We have tested the reliability of various meteoroid streams identification methods. We used a numerically generated set of meteoroid orbits (a stream component and a sporadic background) that were searched for streams using several methods.

We present the results of a study of coronal and photospheric abundances in τ Bootis, a middle-aged solar analogue, well known for the presence of a close-in Jovian mass planet. We employ the results of this study, based on high-resolution optical and X-ray spectra, to address the issue of abundance stratification vs. First Ionization Potential (FIP) in the outer stellar atmospheres of solar-type stars with and without planets.

During the past decade, the number known shallow-amplitude, yet totally eclipsing, extreme-mass-ratio binaries has increased from one (AW UMa, which is now in doubt) to about a dozen. Statistics are accumulating that will tell us the nature of these once rare systems. These individual interacting field binaries are believed to be the progenitors of FK Comae-type fast-rotating subgiants, which are similar to the cluster stars called ‘variable blue stragglers.’ We review our recent observations and new analyses of the individual systems, V409 Hya, GSC 1283 0053 Ori, GSC 2537 520 CVn, using the 2007 Wilson Code and summarize results from our previous observations (V802 Aql, V902 Sgr) and those from the literature (e.g., CK Boo, GR Vir, HV Aqr, UY UMa, EM Pis, CU Tau, TV Mus) to disclose a preliminary picture of the character of this interesting class of binary stars.

Using a uniformly selected and highly spectroscopically complete sample of Chandra X-ray sources, we show that one cannot use X-ray spectral classifications and optical spectral classifications equivalently. Until a better understanding is reached for how the X-ray and optical classifications relate to the obscuration of the central engine, the use of a mixed classification scheme can only complicate the interpretation of X-ray AGN samples.

The Sun and solar-like stars possess intense and cyclic magnetic activity. In order to understand how this comes about we have developed series of 2-D and 3-D models in order to simulate their global dynamics and magnetism. We here report on our latest findings.

We present an abundance analysis based on high-resolution spectra of red-giant-branch (RGB) stars in the Galactic globular clusters NGC 6121 (M4) and NGC 6656 (M22). Our aim was to study their stellar population in the context of the multipopulation phenomenon recently discovered to affect some globular clusters. Analysis was performed for the following elements: O, Na, Mg, Al, Ca, Fe, Y, and Ba. Spectroscopic data were completed by high-precision wide-field U BV IC ground-based photometry and HST/ACS observations. For M4, we find a well-defined Na–O anticorrelation composed of two distinct groups of stars with significantly different Na and O content. The two groups of Na-rich and Na-poor stars populate two different regions along the RGB. As regards M22, Na and O follow the well-known anticorrelation found in many other GCs. However, at odds with M4, it appears to be continuous without any hint of clumpiness. On the other hand, we identified two clearly separated groups of stars with significantly different abundances of the s-process elements Y, Zr and Ba. The relative numbers of the members of both groups are very similar to the ratio of the stars in the two subgiant branches of M22 recently found by Piotto (2009). The s-element-rich stars are also richer in iron and have higher Ca abundances. This makes M22 the second cluster after ω Centauri where an intrinsic spread in Fe was found. Both spectroscopic and photometric results imply the presence of two stellar populations in M4 and M22, even if both clusters have completely different characteristics.

We present abundance measurements for a large number of neutron-capture elements in giant stars of the globular clusters M4, M5, and M13. The relative abundance ratios differ between all three clusters. For all clusters, we find that the mean abundances for the elements from Ba to Hf can be well explained by scaled versions of the solar s- and r-process abundances, albeit with different mixtures of s- and r-process material for each clusters.

We present Li abundances for 73 stars in the metallicity range −3.5 < [Fe/H] < −1.0 using improved IRFM temperatures (Casagrande et al. 2009) with precise E(B-V) values obtained mostly from interstellar NaI D lines, and high-quality equivalent widths (σEW ~ 3%). At all metallicities we uncover a fine-structure in the Li abundances of Spite plateau stars, which we trace to Li depletion that depends on both metallicity and mass. Models including atomic diffusion and turbulent mixing seem to reproduce the observed Li depletion assuming a primordial Li abundance ALi = 2.64 dex (MARCS models) or 2.72 (Kurucz overshooting models), in good agreement with current predictions (ALi = 2.72) from standard BBN.

We present results from a catalogue of 1696 X-ray point sources detected in the massive star-forming region Cygnus OB2, the majority of which have optical or near-infrared associations. We derive ages of 3.5 and 5.25 Myr for the stellar populations in our two fields, in agreement with recent studies that suggest that the central 1–3 Myr-old OB association is surrounded and contaminated by an older population with an age of 5–10 Myr. The fraction of sources with protoplanetary disks, as traced by K-band excesses, is unusually low. Although this has previously been interpreted as due to the influence of the large number of OB stars in Cyg OB2, contamination from an older population of stars in the region could also be responsible. An initial mass function is derived and found to have a slope of Γ = −1.27, in agreement with the canonical value. Finally, we introduce the recently approved Chandra Cygnus OB2 Legacy Survey that will image a 1 square degree area of the Cygnus OB2 association to a depth of 120~ks, likely detecting ~ 10 000 stellar X-ray sources.

The observed relations between the black hole mass and the properties of the spheroidal galaxy component imply a close connection between the growth of supermassive black holes and the evolution of their host galaxies. An effective approach to study black hole growth is to measure black hole masses and Eddington ratios of well-defined type 1 AGN samples and determine the underlying distribution functions.

We compare the abundances of various chemical species as derived with 3D hydrodynamical and classical 1D stellar atmosphere codes in a late-type giant characterized by Teff =3640 K, log g = 1.0, [M/H]= 0.0. For this particular set of atmospheric parameters the 3D–1D abundance differences are generally small for neutral atoms and molecules but they may reach up to 0.3–0.4 dex in case of ions. The 3D–1D differences generally become increasingly more negative at higher excitation potentials and are typically largest in the optical wavelength range. Their sign can be both positive and negative, and depends on the excitation potential and wavelength of a given spectral line. While our results obtained with this particular late-type giant model suggest that 1D stellar atmosphere models may be safe to use with neutral atoms and molecules, care should be taken if they are exploited with ions.

Within the Local Universe galaxies can be studied in great detail star by star. The Color-Magnitude Diagram synthesis analysis method is well established as the most accurate way to determine the detailed star formation history of galaxies going back to the earliest times. This approach received a significant boost from the exceptional data sets that wide field CCD imagers on the ground and the Hubble Space Telescope could provide. Spectroscopic studies using large ground based telescopes such as VLT, Magellan, Keck and HET have allowed the determination of abundances and kinematics for significant samples of stars in nearby dwarf galaxies. These studies have shown directly how properties can vary spatially and temporally, which gives important constraints to theories of galaxy formation and evolution.

We present a new analysis of the Galactic structure in the field of Lacerta. The investigation uses precise uvbyβ photometry and the recalculated Hipparcos parallaxes to provide an improved homogeneous distance scale to the main stellar groups in the field. The OB association Lac OB1 (Lac OB1b) is reliably identified as a very compact young group at an average distance of 520 ± 80 pc. The characteristics of the older Lac OB1a group and the open cluster NGC 7243 are extensively studied based on photometric diagrams and the inferred distances. A good agreement between the photometry-derived distances and the recalculated Hipparcos parallaxes is found for the Lac OB1 group, but in general discrepancies still exist for this particular field.

The powerful compact continuum emission from quasars is understood only in outline. New surveys allow investigation of the quasar continuum over a wide range of parameters (z, L, L/LEdd) and wavelengths (radio to X-ray). I review the spectral energy distributions of quasars and how new scaling relations with physical parameters promise to take us to a deeper understanding of the quasar continuum.

We investigate the metallicity of the narrow line regions (NLRs) of high-z radio galaxies (HzRGs), using new deep optical spectra of 9 HzRGs obtained with FORS2 on VLT and data from the literature. To estimate the metallicity of NLRs we focus on the Civ/Heii and Ciii]/Civ flux ratios. Based on comparison between the observed emission-line flux ratios and the prediction of our photoionization model calculations, we find no significant metallicity evolution in NLRs of HzRGs, up to z ~ 4. We discuss the possibility that massive galaxies had almost completed the major epoch of the star formation in the very high-z universe (z > 5).

The measurements of the solar photospheric diameter rank among the most difficult astronomic observations. Reasons for this are the fuzzy definition of the limb, the SNR excess, and the adverse daytime seeing condition. As a consequence there are very few lengthy and consistent time series of such measurements. Using modern techniques, just the series from the IAG/USP and from Calern/OCA span more than one solar cycle. The Rio de Janeiro Group observations started in 1997, and therefore in 2008 one complete solar cycle time span can be analyzed. The series shares common principles of observation and analysis with the ones afore mentioned, and it is complementary on time to them. The distinctive features are the larger number of individual points and the improved precision. The series contains about 25,000 single observations, evenly distributed on a day-by-day basis. The typical error of a single observation is half an arc-second, enabling us to investigate variations at the expected level of tens of arc-second on a weekly basis. These features prompted to develop a new methodology for the investigation of the heliophysical scenarios leading to the observed variations, both on time and on heliolatitude. The algorithms rely on running averages and time shifts to derive the correlation and statistical incertitude for the comparison of the long term and major episodes variations of the solar diameter against activity markers. The results bring support to the correlation between the diameter variation and the solar activity, but evidentiating two different regimens for the long term trend and the major solar events.

We analyze the PNe chemical behavior in three different galaxies, two dwarf irregulars and one spiral. Different behaviors are found. In the very low metallicity galaxy NGC 3109, PNe analyzed appear 0.39 dex O-richer than HII regions, while Ar/H ratio is, in average, 0.15 dex poorer. We interpret this as an evidence of significant O dredge-up in these LIMS, born in a very low metallicity environment. In NGC 6822, with a present metallicity 12+log O/H=8.06, two PN populations were found. A young one, with abundances similar to those in HII regions and an old population, with metallicities a factor of two lower. In this case no strong evidence for O dredge-up in LIMS is found. Therefore, metallicities lower than 12+log O/H =7.7 are required for an efficient O dredge-up. From our preliminary analysis of the abundances of PNe in NGC 300 we find that they are similar to the abundances in HII regions. Apparently, the PNe analyzed belong to a young population. Very similar abundance gradients, with galactocentric distance, are found for HII regions and for PNe.

In cold dark matter cosmologies, the most massive dark matter halos are predicted to undergo rapid growth at z < 1. While there is the expectation that massive galaxies will also rapidly grow via merging, recent observational studies conclude that the stellar masses of the most massive galaxies grow by just ~ 30% at z < 1. We have used the observed space density and clustering of z < 1 red galaxies in Boötes to determine how these galaxies populate dark matter halos. In the most massive dark matter halos, central galaxy stellar mass is proportional to halo mass to the power of a ~1/3 and much of the stellar mass resides within satellite galaxies. As a consequence, the most massive galaxies grow slowly even though they reside within rapidly growing dark matter halos.

We review briefly direct and indirect methods of measuring the masses of black holes in galactic nuclei, and then focus attention on supermassive black holes in active nuclei, with special attention to results from reverberation mapping and their limitations. We find that the intrinsic scatter in the relationship between the AGN luminosity and the broad-line region size is very small, ~0.11 dex, comparable to the uncertainties in the better reverberation measurements. We also find that the relationship between reverberation-based black hole masses and host-galaxy bulge luminosities also seems to have surprisingly little intrinsic scatter, ~0.17 dex. We note, however, that there are still potential systematics that could affect the overall mass calibration at the level of a factor of a few.

The modern observations of the planetary nebulae (PNe) were used to create a new catalogue of He, C, N, O, Ne, S and some other element abundances for more than 300 Galactic and extragalactic PNe. This catalogue was a start point for studying the star formation history in the Galactic disk. We have found that He, C, N and O abundances in the thin disk PNe are very close to those in bulge PNe. We also established that the abundances of the same elements in the PNe belonging the halo of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds are similar. We have estimated the mean ages of the progenitors of PNe in the thin and thick disks and in the bulge. The evidences in the favor of the suggestion that the formation of the intermediate-mass star began in bulge and only then continued in the thin disk were found.