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We present the results of a monitoring campaign of three eclipsing high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs: SMC X-1, LMC X-4 and Cen X-3). High-resolution VLT/UVES spectra are used to measure the radial velocities of these systems with high accuracy. We show that the subsequent mass determination of the neutron stars in these systems is significantly improved and discuss the implications of this result. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on optical and near-infrared follow-up observations of the afterglow of GRB 030226 performed with the telescopes at ESO La Silla and Paranal. Our observations started 0.2 days after the burst when the afterglow was at a magnitude of R ≈ 19. One week later the magnitude of the afterglow had fallen to R=25, and at two weeks after the burst it could no longer be detected (R > 26). VLT blue-band spectra show two absorption line systems at redshifts z = 1.962 ± 0.001 and 1.986 ± 0.001, indicating a metal-rich environment of the burster, and placing the burster very likely at z = 1.986 ± 0.001. © 2004 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]