SCUBA photometry of candidate Vega-like sources

New SCUBA measurements at millimetre wavelengths are presented for a sample of Vega-like stars. Six stars were detected, while sensitive upper limits were obtained for a further 11 sources. Most of the sample selected from a recent catalogue of Vega-like stars have infrared excesses similar to those of the prototype Vega-like stars α Lyr and α PsA. Their IR–submm spectral indices are steep, indicating that the submm emission from the discs is dominated by grains which are smaller than the wavelength of observation and that only small grains exist in those dusty discs. HD 98800 has an IR–submillimetre spectral index of less than two, which suggests that grains have grown to more than 0.3 mm in size. Hipparcos parallax data for HD 42137 and HD 123160 suggest that these two stars are giants rather than dwarfs, similar to the situation previously found for HD 233517. Dust masses, or upper limits, were derived for the sample; these indicate that most of the sources do not have as much dust as Herbig Ae/Be or T Tauri stars, but are likely to have dust masses comparable to those of the prototype Vega-like stars.     

Near infrared photometry of stellar maser sources

Results of infrared photometry in J, H, and K bands for 24 stellar maser sources are given. On the colour-colour diagram, nearly all the Mira variable masers are closer to the black body line than the normal M giants, which also have brighter H magnitudes. The main reason for the location of the Mira masers is the strong H₂O absorption bands at 1.4 and 1.9 μm. The dust envelopes for maser sources have temperature of 600 – 700 K, so the radiation shorter than 3μm may be expected to be close to black body. The physical conditions in M supergiants are such that a peak intensity near 1 – 6 μm (the H band) may be expected.Maser-associated Mira variables have longer periods and redder colours than normal Mira stars and M giants, suggesting greater amount of mass ejection from the central stars.     

WISE photometry of EXor sources and candidates

We present a collection of WISE photometry of EXor sources and candidates (more recently identified). This represents the first complete survey of such objects in the mid-IR (3.4–22 μm) that was carried out with the same instrumentation. Two-color diagrams constructed with WISE data evidence a clear segregation between classical and newly identified sources, being these latter characterized by colder (and less evolved) circumstellar disks. By combining 2MASS and WISE data, we obtain spectral energy distributions (SED’s) that are compatible with the existence of an inner hole in the circumstellar disk. A compilation of all EXor observations given in the literature at wavelengths very similar to those of WISE is also provided. This allows us to study their mid-IR variability, which has been poorly investigated so far and without any coordination with surveys at shorter wavelengths. The presented WISE photometry and the compilation of the literature data are intended as a first step toward the construction of a significant database in this spectral regime. Preliminary indications on the mechanisms responsible for the luminosity fluctuations are provided.     

Long-term optical photometry of the dwarf nova VW Hyi

Long-term five-colour photometry of the dwarf nova VW Hyi shows no evidence for a secular change of the flux during the quiescent interval between normal outbursts (3 upper limits between 0.16 and 0.20 mag in the five passbands). However, the amplitudes in the orbital B-U and U-W colour curves change during quiescence. A delay in the progress of normal outbursts toward higher frequencies confirms the delay, seen with IUE, in the onset of a normal outburst towart higher frequencies. Just after outburst, the system is substantially bluer than later in quiescence.Based on observations made at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, ChilePaper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Mid-ultraviolet and optical photometry of helium stars

Mid-ultraviolet and optical photometric analysis of helium stars are presented. A linear relation exists between the effective temperature derived from model atmospheres and (1965-V)₀ index. The effective temperatures derived from (1965-V)₀ index are somewhat higher than that of MK spectral type estimates especially for late B-type helium objects.     

Recent optical photometry of AB Dor and its interpretation

Recent broadband photometry of the chromospherically active single star AB Doradus shows a pattern of variation of the kind associated with large photospheric spots. An analysis of some recent (1989–1990) photometric data has been made on this basis. Various possible inclination values were tested, and a value of about 70 deg obtained in a previous study was supported. Problems in the data analysis are discussed, and used in a call for frequent high-quality photometry of the star.     

Estimate of the limiting standard deviation in the absolute timing of periodic sources

This note demonstrates the application of a rigorous procedure for estimating the limiting standard deviation in the absolute timing, of periodic sources of known period, to the problem of the evaluation of the effects of the main source and instrumental parameters. The procedure is used to examine the case of the optical pulsar NP 0532. The results are given in diagrammatic form.Work supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Gruppo Nazionale di Astronomia, Settore Tecnologie Astronomiche. Trieste Observatory-Instruments and Data Processing group (2/76).     

BVR photometry of Hyperion near the time of the 2005 Cassini encounter

Six nights of BVR photometry and three nights of R photometry were collected over a month-long period shortly after the Cassini encounter with Hyperion on September 24 2005. Our observations were designed to help constrain the rotational state of the chaotically rotating satellite. Fourier analysis of our lightcurve data yields three possible periods: 10.2±0.2, 13.9±0.2, and 19.7±0.4 days. Our B-V and V-R colors agree well with previous ground-based and Voyager 2 measurements.     

Coordinated monitoring of the eccentric O-star binary Iota Orionis: optical spectroscopy and photometry

With the objective of investigating the windwind collision phenomenon and supporting contemporaneous X-ray observations, we have organized a large-scale, coordinated optical monitoring campaign of the massive, highly eccentric O9 III+B1 III binary Iota Orionis. Successfully separating the spectra of the components, we refine the orbital elements and confirm the rapid apsidal motion in the system. We also see strong interaction between the components during periastron passage and detect phase-locked variability in the spectrum of the secondary star. However, we find no unambiguous signs of the bow shock crashing on the surface of the secondary, despite the predictions of hydrodynamic simulations. Combining all available photometric data, we find rapid, phase-locked variations and model them numerically, thus restricting the orbital inclination to 50° i 70°.     

On the optical counterparts of the X-ray sources in the Orion Nebula

A great step forward in our knowledge of the X-ray emission from the Orion Nebula has recently been made possible by HEAO-2 observations. On the basis of these new data, and with the purpose of suggesting further analysis and observations, this note aims to contribute to on-going discussions about plausible optical counterparts, by considerations on those observational traits which have not yet been taken into account.     

Spectroscopy of optical counterparts of ultraluminous X-ray sources

Here we present the results of panoramic and long-slit observations of eight ULX nebular counterparts performed with the 6m SAO telescope. In two ULX nebulae (ULXNe) we detected for the first time signatures of high excitation ([O III]λ5007 / Hβ > 5). Two of the ULXs were identified with young (T ～ 5–10 Myr) massive star clusters. Four of the eight ULXNe show bright high-excitation lines. This requires existence of luminous (～ 10³⁸ ÷ 10⁴⁰ erg s^?1) UV/EUV sources coinciding with the X-ray sources. The other 4 ULXNe require shock excitation of the gas with shock velocities of 20–100 km s ^?1. However, all the studied ULXNe spectra show signatures of shock excitation, but even those ULXNe where the shocks are prevailing show presence of a hard ionizing source with a luminosity of at least ～ 10³⁸ erg s^?1. Most likely shock waves, X-ray and EUV ionization act simultaneously in all the ULXNe, but they may be roughly separated in two groups: shock-dominated and photoionization-dominated ULXNe. The ULXs have to produce strong winds and/or jets (～ 10³⁹ erg s^?1) for powering their nebulae. Both the wind/jet activity and the existence of a bright UV source are consistent with the suggestion that ULXs are high-mass X-ray binaries with supercritical accretion disks of the SS433 type.     

Time-resolved optical spectroscopy of AM Her X-ray sources

We present high-time resolution spectroscopy of two AM Her sources E1405-451 and E1013-477. For E1405-451, the Balmer emission lines profiles can be divided into a narrow component and a broad one. The amplitudes of the radial velocity curves of these components are respectively 265±30 km/s and 390±50 km/s. The orientation of the column determined from polarimetry is not compatible with the broad component being formed in the lowest parts of the column. Photometric and spectroscopic results on E1013-477 do not confirm the previous reported 103 min. period. Rapid variability (<1.5h) as well as long term modulation (>3.3h) is present in these data.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Search for optical counterparts of gamma-ray burst sources

The examination of nearly 9600 archival photographic plates covering six gamma-ray burst error boxes has unveiled several star-like images. Unfortunately, the reality of none of these images can be proved by duplicate plates.A laboratory test was performed to get a more detailed estimation of the number of plate faults. The result emphasizes the necessity of duplicate synchronous plates to exclude plate defects.     

Photometric redshifts for weak lensing tomography from space: the role of optical and near infrared photometry

We study in detail the photometric redshift requirements needed for tomographic weak gravitational lensing in order to measure accurately the dark energy equation of state. In particular, we examine how ground-based photometry  ( u , g , r , i , z , y )  can be complemented by space-based near-infrared (near-IR) photometry  ( J , H )  , e.g. onboard the planned DUNE satellite. Using realistic photometric redshift simulations and an artificial neural network photo- z method we evaluate the figure of merit for the dark energy parameters  ( w ₀, w _a )  . We consider a DUNE -like broad optical filter supplemented with ground-based multiband optical data from surveys like the Dark Energy Survey, Pan-STARRS and LSST. We show that the dark energy figure of merit would be improved by a factor of 1.3–1.7 if IR filters are added onboard DUNE . Furthermore we show that with IR data catastrophic photo- z outliers can be removed effectively. There is an interplay between the choice of filters, the magnitude limits and the removal of outliers. We draw attention to the dependence of the results on the galaxy formation scenarios encoded into the mock galaxies, e.g. the galaxy reddening. For example, very deep u -band data could be as effective as the IR. We also find that about  10⁵–10⁶  spectroscopic redshifts are needed for calibration of the full survey.     

The analysis of indexed astronomical time series V. Fitting sinusoids to high-speed photometry

The estimation of the frequency, amplitude and phase of a sinusoid from observations contaminated by correlated noise is considered. It is assumed that the observations are regularly spaced, but may suffer missing values or long time stretches with no data. The typical astronomical source of such data is high-speed photoelectric photometry of pulsating stars. The study of the observational noise properties of nearly 200 real data sets is reported: noise can almost always be characterized as a random walk with superposed white noise. A scheme for obtaining weighted non-linear least-squares estimates of the parameters of interest, as well as standard errors of these estimates, is described. Simulation results are presented for both complete and incomplete data. It is shown that, in finite data sets, results are sensitive to the initial phase of the sinusoid.