0.6 dex, which demonstrates that the SMC does not have a smooth, monotonic age-metallicity relation. We find an indication for centrally concentrated blue straggler star candidates in NGC416, while for the other clusters these are not present. Using the red clump magnitudes, we find that the closest cluster, NGC419 (~50kpc), and the farthest cluster, Lindsay 38 (~67kpc), have a relative distance of ~17kpc, which confirms the large depth of the SMC.

We revisit arguments that simple models of inflation with a small red tilt in the scalar power spectrum generically yield an observable tensor spectrum. We show that criteria for fine-tuning based upon the algebraic simplicity of the potential depend strongly upon the explicit assumptions they incorporate, particularly regarding the end of inflation. In addition, some models with algebraically simple potentials require carefully tuned initial field configurations, and not all types of fine-tuning are identifiable via the algebraic simplicity of the potential. Conversely, in the absence of a strong prior on the mechanism that ends inflation, we demonstrate the existence of potentials with vanishingly small tensor amplitudes which are natural in terms of both their algebraic form and initial conditions. We thus argue that proposed experiments (CMBPol or BBO) which make highly sensitive measurements of the tensor amplitude cannot definitively rule out the inflationary paradigm.

We describe the discovery of a 0.68+0.52 solar mass eclipsing binary (EB) with an 8.4-day orbital period, found through a systematic search of ten fields of the Trans-atlantic Exoplanet Survey (TrES). Such long-period low-mass EBs constitute critical test cases for resolving the long standing discrepancy between the theoretical and observational mass-radius relations at the bottom of the main sequence. It has been suggested that this discrepancy may be related to strong stellar magnetic fields, which are not properly accounted for in current theoretical models. All previously well-characterized low-mass main sequence EBs have periods of a few days or less, and their components are therefore expected to be rotating rapidly as a result of tidal synchronization, thus generating strong magnetic fields. In contrast, the binary system described here has a period that is over three times longer than previously characterized low-mass main sequence EBs, and its components rotate relatively slowly. It is therefore expected to have a weaker magnetic field and to better match the assumptions of theoretical stellar models. Our follow-up observations of this EB yield preliminary stellar properties that suggest it is indeed consistent with current models. If further observations confirm a low level of activity in this system, these determinations would provide support for the hypothesis that the mass-radius discrepancy is at least partly due to magnetic activity.

(Abridged) We present an analysis of the stellar populations of the gas-stripped outer disks of ten Virgo Cluster spiral galaxies, utilizing SparsePak integral field spectroscopy on the WIYN 3.5m telescope and GALEX UV photometry. The galaxies in our sample show evidence for being gas-stripped spiral galaxies, with star formation within a truncation radius, and a passive population beyond the truncation radius. We find that all of the galaxies with spatially truncated star formation have outer disk stellar populations consistent with star formation ending within the last 500 Myr. The synthesis of optical spectroscopy and GALEX observations demonstrate that star formation was relatively constant until the quenching time, after which the galaxies passively evolved. Large starbursts at the time of quenching are excluded for all galaxies. For approximately half of our galaxies, timescales derived from our observations are consistent with galaxies being stripped in or near the cluster core, where simple ram-pressure estimates can explain the stripping. However, the other half of our sample galaxies were clearly stripped outside the cluster core. Such galaxies provide evidence that the intra-cluster medium is not static and smooth. For three of our sample galaxies, our stripping timescales agree with those from the gas stripping simulations, suggesting that star formation is quenched near the time of peak pressure. While the stripping of star-forming gas in the outer disk creates a passive population in our galaxies, there is still normal star formation in the center of our sample galaxies. It may be that Virgo is not massive enough to completely strip these spiral galaxies and, in a more dynamically active cluster or a cluster with a higher density ICM, such a process would lead to passive spirals and/or S0s.

Radiative cooling is central to a wide range of astrophysical problems. Despite its importance, cooling rates are generally computed using very restrictive assumptions. We investigate the effects of photo-ionization of heavy elements by the meta-galactic UV/X-ray background and of variations in relative abundances on the cooling rates of optically thin gas in ionization equilibrium. We find that photo-ionization by the meta-galactic background radiation reduces the cooling rates by up to an order of magnitude for gas densities and temperatures typical of the shock-heated intergalactic medium and proto-galaxies. In addition, photo-ionization changes the relative contributions of different elements to the cooling rates. We conclude that photo-ionization by the ionizing background and heavy elements both need to be taken into account in order for the cooling rates to be correct to order of magnitude. Moreover, if the rates need to be known to better than a factor of a few, then departures of the relative abundances from solar need to be taken into account. We propose a method to compute cooling rates on an element-by-element basis by interpolating pre-computed tables that take photo-ionization into account. We provide such tables for a popular model of the evolving UV/X-ray background radiation, computed using the photo-ionization package CLOUDY.

The metal-poor post-AGB star HD 46703 is shown to be a single-line spectroscopic binary with a period of 600 days, a high velocity of -94 km/s, and an orbital eccentricity of 0.3. Light curve studies show that it also pulsates with a period of 29 days. High-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra were used for a new abundance study. The atmospheric model determined is T(eff) = 6250 K, log(g) = 1.0, V(t) = 3.0 km/s, and a metal abundance of [M/H] = -1.5. A low carbon abundance and lack of s-process element enhancement indicate that the star has not experienced third dredge-up on the AGB. The sulfur and zinc abundances are high compared with iron, and the chemical abundances show a clear anti-correlation with condensation temperature. The abundance depletion pattern is similar to that seen in other post-AGB binaries, and, like them, is attributed to the chemical fractionation of refractory elements onto dust stored in a circumbinary disk and the re-accretion of volatiles in the stellar atmosphere. The infrared excess is small but the excess energy distribution is very similar to what can expected from a disk. HD 46703 joins the growing list of depleted, post-AGB stars which are likely surrounded by a dusty and stable circumbinary disk.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRB) are the most powerful transient phenomena in the Universe. Nowadays dozens of speculations on the origin of GRB were undertaken, but so far a single model for the origin of, in particular, short GRBs does not exist. The black hole (BH) - neutron star (NS) coalescence is a promising candidate source for short GRBs. Most of binary mergers numerical simulations were carried out with the purpose of investigating the emission of gravitational waves. Such a scenario consists of an inspiral, merging and ringdown phase. In this paper we present the comparison of the observational results and analytical predictions for a test particle in a quasicircular orbit around the BH. The emission of gravitational waves causes a rapid decrease of the orbital radius and a rise of a {\it chirp} of radiation. Matter orbiting the black hole would be expected to produce high-frequency oscillations (HFO). Timescales of the coalescence process are of the order of milliseconds and oscillation frequencies of hundreds Hz for a system with a solar mass BH companion. We report on the detection of HFO in two short gamma-ray bursts in this paper. The frequencies and durations of the oscillations are in agreement with the predicted values. A {\it chirp} phenomenon is identified also. We therefore argue in favor of BH-NS mergers as a scenario for the production of short gamma-ray bursts.

High-energy cosmic rays with energies exceeding $10^{17}$ eV are frequently observed by measurements of the fluorescence light induced by air showers. A major contribution to the systematic uncertainties of the absolute energy scale of such experiments is the insufficient knowledge of the fluorescence light yield of electrons in air. The aim of the 5th Fluorescence Workshop was to bring together experimental and theoretical expertise to discuss the latest progress on the investigations of the fluorescence light yield. The results of the workshop will be reviewed as well as the present status of knowledge in this field. Emphasis is given to the fluorescence light yield important for air shower observations and its dependence on atmospheric parameters, like pressure, temperature, and humidity. The effects of the latest results on the light observed from air showers will be discussed.

Asteroid families, traditionally defined as clusters of objects in orbital parameter space, often have distinctive optical colors. We show that the separation of family members from background interlopers can be improved with the aid of SDSS colors as a qualifier for family membership. Based on an ~88,000 object subset of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Moving Object Catalog 4 with available proper orbital elements, we define 37 statistically robust asteroid families with at least 100 members using a simple Gaussian distribution model in both orbital and color space. The interloper rejection rate based on colors is typically ~10% for a given orbital family definition, with four families that can be reliably isolated only with the aid of colors. About 50% of all objects in this data set belong to families, and this fraction varies from about 35% for objects brighter than an H magnitude of 13 and rises to 60% for objects fainter than this. The fraction of C-type objects in families decreases with increasing H magnitude for H > 13, while the fraction of S-type objects above this limit remains effectively constant. This suggests that S-type objects require a shorter timescale for equilibrating the background and family size distributions via collisional processing. The size distributions for 15 families display a well-defined change of slope and can be modeled as a "broken" double power-law. Such "broken" size distributions are twice as likely for S-type familes than for C-type families, and are dominated by dynamically old families. The remaining families with size distributions that can be modeled as a single power law are dominated by young families. When size distribution requires a double power-law model, the two slopes are correlated and are steeper for S-type families.

We present results from N-body + magnetohydrodynamical simulations of merging clusters of galaxies. We find that cluster mergers cause various characteristic magnetic field structures because of the strong bulk flows in the intracluster medium. The moving substructures result in cool regions surrounded by the magnetic field. These will be recognized as magnetized cold fronts in the observational point of view. A relatively ordered magnetic field structure is generated just behind the moving substructure. Eddy-like field configurations are also formed by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. These features are similarly seen even in off-center mergers though the detailed structures change slightly. The above-mentioned characteristic magnetic field structures are partly recognized in Faraday rotation measure maps. The higher absolute values of the rotation measure are expected when observed along the collision axis, because of the elongated density distribution and relatively ordered field structure along the axis. The rotation measure maps on the cosmic microwave background radiation, which covers clusters entirely, could be useful probes of not only the magnetic field structures but also the internal dynamics of the intracluster medium.

CoRoT, the first space-based transit search, provides ultra-high precision light curves with continuous time-sampling over periods, of up to 5 months. This allows the detection of transiting planets with relatively long periods, and the simultaneous study of the host star's photometric variability. In this letter, we report on the discovery of the transiting giant planet CoRoT-Exo-4b and use the CoRoT light curve to perform a detailed analysis of the transit and to determine the stellar rotation period. The CoRoT light curve was pre-processed to remove outliers and correct for orbital residuals and artefacts due to hot pixels on the detector. After removing stellar variability around each transit, the transit light curve was analysed to determine the transit parameters. A discrete auto-correlation function method was used to derive the rotation period of the star from the out-of-transit light curve. We derive periods for the planet's orbit and star's rotation of 9.20205 +/- 0.00037 and 8.87 +/- 1.12 days respectively, consistent with a synchronised system. We also derive the inclination, i = 90.00 -0.085 +0.000 in degrees, the ratio of the orbital distance to the stellar radius, a/R_s = 17.36 -0.25 +0.05, and the planet to star radius ratio R_p/R_s = 0.1047 -0.0022 +0.0041. We discuss briefly the coincidence between the orbital period of the planet and the stellar rotation period and its possible implications for the system's migration and star-planet interaction history.

We investigate the effects of weakly-interacting massive particle (WIMP) dark matter annihilation on the formation of Population III.1 stars, which are theorized to form from the collapse of gas cores at the centers of dark matter minihalos. We consider the relative importance of cooling due to baryonic radiative processes and heating due to WIMP annihilation. We analyze the dark matter and gas profiles of several halos formed in cosmological-scale numerical simulations. The heating rate depends sensitively on the dark matter density profile, which we approximate with a power law rho_chi ~ r^{-alpha_chi}, in the numerically unresolved inner regions of the halo. If we assume a self-similar structure so that alpha_chi ~= 1.5 as measured on the resolved scales ~1pc, then for a fiducial WIMP mass of 100GeV, the heating rate is typically much smaller (<10^{-3}) than the cooling rate for densities up to n_H=10^{17}cm^{-3}. In one case, where alpha_chi=1.65, the heating rate becomes similar to the cooling rate by a density of n_H=10^{15}cm^{-3}. The dark matter density profile is expected to steepen in the central baryon-dominated region <~1pc due to adiabatic contraction, and we observe this effect (though with relatively low resolution) in our numerical models. From these we estimate alpha_chi~=2.0. The heating now dominates cooling above n_H~=10^{14}cm^{-3}, in agreement with the previous study of Spolyar, Freese & Gondolo. We expect this leads to the formation of an equilibrium structure with a baryonic and dark matter density distribution exhibiting a flattened central core. Examining such equilibria, we find total luminosities due to WIMP annihilation are relatively constant and ~10^3 L_sun, set by the radiative luminosity of the baryonic core. We discuss the implications for Pop III.1 star formation... (abridged)

We show that the proper motion of the Becklin-Neugebauer (BN) object is consistent with its dynamical ejection from the Theta1C binary, contrary to recent claims by Gomez et al. Continued radio observations of BN and future precise astrometric observations of Theta1C with SIM and the Orion Nebula Cluster with GAIA can constrain the properties of this ejection event, with implications for theories of how the nearest example of massive star formation is proceeding.

H.E.S.S. observed TeV blazar PKS 2155--304 in a strong flare state in 2006 July. The TeV flux varied on timescale as short as a few minutes, which sets strong constraints on the properties of the emission region. By use of the synchrotron self-Compton model, we found that models with the bulk Lorentz factor $\sim 100$, the size of the emission region $\sim 10^{15}$ cm, and magnetic field $\sim 0.1$ G explain the observed spectral energy distribution and the flare timescale $\sim$ a few minutes. This model with a large value of $\Gamma$ accounts for the emission spectrum not only in the TeV band but also in the X-ray band. The major cooling process of electrons/positrons in the jet is inverse Compton scattering off synchrotron photons. The energy content of the jet is highly dominated by particle kinetic energy over magnetic energy.

The Magellan Echellette (MagE) spectrograph is a single-object optical echellette spectrograph for the Magellan Clay telescope. MagE has been designed to have high throughput in the blue; the peak throughput is 22% at 5600 A including the telescope. The wavelength coverage includes the entire optical window (3100 A - 1 micron). The spectral resolution for a 1" slit is R~4100. MagE is a very simple spectrograph with only four moving parts, prism cross-dispersion, and a vacuum Schmidt camera. The instrument saw first light in November 2007 and is now routinely taking science observations.

The FourStar infrared camera is a 1.0-2.5 micron (JHKs) near infrared camera for the Magellan Baade 6.5m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory (Chile). It is being built by Carnegie Observatories and the Instrument Development Group at Johns Hopkins and is scheduled for completion in 2009. The instrument uses four Teledyne HAWAII-2RG arrays that produce a 10.9 x 10.9 arcmin field of view. The outstanding seeing at the Las Campanas site coupled with FourStar's high sensitivity and large field of view will enable many new survey and targeted science programs.

On 2005 January 15, the active region AR10720 produced an X1.2 solar flare that induced high levels of seismicity into the photospheric layers. The seismic source was detected using helioseismic holography and analysed in detail in Paper I. Egression power maps at 6 mHz with a 2 mHz bandwidth revealed a compact acoustic source strongly correlated with the footpoints of the coronal loop that hosted the flare. We present a magneto-seismic study of this active region in order to understand, for the first time, the magnetic topological structure of a coronal field that hosts an acoustically active solar flare. The accompanying analysis attempts to answer questions such as: Can the magnetic field act as a barrier and prevent seismic waves from spreading away from the focus of the sunquake? And, what is the most efficient magnetic structure that would facilitate the development of a strong seismic source in the photosphere?

A picture has emerged connecting QSOs with Sub-Millimetre Galaxies (SMGs) through an evolutionary sequence in which forming galaxies are initially FIR-luminous but X-ray weak, similar to known SMGs. As the black hole and spheroid grow with time, the central QSO becomes powerful enough to terminate star formation and eject much of the fuel supply. The unobscured QSO activity subsequently declines to leave a quiescent spheroidal galaxy. Here I describe parallel investigations of space density, one for a sample of radio-loud QSOs (RQSOs), and a second for SMGs. Each class shows both cosmic down-sizing and a redshift cutoff. The coincidence in apparent epoch of creation is marked; if it does not prove a causal connection, it is at least circumstantial evidence that the foregoing sequence is correct.

We have carried out a multi-site campaign to measure oscillations in the F5 star Procyon A. We obtained high-precision velocity observations over more than three weeks with eleven telescopes, with almost continuous coverage for the central ten days. This represents the most extensive campaign so far organized on any solar-type oscillator. We describe in detail the methods we used for processing and combining the data. These involved calculating weights for the velocity time series from the measurement uncertainties and adjusting them in order to minimize the noise level of the combined data. The time series of velocities for Procyon shows the clear signature of oscillations, with a plateau of excess power that is centred at 0.9 mHz and is broader than has been seen for other stars. The mean amplitude of the radial modes is 38.1 +/- 1.3 cm/s (2.0 times solar), which is consistent with previous detections from the ground and by the WIRE spacecraft, and also with the upper limit set by the MOST spacecraft. The variation of the amplitude during the observing campaign allows us to estimate the mode lifetime to be 1.5 d (+1.9/-0.8 d). We also find a slow variation in the radial velocity of Procyon, with good agreement between different telescopes. These variations are remarkably similar to those seen in the Sun, and we interpret them as being due to rotational modulation from active regions on the stellar surface. The variations appear to have a period of about 10 days, which presumably equals the stellar rotation period or, perhaps, half of it. The amount of power in these slow variations indicates that the fractional area of Procyon covered by active regions is slightly higher than for the Sun.

All far ultraviolet observations of HD209458 tend to support a scenario in which the inflated hydrogen atmosphere of its planetary companion strongly absorbs the stellar \lya flux during transit. However, it was not clear how the transit absorption depends on the selected wavelength range in the stellar line profile, nor how the atomic hydrogen cloud was distributed spatially around HD209458b. Here we report a sensitivity study of observed time and spectral variations of the stellar flux. In particular, the sensitivity of the absorption depth during transit to the assumed spectral range in the stellar line profile is shown to be very weak, leading to a transit depth in the range $(8.4-8.9)%\pm 2.0%$ for all possible wavelength ranges, and thereby confirming our initially-reported absorption rate. Taking the ratio of the line profile during transit to the unperturbed line profile, we also show that the spectral signature of the absorption by the exoplanetary hydrogen nebula is symmetric and typical of a Lorentzian, optically thick medium. Our results question the adequacy of models that require a huge absorption and/or a strong asymmetry between the blue and red side of the absorption line during transit as no such features could be detected in the HST FUV absorption profile. Finally, we show that standard atmospheric models of HD209458b provide a good fit to the observed absorption profile during transit. Other hybrid models assuming a standard model with a thin layer of superthermal hydrogen on top remain possible.

We consider current state of star formation theory and requirements to observations in millimeter and submillimeter ranges which are necessary for resolution of the most actual problems of the physics of star formation. Two key features of star-forming regions which define observational requirements to their studies, are relatively low energy of processes that take place there and smallness of corresponding spatial scales. This is especially true for the objects in the latest stages of ``pre-stellar'' evolution, that is, hot cores, hyper- and ultracompact HII regions, and protoplanetary disks. Angular resolution, sensitivity, and spectral coverage in existing projects of ground-based and space telescopes of submillimeter and millimeter range are not completely adequate to necessary requirements. To obtain detailed information on star-forming regions as well as on individual protostars it is necessary to employ a space-based interferometer.

We calculate the reionization history for different models of the stellar population and explore the effects of primordial magnetic fields, dark matter decay and dark matter annihilation on reionization. We find that stellar populations based on a Scalo-type initial mass function for Population II stars can be ruled out as sole sources for reionization, unless star formation efficiencies of more than 10% or very high photon escape fractions from the parental halo are adopted. Additional heat injection mechanisms like ambipolar diffusion, decaying MHD turbulence as well as dark matter annihilation and decay can lead to a significant modification of the thermal evolution and the ionization history of the post-recombination universe and can thus influence structure formation. If primordial magnetic fields are present, the magnetic Jeans mass introduces an additional mass scale for star forming halos. Our calculations show that, within the 1-$\sigma$-error bar of WMAP 5, strong correlations exist between the strength of primordial magnetic fields and the star formation efficiency needed to obtain the measured optical depth and complete reionization before redshift 6. We find upper limits on the strength of primorial magnetic fields and the cross section for dark matter annihilation, as well as a lower limit for the lifetime of decaying dark matter. These limits are in agreement with constraints from recombination and provide an independent confirmation at a much later epoch.

We have measured the projected rotational velocities (vsini) in a number of symbiotic stars and M giants using high resolution spectroscopic observations. On the basis of our measurements and data from the literature, we compare the rotation of mass-donors in symbiotics with vsini of field giants and find that:
(1) the K giants in S-type symbiotics rotate at vsini>4.5 km/s, which is 2-4 times faster than the field K giants;
(2) the M giants in S-type symbiotics rotate on average 1.5 times faster than the field M giants. Statistical tests show that these differences are highly significant: p-value < 0.001 in the spectral type bins K2III-K5III, M0III-M6III, and M2III-M5III;
(3) our new observations of D'-type symbiotics also confirm that they are fast rotators.
As a result of the rapid rotation, the cool giants in symbiotics should have 3-30 times larger mass loss rates. Our results suggest also that bipolar ejections in symbiotics seem to happen in objects where the mass donors rotate faster than the orbital period.
All spectra used in our series of papers can be obtained upon request from the authors.

A detailed analysis of new and existing photometric, spectroscopic and spatial distribution data of the eccentric binary V731 Cep was performed. Spectroscopic orbital elements of the system were obtained by means of cross-correlation technique. According to the solution of radial velocities with UBVRcIc light curves, V731 Cep consists of two main-sequence stars with masses M$_{1}$=2.577 (0.098) M$_{\odot}$, M$_{2}$=2.017 (0.084) M$_{\odot}$, radii R$_{1}$=1.823 (0.030) R$_{\odot}$, R$_{2}$=1.717 (0.025) R$_{\odot}$, and temperatures T$_{eff1}$=10700 (200) K, T$_{eff2}$=9265 (220) K separated from each other by a=23.27 (0.29) R$_{\odot}$ in an orbit with inclination of 88$^{\circ}$.70 (0.03). Analysis of the O--C residuals yielded a rather long apsidal motion period of U=10000(2500) yr compared to the observational history of the system. The relativistic contribution to the observed rates of apsidal motion for V731 Cep is significant (76%). The combination of the absolute dimensions and the apsidal motion properties of the system yielded consistent observed internal structure parameter (log$\bar{k}_{2,obs}$=-2.36) compared to the theory (log$\bar{k}_{2,theo}$=-2.32). Evolutionary investigation of the binary by two methods (Bayesian and evolutionary tracks) shows that the system is t=133(26) Myr old and has a metallicity of [M/H]=-0.04(0.02) dex. The similarities in the spatial distribution and evolutionary properties of V731 Cep with the nearby ($\rho\sim3^{\circ}$.9) open cluster NGC 7762 suggests that V731 Cep could have been evaporated from NGC 7762.

We derive the Fundamental Plane (FP) relation for a sample of 1430 early-type galaxies in the optical (r band) and the near-infrared (K band), by combining SDSS and UKIDSS data. With such a large, homogeneous dataset, we are able to assess the dependence of the FP on the waveband. Our analysis indicates that the FP of luminous early-type galaxies is essentially waveband independent, with its coefficients increasing at most by 8% from the optical to the NIR. This finding fits well into a consistent picture where the tilt of the FP is not driven by stellar populations, but results from other effects, such as non-homology. In this framework, the optical and NIR FPs require more massive galaxies to be slightly more metal rich than less massive ones, and to have highly synchronized ages, with an age variation per decade in mass smaller than a few percent.

New information on the relations between the Galactic disks, the halo, and satellite galaxies is being obtained from elemental abundances of stars having metallicities in the range -1.5 < [Fe/H] < -0.5. The first results for a sample of 26 halo stars and 13 thick-disk stars observed with the ESO VLT/UVES spectrograph are presented. The halo stars fall in two distinct groups: One group (9 stars) has [alpha/Fe]= 0.30 +-0.03 like the thick-disk stars. The other group (17 stars) shows a clearly deviating trend ranging from [alpha/Fe]= 0.20 at [Fe/H]= -1.3 to [alpha/Fe]= 0.08 at [Fe/H]= -0.8. The kinematics of the stars are discussed and the abundance ratios Na/Fe, Ni/Fe, Cu/Fe and Ba/Y are applied to see if the low-alpha stars are connected to the thin disk or to Milky Way satellite galaxies. Furthermore, we compare our data with simulations of chemical abundance distributions in hierarchically formed stellar halos in a LambdaCDM Universe.

Cosmic rays with energies exceeding $10^{17}$ eV are frequently registered by measurements of the fluorescence light emitted by extensive air showers. The main uncertainty for the absolute energy scale of the measured air showers is coming from the fluorescence light yield of electrons in air. The fluorescence light yield has been studied in laboratory experiments. Pioneering measurements between 1954 and 2000 are reviewed.

The major challenges for a fully polarized radiative transfer driven approach to Zeeman-Doppler imaging are still the enormous computational requirements. In every cycle of the iterative interplay between the forward process (spectral synthesis) and the inverse process (derivative based optimization) the Stokes profile synthesis requires several thousand evaluations of the polarized radiative transfer equation for a given stellar surface model. To cope with these computational demands and to allow for the incorporation of a full Stokes profile synthesis into Doppler- and Zeeman-Doppler imaging applications as well as into large scale solar Stokes profile inversions, we present a novel fast and accurate synthesis method for calculating local Stokes profiles. Our approach is based on artificial neural network models, which we use to approximate the complex non-linear mapping between the most important atmospheric parameters and the corresponding Stokes profiles. A number of specialized artificial neural networks, are used to model the functional relation between the model atmosphere, magnetic field strength, field inclination, and field azimuth, on one hand and the individual components (I,Q,U,V) of the Stokes profiles, on the other hand. We performed an extensive statistical evaluation and show that our new approach yields accurate local as well as disk-integrated Stokes profiles over a wide range of atmospheric conditions. The mean rms errors for the Stokes I and V profiles are well below 0.2% compared to the exact numerical solution. Errors for Stokes Q and U are in the range of 1%. Our approach does not only offer an accurate approximation to the LTE polarized radiative transfer it, moreover, accelerates the synthesis by a factor of more than 1000.

We report on a study that finds a positive correlation between black hole mass and variability amplitude in quasars. Roughly 100 quasars at z<0.75 were selected by matching objects from the QUEST1 Variability Survey with broad-lined objects from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Black hole masses were estimated with the virial method using the broad Hbeta line, and variability was characterized from the QUEST1 light curves. The correlation between black hole mass and variability amplitude is significant at the 99% level or better and does not appear to be caused by obvious selection effects inherent to flux-limited samples. It is most evident for rest frame time lags of the order a few months up to the QUEST1 maximum temporal resolution of about 2 years. The correlation between black hole mass and variability amplitude means that the more massive black holes have larger percentage flux variations. Over 2-3 orders of magnitude in black hole mass, the amplitude increases by approximately 0.2 mag. A likely explanation for the correlation is that the more massive black holes are starving and produce larger flux variations because they do not have a steady inflow of gaseous fuel. Assuming that the variability arises from changes in the accretion rate Li & Cao [8] show that flux variations similar to those observed are expected as a consequence of the more massive black holes having cooler accretion disks.

In this paper, we combine the latest observational data, including the WMAP five-year data (WMAP5), BOOMERanG, CBI, VSA, ACBAR, as well as the Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) and Type Ia Supernoave (SN) "Union" compilation (307 sample) to determine the cosmological parameters. Our results show that the $\Lambda$CDM model remains a good fit to the current data. In a flat universe, we obtain the tight limit on the constant EoS of dark energy as, $w=-0.977\pm0.056$ ($1 \sigma$). For the dynamical dark energy models with time evolving EoS, we find that the best-fit values are $w_0=-1.08$ and $w_1=0.368$, implying the preference of Quintom model whose EoS gets across the cosmological constant boundary. For the curvature of universe, our results give $-0.012<\Omega_k<0.009$ (95% C.L.) when fixing $w_{\DE}=-1$. When considering the dynamics of dark energy, the flat universe is still a good fit to the current data. Regarding the neutrino mass limit, we obtain the upper limits, $\sum m_{\nu}<0.533$ eV (95% C.L.) within the framework of the flat $\Lambda$CDM model. When adding the SDSS Lyman-$\alpha$ forest power spectrum data, the constraint on $\sum m_{\nu}$ can be significantly improved, $\sum m_{\nu}<0.161$ eV (95% C.L.). Assuming that the primordial fluctuations are adiabatic with a power law spectrum, within the $\Lambda$CDM model, we find that the upper limit on the ratio of the tensor to scalar is $r<0.200$ (95% C.L.) and the inflationary models with the slope $n_s\geq1$ are excluded at more than $2 \sigma$ confidence level. However, in the framework of dynamical dark energy models, the allowed region in the parameter space of ($n_s$,$r$) is enlarged significantly. Finally, we find no evidence for the large running of the spectral index. (Abridged)

We describe methods applied to the final photometric reductions and calibrations to the standard system of the images collected during the third phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment survey - OGLE-III. Astrometric reduction methods are also presented.
The OGLE-III data constitute a unique data set covering the Magellanic Clouds, Galactic bulge and Galactic disk fields monitored regularly every clear night since 2001 and being significant extension and continuation of the earlier OGLE observations. With the earlier OGLE-II and OGLE-I photometry some of the observed fields have now 16-year long photometric coverage.

We present an interferometric and single dish study of small organic species toward Comets C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) and C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) using the BIMA interferometer at 3 mm and the ARO 12m telescope at 2 mm. For Comet Hale-Bopp, both the single-dish and interferometer observations of CH3OH indicate an excitation temperature of 105+/-5 K and an average production rate ratio Q(CH3OH)/Q(H2O)~1.3% at ~1 AU. Additionally, the aperture synthesis observations of CH3OH suggest a distribution well described by a spherical outflow and no evidence of significant extended emission. Single-dish observations of CH3CN in Comet Hale-Bopp indicate an excitation temperature of 200+/-10 K and a production rate ratio of Q(CH3CN)/Q(H2O)~0.017% at ~1 AU. The non-detection of a previously claimed transition of cometary (CH2OH)2 toward Comet Hale-Bopp with the 12m telescope indicates a compact distribution of emission, D<9'' (<8500 km). For the single-dish observations of Comet T7 LINEAR, we find an excitation temperature of CH3OH of 35+/-5 K and a CH3OH production rate ratio of Q(CH3OH)/Q(H2O)~1.5% at ~0.3 AU. Our data support current chemical models that CH3OH, CH3CN and (CH2OH)2 are parent nuclear species distributed into the coma via direct sublimation off cometary ices from the nucleus with no evidence of significant production in the outer coma.

The S-Z effect and Faraday rotation from halos are examined over a wide mass range, an including gas condensation and magnetic field evolution. Contributions to the CMB angular power spectrum are evaluated for galaxy clusters, galaxy groups and galaxies. Smaller mass halos are found to play a more important role than massive halos for the B-mode polarisation associated with the S-Z CMB anisotropies. The B-modes from Faraday rotation dominate the secondary B-modes caused by gravitational lensing at l > 3000. Measurement of B-mode polarisation in combination with the S-Z power spectrum can potentially provide important constraints on intracluster magnetic field and gas evolution at early epochs.

We present the OGLE-III Photometric Maps of the Large Magellanic Cloud. They cover about 40 square degrees of the LMC and contain mean, calibrated VI photometry and astrometry of about 35 million stars observed during seven observing seasons of the third phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment - OGLE-III.
We discuss the quality of data and present color-magnitude diagrams of selected fields. The OGLE-III Photometric Maps of the LMC are available to the astronomical community from the OGLE Internet archive.

The IceCube neutrino observatory, under construction at the South Pole, consists of three sub-detectors: a km-scale array of digital optical modules deployed deep in the ice, the AMANDA neutrino telescope and the surface array IceTop. We summarize results from searches for cosmic neutrinos with the AMANDA telescope and review expected sensitivities for IceCube at various installation phases. Reliability and robustness of installation at the South Pole has been demonstrated during the past four successful construction seasons. The 40 installed IceCube strings are working well. We are developing detailed plans for the final construction of IceCube, including extensions optimized for low and high energy. We describe the IceCube Deep Core project which will extend the low energy response of IceCube.

In this series of four lectures, I discuss four important aspects of AGN host galaxies. In Lecture #1, I address the starburst-AGN connection. First, I briefly review the primary diagnostic tools that are used to quantify and distinguish star formation and nuclear activity. Next I describe the best evidence for a connection between these two processes, first at low luminosity and then at high luminosity. In the last section, I summarize the main results and offer possible explanations. In Lecture #2, I discuss our current understanding of ultraluminous infrared galaxies. First, I describe the general properties of ULIRGs, comparing the local sample with their distant counterparts. Then I discuss the role of ULIRGs in the formation and evolution of spheroids and their massive black holes. The discussion of their possible role in the metal enrichment of the IGM through superwinds is postponed until Lecture #3. In this third lecture, I discuss the importance of feedback processes in the local and distant universe. The emphasis is on mechanical feedback. I describe the basic physics of winds, a few classic examples of winds in the local universe, the statistical properties of winds, near and far, and their impact on galaxy formation and evolution. A list of potential thesis projects is given at the end. The fourth and final lecture is on elemental abundances as tracers of star formation. First, I explain the basic principles behind chemical evolution, and describe three simple models whose predictions are compared with observations in the Milky Way. Next I discuss and give an interpretation of the results of abundance determinations in local quiescent and starburst galaxies before discussing elemental abundances in the more distant universe.

This paper explores the mapping between the observable properties of a stellar halo in phase- and abundance-space and the parent galaxy's accretion history in terms of the characteristic epoch of accretion and mass and orbits of progenitor objects. The study utilizes a suite of eleven stellar halo models constructed within the context of a standard LCDM cosmology. The results demonstrate that coordinate-space studies are sensitive to the recent (0-8 Gyears ago) merger histories of galaxies (this timescale corresponds to the last few to tens of percent of mass accretion for a Milky-Way-type galaxy). Specifically, the {\it frequency, sky coverage} and {\it fraction of stars} in substructures in the stellar halo as a function of surface brightness are indicators of the importance of recent merging and of the luminosity function of infalling dwarfs. The {\it morphology} of features serves as a guide to the orbital distribution of those dwarfs. Constraints on the earlier merger history (> 8 Gyears ago) can be gleaned from the abundance patterns in halo stars: within our models, dramatic differences in the dominant epoch of accretion or luminosity function of progenitor objects leave clear signatures in the [alpha/Fe] and [Fe/H] distributions of the stellar halo - halos dominated by very early accretion have higher average [alpha/Fe], while those dominated by high luminosity satellites have higher [Fe/H]. This intuition can be applied to reconstruct much about the merger histories of nearby galaxies from current and future data sets.

The Universal Transit Modeller (UTM) is a light-curve simulator for all kinds of transiting or eclipsing configurations between arbitrary numbers of several types of objects, which may be stars, planets, planetary moons, and planetary rings. Applications of UTM to date have been mainly in the generation of light-curves for the testing of detection algorithms. For the preparation of such test for the Corot Mission, a special version has been used to generate multicolour light-curves in Corot's passbands. A separate fitting program, UFIT (Universal Fitter) is part of the UTM distribution and may be used to derive best fits to light-curves for any set of continuously variable parameters. UTM/UFIT is written in IDL code and its source is released in the public domain under the GNU General Public License.

Gamma-ray bursts are violent events occurring randomly in the sky. In this review, I will present the fireball model, proposed to explain the phenomenon of gamma-ray bursts. This model has important consequences for the production and observation at Earth of gravitational waves, high energy neutrinos, cosmic rays and high energy photons, and the second part of this review will be focused on these aspects. A last section will briefly discuss the topic of the use of gamma-ray bursts as standard candles and possible cosmological studies.

We present a system model for optical and far UV spectra of the nova-like variable UX UMa involving a white dwarf, secondary star, gas stream, hot spot and accretion disk using our code BINSYN and based on an initially adopted system distance. Calculated SED intensity data successfully fit successive tomographically-extracted annuli longward of the Balmer limit but require a postulated `iron curtain' shortward of the Balmer limit that is applied to the annulus section closest to the secondary star, while postulated recombination emission fills in the model SED shortward of the Balmer limit and is applied to the annulus section more remote from the secondary star. The same model fits $UBV$ 1954 light curves by Walker and Herbig. Fits to $HST$ $FOS$ spectra are approximate but require assumed time-variable changes in the SED. Comparable effects, possibly involving variable absorption, afflict $FUSE$ spectra.

We measured organic volatiles (CH4, CH3OH, C2H6, H2CO), CO, and water in comet 8P/Tuttle, a comet from the Oort cloud reservoir now in a short-period Halley-type orbit. We compare its composition with two other comets in Halley-type orbits, and with comets of the "organics-normal" and "organics-depleted" classes. Chemical gradients are expected in the comet-forming region of the proto-planetary disk, and an individual comet should reflect its specific heritage. If Halley-type comets came from the inner Oort cloud as proposed, we see no common characteristics that could distinguish such comets from those that were stored in the outer Oort cloud.

We present the observational results of a survey designed to target and detect asteroids whose colors are similar to those of Vesta family members and thus may be considered as candidates for having a basaltic composition. Fifty basaltic candidates were selected with orbital elements that lie outside of the Vesta dynamical family. Optical and near-infrared spectra were used to assign a taxonomic type to 11 of the 50 candidates. Ten of these were spectroscopically confirmed as V-type asteroids, suggesting that most of the candidates are basaltic and can be used to constrain the distribution of basaltic material in the Main Belt.
Using our catalog of V-type candidates and the success rate of the survey, we calculate unbiased size-frequency and semi-major axis distributions of V-type asteroids. These distributions, in addition to an estimate for the total mass of basaltic material, suggest that Vesta was the predominant contributor to the basaltic asteroid inventory of the Main Belt, however scattered planetesimals from the inner Solar System (a < 2.0 AU) and other partially/fully differentiated bodies likely contributed to this inventory. In particular, we infer the presence of basaltic fragments in the vicinity of asteroid 15 Eunomia, which may be derived from a differentiated parent body in the middle Main Belt (2.5 < a < 2.8). We find no asteroidal evidence for a large number of previously undiscovered basaltic asteroids, which agrees with previous theories suggesting that basaltic fragments from the ~100 differentiated parent bodies represented in meteorite collections have been "battered to bits" [Burbine, T.H., Meibom, A., Binzel, R.P., 1996. Mantle material in the Main Belt: Battered to bits? Met. & Planet. Sci. 31, 607].