Optical and radio studies of radio sources

We present the classification of optical identifications and radio spectra of six radio sources from a complete (in flux density) sample in the declination range 10° to 12°30′ (J2000.0). The observations were carried out with the 6-m Special Astrophysical Observatory telescope (Russia) in the wavelength range 3600–10000 Å, the 2.1-m GHAO telescope (Mexico) in the range 4200–9000 Å, and the RATAN-600 radio telescope in the frequency range 0.97–21.7 GHz. Three of the six objects under study are classified as quasars, one is a BL Lac object, one is an absorption-line radio galaxy, and one is an emission-line radio galaxy. Five objects have flat radio spectra, and one object has a power-law radio spectrum. All of the radio sources identified as quasars or BL Lac objects show variable radio flux densities. The spectra of three objects were separated into extended and compact components.     

Stellar spectrophotometer for wavelengths of 3500–8900 Å: I. Optomechanical and control systems

We describe a stellar spectrophotometer designed for the absolute spectrophotometry of stars at wavelengths of 3500–8900 Å with 30 Å resolution. The instrument is mounted on the 80-cm telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.     

Observations of Solar EUV Radiation with the CORONAS-F/SPIRIT and SOHO/EIT Instruments

The SPIRIT complex onboard the CORONAS-F satellite has routinely imaged the Sun in the 171, 175, 195, 284, and 304 Å spectral bands since August 2001. The complex incorporates two telescopes. The Ritchey-Chretien telescope operates in the 171, 195, 284, and 304 Å bands and has an objective similar to that of the SOHO/EIT instrument. The Herschel telescope obtains solar images synchronously in the 175 and 304 Å bands with two multilayer-coated parabolic mirrors. The SPIRIT program includes synoptic observations, studies of the dynamics of various structures on the solar disk and in the corona up to 5 solar radii, and coordinated observations with other spaceborne and ground-based telescopes. In particular, in the period 2002–2003, synoptic observations with the SPIRIT Ritchey-Chretien telescope were coordinated with regular 6-hour SOHO/EIT observations. Since June 2003, when EIT data were temporarily absent (SOHO keyholes), the SPIRIT telescope has performed synoptic observations at a wavelength of 175 A. These data were used by the Solar Influence Data Analysis Center (SIDC) at the Royal Observatory of Belgium for an early space weather forecast. We analyze the photometric and spectral parameters of the SPIRIT and EIT instruments and compare the integrated (over the solar disk) EUV fluxes using solar images obtained with these instruments during the CORONAS-F flight from August 2001 through December 2003.     

One-meter Schmidt telescope of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory: New capabilities

In 2013–2015 the Laboratory of spectroscopy and photometry of extragalactic objects (LS-PEO) of the Special Astrophysical Observatory together with Armenian specialists upgraded the 1-m Schmidt telescope of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia. We completely redesigned the control system of the telescope: we replaced the actuating mechanisms, developed telescope control software, and made the guiding system. We reworked and prepared a 4k × 4k Apogee (USA) liquid-cooled CCD with RON ~ 11.1 e^?, a pixel size of 0.″868, and field of view of about 1□°, and in October 2015 mounted it in the focus of the telescope. The detector is equipped with a turret bearing 20 intermediate-band filters (FWHM = 250 Å) uniformly covering the 4000–9000 Å wavelength range, five broadband filters (u, g, r, i, z SDSS), and three narrow-band filters (5000 Å, 6560 Å and 6760 Å, FWHM = 100 Å). During the first year of test operation of the 1-m telescope we performed pilot observations within the framework of three programs: search for young stellar objects, AGNevolution, and stellar composition of galaxy disks.We confirmed the possibility of efficiently selecting of young objects using observations performed in narrow-band Hα and [SII] filters and the intermediate-band 7500 Å filter. Three-hours long exposures with SDSS g-, r-, and i-band filters allow us to reach the surface brightness level of 28^m/□″ when investigating the stellar content of galaxy disks for a sample of nine galaxies. We used observations performed with the 1-m telescope in five broadband (SDSS u, g, r, i, and z) and 15 intermediate-band filters (4000–7500 Å) to construct a sample of quasar candidates with 0.5 < z < 5 (330 objects) in about one-sq. degree SA68 field complete down to R_AB = 23^m. Spectroscopic observations of 29 objects (19.^m5 < R < 22^m) carried out at the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences confirmed the quasar nature of 28 objects.     

A moderate-resolution Nasmyth-focus spectrograph of the 6-m BTA telescope

We report on the development of a fast crossed-dispersion spectrograph (CRAB) mounted at the Nasmyth focus of the 6-m telescope. The spectrograph is designed for visible and near-infrared (3800–10 500 Å) CCD observations with the spectral resolution R=4000. We give the basic parameters of the optical scheme and the parameters of the echelle frame. We determined the gain involved in putting the spectrograph into observational practice and discuss the possible range of spectroscopic problems for which the instrument is optimal.     

Investigation of galaxies in the second byurakan sky survey. I. Spectroscopic observations in a field at 15h30m, +59°

The results of spectroscopic observations of 30 galaxies from the Second Byurakan Spectral Sky Survey in a field of 16 square degrees centered at coordinates a = 15^h30^m, δ = + 53°are presented. The spectra were obtained on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, in the wavelength range of 4000–7400 Å with 15 Å resolution. Emission lines are present in the spectra of most of the galaxies. Redshifts and absolute stellar magnitudes were determined for all the galaxies.     

Spectroscopic and photometric studies of the magnetic cataclysmic variable EU UMa (=RE1149+28)

We present the optical observations of the AM Herculis system EU UMa (=RE1149+28) carried out in February 1993 with a TV scanner and a photometer (NEPh) at the secondary focus of the 6-m Special Astrophysical Observatory telescope. Spectroscopy with a time resolution of 300 s and a spectral resolution of 2 Å in the wavelength range ≈3950–4950 Å is used to analyze the variability of emission-line profiles, equivalent widths, central intensities R_c, and radial velocities with orbital phase. We determined the orbital period of the system from line radial-velocity measurements, 90.0±0.2 min. The emission-line profiles are highly variable. The Hβ and He II 4686 Å lines exhibit P Cyg profiles at selected phases. The spectral-line parameters were found to vary significantly on time scales from 5 to 15 min. The possible causes of the detected spectroscopic variability are discussed.     

First Observations from the Multi-Application Solar Telescope (MAST) Narrow-Band Imager

The Multi-Application Solar Telescope is a 50 cm off-axis Gregorian telescope recently installed at the Udaipur Solar Observatory, India. In order to obtain near-simultaneous observations at photospheric and chromospheric heights, an imager optimized for two or more wavelengths is being integrated with the telescope. Two voltage-tuneable lithium-niobate Fabry–Perot etalons along with a set of interference blocking filters have been used for developing the imager. Both of the etalons are used in tandem for photospheric observations in Fe i 6173 Å and chromospheric observation in H\(\alpha\) 6563 Å spectral lines, whereas only one of the etalons is used for the chromospheric Ca II line at 8542 Å. The imager is also being used for spectropolarimetric observations. We discuss the characterization of the etalons at the above wavelengths, detail the integration of the imager with the telescope, and present a few sets of observations taken with the imager set-up.     

Camera lens for the 6-m Russian telescope fiber-optic magnetometer

We have designed and produced a speed camera lens for fiber-optic magnetometer of the prime focus of the 6-m Russian telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Resolution of the developed lens obtained during test observations corresponds to the calculated value. The transmission of the lens was measured at three wavelength ranges. It is equal to 78% at a wavelength of 6328 Å, 80% at λ 5320 Å, and 19% at λ 4050 Å. A transmission cutoff for wavelengths shorter than 430 nm is outside the operational range of the spectrograph of the fiber-optic magnetometer which is 430–690 nm.     

IFU Unit in Scorpio-2 Focal Reducer for Integral-Field Spectroscopy on the 6-m Telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences

We describe the scheme and design features of the new IFU unit (Integral Field Unit) meant to perform integral-field spectroscopy as a part of SCORPIO-2 focal reducer, which is mounted in the prime focus of the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophyscial Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The design of the unit is based on the principle of the formation of array spectra using a lens raster combined with optical fibers. The unit uses a rectangular raster consisting of 22×22 square 2-mm diameter lenses. The image of the object is transferred by an optical system with a 23^× magnification from the focal plane of the telescope to the plane of the lens raster. The image scale is —0.″75/lens and the field of view of the instrument has the size of 16.″5 × 16.—5². The raster also contains two extra 2 × 7 lens arrays to acquire the night-sky spectra whose images are offset by ±3′from the center. Optical fibers are used to transform micropupil images into two pseudoslits located at the IFU collimator entrance. When operating in the IFU mode a set of volume phase holographic gratings (VPHG) provides a spectral range of 4600–7300 Å and a resolution λ/δλ of 1040 to 2800. The quantum efficiency of SCORPIO-2 field spectroscopy is 6–13% depending on the grating employed.We describe the technique of data acquisition and reduction using IFU unit and report the results of test observations of the Seyfert galaxyMrk 78 performed on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences.     

Fiber-optic magnetometer for prime focus of 6-m BTA telescope based on suspended echelle spectrograph

We have developed and manufactured a fiber-optic magnetometer for the prime focus of the 6-m BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences based on a suspended echelle spectrograph. The magnetometer is designed to improve the spectrum stability and eliminate the effect of instrumental polarization of the diagonal mirror on the results of magnetic field measurements. The magnetometer is to be used for measurements of stellar magnetic fields in stars and to study their chemical composition. The instrument operates in the 5000–6800 Å wavelength interval with mean reciprocal dispersion of 0.15 Å/pixel. According to the estimates for 9 ^m .5 stars, the standard error of magnetic field measurements based on 400 spectral lines would be 100 G for a half-hour exposure.     

Spectrophotometric monitoring of the nucleus of the galaxy NGC 4151 at its light minimum in 1988

Spectrophotometric monitoring of the nucleus of the galaxy NGC 4151 was carried out for 13 nights from 23 January to 10 June 1988 in the wavelength range 4000–7000 Å. A 0.5-m meniscus telescope, a slitless spectrograph, and the highly sensitive, digital television complex of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory were used. The exposure time was 150–300 sec, while the time resolution, allowing for recording spectra of the comparison star, was about 30 min. The results show that the galaxy’s nucleus was in a deep minimum. On a time scale of days to months, the synthetic magnitudes V_syn and the fluxes F_con in the continuum had a similar time dependence; the amplitude of variability reached 15% in January-April, while a brightness increase of 30% was recorded on 13 and 14 May. The time variations of the fluxes in the first (Hβ + [O III] 4959 Å + 5007 Å) and second (Hα + [NII] 6548 Å + 6584 Å) blends were different.     

Comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR): Polarimetric and photometric studies

We present the results of polarimetric and photometric observations of dynamically new comet C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) at phase angles from 6° to 26°. During the observations, the comet was at a distance of 2.7–1.3 AU from the Sun and 1.7–2.0 AU from the Earth. The aperture polarimetry was made with the 2.6-m Shain telescope and the 1.25-m AZT-11 telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory and with the 0.7-m telescope of the Astronomical Institute of the Kharkiv National University during the period from November 21, 2003, to February 21, 2004. The wideband UBVRI and WRC (λ7228/1142 Å) filters and the narrowband GC (λ5260/56 Å) filter were used. The photometric observations of the comet were carried out on February 21, 2004, with narrowband filters isolated the BC (λ4845/65 Å) and RC (λ6840/90 Å) continuum and the C₂ emission (λ5140/90 Å). The phase-angle dependence of linear polarization of the comet has been obtained, and its parameters, such as the minimal polarization P _min = ?1.63%, the phase angle of the minimal polarization α_min = 10.6°, the inversion angle α_inv = 22.7°, and the slope of the phase curve at the inversion angle h = 0.24% per degree, were found. From the photometric observations, the following quantities have been obtained: the column density of molecules C₂ in the line of sight logN (C₂) = ?9.15 mol/cm² and their production rate log Q (C₂) = 27.11 mol/s, the spectral gradient of reflectivity for the dust S′(BC, RC) ≈ 3%/1000 Å, and the dust production parameter Afρ equal to 371 and 273 cm for the blue and red continuum ranges, respectively. According to these results, the physical parameters of comet C/2002 T7 are close to the average characteristics of typical dusty comets.     

Narrow-Band Imaging System for the Multi-application Solar Telescope at Udaipur Solar Observatory: Characterization of Lithium Niobate Etalons

The Multi-application Solar Telescope is a 50 cm off-axis Gregorian telescope that has been installed at the lake site of Udaipur Solar Observatory. For quasi-simultaneous photospheric and chromospheric observations, a narrow-band imager has been developed as one of the back-end instruments for this telescope. Narrow-band imaging is achieved using two lithium niobate Fabry–Perot etalons working in tandem as a filter. This filter can be tuned to different wavelengths by changing either voltage, tilt, or temperature of the etalons. To characterize the etalons, a Littrow spectrograph was set up in conjunction with a 15 cm Carl Zeiss Coudé solar telescope. The etalons were calibrated for the solar spectral lines Fe i 6173 Å, and Ca ii 8542 Å. In this work, we discuss the characterization of the Fabry–Perot etalons, specifically, the temperature and voltage tuning of the system for the spectral lines proposed for observations. We present the details of the calibration set-up and various tuning parameters. We also present solar images obtained using the system.     

TIGRE: A new robotic spectroscopy telescope at Guanajuato,Mexico

TIGRE is a new robotic spectroscopy telescope located in central Mexico at the La Luz Observatory of the University of Guanajuato. The 1.2 m telescope is fiber‐coupled to an ´echelle spectrograph with a spectral resolving power exceeding 20000 over most of the covered spectral range between 3800 Å and 8800 Å, with a small gap of 130 Å around 5800 Å. TIGRE operates robotically, i.e. it (normally) carries out all observations without any human intervention, including, in particular, the target selection in any given observing night. In this paper we describe the properties of the TIGRE instrumentation and its technical realization, as well as our first operational experience with the performance and efficiency of the overall system. Finally, we present some examples of recent TIGRE observations. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Interstellar and circumstellar medium in the direction to IR source IRAS 01005+7910

Using the high-resolution spectra obtained at the 6-meter telescope of the SAO RAS over 2002–2013, we studied the spectral features of the lines of interstellar medium. The radial velocities of the Na I 5890 Å, Na I 5896 Å, Ca II 3934 Å and Ca II 3968 Å absorption lines were analyzed. Seven diffuse interstellar bands 4964, 5780, 5797, 6196, 6203, 6379 Å were identified in the optical spectrum of IRAS01005+7910. Radial velocities V_r and equivalent widths W_λ of these DIBs were measured, for which the values of the interstellar reddening E_B?V and column density of neutral hydrogen log [N(H)] were calculated.     

Spectral atlas of O9.5-A1-Type supergiants

High-resolution spectra of nine supergiants and three comparison stars taken with CCD echelle spectrographs in the coude’ foci of the 1-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences and 2-m telescope of Terskol Observatory (with R = 40000 and R = 45000, respectively) are reported in a tabular and graphic form. Two hundred (α Cam, O9.5 Ia) to 1000 (HD 12953, A1 Ia-0) stellar and interstellar lines and bands are identified in the 3600–7800 ÅÅ wavelength interval and most of them have their central intensities and heliocentric radial velocities measured. A spectral classification based on weak photospheric absorptions is tested. This is actual for the brightest supergiants and hypergiants, where the formation regions of strong lines, which are traditionally used for classification, also include the bases of stellar winds. Radial gradients of velocity are revealed in the atmospheres of supergiants. The cases of the refinement of the effective wavelengths, analysis of blends, and revealing of wind anomalies in line profiles are illustrated. The atlas is used extensively as a teaching tool.     

Micrometric measures and orbits of southern visual double stars

525 measures of 213 visual double stars have been made using the 26.5‐inch (67‐cm) Innes telescope in Johannesburg and the Repsold micrometer between 2008.375 and 2008.419, 2010.608 and 2010.652, and 2013.663 and 2013.712. A comparison with known orbits is made. Revised orbits are presented for WDS 01061–4643 (SLR 1), WDS 12415–4858 (HJ 4539), WDS 16253–4909 (COO 197) and WDS 16425–3705 (R 283). (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Stellar-wind envelope around the massive supernova progenitor XRF/GRB 060218/SN 2006aj

The spectra of the supernova SN 2006aj identified with the X-ray flash (XRF) and gammaray burst XRF/GRB 060218/SN 2006aj taken with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences are found to exhibit features, which can be interpreted as hydrogen lines. Such features indicate the existence of a stellar-wind envelope around the massive star—the progenitor of the gamma-ray burst. The results of our modeling of two early spectra taken with the 6-m telescope 2.55 and 3.55 days after the explosion of the type-Ic supernova SN 2006aj (z=0.0331) are reported. The spectra are modeled in the Sobolev approximation using SYNOW code [1, 2]. The spectra of the optical afterglow of the X-ray flash XRF/GRB 060218 are found to exhibit spectral features, which can be interpreted as: (1) the P Cyg-profile of the Hα line for the velocity of 33000 km/s—a broad and small deformation of the continuum in the wavelength interval 5600–6600Å for the first epoch (2.55 days) and (2) a part of the P Cyg-profile of the Hα line in absorption blueshifted by 24000 km/s—a broad spectral feature with a minimum at 6100Å (rest wavelength) for the second epoch (3.55 days). Given earlier observations made with the 6-m telescope and the spectra taken with other telescopes (ESO Lick, ESO VLT and NOT) prior to February 23, 2006, it can be concluded that we are observing the evolution of optical spectra of the type Ic massive supernova SN2006aj during its transition from the short phase with the “shock breakout” into the external layers of the stellar-wind envelope to the spectra of the phase of rising supernova luminosity, which corresponds to radiative heating. We are the first to observe the signs of hydrogen in the spectra of a gamma-ray afterglow.     

Spectral observations using a BTA telescope of chemically peculiar stars in the spectral region near the Li I (6708 Å) resonance doublet

New spectral observations of chemically peculiar (CP) magnetic stars were obtained using an NES echelle spectrometer with a BTA telescope in the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russian Academy of Sciences). Several stars were shown to have anomalous Li abundances. Testing and monitoring the stars with Doppler shifts Vsini > 10 km/s indicated that the lithium 6708 Å line was variable in the spectra of some roaAP-CP stars. To distinguish variable features in the spectra, the dispersogram technique was used. The most peculiar among the stars studied is HD 12098. The strong and variable lithium 6708 Å line was detected in the spectrum of this star. The star has been shown to have greatly different lithium abundances in two rotation phases corresponding to opposite surface areas. As mentioned earlier, a similar behavior of the Li blend was found in the spectra of HD 83368 and HD 60435 which have lithium spots on their surface. Spectral observations of slowly rotating CP stars with the Doppler shifts Vsini < 10 km/s revealed the strong and nonvariable lithium 6708 Å line in the spectra of these stars. Quantitative spectral analysis using the Li I 6708 Å resonance doublet and the Li I 6103 Å line shows the lithium abundance, as determined by the 6103 Å line, to be somewhat greater than that determined by the 6708 Å line. A higher ratio of ⁶Li/⁷Li amounting to ～0.3–0.5 was found in these stars. ⁶Li production is assumed to be due to spallation reactions on the surface of magnetic CP stars; this isotope ratio remained in strong magnetic fields.