We present a complete study of the morphology of post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars. The post-AGB stage is a very short evolutionary phase between the end of the AGB and the beginning of the Planetary Nebula (PN) stage (between 100 and 10,000 yrs). Post-AGB stars do not show variability and are not hot enough to fully ionize the hydrogen envelope. We have defined the end of the post-AGB phase and the beginning of the PN phase when the star has a temperature of 30000 K. Post-AGB stars have a circumstellar shell that is illuminated by the central stars or partially ionized. However, this circumstellar shell is too small to be resolved by ground-based observations. Thus, we have used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) database to resolve these shells. 117 post-AGBs were found in this database. Here we present the preliminary results on their morphological classification and the correlation with the galactic latitude. Our preliminary results show that 38% of the sample are stellar-like (S), 31% bipolar (B), 12% multipolar (M) and 19% elliptical (E).

The enigmatic long period (P = 27.1 yr) eclipsing binary, ε Aurigae, recently emerged from its 2009–2011 eclipse. We have analyzed out-of-eclipse observations (Chadima et al. 2010) obtained over the past 17 years: 306 medium-resolution, high S/N, spectroscopic observations from 6300–6700 Å. Of these, 105 spectra were obtained at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (DAO) near Victoria, Canada, from 1994–2010, and 201 spectra were obtained at Ondřejov Observatory (OND), from 2006–2010. Analyzing these data, Chadima et al. (these proceedings) reported on a positive, but ultimately spurious, detection of a secondary spectrum. Their attempts at disentangling the binary spectra were foiled by line profile variations of the F star primary. The 6300-6700 Å spectral region contains several strong stellar lines but space limitations allow us to present only the results for Si II 6347 Å. We examine the centroids and higher moments of this prominent F star spectral line for any evidence of a secondary spectrum. Even if secondary contributions are blended with the F star lines, contamination by the secondary star should produce a centroid shift that is anti-correlated with the orbit of the F star primary.

We review the stellar mass loss of red giants and tip-AGB objects analizing the variation in the outflow velocity for different mass models (Wachter et al. 2002). We approach the superwind problem and see the evolution of tip-AGB stars via previously made mass-loss histories that are consistent with the Weidemann initial-final mass relationship (for carbon-rich stars). Finally density profiles are produced from these mass-loss histories, and the corresponding line-of-sight integration is compared with observational data (Phillips et al. 2009). We note the resemblance between the results obtained with our models and the observational data. We are thus able to reproduce the general trends of the emission from simple models (see Verbena et al. 2011).

We predict intensities of lines of CII, NI, NII, OI and OII and compare them with a deep spectroscopic survey of IC 418 to test the effect of excitation of nebular emission lines by continuum fluorescence of starlight. Our calculations use a nebular model and a synthetic spectrum of its central star to take into account excitation of the lines by continuum fluorescence and recombination. The NII spectrum is mostly produced by fluorescence due to the low excitation conditions of the nebula, but many CII and OII lines have more excitation by fluorescence than recombination. In the neutral envelope, the NI permitted lines are excited by fluorescence, and almost all the OI lines are excited by recombination. Electron excitation produces the forbidden optical lines of OI, but continuum fluorescence excites most of the NI forbidden line intensities. Lines excited by fluorescence of light below the Lyman limit thus suggest a new diagnostic to explore the photodissociation region of a nebula.

We present the results of modelling the polarization resulting from the planetary transits and stellar spots in the system Corot-2 using the Monte Carlo method. The planetary transit was estimated to produce a polarization maximum at the limb of ~5 × 10−6, adopting solar center-to-limb polarization. Assuming different parameters of the spots, we evaluated the flux and polarization changes due to the stellar activity.

Using the 3D morpho-kinematic modeling software SHAPE, we have created a model of the Red Rectangle that naturally reproduces many exotic morphological features including the notorious “ladder rungs”.

We have undertaken a near-infrared spectral survey of stars associated with compact mid-IR shells recently revealed by the MIPSGAL (24 μm) and GLIMPSE (8 μm) Spitzer surveys, whose morphologies are typical of circumstellar shells produced by massive evolved stars. Through spectral similarity with known Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) and Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars, a large population of candidate LBVs (cLBVs) and a smaller number of new WR stars are being discovered. This significantly increases the Galactic cLBV population and confirms that nebulae are inherent to most (if not all) objects of this class.

The role of central star binarity in the shaping of planetary nebulae (PNe) has been the subject of much debate, with single stars believed to be incapable of producing the most highly collimated morphologies. However, observational support for binary-induced shaping has been sadly lacking. Here, we highlight the results of a continuing programme to spatio-kinematically model the morphologies of all PNe known to contain a close binary central star. Spatio-kinematical modelling is imperative for these objects, as it circumvents the degeneracy between morphology and orientation which can adversely affect determinations of morphology based on imaging alone. Furthermore, spatio-kinematical modelling accurately determines the orientation of the nebular shell, allowing the theoretically predicted perpendicular alignment, between nebular symmetry axis and binary orbital plane, to be tested. To date, every PN subjected to this investigation has displayed the predicted alignment, indicating that binarity has played an important role in the formation and evolution of these nebulae. The further results from this programme will be key, not only in determining whether binary interaction is responsible for shaping the studied PNe, but also in assessing the importance of binarity in the formation and evolution of all PNe in general.

I. Hubeny Today, the discussion will be open to the general audience. In Sessions C, D, and E, we have talked about models and modelling techniques so I expect the discussion will focus on these topics.

This paper presents the results of verification of known stars showing evidence of orbital eccentricity and apsidal motion.

We use more than three decades-long photometry to study the activity patterns on the two fast-rotating subgiant components in EI Eri (G5IV) and V711 Tau (K1IV). From yearly mean rotational periods from the light curves, we find that EI Eri, with well-measured solar-type differential rotation, always has spots from the equator to high latitudes. The measured differential rotation of V711 Tau is controversial, and in any case is very small. The spots on the K1IV star in V711 Tau seem to be tidally locked. The physical parameters of the two systems are similar, with one remarkable difference: EI Eri has a low mass M4-5 dwarf companion, whereas V711 Tau has a G5V star in the system, thus their mass centers are in very different positions. This may modify the whole internal structure of the active stars, causing marked differences in their surface features.

The formation of planetary systems is a natural byproduct of the star formation process. Planets can form inside the protoplanetary disk by two alternative processes. Either through a sequence of sticking collisions, the so-called sequential accretion scenario, or via gravitational instability from an over-dense clump inside the protoplanetary disk. The first process is believed to have occurred in the solar system. The most important steps in this process will be outlined. The observed orbital properties of exoplanetary systems are distinctly different from our own Solar System. In particular, their small distance from the star, their high eccentricity and large mass point to the existence of a phase with strong mutual excitations. These are believed to be a result of early evolution of planets due to planet-disk interaction. The importance of this process in shaping the dynamical structure of planetary systems will be presented.

High resolution spectral observations of ϵ Aur were carried out in the near-IR spectral range. Observations were obtained with the Coudé-spectrograph of the 2m RCC telescope at National Astronomical Observatory Rozhen and cover all main phases of the current eclipse. Results revealed for the first time absorption components in O I and Ca II triplets and variations of N I lines. Estimation of the electron density was done using lines from the Paschen series of hydrogen.

In this summary, I address the next generation of theoretical tools with which it may be necessary to interpret the data anticipated as both stellar and planetary astronomy enter their next decades.

We present new transit observations of the transiting exoplanet TrES-3b obtained in the range 2009 – 2011 at several observatories. The orbital parameters of the system were redetermined and the new linear ephemeris was calculated. We performed numerical simulations for studying the long-term stability of orbits.

We have performed numerical simulations of the interaction between a “hot Jupiter” planet and gas of the stellar wind using a numerical code developed for investigations of binary stars. With this code, we have modeled the structure of the gaseous flow in the system HD 209458. The results have been used to explain observations of this system performed with the COS instrument on-board the HST.

We present physical and chemcal properties of the disk in the eclipsing binary system ∊ Aur by solving 2D radiative transfer problem. We also present preliminary results of our high resolution spectroscopic monitoring of K I, Na, and Hα line profiles variation during the totality phase of the recent eclipse of ∊ Aur.

Nearly 500 brown dwarfs have been discovered in recent years. The majority of these brown dwarfs exist in the solar neighborhood, yet determining their fundamental properties (mass, age, temperature & metallicity) has proved to be quite difficult, with current estimates relying heavily on theoretical models. Binary brown dwarfs provide a unique opportunity to empirically determine fundamental properties, which can then be used to test model predictions. In addition, the observed binary fractions, separations, mass ratios, & orbital eccentricities can provide insight into the formation mechanism of these low-mass objects. I will review the results of various brown dwarf multiplicity studies, and will discuss what we have learned about the formation and evolution of brown dwarfs by examining their binary properties as a function of age and mass.

Employing Eggleton's stellar evolution code and assuming optically thick winds, we systematically studied the He star donor channel of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), in which a carbon-oxygen white dwarf (WD) accretes material from a He main-sequence star or a He subgiant to increase its mass to the Chandrasekhar mass. We mapped out the initial parameters for producing SNe Ia in the orbital period–secondary mass plane for various WD masses from this channel. Based on a detailed binary population synthesis approach, we find that this channel can produce SNe Ia with short delay times (~100 Myr) implied by recent observations. We derived many properties of the surviving companions of this channel after SN explosion, which can be tested by future observations. We also find that the surviving companions from the SN explosion scenario have a high spatial velocity (>400 km/s), which could be an alternative origin for hypervelocity stars (HVSs), especially for HVSs such as US 708.