Search

We tested the ability of thermal infrared spectroscopy to retrieve assumed atmospheric compositions for different types of planets orbiting Proxima Centauri and Epsilon Eridani. Six cases are considered, covering a range of atmospheric compositions and some diversity in the bulk composition (rocky, water ocean, hydrogen rich) and the spectral type of the parent star (M and K stars). For some cases, we applied coupled climate chemistry, or climate-only calculations; for other cases, we assumed the atmospheric composition, ground temperature, and surface reflectivity. The IR emission was then calculated from line-by-line radiative transfer models and used to investigate retrieval of input atmospheric species. For the six cases considered, no false positive of the triple bioindicator (H2O, CO2, and O2, in specified conditions) was found. In some cases, results show that the simultaneous acquisition of a visible spectrum would be valuable, for example, when CO2 is very abundant and its 9.4 μm satellite band hides the 9.6 μm O3 band in the IR. In each case, determining the mass appears mandatory to identify the planet's nature and have an idea of surface conditions, which are necessary when testing for the presence of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass models of 100 nearby spiral and irregular galaxies, covering morphological types from Sa to Irr, are computed using H α rotation curves and Rc -band surface brightness profiles. The kinematics was obtained using a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer. One of the aims is to compare our results with those from Korsaga et al. which used mid-infrared (MIR) WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) W 1 (3.4 |$\mu$| m) photometric data. For the analysis, the same tools were used for both bands. Pseudo-isothermal (ISO) core and Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) cuspy models have been used. We test best-fitting models, maximum disc models, and models for which mass-to-light ratio (M/L) is fixed using the B − V colours. Similarly to what was found in the MIR 3.4 |$\mu$| m band, most of the observed rotation curves are better described by a central core density profile (ISO) than a cuspy one (NFW) when using the optical Rc band. In both bands, the dispersion in the (M/L) values is smaller for the fixed M/L fits. As for the W 1 photometry, the derived dark matter halo' parameters depend on the morphological types. We find similar relations than those in the literature, only when we compare our results for the bulge-poor sub-sample because most of previous results were mainly based on late-type spirals. Because the dispersion in the model parameters is smaller and because stellar masses are better defined in that band, MIR photometry should be preferred, when possible, to the optical bands. It is shown that for high- |$z$| galaxies, sensible results can still be obtained without full profile decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exocomets scattered by planets have been invoked to explain observations in multiple contexts, including the frequently found near- and mid-infrared excess around nearby stars arising from exozodiacal dust. Here we investigate how the process of inward scattering of comets originating in an outer belt is affected by the architecture of a planetary system, to determine whether this could lead to observable exozodi levels or deliver volatiles to inner planets. Using N-body simulations, we model systems with different planet mass and orbital spacing distributions in the 1–50 au region. We find that tightly packed (Δap < 20RH, m) low-mass planets are the most efficient at delivering material to exozodi regions ( 5–7 per cent of scattered exocomets end up within 0.5 au at some point), although the exozodi levels do not vary by more than a factor of ∼7 for the architectures studied here. We suggest that emission from scattered dusty material in between the planets could provide a potential test for this delivery mechanism. We show that the surface density of scattered material can vary by two orders of magnitude (being highest for systems of low-mass planets with medium spacing), while the exozodi delivery rate stays roughly constant, and that future instruments such as JWST could detect it. In fact for η Corvi, the current Herschel upper limit rules out the scattering scenario by a chain of ≲30 M⊕ planets. Finally, we show that exocomets could be efficient at delivering cometary material to inner planets ( 0.1–1 per cent of scattered comets are accreted per inner planet). Overall, the best systems at delivering comets to inner planets are the ones that have low-mass outer planets and medium spacing (∼20RH, m). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fomalhaut A is among the most well-studied nearby stars and has been discovered to possess a putative planetary object as well as a remarkable eccentric dust belt. This eccentric dust belt has often been interpreted as the dynamical signature of one or more planets that elude direct detection. However, the system also contains two other stellar companions residing ~105 au from Fomalhaut A. We have designed a new symplectic integration algorithm to model the evolution of Fomalhaut A's planetary dust belt in concert with the dynamical evolution of its stellar companions to determine if these companions are likely to have generated the dust belt's morphology. Using our numerical simulations, we find that close encounters between Fomalhaut A and B are expected, with an ~25 per cent probability that the two stars have passed within at least 400 au of each other at some point. Although the outcomes of such encounter histories are extremely varied, these close encounters nearly always excite the eccentricity of Fomalhaut A's dust belt and occasionally yield morphologies very similar to the observed belt. With these results, we argue that close encounters with Fomalhaut A's stellar companions should be considered a plausible mechanism to explain its eccentric belt, especially in the absence of detected planets capable of sculpting the belt's morphology. More broadly, we can also conclude from this work that very wide binary stars may often generate asymmetries in the stellar debris discs they host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planet in the WASP-103 system is an excellent candidate for transmission spectroscopy because of its large radius and high temperature. Application of this technique found a variation of radius with wavelength which was far too strong to be explained by scattering processes in the planetary atmosphere. A faint nearby star was subsequently detected, whose contamination of the transit light curves might explain this anomaly. We present a reanalysis of published data in order to characterize the faint star and assess its effect on the measured transmission spectrum. The faint star has a mass of 0.72 ± 0.08  M⊙ and is almost certainly gravitationally bound to the planetary system. We find that its effect on the measured physical properties of the planet and host star is small, amounting to a planetary radius larger by 0.6σ and planetary density smaller by 0.8σ. Its influence on the measured transmission spectrum is much greater: the spectrum now has a minimum around 760 nm and opacity rises to both bluer and redder wavelengths. It is a poor match to theoretical spectra and the spectral slope remains too strong for Rayleigh scattering. The existence of the faint nearby star cannot therefore explain the measured spectral properties of this hot and inflated planet. We advocate further observations of the system, both with high spatial resolution in order to improve the measured properties of the faint star, and with higher spectral resolution to confirm the anomalous transmission spectrum of the planet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new sample of stars, representative of the solar neighbourhood luminosity function (LF), is constructed from the Hipparcos catalogue and the Fifth Catalogue of Nearby Stars. We have cross-matched to sources in the Two Micron All Sky Survey catalogue so that for all stars individually determined near-infrared (NIR) photometry is available on a homogeneous system (typically Ks). The spatial completeness of the sample has been carefully determined by statistical methods, and the NIR LF of the stars has been derived by direct star counts. We find a local volume luminosity of 0.121 ± 0.004 LK⊙ pc-3, corresponding to a volumetric massto- light ratio (M/L) of M/LK = 0.31 ± 0.02M⊙/LK⊙, where giants contribute 80 per cent to the light but less than 2 per cent to the stellar mass. We derive the surface brightness of the solar cylinder with the help of a vertical disc model. We find a surface brightness of 99 LK⊙ pc-2 with an uncertainty of approximately 10 per cent. This corresponds to an M/L for the solar cylinder of M/LK = 0.34M⊙/LK⊙. The M/L for the solar cylinder is only 10 per cent larger than the local value despite the fact that the local population has a much larger contribution of young stars. It turns out that the effective scaleheights of the lower main sequence carrying most of the mass is similar to that of the giants, which are dominating the NIR light. The corresponding colour for the solar cylinder is V - K = 2.89 mag compared to the local value of V - K = 2.46 mag. An extrapolation of the local surface brightness to the whole Milky Way yields a total luminosity of MK = -24.2 mag. The Milky Way falls in the range of K band Tully-Fisher relations from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first part of this research we extensively investigated and carefully determined osculating, original (when entering Solar system) and future (when leaving it), orbits of 22 near-parabolic comets with small perihelion distance (qosc < 3.1 au), discovered in years 2006–2010. Here, we continue this research with a detailed study of their past and future motion during previous and next orbital periods under the perturbing action of our Galactic environment. At all stages of our dynamical study, we precisely propagate in time the observational uncertainties of cometary orbits. For the first time in our calculations, we fully take into account individual perturbations from all known stars or stellar systems that closely (less than 3.5 pc) approach the Sun during the cometary motion in the investigated time interval of several million years. This is done by means of a direct numerical integration of the N-body system comprising of a comet, the Sun and 90 potential stellar perturbers. We show a full review of various examples of individual stellar action on cometary motion. We conclude that perturbations from all known stars or stellar systems do not change the overall picture of the past orbit evolution of long-period comets. Their future motion might be seriously perturbed during the predicted close approach of Gliese 710 star but we do not observe significant energy changes. The importance of stellar perturbations is tested on the whole sample of 108 comets investigated by us so far and our previous results, obtained with only Galactic perturbations included, are fully confirmed. We present how our results can be used to discriminate between dynamically new and old near-parabolic comets and discuss the relevance of the so-called Jupiter–Saturn barrier phenomenon. Finally, we show how the Oort spike in the 1/a-distribution of near-parabolic comets is built from both dynamically new and old comets. We also point out that C/2007 W1 seems to be the first serious candidate for interstellar provenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The directly detected planetary mass companion candidate close to the young, nearby star Fomalhaut is a subject of intense discussion. While the detection of common proper motion led to the interpretation as Jovian-mass companion, later non-detections in the infrared raised doubts. Recent astrometric measurements indicate a belt crossing or highly eccentric orbit for the object, if a companion, making the planetary interpretation potentially even more problematic. In this study we discuss the possibility of Fomalhaut b being a background object with a high proper motion. By analysing the available photometric and astrometric data of the object, we show that they are fully consistent with a neutron star: neutron stars are faint, hot (blue), and fast moving. Neutron stars with an effective temperature of the whole surface area being 112 000–126 500 K (with small to negligible extinction) at a distance of roughly 11 pc (best fit) would be consistent with all observables, namely with the photometric detections in the optical, with the upper limits in the infrared and X-rays, as well as with the astrometry (consistent with a distances of 11 pc or more and high proper motion as typical for neutron stars) and non-detection of pulsation (not beamed). We consider the probability of finding an unrelated object or even a neutron star nearby and mostly co-aligned in proper motion with Fomalhaut A and come to the conclusion that this is definitely well possible. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A total of 28 young nearby stars (ages ⩽60 Myr) have been observed in the Ks-band with the adaptive optics imager Naos-Conica of the Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. Among the targets are ten visual binaries and one triple system at distances between 10 and 130 pc, all previously known. During a first observing epoch a total of 20 faint stellar or sub-stellar companion-candidates were detected around seven of the targets. These fields, as well as most of the stellar binaries, were re-observed with the same instrument during a second epoch, about one year later. We present the astrometric observations of all binaries. Their analysis revealed that all stellar binaries are co-moving. In two cases (HD 119022AB and FG Aqr B/C) indications for significant orbital motions were found. However, all sub-stellar companion candidates turned out to be non-moving background objects except PZ Tel which is part of this project but whose results were published elsewhere. Detection limits were determined for all targets, and limiting masses were derived adopting three different age values; they turn out to be less than 10 Jupiter masses in most cases, well below the brown dwarf mass range. The fraction of stellar multiplicity and of the sub-stellar companion occurrence in the star forming regions in Chamaeleon are compared to the statistics of our search, and possible reasons for the observed differences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is of three folds. First, to provide some basic descriptive statistics parameters for the apparent and absolute magnitudes of the nearby stars of spectral type F8V stars. Second, to establish the frequency functions Φ(M) and Ψ(m) of the absolute and apparent magnitudes for these stars. Third, to compute the distance r of these stars as a system assuming that they scatter around a mean absolute magnitude in a Gaussian distribution. The accuracy of the numerical results is satisfactory thus, the percentage error between r and the mean value is less than 0 .7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The center of our Galaxy hosts almost two hundred very young stars, a subset of which is orbiting the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) in a relatively thin disk-like structure. First analyses indicated a power-law surface density profile of the disk, Σ∝Rβ with β = –2. Recently, however, doubts about this profile arose. In particular, it now seems to be better described by a sort of broken power law. By means of both analytical arguments and numerical N-body modeling, we show that such a broken power-law profile is a natural consequence of the two-body relaxation of the disk. Due to the small relative velocities of the nearby stars in co-planar Keplerian orbits around the SMBH, two-body relaxation is effective enough to affect the evolution of the disk on timescales comparable to its estimated age. In the inner, densest part of the disk, the profile becomes rather flat (β ≈ –1) while the outer parts keep imprints of the initial state. Our numerical models show that the observed projected surface density profile of the young stellar disk can result from two-body relaxation driven evolution of a disk with initial single power-law profile with –2 ≲ β ≲ –1.5. In addition, we suggest that two-body relaxation may have caused a significant radial migration of the S-stars toward the central SMBH, thus playing an important role in their formation scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of ground-based telescopes and the Hubble space telescope made it possible to identify a part of gamma-ray bursts with far objects (redshift parameter Z ≥ 1).However, it remains unclear what are other bursts and what are their sources. The possibility of identifying other bursts with close sources known as small-mass flare stars is considered. The coordinates of space gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) for 2008-2013 and close stars (within the radius r < 25 pc) were compared by the correlation analysis method. Six coincidences were found with an accuracy of ∼0.1°. The probability of accidental coincidence of GRBs with stars is 4 · 10, which undoubtedly proves their stellar origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need to understand the nature of planetary systems orbiting red dwarfs. It cites start number 876 in the Gliese Catalog of Nearby Stars as one of the few red dwarfs bright enough to be in the Lick Observatory planet survey started in 1987 to monitor radial velocities of 120 bright stars in the northern sky. Based on an analysis of Kepler-42 and other red-dwarf systems found by Kepler mission, it concludes there are around 2 planets per red dwarf across the galaxy.

Context. Identification of metal-poor stars among field stars is extremely useful for studying the structure and evolution of the Galaxy and of external galaxies. Aims. We search for metal-poor stars using the artificial neural network (ANN) and extend its usage to determine absolute magnitudes. Methods. We have constructed a library of 167 medium-resolution stellar spectra (R ∼ 1200) covering the stellar temperature range of 4200 to 8000 K, log g range of 0.5 to 5.0, and [Fe/H] range of -3.0 to +0.3 dex. This empirical spectral library was used to train ANNs, yielding an accuracy of 0.3 dex in [Fe/H], 200 K in temperature, and 0.3 dex in log g. We found that the independent calibrations of near-solar metallicity stars and metal-poor stars decreases the errors in Teff and log g by nearly a factor of two. Results. We calculated Teff, log g, and [Fe/H] on a consistent scale for a large number of field stars and candidate metal-poor stars. We extended the application of this method to the calibration of absolute magnitudes using nearby stars with well-estimated parallaxes. A better calibration accuracy for MV could be obtained by training separate ANNs for cool, warm, and metal-poor stars. The current accuracy of MV calibration is ±0.3 mag. Conclusions. A list of newly identified metal-poor stars is presented. The MV calibration procedure developed here is reddening-independent and hence may serve as a powerful tool in studying galactic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT By undertaking deep long-slit spectroscopy with the focal reducer Spectral Camera with Optical Reducer for Photometrical and Interferometrical Observations (SCORPIO) of the Russian 6 m telescope, we studied stellar population properties and their variation with radius in 15 nearby S0 galaxies sampling a wide range of luminosities and environments. For the large-scale stellar discs of S0s, we have measured simple stellar population (SSP)-equivalent metallicities ranging from the solar one down to [ Z/H ]=−0.4 to −0.7, rather high magnesium-to-iron ratios, [Mg/Fe] ≥ +0.2, and mostly old SSP-equivalent ages. Nine of 15 (60 ± 13 per cent) galaxies have large-scale stellar discs older than 10 Gyr, and among those we find all the galaxies which reside in denser environments. The isolated galaxies may have intermediate-age stellar discs which are 7-9 Gyr old. Only two galaxies of our sample, NGC 4111 and NGC 7332, reveal SSP-equivalent ages of their discs of 2-3 Gyr. Just these two young discs appear to be thin, while the other, older discs have scale heights typical for thick stellar discs. The stellar populations in the bulges at radii of 0.5 re are on the contrary more metal rich than the solar Z⊙, with the ages homogeneously distributed between 2 and 15 Gyr, being almost always younger than the discs. We conclude that S0 galaxies could not form in groups at z ≈ 0.4 as is thought now; a new scenario of the general evolution of disc galaxies is proposed instead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SPICES (Spectro-Polarimetric Imaging and Characterization of Exoplanetary Systems) is a five-year M-class mission proposed to ESA Cosmic Vision. Its purpose is to image and characterize long-period extrasolar planets and circumstellar disks in the visible (450-900 nm) at a spectral resolution of about 40 using both spectroscopy and polarimetry. By 2020/2022, present and near-term instruments will have found several tens of planets that SPICES will be able to observe and study in detail. Equipped with a 1.5 m telescope, SPICES can preferentially access exoplanets located at several AUs (0.5-10 AU) from nearby stars (<25 pc) with masses ranging from a few Jupiter masses to Super Earths (∼2 Earth radii, ∼10 M) as well as circumstellar disks as faint as a few times the zodiacal light in the Solar System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stellar mass-luminosity relation (MLR) is one of the most famous empirical 'laws', discovered in the beginning of the 20th century. MLR is still used to estimate stellar masses for nearby stars, particularly for those that are not binary systems, hence the mass cannot be derived directly from the observations. It's well known that the MLR has a statistical dispersion which cannot be explained exclusively due to the observational errors in luminosity (or mass). It is an intrinsic dispersion caused by the differences in age and chemical composition from star to star. In this work we discuss the impact of age and metallicity on the MLR. Using the recent data on mass, luminosity, metallicity, and age for 26 FGK stars (all members of binary systems, with observational mass-errors ≤3 %), including the Sun, we derive the MLR taking into account, separately, mass-luminosity, mass-luminosity-metallicity, and mass-luminosity-metallicity-age. Our results show that the inclusion of age and metallicity in the MLR, for FGK stars, improves the individual mass estimation by 5 % to 15 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure has been developed to compute static aberrations once the telescope PSF has been measured with the lucky imaging technique, using a nearby star close to the object of interest as the point source to probe the optical system. This PSF is iteratively turned into a phase map at the pupil using the Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm and then converted to the appropriate actuation information for a deformable mirror having low actuator number but large stroke capability. The main advantage of this procedure is related with the capability of correcting static aberration at the specific pointing direction and without the need of a wavefront sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We have collated multiplicity data for five clusters (Taurus, Chamaeleon I, Ophiuchus, IC 348 and the Orion Nebula Cluster). We have applied the same mass ratio (flux ratios of Δ K≤ 2.5) and primary mass cuts ( ∼0.1-3.0 M ⊙) to each cluster and therefore have directly comparable binary statistics for all five clusters in the separation range 62-620 au, and for Taurus, Chamaeleon I and Ophiuchus in the range 18-830 au. We find that the trend of decreasing binary fraction with cluster density is solely due to the high binary fraction of Taurus; the other clusters show no obvious trend over a factor of nearly 20 in density. With N-body simulations, we attempt to find a set of initial conditions that are able to reproduce the density, morphology and binary fractions of all five clusters. Only an initially clumpy (fractal) distribution with an initial total binary fraction of 73 per cent (17 per cent in the range 62-620 au) is able to reproduce all of the observations (albeit not very satisfactorily). Therefore, if star formation is universal, then the initial conditions must be clumpy and with a high (but not 100 per cent) binary fraction. This could suggest that most stars, including M dwarfs, form in binaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Narrow-band observations fail to detect Lyα emission within a volume centred on the z= 2.168 quasar PKS 0424-131. This is in contrast to surveys of Lyα emitters in the field at similar redshifts and flux limits, which indicate that tens of sources should be visible within the same volume. The observed difference indicates that the quasar environment has a significant influence on the observed density of Lyα emitters. To quantify this effect, we have constructed a semi-analytic model to simulate the effect of a luminous quasar on nearby Lyα emitters. We find the null detection around PKS 0424-131 implies that the minimum isothermal temperature of Lyα emitter host haloes is greater than (68 per cent level), corresponding to a virial mass of ∼1.2 × 1012 M⊙. This indicates that the intense ultraviolet emission of the quasar may be suppressing the star formation in nearby galaxies. Our study illustrates that low-redshift quasar environments may serve as a surrogate for studying the radiative suppression of galaxy formation during the epoch of reionization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disk surface density of the nearby spiral galaxy M33 is estimated assuming that it is marginally stable against gravitational perturbations. For this purpose we used the radial profile of line-of-sight velocity dispersion of the disk planetary nebulae obtained by Ciardullo et al. (2004). The surface density profile we obtained is characterized by the radial scalelength which is close to the photometrical one and is in a good agreement with the rotation curve of M33 and with the mass-to-light ratio which follows from the stellar population model. However at the galactocentric distance r > 7 kpc the dynamical overheating of the disk remains quite possible. The thickness of the stellar disk of M33 should increase outwards from the center. The dark halo to total mass ratio is estimated as a function of r. The effective oxygen yield obtained in the frame of instantaneous recycling approximation using the disk surface density and the observed gradient of O/H increases with radius. It may indicate that the role of accretion of metalpoor gas in the chemical evolution of interstellar medium decreases outwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on archival Hubble Space Telescope images, we have performed stellar photometry for eight edge-on spiral and irregular galaxies. We have identified stars of three ages in the derived Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams and constructed their number density distribution perpendicularly to the plane of the galactic disk. The sizes of the stellar subsystems of young (up to 100 Myr), middle (0.1-1.0 Gyr), and old (up to 12 Gyr) ages have been determined. A relationship between the age of a subsystem and its size has been found in all of the galaxies studied. Our results can be explained by the model of galactic thick-disk formation through thin-disk expansion. In this case, the middle-age stellar subsystem is a transitional stage from the thin disk to the thick one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to explore the dynamical behaviour of hot accretion flows with thermal conduction. The importance of thermal conduction in hot accretion flows is confirmed by observations of the hot gas that surrounds Sgr A* and a few other nearby galactic nuclei. In this research, the effect of thermal conduction is studied through a saturated form, as is appropriate for weakly collisional systems. The angular momentum transport is assumed to be a result of viscous turbulence and the α-prescription is used for the kinematic coefficient of viscosity. The equations of accretion flow are solved in a simplified one-dimensional model that neglects the latitudinal dependence of the flow. To solve the integrated equations that govern the dynamical behaviour of the accretion flow, we have used an unsteady self-similar solution. The solution provides some insights into the dynamics of quasi-spherical accretion flow and avoids the limits of the steady self-similar solution. In comparison with accretion flows without thermal conduction, the disc generally becomes cooler and denser. These properties are qualitatively consistent with simulations performed in hot accretion flows. Moreover, the angular velocity increases with the magnitude of conduction, while the radial infall velocity decreases. The mass accretion rate on to the central object is reduced in the presence of thermal conduction. We found that viscosity and thermal conduction have opposite effects on the physical variables. Furthermore, the flow represents a transonic point that displaces inward with the magnitude of conduction or viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Peculiar velocities are one of the only probes of very large scale mass density fluctuations in the nearby Universe. We present new 'minimal variance' bulk flow measurements based upon the 'First Amendment' compilation of 245 Type Ia supernovae (SNe) peculiar velocities and find a bulk flow of 249 ± 76 km s−1 in the direction l= 319°± 18°, b= 7°± 14°. The SNe bulk flow is consistent with the expectations of Λ cold dark matter (ΛCDM). However, it is also marginally consistent with the bulk flow of a larger compilation of non-SNe peculiar velocities. By comparing the SNe peculiar velocities to predictions of the IRAS Point Source Catalogue Redshift Survey (PSCz) galaxy density field, we find Ω0.55mσ8,lin= 0.40 ± 0.07, which is in agreement with ΛCDM. However, we also show that the PSCz density field fails to account for 150 ± 43 km s−1 of the SNe bulk motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We present near-infrared (near-IR) surface photometry (2D profiling) for a sample of 29 nearby galaxies for which supermassive black hole (SMBH) masses are constrained. The data are derived from the UKIDSS-LAS representing a significant improvement in image quality and depth over previous studies based on Two Micron All Sky Survey data. We derive the spheroid luminosity and spheroid Sérsic index for each galaxy with galfit3 and use these data to construct SMBH mass-bulge luminosity ( Mbh- L) and SMBH-Sérsic index ( Mbh- n) relations. The best-fitting K-band relation for elliptical and disc galaxies is log ( Mbh/M⊙) =−0.36(±0.03)( M K+ 18) + 6.17(±0.16), with an intrinsic scatter of 0.4 +0.09−0.06 dex, whilst for elliptical galaxies we find log ( Mbh/M⊙) =−0.42(±0.06)( M K+ 22) + 7.5(±0.15), with an intrinsic scatter of 0.31 +0.087−0.047 dex. Our revised Mbh- L relation agrees closely with the previous near-IR constraint by . The lack of improvement in the intrinsic scatter in moving to higher quality near-IR data suggests that the SMBH relations are not currently limited by the quality of the imaging data but is either intrinsic or a result of uncertainty in the precise number of required components required in the profiling process. Contrary to expectation, a relation between SMBH mass and the Sérsic index was not found at near-IR wavelengths. This latter outcome is believed to be explained by the generic inconsistencies between 1D and 2D galaxy profiling which are currently under further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Based on a homogeneous set of X-ray, infrared and ultraviolet observations from Chandra, Spitzer, GALEX and 2MASS archives, we study populations of high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) in a sample of 29 nearby star-forming galaxies and their relation to the star-formation rate (SFR). In agreement with previous results, we find that HMXBs are a good tracer of the recent star-formation activity in the host galaxy and their collective luminosity and number scale with the SFR: in particular, . However, the scaling relations still bear a rather large dispersion of rms ∼ 0.4 dex, which we believe is of a physical origin. We present the catalogue of 1055 X-ray sources detected within the D25 ellipse for galaxies of our sample and construct the average X-ray luminosity function (XLF) of HMXBs with substantially improved statistical accuracy and better control of systematic effects than achieved in previous studies. The XLF follows a power law with a slope of 1.6 in the log ( LX) ∼ 35-40 luminosity range with moderately significant evidence for a break or cut-off at LX∼ 1040 erg s−1. As before, we did not find any features at the Eddington limit for a neutron star or a stellar-mass black hole. We discuss the implications of our results for the theory of binary evolution. In particular we estimate the fraction of compact objects that once in their lifetime experienced an X-ray active phase powered by accretion from a high-mass companion and obtain a rather large number, fX∼ 0.2 × (0.1 Myr/τX), where τX is the lifetime of the X-ray active phase. This is ∼4 orders of magnitude more frequent than in low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs). We also derive constraints on the mass distribution of the secondary star in HMXBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We investigate the [3.6]−[4.5] Spitzer-IRAC colour behaviour of the early-type galaxies of the SAURON survey, a representative sample of 48 nearby ellipticals and lenticulars. We investigate how this colour, which is unaffected by dust extinction, can be used to constrain the stellar populations in these galaxies. We find a tight relation between the [3.6]−[4.5] colour and effective velocity dispersion, a good mass indicator in early-type galaxies: ( [3.6]−[4.5]) e = ( −0.109 0.007)+ (0.154 0.016). Contrary to other colours in the optical and near-infrared, we find that the colours become bluer for larger galaxies. The relations are tighter when using the colour inside re (scatter 0.013 mag), rather than the much smaller re/8 aperture (scatter 0.023 mag), due to the presence of young populations in the central regions. We also obtain strong correlations between the [3.6]−[4.5] colour and three strong absorption lines (H, Mg b and Fe 5015). Comparing our data with the models of Marigo et al., which show that more metal rich galaxies are bluer, we can explain our results in a way consistent with results from the optical, by stating that larger galaxies are more metal rich. The blueing is caused by a strong CO absorption band, whose line strength increases strongly with decreasing temperature and which covers a considerable fraction of the 4.5-m filter. In galaxies that contain a compact radio source, the [3.6]−[4.5] colour is generally slightly redder (by 0.015 0.007 mag using the re/8 aperture) than in the other galaxies, indicating small amounts of either hot dust, non-thermal emission, or young stars near the centre. We find that the large majority of the galaxies show redder colours with increasing radius. Removing the regions with evidence for young stellar populations (from the H absorption line) and interpreting the colour gradients as metallicity gradients, we find that our galaxies are more metal poor going outwards. The radial [3.6]−[4.5] gradients correlate very well with the metallicity gradients derived from optical line indices. We do not find any correlation between the gradients and galaxy mass; at every mass, galaxies display a real range in metallicity gradients. Consistent with our previous work on line indices, we find a tight relation between local [3.6]−[4.5] colour and local escape velocity. The small scatter from galaxy to galaxy, although not negligible, shows that the amount and distribution of the dark matter relative to the visible light cannot be too different from galaxy to galaxy. Due to the lower sensitivity of the [3.6]−[4.5] colour to young stellar populations, this relation is more useful to infer the galaxy potential than the Mg b- vesc relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SONYC--Substellar Objects in Nearby Young Clusters--is a survey program to investigate the frequency and properties of substellar objects with masses down to a few times that of Jupiter in nearby star-forming regions. For the ~ 1 Myr old ρ Ophiuchi cluster, in our earlier paper we reported deep, wide-field optical and near-infrared imaging using Subaru, combined with Two Micron All Sky Survey and Spitzer photometry, as well as follow-up spectroscopy confirming three likely cluster members, including a new brown dwarf with a mass close to the deuterium-burning limit. Here we present the results of extensive new spectroscopy targeting a total of ~100 candidates in ρ Oph, with Fiber Multi Object Spectrograph at the Subaru Telescope and SINFONI at the ESO's Very Large Telescope. We identify 19 objects with effective temperatures at or below 3200 K, eight of which are newly identified very low mass probable members of ρ Oph. Among these eight, six objects have Teff ≤ 3000 K, confirming their likely substellar nature. These six new brown dwarfs comprise one-fifth of the known substellar population in ρ Oph. We estimate that the number of missing substellar objects in our survey area is ~15, down to 0.003-0.03 M⊙ and for Av = 0-15. The upper limit on the low-mass star to brown dwarf ratio in ρ Oph is 5.1 ± 1.4, while the disk fractions are ~40% and ~60% for stars and brown dwarfs, respectively. Both results are in line with those for other nearby star-forming regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Major mergers of disc galaxies are thought to be a substantial driver in galaxy evolution. To trace the fraction and rate of galaxy mergers over cosmic times, several observational techniques have been developed over the last decade, including parametrized morphological selection. We apply this morphological selection of mergers to 21 cm radio emission line (H i) column density images of spiral galaxies in nearby surveys. In this paper, we investigate how long a 1:1 merger is visible in H i from N-body simulations. We evaluate the merger visibility times for selection criteria based on four parameters: Concentration, Asymmetry, M20 and the Gini parameter of the second-order moment of the flux distribution ( GM). Of three selection criteria used in the literature, one based on Concentration and M20 works well for the H i perspective with a merger time-scale of 0.4 Gyr. Of the three selection criteria defined in our previous paper, the GM performs well and cleanly selects mergers for 0.69 Gyr. The other two criteria (Asymmetry- M20 and Concentration- M20) select isolated discs as well, but perform best for face-on, gas-rich discs ( Tmgr∼ 1 Gyr). The different visibility scales can be combined with the selected fractions of galaxies in any large H i survey to obtain merger rates in the nearby Universe. All-sky surveys such as the Widefield ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky Blind surveY (WALLABY) with the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Medium Deep Survey with the APERture Tile In Focus (APERTIF) instrument on Westerbork are set to revolutionize our perspective on neutral hydrogen and will provide an accurate measure of the merger fraction and rate of the present epoch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Using the Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN), we have acquired a high spatial resolution spectral image of the OH megamaser (OHMM) in the nearby starburst 'galaxy' known as IIZw 096. We have also acquired optical B, V, R, I and Hα images with the 1.5-m telescope in San Pedro Mártir. By comparing the MERLIN observations with Hubble archive images, we are able to pinpoint the location of the OH maser emission in this object; the OHMM emission seems to be associated with a faint and reddish, compact-round structure (a few hundred parsecs) off-centre of a merging system of galaxies. From the colour and strong Hα emission, this object is consistent with the remains of the nucleus of a very perturbed galaxy in interaction. Assuming a Keplerian bounded system the mass necessary to produce a velocity range of ≈200 km s−1 for the OHMM is of the order of 109 M⊙, which is consistent with a massive black hole. Consequently, although the OHMM was previously suspected to be of starburst origin, our analysis suggests that an active galactic nucleus (AGN) could also be present in this merging system making it a composite source. IIZw 096 is a nearby example which shows how high spatial resolution data of the OHMM emission region, and supporting optical data, can be extremely helpful in determining the nature (starburst, AGN or composite) of such phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this second paper of the series, we present the two-dimensional (2D) emission line abundance analysis of NGC 628, the largest object within the PPAK Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) Nearby Galaxies Survey, PINGS. We introduce the methodology applied to the 2D IFS data in order to extract and deal with large spectral samples, from which a 2D abundance analysis can be later performed. We obtain the most complete and reliable abundance gradient of the galaxy up to date, by using the largest number of spectroscopic points sampled in the galaxy, and by comparing the statistical significance of different strong-line metallicity indicators. We find features not previously reported for this galaxy that imply a multimodality of the abundance gradient consistent with a nearly flat distribution in the innermost regions of the galaxy, a steep negative gradient along the disc and a shallow gradient or nearly constant metallicity beyond the optical edge of the galaxy. The N/O ratio seems to follow the same radial behaviour. We demonstrate that the observed dispersion in metallicity shows no systematic dependence with the spatial position, signal-to-noise ratio or ionization conditions, implying that the scatter in abundance for a given radius is reflecting a true spatial physical variation of the oxygen content. Furthermore, by exploiting the 2D IFS data, we were able to construct the 2D metallicity structure of the galaxy, detecting regions of metal enhancement and showing that they vary depending on the choice of the metallicity estimator. The analysis of axisymmetric variations in the disc of NGC 628 suggest that the physical conditions and the star formation history of different symmetric regions of the galaxy have evolved in a different manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In a previous paper (Paper I), the observational, mapping and source-extraction techniques used for the Tenth Cambridge (10C) Survey of Radio Sources were described. Here, the first results from the survey, carried out using the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Large Array (LA) at an observing frequency of 15.7 GHz, are presented. The survey fields cover an area of ≈27 deg2 to a flux-density completeness of 1 mJy. Results for some deeper areas, covering ≈12 deg2, wholly contained within the total areas and complete to 0.5 mJy, are also presented. The completeness for both areas is estimated to be at least 93 per cent. The 10C survey is the deepest radio survey of any significant extent (≳0.2 deg2) above 1.4 GHz. The 10C source catalogue contains 1897 entries and is available online. The source catalogue has been combined with that of the Ninth Cambridge Survey to calculate the 15.7-GHz source counts. A broken power law is found to provide a good parametrization of the differential count between 0.5 mJy and 1 Jy. The measured source count has been compared with that predicted by de Zotti et al. - the model is found to display good agreement with the data at the highest flux densities. However, over the entire flux-density range of the measured count (0.5 mJy to 1 Jy), the model is found to underpredict the integrated count by ≈30 per cent. Entries from the source catalogue have been matched with those contained in the catalogues of the NRAO VLA Sky Survey and the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty-cm survey (both of which have observing frequencies of 1.4 GHz). This matching provides evidence for a shift in the typical 1.4-GHz spectral index to 15.7-GHz spectral index of the 15.7-GHz-selected source population with decreasing flux density towards sub-mJy levels - the spectra tend to become less steep. Automated methods for detecting extended sources, developed in Paper I, have been applied to the data; ≈5 per cent of the sources are found to be extended relative to the LA-synthesized beam of ≈30 arcsec. Investigations using higher resolution data showed that most of the genuinely extended sources at 15.7 GHz are classical doubles, although some nearby galaxies and twin-jet sources were also identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT We report on the spectroscopic evidence for the nearby, bright and supposedly single F4V star λ Ara as a binary system. The basic observational tracer is a discrepancy with the Hipparcos-based astrometric surface gravity as opposed to the spectroscopically derived value from the pressure-dependent Mg i b triplet lines. We demonstrate how this discrepancy can be met with an equal-mass secondary hidden in the light of the star's considerable projected rotational velocity vsin i = 15.5 ± 1.0 km s−1 and we expect this scenario to be testable with high-angular resolution direct imaging observations. A major consequence should be the discovery of other nearby binary systems with a similar architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I review what can be learned from studying nearby galaxies about the star formation process. The main interest of these galaxies is that they pose a different regime of star formation and physical conditions than are available in the Milky Way. I discuss how the tracers that we have for determining the star formation efficiency are affected by low metallicity and more bursty star formation in dwarf galaxies. The reduced shielding of the ISM hugely affects the structure of the ISM, in particular the applicability of CO to trace the dense molecular clouds where star formation may occur. I also discuss how the dust emission maybe affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present homogeneous, standardized UBV( RI)C photometry for over 700 nearby stars selected on the basis of Hipparcos parallaxes. Additionally, we list JHK photometry for about half of these stars, as well as L photometry for 86 of the brightest. A number of stars with peculiar colours or anomalous locations in various colour–magnitude diagrams are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate and develop mission concepts for a search for Terrestrial Exoplanets, we have prepared a list of potential target systems. In this paper we present and discuss the criteria for selecting potential target stars, suitable for the search for Earth-like planets, with a special emphasis on the aspects of the habitable zone for these stellar systems. Planets found within these zones would be potentially able to host complex life forms. We derive a final target star sample of potential target stars, the Darwin All Sky Star Catalogue (DASSC). The DASSC contains a sample of 2303 identified objects of which 284 are F-, 464 G-, 883 K- and 615 M-type stars and 57 stars without B-V index. Of these objects 949 objects are flagged in the DASSC as multiple systems, resulting in 1229 single main sequence stars of which 107 are F, 235 are G, 536 are K, and 351 are M type. We derive configuration dependent sub-catalogues from the DASSC for two technical designs, the initial baseline design and the advanced Emma design as well as a catalogue using an inner working angle cutoff. We discuss the selection criteria, derived parameters and completeness of sample for different classes of stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nearby star having a near-transit of a galaxy will cause a time-dependent weak lensing of the galaxy. Because the effect is small, we refer to this as weak microlensing. This could provide a useful method to weigh low-mass stars and brown dwarfs. We examine the feasibility of measuring masses in this way and find that a star causes measurable weak microlensing in a galaxy even at 10 Einstein radii away. Of the order of 1 mag galaxy comes close enough to one or the other of the ∼100 nearest stars per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ three samples of nearby stars that include stars hosting Doppler-detected planets to test a recent finding by Haywood that the incidence of planets is greater among transition and thick disc stars than it is among thin disc stars in the range [Fe/H] dex; this implies that distance from the Galactic Centre is the causative factor for planet formation, not [Fe/H]. Thick disc stars with planets do have a smaller mean [Fe/H] value than thin disc stars over this range in [Fe/H], and the most [Fe/H]-poor stars with planets tend to have more negative values. However, if we compare stars with planets according to mass abundance of the refractory elements important for planet formation (Mg, Si, Fe), then thick disc and [Fe/H]-poor thin disc stars with planets have similar distributions. There is no need to invoke a new mechanism for giant planet formation to account for the distributions of stars with planets among dwarf stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWe have used the Solar Tower Atmospheric Cherenkov Effect Experiment (STACEE) high-energy gamma-ray detector to look for fast blue-green laser pulses from the vicinity of 187 stars. The STACEE detector offers unprecedented light-collecting capability for the detection of nanosecond pulses from such lasers. We estimate STACEE's sensitivity to be approximately 10 photons/m2at a wavelength of 420 nm. The stars have been chosen because their characteristics are such that they may harbor habitable planets, and they are relatively close to Earth. Each star was observed for 10 minutes, and we found no evidence for laser pulses in any of the data sets. Key Words: Search for extraterrestrial intelligence—Optical search for extraterrestrial intelligence—Interstellar communication—Laser. Astrobiology 9, 345–357. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]