Latest results on Jovian disk X-rays from XMM-Newton

We present the results of a spectral study of the soft X-ray emission (0.2–2.5 keV) from low-latitude (‘disk’) regions of Jupiter. The data were obtained during two observing campaigns with XMM-Newton in April and November 2003. While the level of the emission remained approximately the same between April and the first half of the November observation, the second part of the latter shows an enhancement by about 40% in the 0.2–2.5 keV flux. A very similar, and apparently correlated increase, in time and scale, was observed in the solar X-ray and EUV flux.The months of October and November 2003 saw a period of particularly intense solar activity, which appears reflected in the behavior of the soft X-rays from Jupiter's disk. The X-ray spectra, from the XMM-Newton EPIC CCD cameras, are all well fitted by a coronal model with temperatures in the range 0.4–0.5 keV, with additional line emission from Mg XI (1.35 keV) and Si XIII (1.86 keV): these are characteristic lines of solar X-ray spectra at maximum activity and during flares.The XMM-Newton observations lend further support to the theory that Jupiter's disk X-ray emission is controlled by the Sun, and may be produced in large part by scattering, elastic and fluorescent, of solar X-rays in the upper atmosphere of the planet.     

Study of X-ray and γ-ray flare from Mkn-421 during February 2010 using Swift and Fermi observations

In this work, we report on the intense flaring activity from Mkn-421 in X-ray and γ-ray regimes simultaneously observed by Swift-XRT/BAT and Fermi-LAT satellite telescopes in February 2010. With the aim of understanding the underlying physics of the flaring state in Mkn-421, we have performed a detailed spectral analysis of Swift/XRT and Fermi/LAT observations of Mkn-421 during February 12–25, 2010 (MJD 55239–55252). Over this period, we study the daily light curves and spectral variability of the source in 1–10 keV, 0.1–1 GeV and 1–100 GeV energy bands. We have performed the spectral analysis of Swift-XRT and Fermi/LAT observations to study the spectral evolution in the X-ray and gamma-ray energy domains respectively. We also compute the fractional variability amplitude in both the energy bands during the above period. We study trends between spectral parameters and physical insights provided by the parameter responsible for X-ray and γ-ray emission from the source. We search for energetic features phenomenologically linked to the single zone SSC model for blazar emission. We also produce the broad band SED with a leptonic single zone SSC model for the source.     

Spectral behavior of AE Aqr between high and low states in the UV

We present ultraviolet spectra of the AE Aqr binary system taken by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) during the period from 1978 to 1993, to accomplish a large scale study of what happens to the ultraviolet fluxes of different emission lines during different orbital phases. Five profiles of AE Aqr binary system show variations of line fluxes at different orbital phases are presented. We concentrated on studying N V emission line at 1240 Å, O I emission line at 1306 Å, He II emission line at 1640 Å, N III emission line at 1749 Å and Si III emission line at 1892 Å, produced in the line emitting gas (Eracleous et al., 1994, Eracleous and Horne, 1996), by calculating the line fluxes of these spectral lines. Our results show that there are spectral variations of line fluxes for the aforementioned emission lines at different times, similar to the light curves found for AE Aqr binary system by using ASCA, XMM – Newton and Chandra X-ray observations (Mauche, 2006). We attributed these spectral variations to the variations of the mass-transfer rate (Ikhsanov et al., 2004) and to the collisions between the compact blobs and the fluffy blobs, where the collisions are supersonic, shocking the gas, causing heating, then expansion (Eracleous et al., 1994, Eracleous and Horne, 1996, Horne, 2009).     

The relation between the long-term X-ray and optical activity of the polar AM Her (RX J1816.2 + 4952)

We analyze the relation between the long-term (1996–2009) activity of the polar AM Her in the optical and hard X-ray spectral regions. We investigate the mean values of the intensities in the individual high-state episodes. We made use of the ASM/RXTE observations for a time-series analysis of the long-term variations in the 1.5–12 keV band. The optical data came from the AFOEV database. We reveal a complicated relation between the optical (I_O) and hard X-ray intensity (I_X). We argue that our observations cannot be explained by the variations of the orbital modulation in the high-state. Also, the precession of the spin axis of the white dwarf or asynchronous rotation of this object are unlikely in our case. We show that the basic properties of the emitting region (s) is (are) established in the early phase (several days long) of the high-state episode but they are not reproduced for every episode. The increase of the mass transfer rate from the donor that switches the polar from the low to the high-state also establishes a division of the emission released during the accretion process into various spectral regions that is valid only for a given episode. These results enable us a better understanding of the multifrequency behavior of polars on long time-scales.     

Unstable cyclic modulation during the main outburst of KS 1731-260

We analyze the intensity modulation in the final, very broad peak of the main outburst of the neutron star low-mass X-ray binary KS 1731-260. We use ASM/RXTE observations for a time-series analysis of the long-term variations. We also investigate the X-ray color (hardness ratio) changes in the 1.5–12 keV band. The modulation with the mean cycle-length of 37 days is transient and is detected only in several time segments. It underwent significant variations of both the cycle-length and the amplitude. This cycle cannot be caused by transitions of the outer disk region between the hot and cool state that gave rise to the subsequent series of the echo outbursts. Because of its high X-ray luminosity (L_X ≈ 0.1 of the Eddington luminosity), KS 1731-260 is a promising candidate for having its accretion disk tilted and warped. The properties of the modulation can therefore be explained as due to variable (multimodal), but still detectable superorbital periods caused by a disk precession with mode switching and unstable warps. We find that a variable L_X is not the sole parameter that governs the presence of the cycle. Variable absorption of X-rays cannot be dominant in producing the modulation of the ASM flux during the cycle. Variations of the stream impact on the tilted and warped disk, hence affecting the mass flow in the inner disk region, consequently the emission components, are a promising mechanism for the observed cycle. In this scenario, the true cycle-length can be twice as long because of the double-wave profile.     

Evidence for a possible black hole remnant in the Type IIL Supernova 1979C

We present an analysis of archival X-ray observations of the Type IIL supernova SN 1979C. We find that its X-ray luminosity is remarkably constant at (6.5 ± 0.1) × 10³⁸ erg s^?1 over a period of 12 years between 1995 and 2007. The high and steady luminosity is considered as possible evidence for a stellar-mass (～5–10 M_⊙) black hole accreting material from either a supernova fallback disk or from a binary companion, or possibly from emission from a central pulsar wind nebula. We find that the bright and steady X-ray light curve is not consistent with either a model for a supernova powered by magnetic braking of a rapidly rotating magnetar, or a model where the blast wave is expanding into a dense circumstellar wind.     

Hβ line width and the UV–X-ray spectra of luminous AGN

The width of the broad Hβ emission line is the primary defining characteristic of the NLS1 class. This parameter is also an important component of Boroson and Green’s optical “Eigenvector 1” (EV1), which links steeper soft X-ray spectra with narrower Hβ emission, stronger Hβ blue wing, stronger optical Fe II emission, and weaker [O III] λ5007. Potentially, EV1 represents a fundamental physical process linking the dynamics of fueling and outflow with the accretion rate. We attempted to understand these relationships by extending the optical spectra into the UV for a sample of 22 QSOs with high quality soft-X-ray spectra, and discovered a whole new set of UV relationships that suggest that high accretion rates are linked to dense gas and perhaps nuclear starbursts. While it has been argued that narrow (BLR) Hβ means low Black Hole mass in luminous NLS1s, the C IV λ1549 and Lyα emission lines are broader, perhaps the result of outflows driven by their high Eddington accretion rates. We present some new trends of optical-UV with X-ray spectral energy distributions. Steeper X-ray spectra appear associated with stronger UV relative to optical continua, but the presence of strong UV absorption lines is associated with depressed soft X-rays and redder optical–UV continua.     

The cyclic variation of the outburst recurrence time in GRS 1747–312

We present an analysis of the long-term evolution of outbursts in the neutron star soft X-ray transient GRS 1747–312. Observations taken from ASM/RXTE, in the 1.5–12 keV passband, are utilized. We reveal a cyclic behavior in the residuals of the outburst recurrence time with respect to the mean value of T_C = 136 ± 2 days. The profile of this cycle is approximately sinusoidal; the remaining cycle-to-cycle fluctuations possess a considerably smaller amplitude. We find that, although the peak flux of the outbursts displays a significant scatter at a given phase of the cycle, the most luminous outbursts occur after the longest T_C. The fluence displays a large scatter for the individual outbursts and tends to decrease with time. We argue that although the cycle-length of ～5.4 yr is compatible with that of the presumed magnetic activity of the late-type donor, it cannot be explained by variations of the mass outflow from the donor to the disk. In our interpretation, the stellar activity is translated to variations of T_C via interaction of the magnetic field of the spots on the donor with the magnetic field of the disk. This gives rise to a variable efficiency of the removal of the angular momentum from the quiescent disk during the activity cycle of the donor. This mechanism can be strengthened by accompanying variations of the radius of the optically thin advection-dominated accretion flow in quiescence. We show that the peak mass accretion rate onto the neutron star in the individual outbursts of GRS 1747–312 is considerably more stable than in two other similar systems with frequent outbursts, Aql X-1 and 4U 1608–52; this allows the cyclic modulation of T_C to show itself in GRS 1747–312.     

Absolute magnitudes of asteroids and a revision of asteroid albedo estimates from WISE thermal observations

We obtained estimates of the Johnson V absolute magnitudes (H) and slope parameters (G) for 583 main-belt and near-Earth asteroids observed at Ond?ejov and Table Mountain Observatory from 1978 to 2011. Uncertainties of the absolute magnitudes in our sample are <0.21 mag, with a median value of 0.10 mag. We compared the H data with absolute magnitude values given in the MPCORB, Pisa AstDyS and JPL Horizons orbit catalogs. We found that while the catalog absolute magnitudes for large asteroids are relatively good on average, showing only little biases smaller than 0.1 mag, there is a systematic offset of the catalog values for smaller asteroids that becomes prominent in a range of H greater than ～10 and is particularly big above H ～ 12. The mean (H_catalog ? H) value is negative, i.e., the catalog H values are systematically too bright. This systematic negative offset of the catalog values reaches a maximum around H = 14 where the mean (H_catalog ? H) is ?0.4 to ?0.5. We found also smaller correlations of the offset of the catalog H values with taxonomic types and with lightcurve amplitude, up to ～0.1 mag or less. We discuss a few possible observational causes for the observed correlations, but the reason for the large bias of the catalog absolute magnitudes peaking around H = 14 is unknown; we suspect that the problem lies in the magnitude estimates reported by asteroid surveys. With our photometric H and G data, we revised the preliminary WISE albedo estimates made by Masiero et al. (Masired, J.R. et al. [2011]. Astrophys. J. 741, 68–89) and Mainzer et al. (Mainzer, A. et al. [2011b]. Astrophys. J. 743, 156–172) for asteroids in our sample. We found that the mean geometric albedo of Tholen/Bus/DeMeo C/G/B/F/P/D types with sizes of 25–300 km is p_V = 0.057 with the standard deviation (dispersion) of the sample of 0.013 and the mean albedo of S/A/L types with sizes 0.6–200 km is 0.197 with the standard deviation of the sample of 0.051. The standard errors of the mean albedos are 0.002 and 0.006, respectively; systematic observational or modeling errors can predominate over the quoted formal errors. There is apparent only a small, marginally significant difference of 0.031 ± 0.011 between the mean albedos of sub-samples of large and small (divided at diameter 25 km) S/A/L asteroids, with the smaller ones having a higher albedo. The difference will have to be confirmed and explained; we speculate that it may be either a real size dependence of surface properties of S type asteroids or a small size-dependent bias in the data (e.g., a bias towards higher albedos in the optically-selected sample of asteroids). A trend of the mean of the preliminary WISE albedo estimates increasing with asteroid size decreasing from D ～ 30 down to ～5 km (for S types) showed in Mainzer et al. (Mainzer, A. et al. [2011a]. Astrophys. J. 741, 90–114) appears to be mainly due to the systematic bias in the MPCORB absolute magnitudes that progressively increases with H in the corresponding range H = 10–14.     

Solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays during 19–23 solar cycles

We make a detailed analysis of cross-correlation and time-lag between monthly data of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) intensity and different solar activity indices (e.g., sunspot number, sunspot area, green coronal Fe line and 10.7 cm solar radio flux) during 19–23 solar cycles. GCRs time-series data from Kiel neutron monitor station and solar data from the last 50 years period, covering five solar cycles (19–23), and alternating solar polarity states (i.e., five A < 0 and four A > 0) have been investigated. We find a clear asymmetry in the cross-correlation between GCRs and solar activity indicators for both odd and even-numbered solar cycles. The time-lags between GCRs and solar parameters are found different in different solar cycles as well as in the opposite polarity states (A < 0 and A > 0) within the same solar cycle. Possible explanations of the observed results are discussed in light of modulation models, including drift effects.     

Thermal structure and CO distribution for the Venus mesosphere/lower thermosphere: 2001–2009 inferior conjunction sub-millimeter CO absorption line observations

Sub-millimeter ¹²CO (346 GHz) and ¹³CO (330 GHz) line absorptions, formed in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere of Venus (70–120 km), have been mapped across the nightside Venus disk during 2001–2009 inferior conjunctions, employing the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Radiative transfer analysis of these thermal line absorptions supports temperature and CO mixing profile retrievals, as well as Doppler wind fields (described in the companion paper, Clancy et al., 2012). Temporal sampling over the hourly, daily, weekly and interannual timescales was obtained over 2001–2009. On timescales inferred as several weeks, we observe changes between very distinctive CO and temperature nightside distributions. Retrieved nightside CO, temperature distributions for January 2006 and August 2007 observations display strong local time, latitudinal gradients consistent with early morning (2–3 am), low-to-mid latitude (0–40NS) peaks of 100–200% in CO and 20–30 K in temperature. The temperature increases are most pronounced above 100 km altitudes, whereas CO variations extend from 105 km (top altitude of retrieval) down to below 80 km in the mesosphere. In contrast, the 2004 and 2009 periods of observation display modest temperature (5–10 K) and CO (30–60%) increases, that are centered on antisolar (midnight) local times and equatorial latitudes. Doppler wind derived global (zonal and should be SSAS) circulations from the same data do not exhibit variations correlated with these CO, temperature short-term variations. However, large-scale residual wind fields not fit by the zonal, SSAS circulations are observed in concert with the strong temperature, CO gradients observed in 2006 and 2007 (Clancy et al., 2010). These short term variations in nightside CO, temperature distributions may also be related to observed nightside variations in O₂ airglow (Hueso, H., Sánchez-Lavega, A., Piccioni, G., Drossart, P., Gérard, J.C., Khatuntsev, I., Zasova, L., Migliorini, A. [2008]. J. Geophys. Res. 113, E00B02. doi:10.1029/2008JE003081) and upper mesospheric SO and SO₂ layers (Sandor, B.J., Clancy, R.T., Moriarty-Schieven, G.H., Mills, F.P. [2010]. Icarus 208, 49–60).The retrieved temperature profiles also exhibit 20 K long-term (2001–2009) variations in nightside (whole disk) average mesospheric (80–95 km) temperatures, similar to 1982–1991 variations identified in previous millimeter CO line observations (Clancy et al., 1991). Global average diurnal variations in lower thermospheric temperatures and mesospheric CO abundances decreased by a factor-of-two between 2000–2002 versus 2007–2009 periods of combined dayside and nightside observations. The infrequency and still limited temporal extent of the observations make it difficult to assign specific timescales to such longer term variations, which may be associated with longer term variations observed for cloud top SO₂ (Esposito, L.W., Bertaux, J.-L., Krasnopolsky, V., Moroz, V.I., Zasova, L.V. [1997]. Chemistry of lower atmosphere and clouds. In: Bougher, S.W., Hunten, D.M., Phillips, R.J. (Eds.), VENUS II, 1362pp) and mesospheric water vapor (Sandor, B.J., Clancy, R.T. [2005]. Icarus 177, 129–143) abundances.     

Rotation periods of binary asteroids with large separations – Confronting the Escaping Ejecta Binaries model with observations

Durda et al. (Durda, D.D., Bottke, W.F., Enke, B.L., Merline, W.J., Asphaug, E., Richardson, D.C., Leinhardt, Z.M. [2004]. Icarus 170, 243–257), using numerical models, suggested that binary asteroids with large separation, called Escaping Ejecta Binaries (EEBs), can be created by fragments ejected from a disruptive impact event. It is thought that six binary asteroids recently discovered might be EEBs because of the high separation between their components (～100 > a/R_p > ～20).However, the rotation periods of four out of the six objects measured by our group and others and presented here show that these suspected EEBs have fast rotation rates of 2.5–4 h. Because of the small size of the components of these binary asteroids, linked with this fast spinning, we conclude that the rotational-fission mechanism, which is a result of the thermal YORP effect, is the most likely formation scenario. Moreover, scaling the YORP effect for these objects shows that its timescale is shorter than the estimated ages of the three relevant Hirayama families hosting these binary asteroids. Therefore, only the largest (D ～ 19 km) suspected asteroid, (317) Roxane, could be, in fact, the only known EEB.In addition, our results confirm the triple nature of (3749) Balam by measuring mutual events on its lightcurve that match the orbital period of a nearby satellite in addition to its distant companion. Measurements of (1509) Esclangona at different apparitions show a unique shape of the lightcurve that might be explained by color variations.     

The source of the helium visible lines in η Carinae

We assume that the helium-I lines emitted by the massive binary system η Carinae are formed in the acceleration zone of the less-massive secondary star. We calculate the Doppler shift of the lines as a function of orbital phase and of several parameters of the binary system. We find that a good fit is obtained if the helium lines are formed in the region where the secondary wind speed is v_zone = 430 km s⁻¹. The acceptable binary eccentricity is in the range 0.90 ≲ e ≲ 0.95, and the inclination angle (the angle between a line perpendicular to the orbital plane and the line of sight) is in the range 40° ≲ i ≲ 55°. Lower values of e require higher values of i, and vice versa. The binary system is oriented such that the secondary star is in our direction (closer to us) during periastron passage. The orbital motion can account in part to the Doppler shift of the peak in X-ray emission.     

Spectroscopic and photometric study of the contact binary BO CVn

We present the results of the study of the contact binary system BO CVn. We have obtained physical parameters of the components based on combined analysis of new, multi-color light curves and spectroscopic mass ratio. This is the first time the latter has been determined for this object. We derived the contact configuration for the system with a very high filling factor of about 88%. We were able to reproduce the observed light curve, namely the flat bottom of the secondary minimum, only if a third light has been added into the list of free parameters. The resulting third light contribution is significant, about 20–24%, while the absolute parameters of components are: M₁ = 1.16, M₂ = 0.39, R₁ = 1.62 and R₂ = 1.00 (in solar units).The O-C diagram shows an upward parabola which, under the conservative mass transfer assumption, would correspond to a mass transfer rate of dM/dt = 6.3 × 10^?8M_⊙/yr, matter being transferred from the less massive component to the more massive one. No cyclic, short-period variations have been found in the O-C diagram (but longer-term variations remain a possibility).     

The O2 nightglow in the martian atmosphere by SPICAM onboard of Mars-Express

We present observations of the O₂(a¹Δ_g) nightglow at 1.27 μm on Mars using the SPICAM IR spectrometer onboard of the Mars Express orbiter. In contrast to the O₂(a¹Δ_g) dayglow that results from the ozone photodissociation, the O₂(a¹Δ_g) nightglow is a product of the recombination of O atoms formed by CO₂ photolysis on the dayside at altitudes higher than 80 km and transported downward above the winter pole by the Hadley circulation. The first detections of the O₂(a¹Δ_g) nightglow in 2010 indicate that it is about two order of magnitude less intense than the dayglow (Bertaux, J.-L., Gondet, B., Bibring, J.-P., Montmessin, F., Lefèvre, F. [2010]. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 42, 1040; Clancy et al. [2010]. Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 42, 1041). SPICAM IR sounds the martian atmosphere in the near-IR range (1–1.7 μm) with the spectral resolution of 3.5 cm^?1 in nadir, limb and solar occultation modes. In 2010 the vertical profiles of the O₂(a¹Δ_g) nightside emission have been obtained near the South Pole at latitudes of 82–83°S for two sequences of observations: L_s = 111–120° and L_s = 152–165°. The altitude of the emission maximum varied from 45 km on L_s = 111–120° to 38–49 km on L_s = 152–165°. Averaged vertically integrated intensity of the emission at these latitudes has shown an increase from 0.22 to 0.35 MR. Those values of total vertical emission rate are consistent with the OMEGA observations on Mars-Express in 2010. The estimated density of oxygen atoms at altitudes from 50 to 65 km varies from 1.5 × 10¹¹ to 2.5 × 10¹¹ cm^?3. Comparison with the LMD general circulation model with photochemistry (Lefèvre, F., Lebonnois, S., Montmessin, F., Forget, F. [2004]. J. Geophys. Res. 109, E07004; Lefèvre et al. [2008]. Nature 454, 971–975) shows that the model reproduces fairly well the O₂(a¹Δ_g) emission layer observed by SPICAM when the large field of view (>20 km on the limb) of the instrument is taken into account.     

Revealing the parameters of the open cluster Ruprecht 58

We present results of a study that combines UBVI photometry, MK spectral classification and proper motions in the area of the, up to now unknown, open cluster Ruprecht 58 at the Puppis region. Star counts from the 2MASS data catalog together with the analysis of CCD UBVI photometry demonstrate that it is a real open cluster with 9′ size approximately. The cluster is placed at a distance of 3.9 kpc and is about 250 Myr old with mean reddening E_(B−V) = 0.33 mag. Proper motions confirm Ruprecht 58 is a real cluster with mean absolute proper motions μ_αcosδ = −2.77 ± 0.45 mas/yr and μ_δ = 4.54 ± 0.45 mas/yr in the magnitude range 13.5 < V < 14.5 and μ_αcosδ = −2.70 ± 0.32 mas/yr and μ_δ = 3.19 ± 0.32 mas/yr in the range 14.5 < V < 16.0. The computation of the cluster mass spectrum slope yielded x = 1.8 in the mass range from ≈1.4 to ≈4m_⊙.     

Interpretation of combined infrared,submillimeter, and millimeter thermal flux data obtained during the Rosetta fly-by of Asteroid (21) Lutetia

The European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft is the first Solar System mission to include instrumentation capable of measuring planetary thermal fluxes at both near-IR (VIRTIS) and submillimeter–millimeter (smm–mm, MIRO) wavelengths. Its primary mission is a 1 year reconnaissance of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko beginning in 2014. During a 2010 close fly-by of Asteroid 21 Lutetia, the VIRTIS and MIRO instruments provided complementary data that have been analyzed to produce a consistent model of Lutetia’s surface layer thermal and electrical properties, including a physical model of self-heating. VIRTIS dayside measurements provided highly resolved 1 K accuracy surface temperatures that required a low thermal inertia, I < 30 J/(K m² s^0.5). MIRO smm and mm measurements of polar night thermal fluxes produced constraints on Lutetia’s subsurface thermal properties to depths comparable to the seasonal thermal wave, yielding a model of I < 20 J/(K m² s^0.5) in the upper few centimeters, increasing with depth in a manner very similar to that of Earth’s Moon. Subsequent MIRO-based model predictions of the dayside surface temperatures reveal negative offsets of ～5–30 K from the higher VIRTIS-measurements. By adding surface roughness in the form of 50% fractional coverage of hemispherical mini-craters to the MIRO-based thermal model, sufficient self-heating is produced to largely remove the offsets relative to the VIRTIS measurements and also reproduce the thermal limb brightening features (relative to a smooth surface model) seen by VIRTIS. The Lutetia physical property constraints provided by the VIRTIS and MIRO data sets demonstrate the unique diagnostic capabilities of combined infrared and submillimeter/millimeter thermal flux measurements.     

Spectral behavior of the symbiotic nova AG Pegasi observed with IUE and HST

Ultraviolet spectra from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) of the symbiotic novae AG Peg during the period 1978–1996 are analyzed. Some spectra showing the modulations of spectral lines at different times are presented. We determined the reddening from the 2200 Å feature, finding that E(B−V) = 0.10 ± 0.02. We studied N IV] at 1486 Å, C IV 1550 Å, and O III] at 1660 Å, produced in the fast wind from the hot white dwarf. The mean wind velocity of the three emission lines is 1300 km s⁻¹ (FWHM). The mean wind mass loss rate is ∼6 × 10⁻⁷ M_⊙ yr⁻¹. The mean temperature is ∼6.5 × 10⁵ K. The mean ultraviolet luminosity is ∼5 × 10³³ erg s⁻¹. The modulations of line fluxes in the emitting region at different times are attributed to the variations of density and temperature of the ejected matter as a result of variations in the rate of mass loss.     

The XMM-Newton view of the yellow hypergiant IRC + 10420 and its surroundings

Among evolved massive stars likely in transition to the Wolf–Rayet phase, IRC + 10420 is probably one of the most enigmatic. It belongs to the category of yellow hypergiants and it is characterized by quite high mass loss episodes. Even though IRC + 10420 benefited of many observations in several wavelength domains, it has never been a target for an X-ray observatory. We report here on the very first dedicated observation of IRC + 10420 in X-rays, using the XMM-Newton satellite. Even though the target is not detected, we derive X-ray flux upper limits of the order of 1–3 × 10⁻¹⁴ erg cm⁻² s⁻¹ (between 0.3 and 10.0 keV), and we discuss the case of IRC + 10420 in the framework of emission models likely to be adequate for such an object. Using the Optical/UV Monitor on board XMM-Newton, we present the very first upper limits of the flux density of IRC + 10420 in the UV domain (between 1800 and 2250 Å and between 2050 and 2450 Å). Finally, we also report on the detection in this field of 10 X-ray and 7 UV point sources, and we briefly discuss their properties and potential counterparts at longer wavelengths.