The wavelet transform acts to segregate objects in function of their size. We apply this method on images of galaxies to decompose them into coefficients representing only objects of the same size. The total fluxes of the wavelet coefficients describe the cumulative power spectrum of spatial frequencies. Based on this spectrum, we propose a new parameter to quantify the galaxy texture. As expected, it remains small and quite invariant for early-type galaxies, while it covers a large range and takes larger values for late-type galaxies. Combined with a second parameter, our determination of the texture is able to successfully separate galaxy types. By thresholding the wavelet coefficients, we detect luminous lumps. In irregular galaxies, their radial distribution seems to show a double peak. This could be the trace of a privileged radial distance of strong star formation regions.

In this work we describe the method and results of precise solar astrometry made with the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI), on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), during one complete solar cycle. We measured an upper limit to the solar radius variation, the absolute solar radius value and the solar shape. Our results are 22 mas peak-to-peak upper limit for the solar radius variation over the solar cycle, the absolute radius was measured as 959.28 ± 0.15 arcsec at 1 AU and the difference between polar and equatorial solar radii in 1997 was 5 km and about three times larger in 2001.

Starburst galaxies trace the star-formation history of the Universe throughout cosmological time. Several studies have shown that the star-formation-rate density of the Universe begins to steadily decline after the Universe had aged ~ 5.8 Gyr (redshifts z ~ 1). However, we do not yet fully understand the mechanism behind this shift in star formation at intermediate z. One possibility is that during this epoch galaxies underwent ‘downsizing,’ a shift in star formation being dominated by high- to lower-mass galaxies. Rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) observations of starburst galaxies reveal regions of young stellar clusters where massive O and B stars dominate the luminosity. Observations in the FUV (~ 1500 Å) can be used to detect starburst galaxies at z < 1 because the bright end of the rest-frame FUV spectrum is not redshifted much, and is observable in the FUV filter. Alternatively, the rest-frame FUV light from starburst galaxies at higher redshifts is shifted to longer wavelengths and must be observed in redder filters. We present a study of the starburst population at intermediate z from FUV data taken with Hubble's Solar Blind Channel (SBC) of the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The number counts of FUV galaxies as a function of magnitude provide a direct statistical measure of the density and evolution of starbursts, and subsequently of the stellar clusters formed within these galaxies' environments. We present a comparison between the FUV starburst-galaxy counts at this epoch, and the local FUV counts of starbursts observed with GALEX.

We discuss our ongoing project analyzing N-body/smoothed-particle hydrodynamics simulations of isolated and merging galaxies, performed using GADGET-2 (Springel 2005), with the 3-D adaptive grid, polychromatic Monte Carlo radiative transfer code SUNRISE (Jonsson 2006). We apply commonly used UV, optical, and IR star formation rate (SFR) indicators to the integrated spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the simulated galaxies in order to determine how well the SFR indicators recover the instantaneous SFR in the simulations. The models underlying each SFR indicator must necessarily make assumptions about physical properties of the galaxies, e.g., the star formation history (SFH), whereas all such properties are known in the simulations. This enables us to test and compare SFR indicators in a way that is complementary to observational studies. We present one preliminary result of interest: even after correcting the Hα luminosity for dust using the Calzetti et al. (2000) attenuation law the SFR is significantly underestimated for simulated galaxies with SFR ≳ 10 M⊙ yr−1.

Perturbations from asteroids and Trans-Neptunian Objects affect significantly on the orbits of planets and should be taken into account when high-accuracy planetary ephemerides are constructed. On the other hand, from an analysis of motion of the major planets by processing of precise measurements of spacecraft a limitation on the total TNO mass may be obtained. To estimate influence of TNO on motion of planets the largest 21 TNO have been included into the process of simultaneous numerical integration, and positions of planets obtained with taking for TNO have been compared with positions of planets of numerical EPM ephemeris of IAA RAS constructed without these objects. The perturbations of other TNO have been modeled by the perturbation from a circular ring having a radius 43 AU and different masses. It has been shown that all the test masses of the TNO ring except the minimum mass (5.26⋅10−8M⊙) are too large and make the data residuals worse. Thus, the upper limit of the total mass of all TNO including Pluto, the 21 largest TNO and the TNO ring (with the 43 AU radius) should not exceed 8.04⋅10−8M⊙.

The Byurakan–IRAS galaxies (BIG objects; Mickaelian 1995) are the result of a project of optical identifications of IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC; IRAS 1988) in a 1500 square degree high-galactic latitude (|b|>15°) area based on the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) images and the Digitized First Byurakan Survey (DFBS, or digitized Markarian survey) low-dispersion spectra. As a result, 1278 galaxies have been identified (as well as galactic objects, Byurakan–IRAS Stars [BIS]), including 42 PSC sources identified with 103 galaxies that make up 30 physical pairs and 12 multiples.

We present the deepest colour-magnitude diagram (CMD) of M32 to date, obtained from deep (F435W, F555W) photometry of HST ACS/HRC images. Due to the high resolution of our images, the small photometric errors, and the completeness level of our data we obtain the most detailed resolved photometric study of M32 to date. The CMD of M32 displays a wide colour distribution of red giant branch stars, mainly due to a metallicity spread, a strong red clump and bright asymptotic giant branch stars. The detection of a “blue plume” in M32 indicates the presence of a very young stellar population. There is not a noticeable presence of blue horizontal branch stars, suggesting that an old population with [Fe/H] < −1.5 does not significantly contribute to the light or mass of M32 in our observed fields.

We analyze a sample of 58 Oort cloud comets (OCCs) (original orbital energies x in the range 0 < x < 100, in units of 10−6 AU−1), plus 45 long-period comets with negative orbital energies or poorly determined or undetermined x, discovered during the period 1999-2007. To analyze the degree of completeness of the sample, we use Everhart's (1967 Astr. J 72, 716) concept of “excess magnitude” (in magnitudes × days), defined as the integrated magnitude excess that a given comet presents over the time above a threshold magnitude for detection. This quantity is a measure of the likelihood that the comet will be finally detected. We define two sub-samples of OCCs: 1) new comets (orbital energies 0 < x < 30) as those whose perihelia can shift from outside to the inner planetary region in a single revolution; and 2) inner cloud comets (orbital energies 30 ≤ x < 100), that come from the inner region of the Oort cloud, and for which external perturbers (essentially galactic tidal forces and passing stars) are not strong enough to allow them to overshoot the Jupiter-Saturn barrier. From the observed comet flux and making allowance for missed discoveries, we find a flux of OCCs brighter than absolute total magnitude 9 of ≃0.65 ± 0.18 per year within Earth's orbit. From this flux, about two-thirds corresponds to new comets and the rest to inner cloud comets. We find striking differences in the q-distribution of these two samples: while new comets appear to follow an uniform q-distribution, inner cloud comets show an increase in the rate of perihelion passages with q.

We are conducting long-term monitoring of several AGN with the aim of understanding the interplay between the emitting regions around the central black hole as well as the physics of the accreting flow. Here we present results for two of our sources, NGC 3783 and MR 2251–178, with strong evidence for disk-driven variability and the existence of cold accretion disks, where near-IR emission can be clearly detected from a region close to the black hole.

The irregular dwarf galaxy IC10 is located within the Local Group (LG) at a distance of 750 kpc. Although several studies have revealed the existence of stellar populations with a broad range of ages, its star formation history (SFH) and age-metallicity (AM) relationship remain quite unknown. In this contribution we present our spectroscopic investigation of 15 H ii regions, 9 planetary nebulae (PNe) and 1 symbiotic star –so far the farthest known symbiotic binary. Our main goal is to reconstruct the SFH of IC10 and to constrain its AM relationship using young and intermediate-age stars. The direct availability of the electron temperature in our emission-line spectra allows an accurate determination of the IC10 metallicity map at two different epochs. We find a non-homogeneous distribution of metals at both epochs, but similar average abundances for the two analyzed populations. The derived AM relationship shows a little global enrichment, which is interpreted as due to the loss of metals by supernovae winds and to differential gas outflows. Our results bring strong observational constraints to the chemical enrichment history of IC10, the formation of dwarf irregular galaxies and the evolution of the LG as well.

Galaxy mergers play an important role in many astrophysical processes, such as growth of massive galaxies, triggering AGN, formation of supermassive black hole (SMBH) binaries, and gravitational wave (GW) radiation. Merger rate is one of key quantities for these studies. Previous studies show that the pair fraction varies in a range of 1%–10% in the redshift range of z = 0.2–1.2. These merger rates are usually calculated from projected close pairs, and very few previous authors have carefully checked the merging fraction of a large sample of pairs.

We present results from numerical simulations of a Jupiter family comet (JFC) population (orbital periods P < 20 yr and Tisserand parameters in the range 2 < T < 3.1) originated in the Scattered Disk and transferred to the Jupiter's zone through gravitational interactions with the Jovian planets. We shall call ‘non-JFCs’ those comets coming from the same source, but that do not fulfill the previous criteria (mainly because they have periods P > 20 yr). We have carried out series of numerical simulations of fictitious comets with a purely dynamical model and also with a more complete dynamical - physical model that includes besides nongravitational forces, sublimation and splitting mechanisms. We obtained better fits with models including physical effects, and in particular our best fits are for four splitting models with a relative weak dependence on q, and a mass loss in every splitting event that is smaller/greater for higher/lower frequencies respectively. The mean lifetime of JFCs with radii R > 1 km and q < 1.5 AU is found to be of about 150-200 revolutions (~103 yr). We find a total population of JFCs with radii R > 1 km within Jupiter's zone of 450 ± 50 and a mean lifetime of about 150-200 revolutions (~103 yr) for those getting q < 1.5 AU. The population of JFCs + non-JFCs with radii R > 1 km in Jupiter-crossing orbits may be about ~2,250 ± 250. Most of non-JFCs have perihelia close to Jupiter's orbit.

We also present maps of the densest zones of JFCs in the orbital element space.

Interstellar clouds are the sites where many molecules believed important for the early life are produced. The collapse of such clouds may give birth to stars hosting planetary systems. During the formation of such systems, molecules formed in the molecular cloud, aggregated into grains, can be incorporated in protoplanets, influencing the chemical evolution of the environment, probably affecting the chances for appearance of life on rocky planets located at the stellar habitable zones. Moreover, small bodies, like comets, can carry some of these molecules to inner planets of their systems. Using astrochemical equations, we describe the evolution of the abundance of such molecules at the gas phase from several initial interstellar compositions. These varying initial chemical compositions consider the change of the elemental abundances predicted by a self-consistent model of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. A system of first order differential equations that describes the abundances of each molecule is solved numerically. This poster describes an innovative attempt to link the astrochemistry equations with the Galactic chemical evolution.

We present a direct N-body simulation modeling the evolution of the old (7 Gyr) open cluster NGC 188. This is the first N-body open cluster simulation whose initial binary population is directly defined by observations of a specific open cluster: M35 (150 Myr). We compare the simulated color–magnitude diagram at 7 Gyr to that of NGC 188, and discuss the blue stragglers produced in the simulation. We compare the solar-type main-sequence binary period and eccentricity distributions of the simulation to detailed observations of similar binaries in NGC 188. These results demonstrate the importance of detailed observations in guiding N-body open cluster simulations. Finally, we discuss the implications of a few discrepancies between the NGC 188 model and observations and suggest a few methods for bringing N-body open cluster simulations into better agreement with observations.

We have analyzed the shape of the solar corona using the data of daily observations with Mark-3/4 (1980-2008) and SOHO/Lasco-2 (1996–2008) telescopes. The angles of deviation of coronal rays from the radial direction Δθ vary cyclically, reaching the maximum deviation towards the solar equator at the minimum of the solar activity. At the minimum of the 24-th cycle of activity, the Δθ angles were smaller than they were at the minimum of the 22-nd and 23-rd cycles.

We also analyzed of the solar structure corona during eclipses for minimum activity from 1870 till 2008. We examined changes in the index, which characterizes the angle of large coronal streamers to the equatorial plane. It has been shown that the index has been smoothly changing during the last 140 years. The maximal value of an index was during 17–19 activity cycles. The minimal values are reached in the end of 19 centuries and at the present time.

We consider the relations between the angles of deviation of coronal rays at the minimum of activity, the parameters of the global magnetic field of the Sun, and the amplitude of the subsequent cycle of activity, and discuss the hypothesis that the variations of the inclination of coronal rays may affect the parameters of the solar wind and the indices of geomagnetic perturbations at the minima of the solar activity cycles.

In the BPT diagram, the distribution of the emission-line galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) evokes the wings of a seagull. Traditionally, galaxies in the right wing are considered to host AGNs. Our study of the stellar populations of SDSS galaxies showed that ~ 1/4 of galaxies thought to host LINERs are in fact “retired galaxies,” i.e., galaxies that stopped forming stars and are ionized by hot post-AGB stars and white dwarfs (Stasińska et al. 2008). When galaxies that lack some of the lines needed to place them in the BPT diagram are included, the fraction of retired galaxies is even larger (Cid Fernandes et al., these proceedings).

The methods of automatic solar active phenomenon or event detection have been researched and explored by people for many years, which have gone into actual services. The paper analyzes the relationship between these methods of automatic detection and the forecast or alert, using the solar short-term proton events predictions as an example. Using automatic method to conduct forecast or alert is under thinking.

Very few abundance analyses of individual stars in metal-poor globular clusters in the galactic bulge are available. The main purpose of this study is to derive abundances in individual stars of such clusters, in order to establish their abundance pattern, trying to characterize the oldest bulge stellar populations.

Advanced observational facilities allow to trace back the chemical evolution of the Universe, on the one hand, from local objects of different ages and, secondly, by direct observations of redshifted objects. The chemical enrichment serves as one of the cornerstones of cosmological evolution. In order to understand this chemical evolution in morphologically different astrophysical objects models are constructed based on analytical descriptions or numerical methods. For the comparison of their chemical issues, as there are element abundances, gradients, and ratios, with observations not only the present-day values are used but also their temporal evolution from the first era of metal enrichment. Here we will provide some insight into basics of chemical evolution models, highlight advancements, and discuss a few applications.

The stellar populations of galaxies contain a wealth of detailed information. From the youngest, most massive stars, to almost invisible remnants, the history of star formation is encoded in the stars that make up a galaxy. Extracting some, or all, of this information has long been a goal of stellar population studies. This was achieved in the last couple of decades and it is now a routine task, which forms a crucial ingredient in much of observational galaxy evolution, from our Galaxy out to the most distant systems found. In many of these domains we are now limited not by sample size, but by systematic uncertainties and this will increasingly be the case in the future.

The aim of this review is to outline the challenges faced by stellar population studies in the coming decade within the context of upcoming observational facilities. I will highlight the need to better understand the near-IR spectral range and outline the difficulties presented by less well understood phases of stellar evolution such as thermally pulsing AGB stars, horizontal branch stars and the very first stars. The influence of rotation and binarity on stellar population modelling is also briefly discussed.