The structure of the 1–3 keV X-ray background

New infrared photometry of a sample of 39 stars in the open cluster NGC 752 is presented. These observations confirm the bimodality of the Main Sequence previously reported. We analyze the nature of this behaviour on the basis of the binary hypothesis.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     

Horizontal branch stars: the interplay between observations and theory,and insights into the formation of the Galaxy

We review and discuss horizontal branch (HB) stars in a broad astrophysical context, including both variable and non-variable stars. A reassessment of the Oosterhoff dichotomy is presented, which provides unprecedented detail regarding its origin and systematics. We show that the Oosterhoff dichotomy and the distribution of globular clusters in the HB morphology-metallicity plane both exclude, with high statistical significance, the possibility that the Galactic halo may have formed from the accretion of dwarf galaxies resembling present-day Milky Way satellites such as Fornax, Sagittarius, and the LMC—an argument which, due to its strong reliance on the ancient RR Lyrae stars, is essentially independent of the chemical evolution of these systems after the very earliest epochs in the Galaxy’s history. Convenient analytical fits to isochrones in the HB type–[Fe/H] plane are also provided. In this sense, a rediscussion of the second-parameter problem is also presented, focusing on the cases of NGC 288/NGC 362, M13/M3, the extreme outer-halo globular clusters with predominantly red HBs, and the metal-rich globular clusters NGC 6388 and NGC 6441. The recently revived possibility that the helium abundance may play an important role as a second parameter is also addressed, and possible constraints on this scenario discussed. We critically discuss the possibility that the observed properties of HB stars in NGC 6388 and NGC 6441 might be accounted for if these clusters possess a relatively minor population of helium-enriched stars. A technique is proposed to estimate the HB types of extragalactic globular clusters on the basis of integrated far-UV photometry. The importance of bright type II Cepheids as tracers of faint blue HB stars in distant systems is also emphasized. The relationship between the absolute V magnitude of the HB at the RR Lyrae level and metallicity, as obtained on the basis of trigonometric parallax measurements for the star RR Lyr, is also revisited. Taking into due account the evolutionary status of RR Lyr, the derived relation implies a true distance modulus to the LMC of (m–M)₀=18.44±0.11. Techniques providing discrepant slopes and zero points for the M _V (RRL)–[Fe/H] relation are briefly discussed. We provide a convenient analytical fit to theoretical model predictions for the period change rates of RR Lyrae stars in globular clusters, and compare the model results with the available data. Finally, the conductive opacities used in evolutionary calculations of low-mass stars are also investigated. M. Catelan is John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow.     

The orientations of molecular clouds in the outer Galaxy: evidence for the scale of the turbulence driver?

Supernova (SN) explosions inject a considerable amount of energy into the interstellar medium (ISM) in regions with high-to-moderate star formation rates. In order to assess whether the driving of turbulence by supernovae is also important in the outer Galactic disc, where the star formation rates are lower, we study the spatial distribution of molecular cloud (MC) inclinations with respect to the Galactic plane. The latter contains important information on the nature of the mechanism of energy injection into the ISM. We analyse the spatial correlations between the position angles (PAs) of a selected sample of MCs (the largest clouds in the catalogue of the outer Galaxy published by Heyer et al). Our results show that when the PAs of the clouds are all mapped to values into the  [0°, 90°]  interval, there is a significant degree of spatial correlation between the PAs on spatial scales in the range of 100–800 pc. These scales are of the order of the sizes of individual SN shells in low-density environments such as those prevailing in the outer Galaxy and where the metallicity of the ambient gas is of the order of the solar value or smaller. These findings suggest that individual SN explosions, occurring in the outer regions of the Galaxy and in likewise spiral galaxies, albeit at lower rates, continue to play an important role in shaping the structure and dynamics of the ISM in those regions. The SN explosions we postulate here are likely associated with the existence of young stellar clusters in the far outer regions of the Galaxy and the ultraviolet emission and low levels of star formation observed with the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) satellite in the outer regions of local galaxies.     

Low-latitude thermal structure of Jupiter in the region 0.1–5 bars

The radiative heat flux from 0.1 to 10 bars is estimated on the basis of a “two-cloud” scattering model that fits available spectral data and Pioneer photometry. Deeper than a few bars, the flux is 4.5 W m^?2, compared with the 18.8 W m^?2 used in an earlier study by Trafton and Stone. A temperature profile is computed, with the H₂ pressure-induced opacity; the temperature at 1 bar is found to be 156°K, rather than the commonly accepted 170°K. An additional optical depth of unity at the 0.67-bar level could restore the conventional value; otherwise a considerably cooler atmosphere is a serious possibility.     

The East-West structure of mid-latitude geomagnetic pulsations in the 8–25 mHz band

We report results from 6 days' continuous recording of pulsation activity on a chain of magnetometers aligned East-West at 56.5°N geomagnetic latitude. We find phase differences between stations are relatively small. Signal propagation sense and horizontal polarisation correlate as low frequency inhomogeneous plasma theory predicts. There is no evidence of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability being the major source. The most highly coherent signals often occur near midnight. We suggest the nightside may be the source region for a significant amount of dayside pulsation activity.     

The magnetic geometry and structure of the giant post-flare arch of 21–22 May, 1980

On 21–22 May, 1980 the HXIS instrument aboard SMM imaged an enormous, more-or-less stationary, X-ray arch structure near the position of a large two-ribbon flare which immediately preceded it in time. As described by vestka et al. (1982), the arch remained visible for up to 10 hours. Previous inferences of the height, orientation, and physical parameters of this feature have been based largely on the X-ray data and on radio observations of the associated stationary Type I noise storm. In the present paper we use the observed photospheric line-of-sight magnetic field distribution to compute, in the current-free approximation, the three-dimensional topology of the coronal field above the flare site. Comparing the HXIS intensity contours of the arch to the projected shapes of the field lines suggests that the arch is indeed aligned with certain coronal flux tubes and allows an independent determination of the geometrical arch parameters to be made. This procedure indicates that the true height of the arch is about 70000 km, i.e., appreciably less than was suggested previously (although it is still certainly to be classified as a giant feature of the post-flare evolution).These results suggest that the arch may be a by-product of magnetic reconnection occurring far above the flare site, analogous to the post-flare loops seen at lower heights. Unlike the latter, however, the field lines undergoing reconnection here link more distant parts of the active region; i.e., they do not represent direct linkages across the magnetic neutral line and thus appear to be topologically quite distinct from those which thread the underlying post-flare loops. In fact, of this group of peripheral field lines, the arch could simply comprise the lowest-lying ones to have been opened up by the flare process (and the first to reconnect again). This would explain why both the arch and the post-flare loops were visible early in the decay phase, being products of separate reconnection processes. Moreover, because of the lower plasma density and longer cooling times of the arch, this feature persisted long after the post-flare loops faded from view. A calculation of the magnetic energy liberated by reconnection shows that this process is easily capable of satisfying the overall energy requirements of the arch (the latter as determined from observations).On leave from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, U.S.A.     

The mass of the Galactic dark matter halo from ～9000 LAMOST DR5 K giants

We constrain the mass of the Milky Way's dark matter halo, based on the kinematics of 9627 K giants at Galactocentric distances ranging over 5 kpc r 120 kpc drawn from LAMOST DR5.The substructure in this sample has been identified and removed carefully to enable construction of the underlying line-of-sight velocity dispersion at different radii from the Galactic center. We interpret the radial profile of the line-of-sight velocity dispersion using a spherical Jeans equation under the assumptions of anisotropy/isotropy and that radial velocity dispersion is approximately equal to line-ofsight velocity dispersion σ_r(r)≈σ_(los)(r). If we assume that the dark matter halo follows an NFW profile and the stellar halo is isotropic(β = 0), then σlos(r) can be directly used to estimate the virial mass of the Galactic dark matter halo, M_(vir) = 1.08_(-0.14)~(+0.17) ×10~(12) M⊙, and concentration parameter c = 18.5+-2.9.3.6 In case that the stellar halo is anisotropic, we cannot avoid differentiation of sparse velocity dispersions according to the Jeans equation, which may cause overestimation of the mass. We use an isotropic case to test and find that d ln(σ_(los)~2 (r))/d ln r overestimates the virial mass by 15% but within 1-σ error. We use d ln(σ2 los(r))/d ln r to fit the NFW profile and get M_(vir) = 1.11_(-0.20)~(+0.24) ×10~(12) M⊙and c = 13.8-2.2+3.0 in case of β = 0.3.     

Studying the Equilibrium Points of the Modified Circular Restricted Three-body Problem: The Case of Sun–Haumea System

We intend to study a modified version of the planar Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem(CRTBP) by incorporating several perturbing parameters. We consider the bigger primary as an oblate spheroid and emitting radiation while the small primary has an elongated body. We also consider the perturbation from a disk-like structure encompassing this three-body system. First, we develop a mathematical model of this modified CRTBP.We have found there exist five equilibrium points in this modified CRTB...     

The physical properties of the Hα-emission line stars: CD-42°11721, KK Oph and XX Oph

By use of the data found in the literature, observed at the ESO and taken from the IRAS point source catalogue, the physical properties of the H-emission stars: CD-42°11721, KK Oph and XX Oph were studied photometrically and spectroscopically. The results can be summarized as follows: (a) Feii and [Feii] emission lines show that these stars have a gaseous envelope of which part is of low density. (b) P Cygni profiles in the spectral lines of XX Oph indicate the existence of rapid gaseous motions in its atmosphere. The presence of P Cygni profiles in the spectra of the other two stars is not certain. (c) In the outer atmosphere of CD-42°11721 and KK Oph at least two circumstellar concentrations of dust grains seems to be present; the temperatures of these dust shells are, for both stars, about 1200 and 250 K. (d) XX Oph has an M6III companion causing the infrared excess. Furthermore, we have studied the physical properties of the dust shells. The distances to the central star, the chemical composition and the masses of each shell were estimated. It is recommended to study above stars further with high dispersion spectroscopy and simultaneous long-term photometry.Based partly on data obtained at the ESO, La Silla, Chile and with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS).     

The evolution of stellar metallicity gradients of the Milky Way disk from LSS-GAC main sequence turn-off stars: a two-phase disk formation history?

Accurate measurements of stellar metallicity gradients in the radial and vertical directions of the disk and their temporal variations provide important constraints on the formation and evolution of the Milky Way disk. We use 297 042 main sequence turn-off stars selected from the LAMOST Spectroscopic Survey of the Galactic Anticenter(LSS-GAC) to determine the radial and vertical gradients of stellar metallicity,△[Fe/H]/△R and △[Fe/H]/△|Z | of the Milky Way disk in the direction of the anticenter. We determine ages of those turn-off stars by isochrone fitting and measure the temporal variations of metallicity gradients. We have carried out a detailed analysis of the selection effects resulting from the selection, observation and data reduction of LSS-GAC targets and the potential biases of a magnitude limited sample on the determinations of metallicity gradients. Our results show that the gradients, both in the radial and vertical directions, exhibit significant spatial and temporal variations. The radial gradients yielded by stars with the oldest ages( 11 Gyr) are essentially zero at all heights from the disk midplane, while those given by younger stars are always negative. The vertical gradients deduced from stars with the oldest ages( 11 Gyr)are negative and only show very weak variations with Galactocentric distance in the disk plane, R, while those yielded by younger stars show strong variations with R.After being essentially flat at the earliest epochs of disk formation, the radial gradients steepen as age decreases, reaching a maximum(steepest) at age 7–8 Gyr, and then they flatten again. Similar temporal trends are also found for the vertical gradients. We infer that the assembly of the Milky Way disk may have experienced at least two distinct phases. The earlier phase is probably related to a slow, pressure-supported collapse of gas, when the gas settles down to the disk mainly in the vertical direction. In the later phase, there are significant radial flows of gas in the disk, and the rate of gas inflow near the solar neighborhood reaches a maximum around a lookback time of 7–8 Gyr.The transition between the two phases occurs around a lookback time between 8 and11 Gyr. The two phases may be responsible for the formation of the Milky Way's thick and thin disks, respectively. Also, as a consequence, we recommend that stellar age is a natural, physical criterion to distinguish stars from the thin and thick disks. From an epoch earlier than 11 Gyr to one between 8 and 11 Gyr, there is an abrupt, significant change in magnitude of both the radial and vertical metallicity gradients, suggesting that stellar radial migration is unlikely to play an important role in the formation of the thick disk.     

Digitization of Astronegatives of the Pulkovo Glass Library: Positions of Saturn’s Major Satellites in the Period 1972–1982 in the Gaia DR2 System

Solar System Research - We present the results of the re-reduction of Pulkovo photographic plates with images of Saturn’s major satellites in the Gaia DR2 catalog system (169 plates, 3007...     

The solar terrestrial event of 14–21 December 1971: The pattern of 6300 Å emission over the polar cap

An exceptional solar terrestrial event was initiated by the ejection of plasma from the Sun on 14 December 1971 and was followed by a spectacular pattern of soft particle precipitation into the polar cap, which evolved in a slowly changing sequence until 21 December. The storm was characterized by high proton fluxes in space and near the Earth, an extended interval of northward B_z, a highly developed ring current and widespread polar cap particle fluxes. These varied from a dayside “butterfly pattern” early in the event, to highly structured Sun-aligned polar cap patterns late in recovery. A number of polar cap ground-based measurements were compiled and are reported upon. The storm seems reminiscent of the great red auroras of the IGY and some common features are noted. The 6300 Å emission is shown to result largely from direct excitation by low energy electrons, of a few hundred eV. Since the emission covered the Earth's high-latitude dayside region nearly to the invariant pole it indicates a magnetospheric topology that permits entry of low energy plasma over this region or of mechanisms which allow the generation or penetration of the plasma.     

The material of the interstellar dust and the surface of asteroids: A comparison of the spectral properties in the 0.3–1.1-μm range

From the data on bright stars of different spectral and luminosity classes from the 13-color photometry catalog, the selective extinction of light by the interstellar dust has been studied. The stars from the 1000-pc vicinity of the Sun were investigated. In the optical spectral range, the interstellar extinction curves show systematic deviations from the “λ^?1” law, which allows one to sort them into three types. The observed curves of the interstellar dust extinction were compared with the theoretical curves calculated from the reflectance spectra of the asteroids under the approximation of the Rayleigh particles. The calculated extinction curves for the surface material of D-type asteroids and the Tagish Lake carbonaceous chondrite agree rather well with the observed curves of the interstellar extinction of the first type.     

Mercury: The Image of the Planet in the 210°–285° W Longitude Range Obtained by the Short-Exposure Method

For the purpose of obtaining images of the unknown portion of Mercury, we continued the previously started series of observations of this planet by the short exposure method. Several thousand electronic images of Mercury have been acquired on 1–2 May 2002 under good meteorological conditions at the high-altitude Skinakas Astrophysical Observatory of Iraklion University (Crete, Greece, 35°13 E, 24°54 N) during the evening elongation. The phase angle of Mercury was 95°–99° and the observed range of longitudes was 210°–285° W. Observations were carried out using Ritchy–Chrétien telescope (D = 1.29 m, F = 9.857 m) with the KS 19 filter cutting wavelengths shorter than about 700 nm. The planet's disk was seen, on average, at an angle of 7.75 arcsec. The image scale was equal to 47.8 m/arcsec. We used a CCD with a pixel size of 7.4 × 7.4 m in the regime of short exposures. By processing a great number of electronic images, we succeeded in obtaining a sufficiently distinct synthesized image of the unknown portion of Mercury's surface. The most prominent formation in this region is a giant basin (or cratered mare) centered at about 8° N, 280° W, which was given a working name Skinakas basin (after the name of the observatory where observations were made). By its size, the interior part of this basin exceeds the largest lunar Mare Imbrium. As opposed to Mare Imbrium, the Skinakas basin is presumably of impact origin. Its relief resembles that of Caloris Planitia but the size is much larger. A series of smaller formations are also seen on synthesized images. The resolution obtained on the surface of Mercury is about 100 km, which is close to the telescope diffraction limit. Also considered are the published theoretical estimations of the possible advantages offered by the short exposure method. Some results obtained by other research groups are discussed.     

The 2009–2010 fade of Jupiter’s South Equatorial Belt: Vertical cloud structure models and zonal winds from visible imaging

The South Equatorial Belt (SEB) of Jupiter is known to alternate its appearance at visible wavelengths from a classical belt-like band most of the time to a short-lived zone-like aspect which is called a “fade” of the belt, hereafter SEBF. The albedo change of the SEB is due to a change in the structure and properties of the clouds and upper hazes. Recent works based on infrared observations of the last SEBF have shown that the aerosol density below 1 bar increased in parallel with the reflectivity change. However, the nature of the change in the upper clouds and hazes that produces the visible reflectivity change and whether or not this reflectivity change is accompanied by a change in the winds at the upper cloud level remained unknown. In this paper we focus in the near ultraviolet to near infrared reflected sunlight (255–953 nm) to address these two issues. We characterize the vertical cloud structure above the ammonia condensation level from Hubble Space Telescope images, and the zonal wind velocities from long-term high-quality images coming from the International Outer Planet Watch database, both during the SEB and SEBF phases. We show that reflectivity changes do not happen simultaneously in this wavelength range, but they start earlier in the most deep-sensing filters and end in 2010 with just minor changes in those sensing the highest particle layers. Our models require a substantial increase of the optical thickness of the cloud deck at 1.0 ± 0.4 bar from τ_cloud = 6 ± 2 in July 2009 (SEB phase) to semiinfinite at visual wavelengths in 2010 (SEBF). Upper tropospheric particles (～240–1400 mbar) are also required to become substantially reflectant and their single scattering albedo in the blue changes from ?₀ = 0.905 ± 0.005 in November 2009 to ?₀ = 0.95 ± 0.01 in June 2010. No significant changes were found in the cloud top heights or in the particle density of the tropospheric haze. The disturbance travels from the levels below ～3 bar to a level about 400 ± 100 mbar. We derive an upward velocity of 0.15 ± 0.05 cm/s, in agreement with a diffusive process in Jupiter’s upper troposphere requiring a mean eddy coefficient K ～ 8 × 10⁵ cm² s^?1. On the other hand, cloud tracking on the IOPW imaging showed no significant changes in the zonal wind profile between the SEB and SEBF stages. As in other visually huge changes in Jupiter’s cloud morphology and structure, the wind profile remains robust, possibly indicating a deeply rooted dynamical regime.     

Comprehensive Study of the Blazars from Fermi-LAT LCR: The Log-Normal Flux Distribution and Linear rms–Flux Relation

Fermi-LAT LCR provides continuous and regularly sampled gamma-ray light curves, spanning about 14 yr, for a large sample of blazars. The log-normal flux distribution and linear rms–flux relation of the light curves for a few Fermi blazars have been examined in previous studies. However, the probability that blazars exhibit the log-normal flux distribution and linear rms–flux relation in their gamma-ray light curves has not been systematically explored.In this study, we comprehensively research t...