Observations of the composite radio source which includes the catalogued components 1209-52 and 1209-51 (Bolton et al. 1964) have been obtained at frequencies 629, 1410, and 2650 MHz with the 210-ft Parkes telescope. The observations at the highest frequency are shown in Figure 1. The isotherms of full-beam brightness temperature correspond to the single polarization direction shown within the circle representing the half-intensity beamwidth. The polarization vectors (unbroken lines) along the two ridges represent 15-25% linear polarization. The intrinsic angles of polarization, derived from the 1410 and 2650 MHz observations, are represented by the broken lines. They are perpendicular to the magnetic field if the radiation is synchrotron. The corresponding rotation measures (Gardner and Whiteoak 1963) range between +17 and +36 rad. m-2 along the eastern ridge, and between —14 and —4 on the western side.

This paper describes the Star Watch Program in Japan to monitor night-sky brightness.

During a recent balloon flight from Mildura, Australia, the region of the Galaxy between −10° < l II < +20°; −5° < b II< +5° was surveyed for high-energy X-rays of photon energy > 17 keV (λ < 0.7 Å) using an active collimation scintillation detector described elsewhere. The narrow opening angle of the telescope enables two sources to be resolved in this region of the sky. The position of one of these sources agrees well with the source GX3+1 observed at rocket wavelength by Bradt et al. while the other source is probably the same as that observed by Gursky et al. and designated GX−5.6. We present herein improved positional information for this latter source which hereafter will be designated GX354−5.

The polytropic stellar model with index n = 0 has a uniform density distribution throughout, and consequently its physical radius is essentially arbitrary because the surface density condition, ϱ = 0, is never satisfied. This surface anomaly, which is not associated with the other polytopic models for 0 < n ≤ 5, could be a constraining factor in certain astrophysical applications involving the n = 0 polytrope. For example, in some circumstances it may be appropriate to utilize the simple physical formulation of the model but on the other hand inappropriate to disregard any zero boundary requirements for the surface density. A sequence of new E-type (as defined below) composite analytical solutions to the Lane-Emden equation, based on the indices 0 and 1, has been developed which eliminates this physical indetermination. The associated polytropic models can be classified as essentially uniform density models. Specifically, they have a large central uniform density n = 0 zone matched, in a physically consistent way, to a small outer n = 1 zone which has a steep density gradient giving ϱ = 0, along with T = 0 and P = 0, at the radial distance corresponding to the first zero of the composite solution.

Guthnick and Prager (1929) were the discoverers of the variability of AH Virginis. Prager (1929) produced a photographic light curve the same year. Lause (1934, 1935, 1937) observed the system visually and improved the period as deduced by Prager. Further visual work on the system was done by Zessewitsch (1944). The first photoelectric observations came from Huruhata and Nakamura (1951), followed in 1952 by Kitamura, Tanabe and Nakamura (1957).

Lack of their data on ingress and egress at primary eclipse resulted in the mean curve showing a rounded bottom during minimum light. From this, an inclination of the system of 61° was derived by Kopal and Shapley (1956). Two years later, Kwee (1958) revealed primary minimum to be flat bottomed; the light remaining constant for some 40 minutes. This was confirmed by Binnendijk (1960), thus classifying AH Virginis as one of the few W UMa systems which display complete eclipses at an inclination likely to be closer to 90° then to 61°. Observations of the present study confirm constancy of light of 40 minutes duration during primary minimum. Assuming i = 90°, a new orbital solution was derived by Kitamura and Takahashi (1959) showing constant light for both minima. Binnendijk’s observation, however, showed a curved appearance at secondary minimum. The present observations indicate curved as well as flat secondary minima.

The reappearance of radio emission from SN 1987A is discussed. We propose a model involving synchrotron radiation from electrons which are accelerated when the expanding supernova shock wave runs into a density jump in the circumstellar material, and which then expand adiabatically.

It is generally agreed that T-Tauri stars are very young stars of solar mass which are still engaged in the process of gravitational contraction toward the main sequence (Ambartzumian, Herbig).

The necessity of having accurate oscillator strengths in astrophysical applications is well known. The apparent discrepancy which existed between the solar and meteoritic abundance of iron is just one example of the problems which can arise from poor f-values. An excellent critique of methods for determining both absolute and relative f-values has been given by Blackwell & Collins (1972). Their comments on life-time techniques provide a clear indication of both the advantages and difficulties associated with these techniques: “In principle, a life-time method, as exemplified by the technique of beam foil spectroscopy, described for example by Wiese (1970), has the fundamental advantage that in some restricted circumstances its application does not depend upon a temperature measurement or any assumption of themodynamic equilibrium in the source: in addition it gives an absolute result without the need of an absolute number density of atoms. The hope is sometimes expressed that the method of beam foil spectroscopy will yield oscillator strengths of the required accuracy. In practice, the technique suffers from the difficulty that although the life-time of an excited state can be measured with reasonable accuracy, it is also necessary to measure in a separate experiment the branching ratios for radiative de-excitation. As these ratios are usually measured by an arc method, the accuracy of the final oscillator strengths is limited by the deficiencies of this source. Also, some atoms in the beam may be excited to higher levels than the one being examined, and because of the nature of the initial excitation is unknown, radiative de-excitation (cascading) takes place to this lower level in a way that is wholly unpredictable. This difficulty is especially important for levels of low excitation.” In this talk techniques will be described for overcoming the cascading problem in beam foil spectroscopy and for measuring the associated branching ratios.

I shall briefly outline some observational aspects of the Magellanic Stream before discussing the pros and cons of the two conflicting theories of its origin: a) that the Stream was pulled out of the Clouds by tidal forces produced by a close encounter with our Galaxy and b) that the gas clouds of the Stream are primordial and in the same orbit as theMagellanic Clouds.

Time dependent solutions of the nonlinear modal equations for cellular convection in a fluid layer heated below have demonstrated the existence of a nonlinear bifurcation which leads to a stable regime with reduced heat flux and vertical velocities. This new state is brought about by the growth, to a significant level, of the vertical component of vorticity after an initial quasi-steady state has been established. The growth rate mechanism has been investigated analytically and compared with the numerical results. These vorticity modified solutions exhibit favourable features Which could be established in the solar convection zone.

Although cosmic rays detected in interplanetary space have often been correlated with visible flares at the Sun, little is known about the transport of these particles through the corona. Lin demonstrated a good correlation between ≳20 keV electron events detected by spacecraft near the Earth and type III radio bursts at the Sun. In a detailed investigation of many of these electron events from one particular active region source, Lin proposed that the injection of electrons was characterized by a source region in the corona which extended over ~70° in longitude, such that in this region the electrons had direct access to an ‘open cone’ of propagation in interplanetary space. When the spacecraft was situated outside this open cone (by up to 15°), impulsive electron events were still recorded, but these were now modified by diffusion through the corona of the electrons from the 70° source region.

Who discovered QSOs? What was the first QSO discovered? To Maarten Schmidt (1963) goes the credit for realising that the emission lines he saw in a 13 mag star were the Balmer series in hydrogen at a redshift of 0.158. The first QSO had been recognised. But discovery is a complex process. Schmidt observed the ‘star’ because it was associated with a radio source 3C 273 by means of an accurate radio position. This was the first of several instances where accurate radio positions have enabled significant progress in the QSO story.

Theoretical work on the radio emission from supernova remnants (SNRs) has not developed much since the pioneering work of Shklovsky (1960) and van der Laa (1962a, b). Despite agreement that the emission results from the synchrotron process, the origin of the relativistic particles and magnetic field is not clear. There are three reasonable alternatives:

1. (i) particles and field originate within the ejected material (e.g. Shklovsky 1960);

2. (ii) both field and particles originate in the compressed interstellar medium (e.g. van der Laan 1962a);

3. (iii) the field is interstellar but the particles are from the ejecta (as outlined by van der Laan 1962b).

We have simulated numerically the hydrodynamic cooling process after the maximum phase of a solar flare with improvements on the chromospheric radiative loss and the resolution of the transition region, together with the introduction of the mechanism of chromospheric heating by coronal soft X-rays. The main results are as follows:

1. 1. At the early stage of the gradual phase, thermal conduction maintains chromospheric evaporation, but with the cooling of the atmosphere, chromosphere evaporation decreases gradually.

2. 2. In most of the gradual phase, the velocity is smaller than 40km s−1 in the corona and 4km s−1 in the chromosphere.

3. 3. From the middle stage of the gradual phase, the coronal atmosphere appears to have a quasi-periodic oscillation. The period is about two minutes, and the amplitude of velocity is within ±20km s−1.

4. 4. The transition region continues to move downward at first and then changes very slowly for quite a long time. The upward motion of the transition region takes place only at the latest stage, when the atmosphere cools below the quiet-Sun case.

5. 5. In contrast to the changes of temperature, the density of the corona does not seem to vary until the violent descent of coronal material takes place at the end of the gradual phase.

6. 6. The coronal part cools mainly by thermal conduction, while the chromospheric part cools by radiative loss. With our initial model, it takes about 25 minutes for cooling from the maximum phase to nearly the quiet-Sun case.

7. 7. The soft X-ray heating of the chromosphere seems to be of negligible importance in our calculations, but if the coronal density is greater than 1011 cm−3 at the maximum phase of the flare, the soft X-ray heating may play some role in the gradual phase.

8. 8. At the latest stage of the gradual phase, the atmosphere remains dense and at low temperature. As a further consequence, it would evolve into a post-flare loop.

During 1990 we surveyed the southern sky using a multi-beam receiver at frequencies of 4850 and 843 MHz. The half-power beamwidths were 4 and 25 arcmin respectively. The finished surveys cover the declination range between +10 and −90 degrees declination, essentially complete in right ascension, an area of 7.30 steradians. Preliminary analysis of the 4850 MHz data indicates that we will achieve a five sigma flux density limit of about 30 mJy. We estimate that we will find between 80 000 and 90 000 new sources above this limit. This is a revised version of the paper presented at the Regional Meeting by the first four authors; the surveys now have been completed.

The absorption counterpart of curvature emission is reexamined based on the Landau-Lifshitz approach. Early derivations led to the conclusion that maser emission is not possible, but these early derivations neglected a drift effect which was first discussed by Zheleznyakov and Shaposhnikov. When the drift effect is included, the derivation implies that curvature maser emission is possible. It is shown that for maser emission to be possible, the Lorentz factor needs to satisfy γ ≳ 103 for radius of curvature of the magnetic field lines RB ≈ 106 to 109cm and frequency ω ≈ 107 to 1011 s−1. Possible application to pulsars is discussed.

We present UBV photometry of SW Lac and analyse its light–curve to deduce starspot parameters for this star.

There has been a dramatic increase in astronomical research output in New Zealand over the last decade. This is set to increase with the advent of a number of new pieces of astronomical hardware over the last five years. These include the 1m telescope and associated instrumentation at Mount John and the JANZOS collaboration, with its instrumentation on Black Birch. Black Birch is also the site of the US Naval Observatory’s southern hemisphere astrometric station, where, using a transit circle instrument, they are collecting data which will form part of the International Reference Star Catalogue. As well as these ‘professional’ programs there is also a large network of amateur astronomers, who can provide extremely useful input into certain astronomical programs at the various observatories around the country and the world.

A brief overview of the existing New Zealand astronomical scene will be followed by discussion of a number of new initiatives being proposed, which includes an automatic patrol telescope being developed by Carter Observatory, an expansion of the JANZOS collaboration and initial discussion about the possibility of an eastern arm for the Australia Telescope some where in New Zealand. In addition, for programs which require a long timebase of observations, extreme southerly latitudes or longitudinal coverage, New Zealand could provide a unique opportunity.

According to Oort (1965), the mass density in the solar neighbourhood (inferred from the gravity component normal to the galactic plane) is between 50% and 150% greater than the mass density inferred from non-dwarf stars. One possible explanation for the “missing mass” is an overabundance of faint M-dwarfs (Weistrop 1972), but present indications are that this overabundance is either small (Weistrop 1976; Sanduleak 1976) or non-existent (Faber et al. 1976; Eggen 1976). Nevertheless, Salpeter’s initial mass function (Salpeter 1955) suggests that the total mass may be dominated by low mass stars, including masses M≤0.08M⊙ which never undergo significant hydrogen burning.

As Voyager 1 sailed through Saturn’s system of moons and rings last November 1980 it revealed new worlds not seen by man before. For centuries, since Galileo’s first telescopic observations in 1610, the satellites of Saturn had been no more than pin points of light, whilst the structure of the rings was barely resolved beyond 3 principal bands. Yet, within the space of a few hours, that picture changed dramatically as the images of these objects grew through Voyager’s cameras from mere specks into full and wondrous worlds. These pictures contained features that were not only intricate and astonishing in detail but which were, in many cases, unfamiliar and unexpected. A composite view of the Saturnian system as seen by Voyager 1 appears in Figure 1. Saturn’s rings, once thought to be broad belts of particles spread uniformly thin through billions of years of evolution and interparticle collisions, were found to be divided into hundreds of individual ringlets (Figure 2). And Cassini’s Division, a region which had been previously thought to be empty because of a ‘sweeping’ influence of Mimas, was found to contain many ringlets itself! The appearance of light and dark radial spokes in the B ring, which rotated with a velocity contrary to the law expected of Keplerian orbits, was baffling. And the F ring (Figure 3) was found to contain knots, kinks and braids which probably indicated the presence of electro-magnetic forces as well as gravitational forces (Smith et al. 1981).