UBV observations of R CrB-type variables and related objects

UBV observations obtained during the period 1972–73 are presented for the following five R CrB Stars: GU Sgr, SU Tau, XX Cam, DZ And, V973 Oph, and the hydrogen-poor, carbonrich stars BD +10°2179 and HD 137613. Observations of SU Tau were obtained when it was coming out of the 1972 light minimum.     

The physical properties of the Hα-emission line stars: CD-42°11721, KK Oph and XX Oph

By use of the data found in the literature, observed at the ESO and taken from the IRAS point source catalogue, the physical properties of the H-emission stars: CD-42°11721, KK Oph and XX Oph were studied photometrically and spectroscopically. The results can be summarized as follows: (a) Feii and [Feii] emission lines show that these stars have a gaseous envelope of which part is of low density. (b) P Cygni profiles in the spectral lines of XX Oph indicate the existence of rapid gaseous motions in its atmosphere. The presence of P Cygni profiles in the spectra of the other two stars is not certain. (c) In the outer atmosphere of CD-42°11721 and KK Oph at least two circumstellar concentrations of dust grains seems to be present; the temperatures of these dust shells are, for both stars, about 1200 and 250 K. (d) XX Oph has an M6III companion causing the infrared excess. Furthermore, we have studied the physical properties of the dust shells. The distances to the central star, the chemical composition and the masses of each shell were estimated. It is recommended to study above stars further with high dispersion spectroscopy and simultaneous long-term photometry.Based partly on data obtained at the ESO, La Silla, Chile and with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS).     

Observing Boron in Metal-Poor Stars

A new sample of 7 stars ranging in metallicity from [Fe/H] = −2.0 to [Fe/H] = −0.75 has been analyzed in the boron spectral region. The targets were selected according to the availability (in the literature) of their lithium and beryllium abundances, because the simultaneous knowledge of LiBeB in the same targets is a powerful diagnostic for testing depletion and internal mixing predicted by different stellar structure models. Two stars (HD 94028 and HD 194598), characterized by similar Li contents, are found to have also similar B abundances, despite a 0.3 dex difference in their Be abundances claimed by Thorburn and Hobbs (1996). Four stars out of 7 are characterized by strongly depleted Li and Be abundances: 2 of them (HD 2665 and HD 3795) are also significantly B-depleted, while two others (HD 106516 and HD 221377) have near normal B abundances despite being depleted by a factor ≥ 10 in both Li and Be abundances. These stars place strong constraints on the nature and depth of the mixing processes responsible for their light element abundances. The 7th star (HD 160617) shows the remarkable aspect of deficient B, probably deficient Be, and completely normal Li. No stellar destruction mechanism can explain this. Rather, chemical inhomogeneities in the halo could be the cause. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Velocity curve analysis of the spectroscopic binary stars V2082 Cyg,V918 Her,BW Dra,V2357 Oph,YZ Cas and V380 Cygni by the Artificial Neural Networks

We use an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic binary stars. Using measured radial velocity data of six double-lined spectroscopic binary systems V2082 Cyg, V918 Her, BW Dra, V2357 Oph, YZ Cas and V380 Cygni, we find corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">r</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>-process contributions to heavy-element abundances in the halo star HD 29907

The abundances of 22 heavy elements from Sr to Pb have been determined for the halo star HD 29907 (T _eff = 5500 K, log g = 4.64) with [Fe/H] = −1.55 using high-quality VLT/UVES spectra (ESO, Chile). The star has a moderate enhancement of r-process elements (Eu-Tm) with [r/Fe] = 0.63. In the range from Ba to Yb, the derived abundance pattern agrees well with those for strongly r-process enhanced stars (r-II stars with [Eu/Fe] > 1 and [Ba/Eu] < 0), such as CS 22892-052 and CS 31082-001, as well as with the scaled solar r-process curve and the r-process model HEW. Thus, Ba-Yb in HD 29907 originate in the r-process. Just as other moderately r-process enhanced stars studied in the literature, HD 29907 exhibits higher Sr, Y, and Zr abundances than those for r-II stars. These results confirm the assumption by other authors about the existence of an additional Sr-Zr synthesis mechanism in the early Galaxy before the onset of nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The same mechanism can be responsible for the enhancement of Mo-Ag in the star being investigated compared to r-II stars. There are no grounds to suggest the presence of s-nuclei of lead in the material of the star being investigated, because its measured abundance ratio log ɛ(Pb/Eu) = 1.20 lies within the range for the comparison stars: from log ɛ(Pb/Eu) = 0.17 (CS 31082-001) to < 1.55 (HE 1219-0312). Thus, even if there was a contribution of AGB stars to the heavy-element enrichment of the interstellar medium at the epoch with [Fe/H] = −1.55, it was small, at the level of the abundance error.     

Velocity curve studies of spectroscopic binary stars V380 Cygni, V401 Cyg, V523 Cas, V373 Cas and V2388 Oph

Using measured radial velocity data of five double lined spectroscopic binary systems V380 Cygni, V401 Cyg, V523 Cas, V373 Cas and V2388 Oph, we find corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements via the method introduced by Karami & Mohebi (2007) and Karami & Teimoorinia (2007). Our numerical results are in good agreement wit. those obtained by others using more traditional methods.     

Velocity curve analysis of the spectroscopic binary stars RZ Cas,CC Cas,HS Her,HD 93917, V921 Her and Y Cygni by the artificial neural networks

We use an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to derive the orbital parameters ofspectroscopic binary stars. Using measured radial velocity data of six double‐lined spectroscopic binary systems RZ Cas, CC Cas, HS Her, HD 93917, V921 Her and Y Cygni, we find corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Chemical evolution of the galaxy: Abundances of the light elements (sodium to calcium)

The abundances of the light (Na to Ca) elements in disc and halo stars are reviewed. New analyses are emphasized. Elements considered are the α-nuclei (Mg, Si, and Ca), and the odd-even nuclei (Na and Al, also²⁵Mg and²⁶Mg). The α-nuclei are overabundant (relative to Fe) in the old disc and halo stars. Halo stars ([Fe/H] < —1.2) have [α/Fe] ∼0.3 with extreme halo ([Fe/H] ≲ −2.0) stars showing possibly higher overabundances. The scatter in [α/Fe] at a given [Fe/H] is small. To within the observational errors, the abundance patterns for Mg, Si, and Ca are identical. For disc stars, the Na and Al abundances relative to Mg are almost independent of the [Fe/H]. Halo stars ([Fe/H] < −1) show [Na/Mg] < 0 and [AI/Mg] < 0, but the form of the mean relation and the scatter about the relation between [odd-even/Mg] and [Fe/H] remains uncertain.     

The early spectroscopy of V2670 Oph (Nova Oph 2008)

We report the spectroscopic observations of nova V2670 Oph secured at the Loiano Observatory, Italy, 39 days after the outburst. The spectra of V2670 Oph showed auroral lines, suggesting that ionization was increasing. V2670 Oph is a fast nova, with a decline rate by three magnitudes of 42 days. We have estimated the absolute magnitude at maximum and the distance of V2670 Oph. The nova achieved an absolute magnitude at maximum in the interval −7.9,…,−7.4. The distance of V2670 Oph is in the range 4.7–5.8 kpc.     

The frequency of circumstellar envelopes among TMSS stars

We investigated the distribution of Neugebauer and Leighton's two micron survey (TMSS) stars on the {K - [12];[12] - [25]} and {[12] - [25];[25] - [60]} planes. The frequency of circumstellar emission objects among B-K type stars is less than 5% while it reaches about 20% at M , 80% at stars with unknown spectra and 90% at carbon stars.     

X-ray Spectroscopy of Active Stars with ASCA and BeppoSAX

We discuss representative cases of X-ray spectra of active stars obtained with ASCA and BeppoSAX. We focus in particular on our own observations of the RS CVn binaries γ And and UX Ari, of the BY Dra eclipsing binary HD9770, and of the young stars AB Dor and HD35850. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Long‐term photometry of three active red giants in close binary systems: V2253 Oph,IT Com and IS Vir

We present and analyze long‐term optical photometric measurements of the three active stars V2253 Oph, IT Com and IS Vir. All three systems are single‐lined spectroscopic binaries with an early K giant as primary component but in different stages of orbital‐rotational synchronization. Our photometry is supplemented by 2MASS and WISE near‐IR and mid‐IR magnitudes and then used to obtain more accurate effective temperatures and extinctions. For V2253 Oph and IT Com, we found their spectral energy distributions consistent with pure photospheric emission. For IS Vir, we detect a marginal mid‐IR excess which hints towards a dust disk. The orbital and rotational planes of IT Com appear tobe coplanar, contrary to previous findings in the literature. We apply a multiple frequency analysis technique to determine photometric periods, and possibly changes of periods, ranging from days to decades. New rotational periods of 21.55±0.03 d, 65.1±0.3 d, and 23.50±0.04 d were determined for V2253 Oph, IT Com, and IS Vir, respectively. Splitting of these periods led to tentative detections of differential surface rotations of δP/P ≈ 0.02 for V2253 Oph and 0.07 for IT Com. Using a time‐frequency technique based on short‐term Fourier transforms we present evidence of cyclic light variations of length ≈ 10 yr for V2253 Oph and 5–6 yr for IS Vir. A single flip‐flop event has been observed for IT Com of duration 2–3 yr. Its exchange of the dominant active longitude had happened close to a time of periastron passage, suggesting some response of the magnetic activity from the orbital dynamics. The 21.55‐d rotational modulation of V2253 Oph showed phase coherence also with the orbital period, which is 15 times longer than the rotational period, thus also indicating a tidal feedback with the stellar magnetic activity. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Detection of accreting circumstellar gas around weak emission-line Herbig Ae/Be stars

We present archival and recent IUE high dispersion spectra of late B stars which reveal the presence of accreting gas with velocities as high as 350 km s^–1, collisional ionization of the accreting gas to temperatures above the stellar T_eff, and column densities intermediate between those observed toward classical Herbig Ae/Be stars and the nearby proto-planetary system Pictoris. One of the stars, HD 176386, while lacking obvious optical signatures of youth, is a member of the R CrA star formation region, and with an inferred age of 2.8 Myr has not yet arrived on the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS). The other object, an isolated, field B star with pronounced IR excess due to warm, circumstellar dust, 51 Oph, exhibits only modest h emission. The combination of high velocity, accreting gas in systems with IR excesses due to circumstellar dust suggests that not only are these objects candidate proto-planetary systems, but that they may represent an extension to higher stellar masses of the weak-emission pre-main sequence (PMS) stars.Paper presented at the Conference onPlanetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, and Detection held 7–10 December, 1992 at CalTech, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.     

On the Relations between Infrared Colors and Mass Loss Rates for S Stars

A relation between the infrared color K-[12] and the mass loss rate, dM/dt,is found for the intrinsic S stars. This relation is qualitatively similarto the ones for carbon stars and oxygen-rich Mira stars, but quantitativelydifferent. It could be useful in the context of the near infrared surveys,DENIS and 2MASS, which are in progress. Correlations between J-K and[12]–[25] indices and dM/dt are found to be loose for S stars.     

Wind and Disk Diagnostics in PMS Stars. A Critical Analysis

The relationships among traditional wind and disk diagnostics - Hα and [OI]λ6300 lines and IR luminosity excesses, respectively - and star parameters are critically analysed. The total sample includes 109 PMS stars - 20 Weak-line T Tauri (WTTS), 45 Classical T Tauri (CTTS) and 44 HAeBe stars-. Our results suggest that Hα is neither a wind nor an accretion tracer. Hα and [OI] emissions seem to correlate very well with the photospheric luminosity and not with ΔL_IR/L_ph, a parameter related to the origin of the IR excesses. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The properties of a large sample of OH/IR stars,S stars and C-rich AGB stars

We collected infrared and radio data on 110 OH/IR stars, 65 S stars and 184 C-rich stars from the literature. We analyzed their spectral energy distributions, bolometric magnitudes, infrared colors and mass-loss rates. Our study confirms that OH/IR stars and C-rich stars reach similarly high mass-loss rates at similar luminosities, supporting the idea that mass-loss rates are determined by internal stellar activities such as pulsation rather than the properties of their envelopes. The mass-loss rates of OH/IR stars and C-rich stars are strongly correlated with the color indices K-[A], K-[C], K-[D] and K-[E], and the two populations can be described with one formula. Our study also reveals that only those stars with color indices K-[A]<4 or K-[C]<5 have SEDs that peak in the near-infrared waveband.     

Formation depths of lithium resonance absorption lines in the atmospheres of late-type stars and brown dwarfs

A numerical technique for determining absorption line formation depths in the atmospheres of late-type stars and substellar-mass subdwarfs is proposed. The technique is based on estimating individual absorptions contributed by certain layers of the stellar model atmosphere to the resulting equivalent width of a spectral line. In particular, the proposed technique can be used when considering lithium absorption lines formed at the background of molecular bands. The technique is applied to the formation of lithium lines in stellar atmospheres, specifically, in the atmosphere of the Sun (spectral type G2V) and those of the red giant star in the binary system RS Oph (M2III), the giant carbon star WZ Cas (C6), and the brown dwarf LP944-20 (M9V).     

Speckle interferometry of magnetic stars with the BTA. I. First results

We present the results of speckle interferometry of a sample of 117 chemically peculiar stars with global magnetic fields. The observations were made in December 2009 at the BTA with a spatial resolution of about 0.02″ in the visual spectral region. Twenty-nine stars were resolved into individual components, 14 of them for the first time (HD965, HD5797, HD8855, HD10783, HD16605, HD21699, HD35502, HD51418, HD64486, HD79158, HD103498, HD108651, HD213918, HD293764). In twelve cases a companion turned out to be 2–4 ^m fainter than the main component—a magnetic star. Young hot Bp stars HD35502 and HD213918 are exceptions, since their companions are fainter by about 1 ^m . In all cases, the linear distance from a star to its companion at the epoch of observations in the picture plane exceeded 10⁹ km. Eighty-eight magnetic CP stars revealed no secondary components within our study. Thus, the fraction of speckle interferometric binaries in our sample amounts to 25%.     

Velocity Curve Analysis of Spectroscopic Binary Stars AI Phe, GM Dra, HD 93917 and V502 Oph by Nonlinear Regression

We introduce a new method to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic bi-nary stars by nonlinear least squares of (o-c). Using the measured radial velocity data of the four double lined spectroscopic binary systems, AI Phe, GM Dra, HD 93917 and V502 Oph, we derived both the orbital and combined spectroscopic elements of these systems. Our numerical results are in good agreement with the those obtained using the method of Lehmann-Filhe's.     

Nebular complex in the region of Cas OB2 association; ring nebula Sh157

This paper presents the results of monochromatic [Oiii], [Nii], and [Sii] observations of ring nebula Sh157 around the star (WR + B0III) HD 219460 belonging to the Ba 3 cluster. A stratification of radiation typical for photoionization excitation has been revealed. The observations suggest that the Sh157 ring structure may arise as a result of the HD 219460 stellar wind blowing the surroundingHii region, and the bubble age is found to bet(2–5)×10⁵ yr. Three outer envelopes have been distinguished: a weaker extended emission shell apparently blown out by the wind from B-stars of the Ba 3 cluster, and two dust shells which are likely to be associated with NGC 7510 and Cas OB2. The paper is also concerned with the discussion of young star aggregates Ba 3, NGC 7510, Cas OB1, OB2, OB4, OB5, OB7, and Cep OBI and the associatedHii regions, shells and supershells of gas and dust, molecular clouds, and supernova remnants which may be probable members of a single giant stellar complex where the star formation process is in progress.