Limb Prominence Eruption on 11 August 2000 as Seen From Ground- and Space-Based Observations

We report on a prominence eruption as seen in H with the Crimean Lyot coronagraph, the global H network, and coronal images from the LASCO C2 instrument on board SOHO. We observed an H eruption at the northwest solar limb between 07:38:50 UT and 07:58:29 UT on 11 August 2000. The eruption originated in a quiet-Sun region and was not associated with an H filament. No flare was associated with the eruption, which may indicate that, in this case, a flux rope was formed prior to the eruption of the magnetic field. The H images and an H Dopplergram show a helical structure present in the erupted magnetic field. We suggest that the driving mechanism of the eruption may be magnetic flux emergence or magnetic flux injection. The limb H observations provide missing data on CME speed and acceleration in the lower corona. Our data show that the prominence accelerated impulsively at 5.5 km s^–2 and reached a speed slightly greater than 800 km s^–1 in a narrow region (h<0.14 R ) above the solar surface. The observations presented here also imply that, based only on a CME's speed and acceleration, it cannot be determined whether a CME is the result of a flare or an eruptive prominence.     

Lyman continuum observations of solar flares

A study is made of Lyman continuum observations of solar flares, using data obtained by the Harvard College Observatory EUV spectroheliometer on the Apollo Telescope Mount. We find that there are two main types of flare regions: an overall mean flare coincident with the H flare region, and transient Lyman continuum kernels which can be identified with the H and X-ray kernels observed by other authors. It is found that the ground level hydrogen population in flares is closer to LTE than in the quiet Sun and active regions, and that the level of Lyman continuum formation is lowered in the atmosphere from a mass column density m 5/sx 10^–6 g cm^–2 in the quiet Sun to m 3/sx 10^–4 g cm^–2 in the mean flare, and to m 10^–3g cm^–2 in kernels. From these results we derive the amount of chromospheric material evaporated into the high temperature region, which is found to be - 10¹⁵g, in agreement with observations of X-ray emission measures. A comparison is made between kernel observations and the theoretical predictions made by model heating calculations, available in the literature; significant discrepancies are found between observation and current particle-heating models.     

Spatial development of X-ray emission during the impulsive phase of a solar flare

The flare of 11 November, 1980, 1725 UT occurred in a magnetically complex region. It was preceded by some ten minutes by a gradual flare originating over the magnetic inversion line, close to a small sunspot. This seems to have triggered the main flare (at 70 000 km distance) which originated between a large sunspot and the inversion line. The main flare started at 172320 UT with a slight enhancement of hard X-rays (E > 30 keV) accompanied by the formation of a dark loop between two H bright ribbons. In 3–8 keV X-rays a southward expansion started at the same time, with - 500 km s ^–1. At the same time a surge-like expansion started. It was observable slightly later in H, with southward velocities of 200 km s^–1. The dark H loop dissolved at 1724 UT at which time several impulsive phenomena started such as a complex of hard X-ray bursts localized in a small area. At the end of the impulsive phase at 172540 UT, a coronal explosion occurred directed southward with an initial expansion velocity of 1800 km s^–1, decreasing in 40 s to 500 km s^–1.Now at Fokker Aircraft Industries, Schiphol, The Netherlands.     

Observational study of the ‘post’-flare loops on June 4, 1991

A limb, two-ribbon H flare on June 4, 1991, associated with a white-light flare and followed by an emission spray and post-flare loops, is studied. A region of rapidly enhanced brightness at the bottom of the H ribbon above the white-light flare is revealed. The energy released by the white-light flare at _eff = 4100 is estimated to be about 1.5 × 10²⁸ erg s^–1.     

The flare of December 17, 1980 observed with high time resolution by a digital CCD camera

An electro-optical system for the digital registration of H-images with high time resolution (1.6 s) is described. The sensor is a Charge-Coupled-Device (CCD) with 100 × 100 elements, resulting in our case in a resolution of 3 × 4 on the Sun. Data are digitized with a resolution of 8 bit and written on magnetic tape by means of a minicomputer. Image analysis on a large computer eliminates instrumental effects, calibrates the data and reproduces them in graphical form. The analysis of a first flare (December 17, 1980; 12:09 UT) shows that the different flare kernels brighten at different times and pulsate in diameter and intensity. The decay of the flare is slower if fainter regions are included. This supports the idea that an impulsive flare confined in a magnetic loop spreads out over a larger area during the gradual phase. Comparison with microwave observations shows the same risetime for both spectral ranges which indicates that they are excited by the same agent. Furthermore the H-flare lags the microwave burst by about 8 s indicating that the source of primary energy release lies above the H emitting layers.     

Optical Identifications of IRAS Point Sources Based on Low-Dispersion FBS Spectra. Stars. V

A fifth list of point sources from the IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC) that are optically identified with stars of late spectral types is given. The list contains data on 75 objects. The identifications were based on the Digital Sky Survey (DSS), the First Byurakan Survey, blue and red maps of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, and infrared fluxes at the wavelengths 12, 25, 60, and 100 m in the regions of +73° +80° and 03^h30^m 18^h30^m and of +80° +90° and 00^h00^m 20^h00^m. Of the 99 objects, which are given in the IRAS PSC as unidentified sources of infrared emission, 24 are associated with known stars in existing catalogs while 75 sources proved to be unknown in the optical range. The optical coordinates, their departures from the IR coordinates, the V stellar magnitudes, the color indices CI, and the preliminary spectral subtypes have been determined. The objects have optical magnitudes in the range of 6 ^m .5-17 ^m .2. Finder charts from the DSS are given for the 69 new objects.     

Investigation of Galaxies of the Second Byurakan Sky Survey. IV. Spectroscopic Observations in the Fields of 11h30m, +59° and 12h00m, +59°

Spectroscopic observations of 71 objects have completed the follow-up spectroscopy of galaxies in two adjacent fields of the Second Byurakan Survey with central coordinates = 11^h30^m, = +59° and = 12^h00^m, = +59°. The spectra were obtained on the 2.6-m telescope of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory and the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. The redshifts and absolute stellar magnitudes of all the galaxies have been determined. The objects have been classified using an adapted scheme.     

Comments on filament-disintegration and its relation to other aspects of solar activity

Studies of disparitions brusques in solar cycles 19 and 20 (to 1969) indicate that such events occur frequently. Approximately 30% of all large filaments in these cycles disintegrated in the course of their transit across the solar disk. Major flares occurred with above average frequency on the last day on which 141 large disappearing filaments were observed (1958–60; 1966–69). Relationships between a disintegrating filament on July 10–11, 1959, a prior major flare, a newly formed spot, and concomitant growth of H plage are presented. Observation of prior descending prominence material apparently directed towards the location of the flare of 1959 July 15^d19^h23^m is reported. The development of the filament-associated flare of February 13, 1967 is described.Visiting Astronomer, McMath-Hulbert Observatory.     

Post-flare loops of 26 June 1992

We observed the large post-flare loop system, which developed after the X 3.9 flare of 25 June 1992 at 2011 UT, in H with the Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass Spectrograph at Pic-du-Midi and in X-rays with the it Yohkoh/SXT instrument. Following the long-term development of cool and hot plasmas, we have determined the emission measure of the cool plasma and, for the first time, the temporal evolution of the hot-loop emission measure and temperature during the entire gradual phase. Thus, it was possible to infer the temporal variation of electron densities, leading to estimates of cooling times. A gradual decrease of the hot-loop emission measure was observed, from 4 × 10³⁰ cm^–5 at 2300 UT on 25 June 1992 to 3 × 10²⁸ cm^–5 at 1310 UT on 26 June 1992. During the same period, the temperature decreased only slowly from 7.2 to 6.0 × 10⁶ K. Using recent results of NLTE modeling of prominence-like plasmas, we also derive the emission measure of cool H loops and discuss their temperature and ionisation degree. During two hours of H observations (11–13 hours after the flare) the averaged emission measure does not show any significant change, though the amount of visible cool material decreases and the volume of the loops increases. The emission measure in H, after correction for the Doppler-brightening effect, is slightly lower than in soft X-rays. Since the hot plasma seems to be more spatially extended, we arrive at electron densities in the range n _infe ^supho n _infe ^supcool 2 × 10¹⁰ cm^–3 at the time of the H observations.These results are consistent with the post-flare loop model proposed by Forbes, Malherbe, and Priest (1989). The observed slow decrease of the emission measure could be due to an increase of the volume of the loops and a gradual decrease of the chromospheric ablation driven by the reconnection, which seems to remain effective continuously for more than 16 hours. The cooling time for hot loops to cool down to 10⁴ K and to appear in H would be only a few minutes at the beginning of the gradual phase but could be as long as 2 hours at the end, several hours later.     

The first byurakan spectral sky survey. Late spectral class stars. VII. The zone +76° ≤ δ ≤ +80°

We present the seventh list of stars of the late M and C spectral classes taken from the plates of the First Byurakan Spectral Sky Survey (FBS). Data on 24 objects, 2 of which are carbon stars of early subclasses (R-stars), are given for the first time. The spectral membership of two known stars is established. The objects lie in the zone 3 ^h 40 ^m 18 ^h 30 ^m and +76° +80°.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 38, No. 3, 1995.     

Theory of the Trojan asteroids

In the previously published Parts I and II of the paper, the author has constructed a formal long-periodic solution for the case of 11 resonance in the restricted problem of three bodies to 0(m ^3/2), wherem is the small mass parameter of the system. The time-dependencet(, ,m), where is the mean synodic longitude and is related to the Jacobi constant, has been expressed by ahyperelliptic integral. It is shown here that with the approximationm=0 in the integrand, the functiont(, , 0) can be expanded in a series involving standardelliptic functions. Then the problem of inversion can be formally solved, yielding the function (t, , 0).Similarly, the normalized period (,m) of the motion can be approximated by theHagihara hyperelliptic integral (, 0), corresponding tom=0. This integral is also expanded into elliptic functions. Asymptotic forms for (, 0) are derived for 0 and for 1, corresponding to the extreme members of thetadpole branch of the family of orbits.     

The stationary post-flare arch of May 21/22, 1980

On May 21/22, 1980 the Hard X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer aboard the SMM imaged an extensive coronal structure after the occurrence of a two-ribbon flare on May 21, 20:50 UT. The structure was observed from 22:20 UT on May 21 until its disappearence at 09:00 UT on May 22.At 22:20 UT the brightest pixel in the arch was located at a projected altitude of 95 000 km above the zero line of the longitudinal magnetic field. At 23:02 UT the maximum of brightness shifted to a neighbouring pixel with approximately the same projected altitude. This sudden shift indicates that the X-ray structure consisted of (at least) two separate arches at approximately the same altitude, one of which succeeded the other as the brightest arch in the structure at 23:02 UT.From 23:02 UT onwards the maximum of brightness did not change its position in the HXIS coarse field of view. With a spatial resolution of 32 this places an upper limit of 1.1 km s^-1 on the rise velocity of the arch. Thus, contrary to a similar arch observed on November 6/7, where rise velocities of the order of 10 km s^-1 were measured in the same phase of development, the May 22 arch was a stationary structure at an altitude of 145000 km.The following values were estimated for the physically relevant quantities of the May 21/22 arch at the time of its maximum brightness (23:00 UT): temperature T 6.3 × 10⁶ K, electron density n _e 1.1 × 10⁹ cm^-3, total emitting volume V 5 × 10²⁹ cm³, energy density 2.9 erg cm^–3, total energy contents E 1.4 × 10³⁰ erg, total mass M 9 × 10¹⁴ g.The top of the arch was observed at 145 000 km altitude within 1.5 hr after the flare occurrence. Since it seems unlikely that the structure already existed prior to the flare at 20:50 UT, the arch must have risen to its stationary position with an average velocity exceeding 17 km s^–1 (possibly much faster). We speculate that the arch was formed very fast at the flare onset, when (part of) the active region loop system was elevated within minutes to the observed altitude.     

Optical Identifications of IRAS Point Sources. Galaxies. VII

A seventh list of objects from the BIG (Byurakan-IRAS galaxies) sample is given: 95 galaxies identified with 63 point sources from the IRAS Point Source Catalog. The identifications were based on the Digital Sky Survey (DSS), the First Byurakan Survey, blue and red maps from the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, and infrared fluxes at 12, 25, 60, and 100 m in the region of +65° 69° and 14^h00^m 18^h05^m with an area of 96 deg². For the identified galaxies the optical coordinates, their departures from the IR coordinates, the stellar V magnitudes, morphological types, angular sizes, and position angles were determined. The objects have optical magnitudes in the range of 13 ^m .8-21 ^m .5 and angular sizes in the range of 4-38. Finder charts from the DSS are given for these objects.     

The roots of coronal structure in the Sun's surface

We have compared the structures seen on X-ray images obtained by a flight of the NIXT sounding rocket payload on July 11, 1991 with near-simultaneous photospheric and chromospheric structures and magnetic fields observed at Big Bear. The X-ray images reflect emission of both Mgx and Fexvi, formed at 1 × 10⁶ K and 3 × 10⁶ K, respectively. The brightest H sources correspond to a dying sub-flare and other active region components, all of which reveal coronal enhancements situated spatially well above the H emission. The largest set of X-ray arches connected plages of opposite polarity in a large bipolar active region. The arches appear to lie in a small range of angle in the meridian plane connecting their footpoints. Sunspots are dark on the surface and in the corona. For the first time we see an emerging flux region in X-rays and find the emission extends twice as high as the H arches. Many features which we believe to correspond to X-ray bright points (XBPs) were observed. Whether by resolution or spectral band, the number detected greatly exceeds that from previous work. All of the brighter XBPs correspond to bipolar H features, while unipolar H bright points are the base of more diffuse comet-like coronal arches, generally vertical. These diverge from individual features by less than 30°, and give a good measure of what the canopies must do. The H data shows that all the H features were present the entire day, so they are not clearly disappearing or reappearing. We find a new class of XBPs which we call satellite points, elements of opposite polarity linked to nearby umbrae by invisible field lines. The satellite points change rapidly in X-ray brightness during the flight. An M1.9 flare occurred four hours after the flight; examination of the pre-flare structures reveals nothing unusual.     

Investigation of Galaxies of the Second Byurakan Sky Survey. III. Spectroscopic Observations in the Fields of 09h47m, +51° and 09h50m, +55°

The results of observations of 49 objects from the second Byurakan spectroscopic sky survey are given; they complete the recent spectroscopy of galactic samples in the fields centered on the coordinates = 09^h47^m, = +51° and = 09^h50^m, = +55°. The spectra were obtained on the 2.6-m telescope of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, and the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, during 1998-2000. Redshifts and absolute stellar magnitudes were determined for all the galaxies.     

Study of the post-flare loops on 29 July 1973

Bright and dark curvilinear structures observed between the two major chromospheric ribbons during the flare of 29 July 1973 on films from the Big Bear Solar Observatory are interpreted as a typical system of coronal loops joining the inner boundaries of the separating flare ribbons. These observations, made through a 0.25 Å H filter, only show small segments of the loops having Doppler shifts within approximately ± 22 km s^–1 relative to the filter passband centered at H, H -0.5 Å or H +0.5 Å. However, from our knowledge of the typical behavior of such loop systems observed at the limb in H and at 5303 Å, it has been possible to reconstruct an appoximate model of the probable development of the loops of the 29 July flare as they would have been viewed at the limb relative to the position of a prominence which began to erupt a few minutes before the start of the flare. It is seen that the loops ascended through the space previously occupied by the filament. On the assumption that H fine structures parallel the magnetic field, we can conclude that a dramatic reorientation of the direction of the magnetic field in the corona occurred early in the flare, subsequent to the start of the eruption of the filament and prior to the time that the H loops ascended through the space previously occupied by the filament.     

Optical Identifications of IRAS Point Sources. Galaxies. VI

A sixth list of objects from the BIG (Byurakan—IRAS galaxies) sample is given: 87 galaxies identified with 60 point sources from the IRAS Point Source Catalog. The identifications were based on the Digital Sky Survey (DSS), the First Byurakan Survey, blue and red maps from the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, and infrared fluxes at 12, 25, 60, and 100 µm in the region of +65° +69° and 9^h15^m 14^h00^m with an area of 111 deg². We determined the optical coordinates of the identified galaxies, their departures from the IR coordinates, and their V magnitudes, morphological types, angular sizes, and position angles. The objects have optical magnitudes in the range of 12 ^m .5-21 ^m .5 and angular sizes in the range of 2-29. Finder charts from the DSS are given for these objects.     

The first Byurakan Spectral Sky Survey. Stars of later spectral classes. V. The zone +65°⩽δ⩽+69°

We give the fifth list of red stars of the First Byurakan Spectral Sky Survey. The objects are located in the zone 5^h 18^h 30^m and +65 +69. The list contains the data on 18 new objects, one of which is a star of class R. We also give the first determination of the spectral class of 11 variable objects, for four of which we give the spectrograms in the range of wavelengths 4700–6700å.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1994.     

Remote flare brightenings and type III reverse slope bursts

We present two large flares which were exceptional in that each produced an extensive chain of H emission patches in remote quiet regions more than 10⁵ km away from the main flare site. They were also unusual in that a large group of the rare type III reverse slope bursts accompanied each flare.The observations suggest that this is no coincidence, but that the two phenomena are directly connected. The onset of about half of the remote H emission patches were found to be nearly simultaneous with RS bursts. One of the flares (August 26, 1979) was also observed in hard X-rays; the RS bursts occurred during hard X-ray spikes. For the other flare (June 16, 1973), soft X-ray filtergrams show coronal loops connecting from the main flare site to the remote H brightenings. There were no other flares in progress during either flare; this, along with the X-ray observations, indicates that the RS burst electrons were generated in these flares and not elsewhere on the Sun. The remote H brightenings were apparently not produced by a blast wave from the main flare; no Moreton waves were observed, and the spatially disordered development of the remote H chains is further evidence against a blast wave. From geometry, time and energy considerations we propose: (1) That the remote H brightenings were initiated by direct heating of the chromosphere by RS burst electrons traveling in closed magnetic loops connecting the flare site to the remote patches; and (2) that after onset, the brightenings were heated by thermal conduction by slower thermal electrons (kT1 keV) which immediately follow the RS burst electrons along the same loops.     

The First Byurakan Spectral Sky Survey. Blue stellar objects. IX. The zone +69‡≤‡≤+73‡ and additional objects from previous regions

We present the ninth list of blue stellar objects of the second part of the First Byurakan Spectral Sky Survey (FBS). We publish 61 objects in the zone +69+73, 3 ^h 50^m18 ^h 10 ^m and 23 additional objects from the previous 5 zones of the survey. Of the 84 objects, 64 are discovered for the first time. We give the equatorial coordinates, stellar V magnitudes, color indices, and preliminary classes of the objects with respect to slitless low-dispersion spectra. For the 23 objects we give approximate types, among which there are 5 candidates for quasars, one for a Seyfert galaxy, 3 UV-excess galaxies, 9 white dwarfs, 4 cataclysmic variables and one probable planetary nebula.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 3, 1994.The authors are grateful to the American Astronomical Society for support of the present paper.