Investigation of PPM catalogue accuracy

The PPM catalogue contains the most complete and accurate information concerning positions, proper motions and some astrophysical data for practically all stars (about 379000) down to 10^m-11^m over the whole sky. The systems and rms errors of the PPm positions, proper motions, stellar magnitudes and spectral classification are studied by comparison with catalogues of stellar characteristics and on the basis of the PPM data itself. The residual errors of stellar data in the PPM catalogue are small and/or they can be determined and eliminated.     

Possibilities of using extreme observations to estimate cometary nucleus sizes

Not considering very rare in situ measurements of cometary nuclei, observations of comets at large heliocentric distances are the only direct source of our knowledge on their sizes. Observations of a cometary nucleus in pure reflected sunlight, at the time when coma is absent, are the way in which the nucleus size can be estimated. Probabilities that extreme observations represent non—active stages of cometary nuclei and also reliability of derived cometary nucleus sizes are investigated. Statistical analysis is based on a sample of 2842 photometric observations of 67 long-period comets observed at large heliocentric distances. For any long-period comet, there is a probability of 2:3 that the sizes derived on the basis of observations at extreme distances are in good agreement with the real nucleus sizes. For new comets in Oort's sense the probability is 3:4 independent of investigated arcs of orbits. For old comets a chance to estimate correct sizes is 1:2 but on the pre-perihelion arc only 1:3. It is also demonstrated that a premature start of activity prior to perihelion or a longer fading after perihelion is more frequent than a short-time isolated activity at large heliocentric distances.     

On the construction of a comprehensive general catalogue of star positions

The procedures that would lead to the construction of a comprehensive general catalogue of star positions are outlined and discussed. Attention is drawn to the problems faced by a definitive reduction of the Astrographic Catalogue. The importance and necessity of the repetition of the original work in this connection are stressed. This would provide at present—barring the development of revolutionary new and fast techniques—the only chance for the very desirable wholesale computation of the proper motions of all stars down to about 13 ^m .Presented at the Symposium Star Catalogues, Positional Astronomy and Celestial Mechanics, held in honor of Paul Herget at the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, November 30, 1978.     

Infrared observations of the star R Cas

We present our JHKLM photometry for R Cas performed during 1988–2000. The pulsation period of R Cas is $P \approx 429\mathop .\limits^d 6$ , with the maximum IR brightness lagging behind the maximum visual brightness by ～0.2 P. The amplitude of light variations appreciably decreases with increasing wavelength at λ≤3 μm. At λ>3 μm, this decrease virtually ceases. There is a step on the ascending branch of IR JHK brightness. The K-L color index increases linearly with K magnitude: $K - L = 0.304K + 1\mathop .\limits^m 20$ . The color temperature dependence, T _K-L =f(K), is also linear: T _K?L = ?622K + 1100 K. In going from minimum to maximum, the K flux (as well as the bolometric flux) from the star and its color temperature T _K-L increase by a factor of ～2.2 and ～1.3, respectively.     

Galactic kinematics from data on open star clusters from the MWSC catalogue

Open star clusters from the MWSC (Milky Way Star Clusters) catalogue have been used to determine the Galactic rotation parameters. The circular rotation velocity of the solar neighborhood around the Galactic center has been found from data on more than 2000 clusters of various ages to be V ₀ = 236 ± 6 km s^?1 for the adopted Galactocentric distance of the Sun R ₀ = 8.3 ± 0.2 kpc. The derived angular velocity parameters are Ω ₀ = 28.48 ± 0.36 km s^?1 kpc^?1, Ω’₀ = ?3.50 ± 0.08 km s^?1 kpc_?2, and Ω″₀ = 0.331 ± 0.037 km s^?1 kpc^?3. The influence of the spiral density wave has been detected only in the sample of clusters younger than 50 Myr. For these clusters the amplitudes of the tangential and radial velocity perturbations are f ^θ = 5.6 ± 1.6 km s^?1 and f _R = 7.7 ± 1.4 km s^?1, respectively; the perturbation wavelengths are λ _θ = 2.6 ± 0.5 kpc (i _θ = ^?11? ± 2?) and λ _R = 2.1 ± 0.5 kpc (i _R = ?9? ± 2?) for the adopted four-armed model (m = 4). The Sun’s phase in the spiral density wave is (χ_⊙)_θ = ?62? ± 9? and (χ_⊙)_R = ?85? ± 10? from the residual tangential and radial velocities, respectively.     

X-ray observations of low-power radio galaxies from the B2 catalogue

We present an analysis of X-ray data, taken with ROSAT , for a well-defined sample of low-power radio galaxies from the Bologna B2 catalogue. Where possible, the HRI has been used in order to take advantage of the high spatial resolution provided by this instrument. A variety of models are fitted to radial profiles in order to separate the resolved and unresolved X-ray emission from the galaxies. We demonstrate a strong, approximately linear, correlation between the luminosities of the unresolved X-ray components and the 5-GHz luminosities of the radio cores in this sample. This suggests a physical relationship between the soft X-ray emission of radio galaxies and the jet-generated radio core emission. We infer a nuclear jet-related origin for at least some of the X-ray emission.     

UV observations of the symbiotic star EG And

EG And is a S-type symbiotic star. Presented are UV observations made by IUE from 1978 to 1991. From these observations the electron density and the electron temperature were obtained. The size of the Heii emitting region was estimated as 7.3R. Line and continuum variations confirm the binary nature of EG And.     

UV observations of the symbiotic star EG And

EG And is a S-type symbiotic star. Here is present UV observations made by IUE from 1978 to 1991. From these observations the electronic density and the electronic temperature were obtained. The size of He II emitting region was estimated as 7.3R . Line and continuum variations confirm the binary nature of EG And.     

WSO-UV project guide star catalogue: experimental verification of its photometric system

Precise pointing and stabilization of the T-170M telescope (World Space Observatory Ultraviolet, WSO-UV project) is provided by the Fine Guidance System (FGS) that uses a guide star catalogue (Master Catalogue). To verify the photometric system of the Master Catalogue we have carried out ground based observations with a CCD-camera in a spectral band, close to that of FGS. We have found, that the photometric quality of the Master Catalogue is sufficient for FGS operations. The mean photometric error in the range of 14–17 mag is ±0.23 mag; its variation over the sky does not exceed the factor of two. 2% of stars from the Master Catalogue have photometric errors higher than 2 mag. We have also found a correlation between large photometric errors and the Master Catalogue flags.     

CCD observations of the star formation region NGC 7129

CCD images of NGC 7129 were carried out in July 1988. These observations have better spatial resolution than former ones. Several Herbig-Haro objects and reflection nebulae have been observed. Some of these objects are new detections; in addition, we find new structures in previously known NGC 7129 nebulosities.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Spectral and photometric observations of the star Y Ori

Data are presented from a spectral and photometric study of the long-period variable star Y Ori, which we have classified as a type M7IIIe near its brightness minimum. In the blue part of the spectrum, features from a star of an earlier spectral class are superimposed on the spectrum of a cool giant, so that a variable excess emission is observed at wavelengths of 4000–4200 Å. As opposed to the monotonically decreasing intensity of the Balmer lines (EWHα > EWHβ > EWHγ > EWHδ) in normal stars belonging to the earlier spectral classes, a reverse relationship, with EWHγ < EWHδ is detected in Y Ori. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 567–575 (November 2008).     

Ultraviolet observations of the hydrogen-deficient variable star MV sagittarii

IUE observations of the hydrogen-deficient irregular variable star MV Sgr obtained in 1980 June-October and also in 1979 November are discussed. These observations show a prominent λ 2200 absorption feature. A value ofE(B — V) = 0.55 is deduced from the strength of λ 2200 band assuming that this absorption is caused by interstellar medium. The dereddened continuum obtained at different times can be fitted to a theoretical energy distribution of a helium star model with T_eff = 18000 K and log g = 2.5, similar to that of BD + 10^‡ 2179. This theoretical energy distribution, after applying interstellar extinction, givesV = 12.7 mag, agreeing with the observed visual magnitude of ≃ 13 in 1979 November and 1980 June-October. Even though there was no change in the continuum flux, the ultraviolet line-spectrum shows variations. The IUE spectra of 1980 October show enhanced (circumstellar) absorption lines of Fe II, Si II, O I, C I and others along with the absorption lines of a B star. In view of the similarity of the spectroscopic phenomena of MV Sgr with that of α Sco system, a model is proposed in which a cool companion star, surrounded by dust, occasionally blows gas towards the hotter hydrogen-poor B star. This model explains the irregular light variations and the spectroscopic phenomena. Based on observations obtained with IUE satellite at the Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency.     

Reticon observations of the yellow symbiotic star AG Draconis

Reticon spectroscopic observations of the yellow symbiotic star AG Draconis are reported. Small rapid (15–30 min) changes in the intensities of the Hei λ5015 Å and Hei λ6678 Å singlet lines, and of the Hγ line are observed. The first observational evidence of presence of the unidentified band at 7088 Å in this star is also reported.     

Polarimetric and photometric observations of the star m cephei

The results of photometric and polarimetric observations of the star Μ Cep at Byurakan Observatory are presented. Some interesting correlations between the parameters of the star’s brightness variation and the degree of polarization of the light are obtained. It is suggested that the recorded rapid changes in the degree of polarization may result from Μ Cep being a double star. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 219-228, April–June, 2000.     

Simultaneous photoelectric and spectral observations of the star EV Lac

We discuss the results of simultaneous photoelectric and spectral observations of the flare star EV Lac. The observations of EV Lac were carried out at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in August 1986. The photoelectric observations were conducted in the U-color with 1 sec time integration on a 60cm telescope. The effective time of photoelectric observations was 13 hours. The spectral observations were carried out on a two-meter telescope. During one night 35 spectrograms of the star EV Lac were obtained, each of which lasted 2 minutes. The equivalent widths of the H emission line were measured. During the photoelectric observations 6 flares were recorded. One of the two comparison stars, C₂ showed variable brightness.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1994.The authors consider it their pleasant duty to thank Professor L. V. Mirzoyan for valuable advice and the staff of the Rozhen Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for assistance during the observations.     

Spectroscopic and photometric observations of the eclipsing star UV Leo

High-resolution spectroscopic observations around the Hα line and BVRI photometry of the eclipsing short-period RS CVn star UV Leo are presented. The simultaneous light-curve solution and radial velocity-curve solution led to the following values of the global parameters of the binary: temperatures   T ₁= 6000 ± 100 K  and   T ₂= 5970 ± 20 K  ; masses   M ₁= 0.976 ± 0.067 M_⊙  and   M ₂= 0.931 ± 0.052 M_⊙  ; separation   a = 3.716 ± 0.048 R_⊙  ; orbital inclination     ; radii   R ₁= 1.115 ± 0.052 R_⊙  and   R ₂= 1.078 ± 0.051 R_⊙  ; equatorial velocities   V ₁= 98.8 ± 2.3 km s⁻¹  and   V ₂= 89.6 ± 2.7 km s⁻¹  . These results lead to the conclusion that the two components of UV Leo are slightly oversized for their masses and lie within the main-sequence band on the mass–radius diagram, close to the isochrone 9 × 10¹⁰ yr.     

Spectral observations of the novalike star TT Ari. II

Results from a spectral study of one of the brightest cataclysmic variables, the star TT Ari, are presented. They are generally in good agreement with previous observations, but there are some differences. The luminosity of the star, as well as the equivalent widths of emission lines, reveal variations that are probably periodic in character. Emission from the star in the CIV 5801Å and 5812 Å lines is observed for the first time. The observed variations in the symmetry of the broad absorption Balmer series (beginning with Hβ) may be a consequence of the appearance of a P Cyg line profile. The Hα line manifests a P Cyg profile consisting of two components corresponding to 600 and 1900 km/s. The average of the ratio EWHα/EWHβ indicates that the formation of these lines may be explained, at least partially, in terms of a simple photoionization-recombination model. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 445–460 (August 2008).