Some results of investigations of aurorae and night airglow during the I.G.Y. and I.G.C.

A general review is given of the results of the airglow and auroral investigations during I.G.Y and I.G.C. in the Institute for Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R. A strong helium emission at 10830 Å has been discovered in sunlit aurorae and in the ordinary twilight airglow. It is now observed regularly. A detailed theory of this fluorescent emission has been developed. Extensive observations on the hydroxyl bands between 5000 and 12,000 Å have been carried out at a number of stations. Marked seasonal and geographical variations have been found in them. During intense aurorae the line-width of the 6300 Å emission from great altitudes increases. The effect has been studied using Fabry-Perot interferometers. Contributions have been made to knowledge on auroral morphology. The interpretation of some of the results which are described in the review are discussed.     

Investigation of Barred Galaxies. VII. Comparative Statistics of SB and SA Galaxies. Near and Mid-IR Regions

The near and mid-IR properties of barred and unbarred spiral galaxies are discussed on the basis of complete samples that were compiled earlier. The two types of spirals are shown not to differ from one another in emission power in the near and mid-IR ranges. Multiple regression and principal component analysis have been applied to investigate near and mid-IR properties of SB and SA galaxies, particularly their relation to X-ray and radio continuum emissions. There are definite differences between SB and SA spirals in the near and mid-IR. In the case of SB galaxies, the compactness of 10 m emission is closely related to the J - H color index, and the redder J - H color corresponds to relatively more extended emission at 10 m. It is assumed that these are caused by the bar itself, which stimulates enhanced star formation in a barred galaxy with respect to unbarred spiral.     

Spectral and photometric observations of TT Ari. III.

The nova-like cataclysmic variable (CV) TT Ari was detected in its second deep minimum in November 2009. Study of its evolutionary phase is very important for research on the nature of CVs in the VY Scl group. During this phase the spectral energy distribution of the star changed rapidly. The emission lines of elements with high excitation, such as HeII λ4686 and NIII/CIII, as well as broad absorption in the hydrogen Balmer series, originating in the photosphere of the white dwarf or in the lower layers of an accretion disk, vanished. The average ratio of the intensities of the Balmer series emission lines in the normal state and in the deep low state can be explained in terms of a simple photoionization-recombination model. At the same time, the intensity ratios of the triplet-singlet levels of neutral helium, HeIλ5876/ HeIλ6678, differ greatly in the normal state of the star and in its deep minimum. In the deep minimum, the star’s spectrum contains only a very faint trace of the G band at a wavelength λ4300?, together with flarelike events with amplitudes up to Δm ≈ 2^m.0 or greater. These and some other observed characteristics indicate that during the deep minimum it is mainly emission from the secondary companion of the binary system, which is probably a T Tau star of an early K spectral class, that is observed.     

Measurement and analysis of rotation in close binaries. I. Observations and results

A set of close binaries have been observed using the same instrumental configuration at Kitt Peak National Observatory, USA. The rotation velocities for 99 components in 75 binaries, derived by two methods, are given here, including 55 components for the first time. These high-accuracy velocities provide a reliable observational basis for investigating synchronism in binaries and the various synchronizing mechanisms.     

Comment on: “Electrical coupling of the E- and F-regions”: by R. A. Heelis,P. C. Kendall,R. J. Moffett,D. W. Windle and H. Rishbeth

New measurements have been made of the reduced polarization in a Fraunhofer line (Hβ) of blue sky light. The value of the depolarization agrees well with a previously reported intensity filling-in effect. There is no evidence of a change of the azimuth of vibration of the polarization across the line profile.     

Comment on: Constraints on the depth and variability of the lunar regolith,by B. B. Wilcox,M. S. Robinson,P. C. Thomas,and B. R. Hawke

Abstract— Any permanent presence on the Moon will require use of materials from the lunar regolith, the surface soil layer on the Moon. Thus, knowledge of the thickness of the lunar regolith is essential. It has been proposed that crater counts obtained from high Sun angle photography give larger estimates of impact crater equilibrium diameters than for low Sun angle photography, and thus deeper estimates of lunar surface regolith than were previously made using crater morphology, size of blocky rimmed craters, and equilibrium diameters determined on low Sun angle images. The purpose of this comment is to evaluate this result as a means of resolving this important question before planning for future lunar missions is undertaken     

Microvariability and fast variability of stars. I. standard stars

This is a study of observations of the photometric quantities Vt and Bt, reported in the Hipparcos catalog, for 15 standard stars in order to search for microvariability and rapid variability in their emission. The microvariability is found to be characterized mainly by smooth fluctuations in the brightness. Changes in the magnitudes of the stars HD 28355 and HD 130109 with a period of ~150 min and an amplitude <0^m.02 appear to be caused by vertical shifts in their photospheres. Changes in the magnitudes with an amplitude of ~0^m.01 and a period of 11.4^d in the star e Eri were related to the rotation of spots. A similar microvariability period and amplitude in the star 51 Peg most likely originates in the influence of a planet.     

C.T.R. Wilson and the cloud chamber

A brief history of C.T.R. Wilson’s invention of the cloud chamber is presented. Initially, the research programme concerned the origin of the atmospheric phenomena he had experienced as a temporary meteorological observer on Ben Nevis. As his understanding of the physical conditions under which the condensation of water droplets took place from supersaturated water vapour developed, he realised that the technique provided the first way of imaging the tracks of the charged particles released by X-rays, in radioactive decays and in nuclear interactions.