Worldwide photometry and lightcurve observations of 16 Psyche during the 1975–1976 apparition

We present 26 lightcurves of 16 Psyche from 1975 and 1976. The synodic period during this apparition was 4^h.1958. Combining photometric data from this opposition with those from previous apparitions allowed us to derive a mean phase coefficient in V of 0.026 ± 0.002 mag/deg and to establish that Psyche's absolute V₀ magnitude and rotational amplitude vary with aspect; at 90° aspect, V₀(1, 0) = 6.27 ± 0.05 and the lightcurve amplitude is 0.30 mag, while at 0° or 180° aspect, V₀(1, 0) = 6.02 ± 0.02 and the amplitude is ?0.03 mag. This behavior is accounted for if, to first order, Psyche's shape is that of a triaxial ellipsoid with axial ratios near 5:4:3. Colors at zero phase are U-B = 0.26 ± 0.01 and B-V = 0.71 ± 0.01. Color phase coefficients are <0.001 mag/deg in U-B and 0.0010 ± 0.0004 mag/deg in B-V.     

A photometric study of the minor planet 63 Ausonia

Photoelectric observations of the minor planet 63 Ausonia were obtained on 12 nights during the 1976 opposition at the Astronomical Observatory of Torino. A complete lightcurve with two maxima and two minima was observed with a maximum amplitude of 0.47 mag. The synodic period of rotation, never before determined photoelectrically, was found to be 9^h17^m48^s ± 5^s. The absolute magnitude of the primary maximum, V₀(1, 0) = 7.49 mag, and the phase coefficient, β_v = 0.035 mag/deg, were deduced by the magnitude-phase relation. Comparison with other observations is briefly discussed and a mean radius is determined from a previous value of the geometric albedo.     

Study of faint young open clusters as tracers of spiral features in our galaxy

Continuing the study of faint young open clusters as tracers of spiral features in our Galaxy, photoelectric and photographic photometry of 39 stars was done in the field of the faint open cluster NGC 2236 ≡ OCl 501 in the direction of Monoceros constellation. Out of these stars, a total of 22 down tom _v ≃ 15.4 mag have been found to be probable members. There is apparently a variable extinction across the field of the cluster with E(B - V) ranging between 0.84 mag and 0.68 mag. The median age of this cluster is estimated to be 7.6 × 10⁷ years and the cluster is thereby considered as belonging to the marginally old category. Thus, it cannot be specifically used as a spiral arm tracer in the study of our Galaxy. This cluster is located at a distance of 3.72 ± 0.13 kpc, which places it at the inner edge of the outer Perseus spiral feature of the Milky Way.     

JOINT LIGHTCURVE OBSERVATIONS OF 10 NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS FROM MODRA AND ONDŘEJOV

The effort in photometry of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) at Modra Observatory has been enhanced following a recent collaboration with Ondřejov Observatory. We present a part of our collaborative work on measuring rotation lightcurve data for 10 NEAs. We derived following synodic periods P and amplitudes of their composite lightcurves: (3553), 3.1944 h, 0.08 mag; (22753), 10.24 h, 0.11 mag; (31669), 5.807 h, 0.07–0.27 mag; (40267), 4.9568 h, 1.01–1.11 mag; (66146), 2.3774 h, 0.12–0.15 mag; (88188), 2.6906 h, 0.06 mag; (103067), 9.489 h, 0.49 mag; 2001 CB₂₁, 3.302 h, 0.19 mag; 2004 LJ₁, 2.7247 h, 0.17–0.59 mag; 2004 XO₁₄, 8.417 h, 0.19–0.25 mag. While the derived periods are unique (the reliability code U=3) for most of the objects, those of (3553), (22753) and 2001 CB₂₁ are somewhat less reliable (U=2). We checked all the U=3 data for deviations from strict periodicity, but found no significant attenuation that would indicate the presence of a satellite. Absolute magnitudes in Cousins R band (H _R ) were derived for (3553), 16.05; (40267), 15.59; (88188), 16.04; 2004 XO₁₄, 15.84; errors of the first three H _R estimates are 0.20 mag, but that of 2004 XO₁₄ is <0.10 mag.     

Concerning the errors arising through the use of Tully-Fisher relation for estimation of the Virgo cluster distance

The distance modulus of the Virgo cluster has been reexamined based on the Tully-Fisher relation between fully corrected B. ₁ ⁰ values and 21 cm velocity width derived from RC3 catalogue for spiral galaxies of Sbc-Sdm types, belonging to the “low-velocity” Virgo subcluster, singled out according to the statistical method proposed by Anosova, and led to the value μ = 31.15 ± 0.57 mag. A strong dependence of the intrinsic scatter in the Tully-Fisher relation on the apparent axes ratio of galaxies has been found, with a value of 0.4 mag for strongly flattened, highly inclined galaxies and galaxies with small inclinations and a value of 0.72 mag for objects with intermediate values of axes ratio. The restriction to samples only with galaxies with photoelectric observations does not lead to a considerable change of amplitude of scatter and decreases the value the of distance modulus. Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 37–46, January–March, 1999.     

Spectral and photometric behavior of SU UMa during quiescence and outburst states

We report the results of spectral and photometric observations of SU UMa. Available spectra from International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and CCD photometry of five nights were used. Some profiles revealing the variations of some spectral lines at different times are presented. There is variation with time for photometric observations and the brightness of SU UMa is changed from 12.9 mag. to 15.6 mag in 5 nights with clear display of burst. The ultraviolet luminosity for emitting region is in the range of (6.9*10³⁰ erg s⁻¹). The mass accretion rate is in the range of (9.8*10⁻¹³ M_⊙yr⁻¹). The line flux modulations at different times can be explained in terms of the mass transfer instability model (Bath 1973).     

Optical multiband surface photometry of a sample of Seyfert galaxies: III. Global,isophotal, and bar parameters

This paper is third in a series, studying the optical properties of a sample of Seyfert galaxies. Here we present a homoge neous set of global (ellipticity, position angle, inclination, and total magnitude) and isophotal (semi‐major axis and colour indices at 24V mag arcsec^–2) parameters of the galaxy sample. We find the following median corrected isophotal colour indices: (B – I_C)⁽⁰⁾₂₄ = 1.9 mag arcsec^–2 and (V – I_C)⁽⁰⁾₂₄ = 1.1 mag arcsec^–2. A set of bar parameters (ellipticity, position angle, semi‐major axis corresponding to the ellipticity maximum in the bar region, and length) are also reported; deprojection has been applied to the bar ellipticity, length, and relative length in terms of galaxy isophotal semi‐major axis. Regarding bar length estimation, we use a method, based on the relation between the behaviour of the profiles and orbit analysis. The so estimated bar length tightly correlates with the semi‐major axis, corresponding to the ellipticity maximum with a median ratio of the former to the latter of 1.22. The median of the deprojected bar ellipticity, length, and relative length are 0.39, 5.44 kpc, and 0.44, respectively. There is a correlation between the deprojected bar length and the corrected isophotal semi‐major axis at 24V mag arcsec^–2. Three of the 17 large‐scale bars appear strong, based on the deprojected bar ellipticity as a first‐order approximation of bar strength. The deprojected relative bar length does not appear to correlate with the bar ellipticity (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A study of the open cluster NGC 2374

The results of modified objective grating observations and photoelectric as well as photographic photometry of the open cluster NGC 2374 are presented. The cluster contains at least twenty stars as definite members down tom _v ≈ 15mag. There is a uniform extinction ofE(B - V) = 0.175 mag and the distance is 1.2 ± 0.1 kpc. The most likely age of this cluster is 7.5 ×10⁷ years.     

Two Periods of 1999 HF1—Another Binary NEA Candidate

Photometric observations of 1999 HF₁ reveal that its lightcurve has two components of low amplitudes (0.10-0.12 mag) and different periods (2.3191 and 14.02 h). It is likely another binary near-Earth asteroid; its lower limit on the secondary-to-primary-diameter ratio is ≈0.2, the radius of the mutual orbit is (2.0±0.3)× the effective primary diameter, the primary's bulk density is >2.0 g/cm³, and it belongs to the E/M/P taxonomic class.     

Merging Massive Star Clusters as Building Blocks of Dwarf Galaxies?

Recent spectroscopic observations of galaxies in the Fornax-Cluster reveal nearly unresolved ‘star-like’ objects with red-shifts appropriate to the Fornax-Cluster. These objects have intrinsic sizes of ≈ 100 pc and absolute B-band magnitudes in the range - 14 < M_B < -11.5 mag and lower limits for the central surface brightness μ_B ≥ 23 mag/arcsec² (Phillipps et al., 2001, Hilker et al., 1999), and so appear to constitute a new population of ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs). Such compact dwarfs were predicted to form from the amalgamation of stellar super-clusters (= clusters of star clusters; not to confuse with super stellar clusters (SSC)) by P. Kroupa (1998), which are rich aggregates of young massive star clusters (YMCs) that can form in collisions between gas-rich galaxies. Here we present the evolution of super-clusters in a tidal field. The YMCs merge on a few super-cluster crossing times. Super-clusters that are initially as concentrated and massive as Knot S in the interacting Antennae galaxies (Whitmore et al., 1999) evolve to merger objects that are long-lived and show properties comparable to the newly discovered UCDs. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lightcurves and phase relation of asteroid 324 Bamberga

A worldwide photometric investigation of the asteroid 324 Bamberga was conducted during the period September–November 1978. The full-cycle lightcurve shows two maxima and two minima with a maximum amplitude of 0.075 mag; the rotation period was found to be P_syn = 29.^h42 ± 0.^h01. A linear least-squares solution of the phase relation gives β_y = (0.334 ± 0.001) mag/degree and V₀ (1, 0) = (7.17 ± 0.01) mag. The color indices measured are B-V = 0.69, U-B=0.36, in agreement with the C taxonomic type given for 324 Bamberga. The very long period indicates 324 Bamberga is an unusual object among asteroids with diameters greater than 200 km.     

The irregular galaxy Cassiopeia 1 – a new member of the Local group

A photometry in the V, R, I (Cousins) system has been performed for stars in the galaxy Cassiopeia 1. The resulting colour-agnitude (CM) diagram of Cas 1 reveals the existence of blue stars and the absence of red ones. From an analysis of the CM diagram of the galaxy it is concluded that A_v = 4.0 mag, and the distance modulus (m – M)_o = 24.5 mag, corresponding to a distance of 790 kpc. The visual magnitude of the galaxy is V = 14^m.62 (M_v = −13^m.8) and the colour index (V – R) = 0.89 mag. From the distance determination the galaxy Cassiopeia 1 is a member of the Local group.     

Coordinated observations of asteroids 1219 Britta and 1972 Yi Xing

Identified as possible flyby targets for the Galileo spacecraft, Asteroids 1219 Britta and 1972 Yi Xing became the focus of a coordinated observing program. Although a subsequent change in the launch date removed these asteroids from consideration for the Galileo mission, the ground-based observing program yielded a substantial amount of information on these previously unobserved asteroids. Britta's sideral rotation period is found to be 5.57497 ± 0.00013 hr and its rotation is retrograde. The lightcurve amplitude ranged from 0.60 to 0.70 mag, depending on phase angle. Britta can be classified as an S-type asteroids based on its measured spectra and albedo. The absolute magnitude and slope parameter derived from the lightcurve maxima are H₀ = 11.67 ± 0.03 and G₀ = 0.03 ± 0.04. A 0.002 mag deg⁻¹ phase reddening in B·V was also measured. 1972 Yi Xing was less well observed but a unique synodic period of 14.183 ± 0.003 hr was determined. The observed lightcurve amplitude was 0.18 mag. Five-color measurements are consistent with an S-type classification. For an assumed slope parameter G = 0.25, Yi Xing's (lightcurve maximum) absolute magnitude H₀ = 13.32 ± 0.01.     

CCD BV and 2MASS photometric study of the open cluster NGC 1513

We present CCD BV and JHK _s 2MASS photometric data for the open cluster NGC 1513. We observed 609 stars in the direction of the cluster up to a limiting magnitude of V∼19 mag. The star-count method showed that the centre of the cluster lies at α ₂₀₀₀=04 ^h 09 ^m 36 ^s , δ ₂₀₀₀=49°28^′43^″ and its angular size is r=10 arcmin. The optical and near-infrared two-colour diagrams revealed the colour excesses in the direction of the cluster as E(B−V)=0.68±0.06, E(J−H)=0.21±0.02 and E(J−K _s )=0.33±0.04 mag. These results are consistent with normal interstellar extinction values. Optical and near-infrared Zero Age Main-Sequences (ZAMS) provided an average distance modulus of (m−M)₀=10.80±0.13 mag, which can be translated into a distance of 1440±80 pc. Finally, using Padova isochrones we determined the metallicity and age of the cluster as Z=0.015±0.004 ([M/H]=−0.10±0.10 dex) and log (t/yr)=8.40±0.04, respectively.     

The slow rotation of 253 Mathilde

CCD photometry of the NEAR mission fly-by target 253 Mathilde is presented. Measurements taken during 52 nights of observations, from February to June 1995, allow a rotation period of 17.406±0.010 days and a lightcurve amplitude of 0.45±0.02 mag to be determined. A B-V color index of 0.67±0.02 and a V-R of 0.35±0.02 are measured, which are compatible with C-type membership. The determination of the phase relation results in H = 10.28±0.03 and G = 0.12±0.06. Indications that the lightcurve is not strictly singly-periodic are found. A power-spectrum analysis detects a secondary frequency f₂ = 0.0322±0.0010 d⁻¹, which is interpreted as evidence for a complex rotation state.     

Influence of Interstellar and Atmospheric Extinction on Light Curves of Eclipsing Binaries

Interstellar and atmospheric extinctions redden the observational photometric data and they should be handled rigorously. This paper simulates the effect of reddening for the modest case of two main sequence T ₁ = 6500 K and T ₂ = 5500 K components of a detached eclipsing binary system. It is shown that simply subtracting a constant from measured magnitudes (the approach often used in the field of eclipsing binaries) to account for reddening should be avoided. Simplified treatment of the reddening introduces systematics that reaches ∼0.01 mag for the simulated case, but can be as high as ∼0.2 mag for, e.g., B8 V-K4 III systems. With rigorous treatment, it is possible to uniquely determine the colour excess value E(B−V) from multi-colour photometric light curves of eclipsing binaries.     

NGC 1624 (OCl 403, Cr 53) – A very young open cluster

We present the first CCD photometric UBVRI observations of the not-so-well-studied open cluster NGC 1624 (OCl 403, Cr 53; α₂₀₀₀ = 04 h 40 m 36 s; δ₂₀₀₀ = + 50^˚ 27^′ 42″ Trumpler class = I 2 p N). This cluster was observed on 01 February 2004 with the 2 m Himalayan Chandra Telescope at Hanle using a LN2 cooled 2k × 2k CCD. The cluster presents differential reddening with E(B-V) values ranging from 0.70 to 0.90 mag, which could be attributed to the presence of the HII region wherein the cluster is embedded. It is found to be at a distance of 6.025 ± 0.5 kpc and the age of this cluster is estimated to be ∼3.98 × 10⁶ years. In view of these parameters, it can be considered as a young enough cluster located in the direction of the Perseus constellation with the galactic coordinates of l = 155^˚.35 and b = + 02 ^˚.58. Thus it could also be used as a suitable candidate for tracing the Outer Perseus spiral arm of our Galaxy. The initial mass function slope is derived as 1.65 ± 0.25 by applying the corrections for field star contamination and data incompleteness. This is in good agreement with the Salpeter value within the limits of errors.     

An experimental study of the reaction kinetics of C2(XΣg) with hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and C3H8) over the temperature range 24-300 K: Implications for the atmospheres of Titan and the Giant Planets

The reactivity of C₂(X¹Σ⁺_g) with simple saturated (CH₄, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈) and unsaturated (C₂H₂ and C₂H₄) hydrocarbons has been studied in the gas phase over the temperature range 24-300 K using the CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme or Reaction Kinetics in a Uniform Supersonic Flow) technique. All reactions have been found to be very rapid in this temperature range and the rate coefficients are typically ?10⁻¹⁰ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ with the exception of methane for which the rate coefficient is one order of magnitude lower: ∼10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. These results have been analyzed in terms of potential destruction sources of C₂(X¹Σ⁺_g) in the atmospheres of Titan and the Giant Planets. It appears that the rate coefficient of the reaction ¹C₂ + CH₄ should be updated with our new data and that reactions with C₂H₂, C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ should also be included in the existing photochemical models.     

Methane evolution from UV-irradiated spacecraft materials under simulated martian conditions: Implications for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission

Fifteen organic and three inorganic compounds were tested for methane (CH₄) evolution under simulated martian conditions of 6.9 mbar; UVC (200-280 nm) flux of 4 W m⁻²; 20 °C; simulated optical depth of 0.1; and a Mars gas composition of CO₂ (95.3%), N₂ (2.7%), Ar (1.7%), O₂ (0.13%), and water vapor (0.03%). All three inorganic compounds (i.e., NaCl, CaCO₃, graphite) failed to evolve methane at the minimum detection level 0.5 ppm, or above. In contrast, all organic compounds evolved methane when exposed to UV irradiation under simulated martian conditions. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, pyrene, released the most methane per unit of time at 0.175 nmol CH₄ g⁻¹ h⁻¹, and a spectral reflectance target material used for the MER rovers and Phoenix lander released the least methane at 0.00065 nmol CH₄ cm⁻² h⁻¹. Methane was also released from UV-killed bacterial endospores of Bacillus subtilis. Although all organic compounds evolved methane when irradiated with UV photons under martian conditions, the concentrations of residual organics, biogenic signature molecules, and dead microbial cells should be relatively low on the exterior surfaces of the MSL rover, and, thus, not significant sources of methane contamination. In contrast, kapton tape was found to evolve methane at the rate of 0.00165 nmol CH₄ cm⁻² h⁻¹ (16.5 nmol m⁻² h⁻¹) under the UV and martian conditions tested. Although the evolution of methane from kapton tape was found to decline over time, the large amount of kapton tape used on the MSL rover (lower bound estimated at 3 m²) is likely to create a significant source of terrestrial methane contamination during the early part of the mission.     

Study of young open clusters as tracers of spiral features in our galaxy. Paper 4: Czernik 20 (OCl 427)

Photoelectric and photographic photometry of 72 stars was done in the field of the not-well-studied open cluster Czernik 20= OCl 427 in the direction of the Auriga constellation. Of these stars, a total of 43 have been found to be probable members down tom _v− 15.75 mag. There is apparently a variable extinction across the field of the cluster withE(B-V) ranging from 0.53 to 0.38 mag. The cluster stars show a range in their ages from 1.0 × 10⁷ to 7.1 × 10⁷ years, indicating that Czernik 20 is young enough to be considered as a spiral-arm tracer in the study of our Galaxy. The distance of this cluster is found to be 4.27 ±0.14 kpc and it is located inside the outer Perseus arm of the Milky Way