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The early evolution of Sun-like stars may be interspersed by energetic FU Orionis (FUor) type accretion outbursts. We analysed eight years of photometric and spectroscopic variability of V582 Aur, a bona fide FUor, in outburst. While the accretion rate derived from near-infrared measurements was constant, radical brightness changes occurred due to dust clumps crossing the line of sight. The brightness minima resemble the variability patterns of the UXor phenomenon. Orbiting density enhancements or short-lived clumps moving in and out of the line-of-sight may explain these observations. Our message is that during FUor outbursts the inner disk is a dynamically active place, affecting the initial conditions for planet formation.

We present preliminary results of Hα near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of 16 galaxies with redshifts in the range 0.8 ≤ z ≤ 1.0 drawn from the DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey. The spectra were taken using the multi-slit mode of LIRIS (Long-slit Intermediate Resolution Infrared Spectrograph), installed at the 4.2-m WHT. Twelve out of 16 spectra yield robust (>5σ) Hα detections. We compare star formation rates (SFRs) from Hα luminosities to those derived from DEEP2 rest-frame UV measurements. This study is part of a larger program to obtain accurate Hα luminosities of about 50 star-forming galaxies at z ~ 1 in the Extended Groth Strip. Our scientific goals are the measurement of SFRs from Hα, and the comparison and calibration of Hα and other SFR tracers at z ~ 1. The study will be complemented with galaxy stellar masses, reddening estimates, galaxy morphologies and metallicities.

We present a multiwavelength photometric analysis of the innermost (3×3 kpc2) Globular Clusters (GCs) of M87. Their Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs) were built with J and Ks imaging obtained with NaCo at the VLT, along with HST UV-optical archival data. Using both Galatic GC templates and stellar population models, we derived ages (> 10 Gyr) and metallicities ([Fe/H]~ −0.7) for these clusters (e.g: Cohen et al. 1998). These GCs have lower metallicities than its host galaxy. This agrees with the idea that the GC population formed earlier than the bulk of the stars.