Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2013
ABSTRACT We report a detection of variability in interstellar absorption lines of Cai at 4227 Å a... more ABSTRACT We report a detection of variability in interstellar absorption lines of Cai at 4227 Å and Fei at 3860 Å in very high signal-to-noise ratio (>1000) UVES and MIKE spectra of HD 73882 (NX Vel) carried out with the aid of 8-m telescope UT2 at Paranal and 6.5-m Magellan Telescope Clay at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. The spectra, acquired in 2006 January and 2012 January, respectively, clearly show that the intensity and profile shapes of the Cai and Fei lines had dramatically changed within the 6 year period. Other interstellar features, observed along the same line of sight, do not demonstrate strong changes. It is likely that a high velocity CaFe cloud obscured the star between the two observations.
We present observations of CH B-X (1, 0) band toward 13 translucent sightlines. The given precise... more We present observations of CH B-X (1, 0) band toward 13 translucent sightlines. The given precise positions (at 3627.403, 3633.289, 3636.222 Å) are derived by means of shifting our spectra to the rest velocity frame using B-X (0, 0) features (at 3878, 3886 and 3890 Å). The proposed oscillator strengths (equal to 0.00035, 0.00104, 0.00069, respectively) are based on f-values of the CH B-X (0, 0) system, i.e. 0.00110, 0.00320, 0.00210.
ABSTRACT WISE J104915.57$-$531906.1 is a L/T brown dwarf binary located 2pc from the Sun. The pai... more ABSTRACT WISE J104915.57$-$531906.1 is a L/T brown dwarf binary located 2pc from the Sun. The pair contains the closest known brown dwarfs and is the third closest known system, stellar or sub-stellar. We report comprehensive follow-up observations of this newly uncovered system. We have determined the spectral types of both components (L8+/-1, for the primary, agreeing with the discovery paper; T1.5+/-2 for the secondary, which was lacking spectroscopic type determination in the discovery paper) and, for the first time, their radial velocities (V_rad~23.1, 19.5 km/s) using optical spectra obtained at the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and other facilities located at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). The relative radial velocity of the two components is smaller than the range of orbital velocities for theoretically predicted masses, implying that they form a gravitationally bound system. We report resolved near-infrared JHK_S photometry from the IRSF telescope at the SAAO which yields colors consistent with the spectroscopically derived spectral types. The available kinematic and photometric information excludes the possibility that the object belongs to any of the known nearby young moving groups or associations. Simultaneous optical polarimetry observations taken at the SAAO 1.9-m give a non-detection with an upper limit of 0.07%. For the given spectral types and absolute magnitudes, 1Gyr theoretical models predict masses of 0.04--0.05 M_odot for the primary, and 0.03--0.05 M_odot for the secondary.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 2011
We present an analysis of the circumnuclear structure of NGC 1316 using both near-infrared imagin... more We present an analysis of the circumnuclear structure of NGC 1316 using both near-infrared imaging and stellar kinematics. 2D decomposition of the images suggests the presence of a structure that resembles inner gaseous spiral arms, at about 5-15 arcsec from the centre (≈500 to 1500 pc). We also find a disc-like stellar structure with radius less than 200 pc. Analysis of previously published SINFONI integral field kinematics data indicates a kinematically decoupled core in the same spatial scale, further evidence that indeed the nuclear stellar structure found is a kinematically cold stellar disc. We suggest that both newly found structural components are the result of a recent accretion of a companion galaxy.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2007
A new kind of interstellar cloud is proposed. These are rare (just a few examples among ~300 line... more A new kind of interstellar cloud is proposed. These are rare (just a few examples among ~300 lines of sight) objects with the CaI 4227-Å, FeI 3720-Å and 3860-Å lines stronger than those of KI (near 7699 Å) and NaI (near 3302 Å). We propose the name `CaFe' for these clouds. Apparently they occupy different volumes from the well-known interstellar
We revise measurements of the positions and oscillator strengths using spectral features in the C... more We revise measurements of the positions and oscillator strengths using spectral features in the CH+ A-X system, and by using high-resolution, echelle spectra of 36 stars and assuming that its wavelength and oscillator strength as given in the literature for the (0, 0) transition, i.e. 4232.548 Å and 0.00545 respectively, are correct. The recommended oscillator strengths of the lines at
Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectros... more Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars in the 30 Dor region in the Large Magelanic Cloud. Here we briefly describe the main drivers of the survey and the observational material derived.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2013
ABSTRACT New photometric material is presented for 6 outer disk supposedly old, Galact ic star cl... more ABSTRACT New photometric material is presented for 6 outer disk supposedly old, Galact ic star clusters: Berkeley 76, Haffner 4, Ruprecht 10, Haffner 7, Haffner 11, and Haffner 15, that are projected against the rich and complex Canis Major overde nsity at $225^o \leq l \leq 248^o $, $-7^o \leq b \leq -2^o$. This CCD data-set, in the UBVI pass-bands, is used to derive their fundamental parameters, in particular age and distance. Four of the program clusters turn out to be older than 1 Gyr. This fact makes them ideal targets for future spectroscopic campaigns aiming at deriving their metal abundances. This, in turn, contributes to increase the number of well-studied outer disk o ld open clusters. Only Haffner 15, previously considered an old cluster, is found to be a young, significantly reddened cluster, member of the Perseus arm in the third Galactic quadrant. As for Haffner~4, we suggest an age of about half a Gyr. The most interesting result we found is that Berkeley~76 is probably located at more than 17 kpc from the Galactic center, and therefore is among the most peripherical old open clusters so far detected. Besides, for Ruprecht~10 and Haffner~7, which were never studied before, we pr opose ages larger than 1 Gyr. All the old clusters of this sample are scarcely populated and show evidence o f tidal interaction with the Milky Way, and are therefore most probably in advanced st ages of dynamical dissolution.
Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectros... more Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars in the 30 Dor region in the Large Magelanic Cloud. Here we briefly describe the main drivers of the survey and the observational material derived.
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2013
ABSTRACT We report a detection of variability in interstellar absorption lines of Cai at 4227 Å a... more ABSTRACT We report a detection of variability in interstellar absorption lines of Cai at 4227 Å and Fei at 3860 Å in very high signal-to-noise ratio (>1000) UVES and MIKE spectra of HD 73882 (NX Vel) carried out with the aid of 8-m telescope UT2 at Paranal and 6.5-m Magellan Telescope Clay at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. The spectra, acquired in 2006 January and 2012 January, respectively, clearly show that the intensity and profile shapes of the Cai and Fei lines had dramatically changed within the 6 year period. Other interstellar features, observed along the same line of sight, do not demonstrate strong changes. It is likely that a high velocity CaFe cloud obscured the star between the two observations.
We present observations of CH B-X (1, 0) band toward 13 translucent sightlines. The given precise... more We present observations of CH B-X (1, 0) band toward 13 translucent sightlines. The given precise positions (at 3627.403, 3633.289, 3636.222 Å) are derived by means of shifting our spectra to the rest velocity frame using B-X (0, 0) features (at 3878, 3886 and 3890 Å). The proposed oscillator strengths (equal to 0.00035, 0.00104, 0.00069, respectively) are based on f-values of the CH B-X (0, 0) system, i.e. 0.00110, 0.00320, 0.00210.
ABSTRACT WISE J104915.57$-$531906.1 is a L/T brown dwarf binary located 2pc from the Sun. The pai... more ABSTRACT WISE J104915.57$-$531906.1 is a L/T brown dwarf binary located 2pc from the Sun. The pair contains the closest known brown dwarfs and is the third closest known system, stellar or sub-stellar. We report comprehensive follow-up observations of this newly uncovered system. We have determined the spectral types of both components (L8+/-1, for the primary, agreeing with the discovery paper; T1.5+/-2 for the secondary, which was lacking spectroscopic type determination in the discovery paper) and, for the first time, their radial velocities (V_rad~23.1, 19.5 km/s) using optical spectra obtained at the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and other facilities located at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). The relative radial velocity of the two components is smaller than the range of orbital velocities for theoretically predicted masses, implying that they form a gravitationally bound system. We report resolved near-infrared JHK_S photometry from the IRSF telescope at the SAAO which yields colors consistent with the spectroscopically derived spectral types. The available kinematic and photometric information excludes the possibility that the object belongs to any of the known nearby young moving groups or associations. Simultaneous optical polarimetry observations taken at the SAAO 1.9-m give a non-detection with an upper limit of 0.07%. For the given spectral types and absolute magnitudes, 1Gyr theoretical models predict masses of 0.04--0.05 M_odot for the primary, and 0.03--0.05 M_odot for the secondary.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 2011
We present an analysis of the circumnuclear structure of NGC 1316 using both near-infrared imagin... more We present an analysis of the circumnuclear structure of NGC 1316 using both near-infrared imaging and stellar kinematics. 2D decomposition of the images suggests the presence of a structure that resembles inner gaseous spiral arms, at about 5-15 arcsec from the centre (≈500 to 1500 pc). We also find a disc-like stellar structure with radius less than 200 pc. Analysis of previously published SINFONI integral field kinematics data indicates a kinematically decoupled core in the same spatial scale, further evidence that indeed the nuclear stellar structure found is a kinematically cold stellar disc. We suggest that both newly found structural components are the result of a recent accretion of a companion galaxy.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2007
A new kind of interstellar cloud is proposed. These are rare (just a few examples among ~300 line... more A new kind of interstellar cloud is proposed. These are rare (just a few examples among ~300 lines of sight) objects with the CaI 4227-Å, FeI 3720-Å and 3860-Å lines stronger than those of KI (near 7699 Å) and NaI (near 3302 Å). We propose the name `CaFe' for these clouds. Apparently they occupy different volumes from the well-known interstellar
We revise measurements of the positions and oscillator strengths using spectral features in the C... more We revise measurements of the positions and oscillator strengths using spectral features in the CH+ A-X system, and by using high-resolution, echelle spectra of 36 stars and assuming that its wavelength and oscillator strength as given in the literature for the (0, 0) transition, i.e. 4232.548 Å and 0.00545 respectively, are correct. The recommended oscillator strengths of the lines at
Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectros... more Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars in the 30 Dor region in the Large Magelanic Cloud. Here we briefly describe the main drivers of the survey and the observational material derived.
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2013
ABSTRACT New photometric material is presented for 6 outer disk supposedly old, Galact ic star cl... more ABSTRACT New photometric material is presented for 6 outer disk supposedly old, Galact ic star clusters: Berkeley 76, Haffner 4, Ruprecht 10, Haffner 7, Haffner 11, and Haffner 15, that are projected against the rich and complex Canis Major overde nsity at $225^o \leq l \leq 248^o $, $-7^o \leq b \leq -2^o$. This CCD data-set, in the UBVI pass-bands, is used to derive their fundamental parameters, in particular age and distance. Four of the program clusters turn out to be older than 1 Gyr. This fact makes them ideal targets for future spectroscopic campaigns aiming at deriving their metal abundances. This, in turn, contributes to increase the number of well-studied outer disk o ld open clusters. Only Haffner 15, previously considered an old cluster, is found to be a young, significantly reddened cluster, member of the Perseus arm in the third Galactic quadrant. As for Haffner~4, we suggest an age of about half a Gyr. The most interesting result we found is that Berkeley~76 is probably located at more than 17 kpc from the Galactic center, and therefore is among the most peripherical old open clusters so far detected. Besides, for Ruprecht~10 and Haffner~7, which were never studied before, we pr opose ages larger than 1 Gyr. All the old clusters of this sample are scarcely populated and show evidence o f tidal interaction with the Milky Way, and are therefore most probably in advanced st ages of dynamical dissolution.
Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectros... more Abstract: The Tarantula survey is an ESO Large Programme which has obtained multi-epochs spectroscopy of over 800 massive stars in the 30 Dor region in the Large Magelanic Cloud. Here we briefly describe the main drivers of the survey and the observational material derived.
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Papers by Y. Beletsky