Photometric and polarimetric activity of RZ Psc

We present the results of synchronous photometric and polarimetric U BV RI observations of the irregular variable star RZ Psc, acquired at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in 1989–2002. The star’s photometric behavior is characterized by short, sporadic Algol-like dimmings. We observed only one deep minimum, with a V amplitude of about 1.5^m, during the entire observation time. During this minimum, the star’s linear polarization reached 3.5%. Comparisons with polarization observations of RZ Psc during another deep minimum in 1989 show that the two minima can be described by the same polarization-brightness relation, testifying to an eclipsing nature for the minima. This provides evidence that the optical characteristics of the flattened circumstellar dust envelope that gives rise to the star’s intrinsic polarization have remained virtually unchanged over the last 13 years. We argue that the origin of this stability is the presence of a large dust-free cavity in the central region of the circumstellar dust disk of RZ Psc. The cavity could be associated with binarity of the star or the formation of a planetary system, with most of the dust in the central region of the disk being transformed into large bodies—planetesimals and planets.     

Atmospheric chemical abundances and the evolutionary status of the spectroscopic and speckle-interferometric binary 9 Cyg

We have performed speckle interferometry with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory and spectroscopy (at 3700–9200 Å) with the 2-m telescope at Peak Terskol of the spectroscopic and interferometric binary 9 Cyg, which is a composite-spectrum star with an orbital period of 4.3 yrs. The atmosphere of the system’s primary component is analyzed in detail. The luminosities of both components estimated to be L ₁ = 103.8 L _⊙, L ₂ = 55.2 L _⊙, where L _⊙ is the solar luminosity, and their effective temperatures to be T _e (1) = 5300 K and T _e (2) = 9400 K. The abundances of C, N, O, Fe, and other elements in the primary’s atmosphere have been derived. The chemical composition shows signatures of mixing of material from its atmosphere and the region of nuclear reactions. The evolutionary status of 9 Cyg has been determined. The binary’s age is about 400 million years; the brighter star is already in the transition to becoming a red giant, while the secondary is still in the hydrogen-burning stage near the zero-age main sequence. We suggest an evolutionary model for the binary’s orbit that explains the high eccentricity, e = 0.79.     

Atmospheric chemical composition of the halo star HD 221170 from a synthetic-spectrum analysis

The atmospheric abundances of 30 chemical elements in the halo star HD 221170 are analyzed by fitting synthetic spectra to observed spectra (i) with a resolution of 60 000 and signal-to-noise ratios of about 200 taken with the 1.93-m telescope of the Observatoire de Haute Provence and (ii) with a resolution of 35 000 and signal-to-noise ratios of more than 100 taken with the 2-m telescope of the Terskol Peak Observatory. The derived parameters of the stellar atmosphere are T_eff=4475 K, log g=1.0, [Fe/H]=?2.03, V_micro=1.7 km/s, and V_macro=4 km/s. The parameters T_eff, log g, [Fe/H], and V_micro can be determined by analyzing the variations of the rms error of the mean iron abundance derived using different model atmospheres. The chemical composition of the star’s atmosphere is analyzed. The abundances of a total of 35 elements in HD 221170 have been derived in this paper and in previous studies. Overall, the abundances of elements lighter than praseodymium are consistent with the elemental abundances in the atmospheres of stars with similar metal deficits. Copper and manganese are underabundant by ?2.9 and ?2.6 dex, respectively, relative to the Sun (when the analysis includes the effects of hyperfine structure). Heavy r-process elements (starting from praseodymium) are overabundant compared to iron-group elements. This can be explained by an enrichment in r-process elements of the material from which the star was formed.     

The gas emission spectrum in a star-forming region in the BCD galaxy VII Zw 403 (UGC 6456)

Observations with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory obtained with the MPFS panoramic spectrograph and a slit spectrograph with the SCORPIO focal reducer are used to analyze the emission spectrum of the ionized gas in a star-forming region in the BCD galaxy VII Zw 403. We present images of the galaxy’s central region in Hα, Hβ, [SII], and [OIII], together with maps of the relative [OIII]/Hβ and [SII]/Hα intensities. We have determined the parameters of the gas in bright ionized supershells, and estimated the relative abundances of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; a low relative N/O abundance was detected.     

V1327 Aquilae: A New RR Lyrae variable with an extremely high radial velocity

We have carried out photometry and spectroscopy of the star V1327 Aql (R = 16 ^m ) as part of our program of observations of poorly studied cataclysmic variables using the 1.5-m optical Russian—Turkish telescope (RTT-150, Turkey) and the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. After analyzing our photometry, we have re-classified the variable as an RR Lyrae star. Our BV R photometry during 10 nights reveals brightness variations with the period 12^h49^m, with the B, V, and R amplitudes being 1.36 ^m , 1.13 ^m , and 1.11 ^m , respectively. We derived the first estimates of the star’s atmospheric parameters from our moderate-resolution spectra: T _eff = 6280 K, log g = 3.3, [M/H] = ?1.05. The extremely high radial velocity of the star’s motion (V _R = ?470 km/s) and the star’s large distances to the Galactic center (13.1 kpc) and disk (4.2 kpc) testify to a probable extragalactic origin of this object.     

Kinematic structure of the atmosphere and envelope of the post-AGB star HD 56126

We present a detailed analysis of the optical spectrum of the post-AGB star HD 56126 (IRAS 07134+1005) based on observations made with the echelle spectrographs of the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory with resolutions of R = 25 000 and 60 000 at 4012-8790 Å. The profiles of strong lines (HI; FeII, YII, BaII absorption lines, etc.) formed in the expanding atmosphere at the base of the stellar wind display complex and variable shapes. To study the kinematics of the atmosphere, the velocities of individual features in these profiles must be measured. Differential line shifts of up to ΔV _r = 15–30 km/s have been detected from the lines of metals and molecular fetures. The stellar atmosphere simultaneously contains both expanding layers and layers falling onto the star. A comparison of the data for different times demonstrates that both the radial velocity and the overall velocity pattern are variable. The position of the molecular spectrum is stable, implying stability of the expansion velocity of the circumstellar envelope around HD 56126 detected in observations in the C₂ and NaI lines.     

Chemical composition of stars in the galactic halo

The chemical compositions of the atmospheres of six metal-poor stars are analyzed. Spectra with signal-to-noise ratios of no less than 100 and a resolution of R≈17 000 were obtained using the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The abundances of Li, O, α-process elements (Mg, Si, Ca, Ti), Na, K, Sc, iron-peak elements (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn), and s-process elements (Y, Ba) are derived. The star G251-54 ([Fe/H]=?1.55, T _eff=5541 K, logg=3.58) is deficient in some elements compared to both stars with similar metallicities and the Sun. The atmosphere of G251-54 has the following elemental abundances relative to iron: [O/Fe]=+0.47, [α/Fe]≈?0.3, [Na/Fe]=?0.60, [Sc/Fe]=?0.57, [Cr, Ni, Fe]≈0, [Zn/Fe]=+0.16, [Cu/Fe]=?0.66, [Y/Fe]=?0.70, and [Ba/Fe]=?1.35. The remaining five stars have metallicities in the range ?1.6<[Fe/H]相似文献   

The Wolf–Rayet star HD 192163 as a possible evolutionary progenitor of a low-mass X-ray binary

We have used 46 high-resolution echelle spectra of the Wolf-Rayet star HD 192163 taken in 2005–2009 at the Cassegrain focus of the 2-m Zeiss-2000 telescope of the Shamakha Astrophysical Observatory to study profiles of the five strongest emission lines (HeII 4859, HeII 5411, CIV 5808, HeI 5875, (HeII + Hα) 6560). We also obtained four echelle spectrograms of the Wolf-Rayet star HD 191765 for a comparative study of the NaI 5890 (D₂) and NaI 5896 (D₁) interstellar absorption lines. The echelle spectrograms were reduced using the DECH20 code. We determined the equivalent widths, radial velocities, central intensities, and half-widths of the emission lines. We detected variations in the violetwing of the (HeII + Hα) 6560 emission band (between λ ～ 6496 Å and λ ～ 6532 Å). Our statistical analysis of the radial velocities available for the (HeII + Hα) 6560 emission band reveals a peak at the ～1% level at the frequency ν = 0.195 d^?1, corresponding to the period P = 5.128^d. We also studied the NaI 5890 (D₂) and NaI 5896 (D₁) interstellar absorption lines, which are important for understanding the nature of the nebula NGC 6888, whose origin is related to HD 192163. Asymmetric profiles were found for the NaI 5890 and NaI 5896 interstellar absorption lines, interpreted as reflecting a contribution from NGC 6888 to these lines. We suggest that the detected profile variations of the (HeII + Hα) 6560 emission band and the periodic variations of its Doppler shifts (P = 5.128^d) are due to the existence of a low-mass K-M star companion to the Wolf-Rayet star. HD 192163 is a possible evolutionary progenitor of a low-mass X-ray binary.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">BVRI</Emphasis>Hα CCD photometry of the spiral galaxy NGC 3184

We have carried out BVRIHα CCD surface photometry of the spiral galaxy with active star formation NGC 3184 using the 1-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. B and Hα data from the ING Archive (La Palma Observatory) were also used. We consider the structure and radial brightness distribution of the galaxy. Stellar populations in different regions of the galaxy are analyzed using two-color diagrams. We have identified and studied star-forming regions in NGC 3184 and estimated their ages based on evolutionary modeling.     

Emission lines of the red-dwarf flare star EV Lac: Stellar flares

We present equivalent widths and profiles for H_α H_β, H_γ and He I λ4471 Å emission lines obtained in observations of the flares of EV Lac made at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in 1994 and 1995. Our semi-empirical modeling of the flares gives insight into the structure of the emitting regions, including a temperature plateau, and also into the physical parameters, size, and location of the star’s relatively quiescent chromosphere.     

Evolutionary changes in the optical spectrum of the peculiar supergiant IRC+10420

We present new spectroscopic observations of the peculiar supergiant IRC+10420. In 1997–2000, we obtained three high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of the object at 4300–8000 Å with a spectral resolution of 15 000 (20 km/ s) using the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. From our 2000 spectrum, we estimate the spectral type of IRC+10420 to be A2, corresponding to a temperature of ～9200 K. Many emission lines were detected, identified with lines of Fe I; Fe II, Ti II, Cr II, and Sc II ions; and [O I], [Fe II], and [Ca II] forbidden lines. The radial velocity derived from absorption lines without obvious emission components (He I λ5876, O I, N I, Si II) and from absorption components of the Balmer lines is 93±1 km/s. The redshift of photospheric lines relative to the star’s center-of-mass velocity is interpreted as a consequence of scattering in the expanding, optically thick dust envelope. Both emission and absorption lines show a correlation between radial velocity and oscillator strength. We found variability in the relative intensities of the H _α and H _β emission components. We conclude that IRC+10420 is rapidly evolving towards a Wolf-Rayet stage; the current rate of the photospheric temperature increase is ～120 K per year. Based on the intensity of the O I (λ7773) triplet, we estimate the star’s luminosity to be M _bol=?9.5^m. In all 1997–2000 spectra of IRC+10420, the He I λ5876 line has a significant equivalent width of at least 200 mÅ; this may be possible in the presence of such a low temperature due to the star’s high luminosity and the enhanced helium abundance in the supergiant’s atmosphere.     

Optical spectra of three AGB stars

The basic parameters and detailed chemical compositions of three asymptotic giant branch stars with similar effective temperatures and surface gravities have been determined using CCD spectra obtained with the échelle spectrometers of the SAO 6-m telescope. The metallicity and chemical composition of the optical counterpart of the OH/IR star IRAS 18123 + 0511 have been derived for the first time. The abundance [X/H]_⊙ of the iron group elements (V, Cr, Fe) is ?0.45 dex. An overabundance of oxygen, [O/Fe]_⊙=1.44 dex, is detected in the atmosphere of this star. The abundances of s-process heavy elements are not enhanced, and are instead underabundant with respect to the metallicity: the average value of [X/Fe]_⊙ for Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd is ?0.25. The derived abundances confirm that IRAS 18123 + 0511 is in the AGB stage of its evolution. The metallicity of the object, together with its radial velocity V _r=78.0 km/s and Galactic latitude |b|=11°, suggest that it belongs to the old disk population. The expansion velocity of the circumstellar envelope, V _exp≈21 km/s, is derived from the positions of circumstellar absorption bands. The set of parameters obtained for the low-metallicity, highlatitude supergiants BD + 18° 2757 and BD + 18° 2890 (with iron abundances [Fe/H]_⊙=2.10 and ?1.48, respectively) confirm that they are evolved halo stars, and probably UU Her-type stars.     

Line-profile microvariability in OB-star spectra: the Supergiant λ Cep (O6If(n))

We observed the bright O6If(n) supergiant λ Cep in 1997 with the 6-m optical telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory and in 2007 with the 1.8-m telescope of the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (South Korea). A total of 90 spectra of the star were acquired, with good time resolution (10 minutes), signal-to-noise ratios 150–300, and spectral resolutions of 45 000–60 000. We detected line-profile variations of H, HeI, and HeII lines. It is suggested that the detected variations are due to non-radial photospheric pulsations and the star’s rotation (rotational profile modulation).     

A region of violent star formation in the Irr galaxy IC 10: Structure and kinematics of ionized and neutral gas

We have used observations of the galaxy IC10 at the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory with the SCORPIO focal reducer in the Fabry-Perot interferometer mode and with the MPFS spectrograph to study the structure and kinematics of ionized gas in the central region of current intense star formation. Archive VLA 21-cm observations are used to analyze the structure and kinematics of neutral gas in this region. High-velocity wings of the Hα and [SII] emission lines were revealed in the inner cavity of the nebula HL 111 and in other parts of the complex of violent star formation. We discovered local expanding neutral-gas shells around the nebulae HL 111 and HL 106.     

Spectral variability of the STAR 55 Cyg B3 Ia

We study the variability of the Hα and Hβ lines in the spectrum of 55 Cyg based on observations carried out in 2010 on the 2-m telescope of the Shamakhy Observatory of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. These observations were carried out at the Cassegrain focus of the telescope. The spectral resolution is close to 15 000. The Hα emission and absorption components disappeared on some nights. This may be associated with asphericity of the stellar wind. A more complete explanation requires additional observations.     

Spectral and photometric studies of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 134 = HD 191765

The results of spectral and photometric observations of the Wolf-Rayet star WR 134 = HD 191765 performed at the N. Tusi Shamakha Astrophysical Observatory (ShAO) of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan in 2006?C2010 are presented. The spectral observations were carried out at the ShAO Zeiss-2000 telescope with an echelle spectrometer. Thirty-four echelle spectrograms of WR 134 were obtained. Profiles of the five strongest emission lines were analyzed: HeII 4859, HeII 5411, CIV 5808, HeI 5875, and (HeII+H??) 6560. Various parameters of these emission lines are determined: their equivalent widths, radial velocities, central intensities, and half-widths. Only the radial velocity was found to be variable. Variability of the shapes of all emission-line profiles was found, but the largest changes are observed for the (HeII+H??) 6560 emission band. Photometric observations were carried out at the ShAO Zeiss-600 telescope using an Alta U-47 CCD array (1024 × 1024 pixels) in the V filter of the photometric UBV system. Photometric observations were carried out on 18 nights, with from 100 to 300 measurements made during each night. The mean V magnitudes of WR 134 and a control star were determined for each night. Variability of WR 134 was detected, both within a night and during the entire observation period. The exposure time varied from 1 to 6 s on different nights. A statistical analysis of the mean magnitudes indicated that this series contains a peak at a frequency of ?? = 0.530 day^?1, corresponding to the period P = 1.887^d. This period is interpreted as the manifestation binarity for this star. It is suggested that the secondary component of the system may be a low-mass optical K-M star.     

DY Persei,the coolest metal-poor R CrB carbon star

We have derived the atmospheric parameters of the R CrB carbon star DY Per. The spectrum of DY Per near its maximum brightness was obtained using the 2.6-m ZTSh telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, and has a resolution of about 1.74 Å per pixel. We compare the absolute observed and theoretical spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of DY Per for λλ 430–730 nm for the first time. The model atmospheres were computed using a code written by Ya.V. Pavlenko in the classical approximation, taking into account the main opacity sources in carbon-star atmospheres. The theoretical SEDs were computed using the list of atomic lines from the VALD database and the molecular line lists from CD-ROM No. 18 of Kurucz’s database. The estimated by spectral synthesis effective temperature of DY Per is in the range of 2900–3100 K, if we assume log g = 0. We find a metal deficiency in the atmosphere of DY Per. Quantitative estimates of the overall metallicity, carbon and nitrogen abundances, and the H/He ratio are somewhat uncertain: ?2 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ ?0.5, 0.65 ≤ [C/Fe] ≤ 1.35, 0.0 ≤ [N/Fe] ≤ 0.8, 1/9 ≤ H/He ≤ 9/1. These high H/He values do not quite agree with qualitative observational estimates made by other authors. Our results confirm that DY Per is a unique stellar object. This is the coolest and possibly the most metal-poor of all known R CrB stars. We conclude that the large deficiencies of metals and hydrogen lead to [C/Fe] values in the atmosphere of DY Per characteristic of R CrB stars.     

Structural analysis of disk galaxies of the NGC 524 group

Members of the NGC 524 group of galaxies are studied using data obtained on the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the SCORPIO reducer in an imaging mode. Surface photometry has been carried out and parameters of the large-scale structural components??disks and bulges??have been determined for the six largest galaxies of the group. A lowered percentage of bars and enhanced percentage of ring structures were found. The integrated B-V colors of a hundred of dwarf galaxies in the vicinity (within 30 kpc) of the six largest galaxies of the group have been measured. A considerable number of blue irregular galaxies with ongoing star formation is present among nearby dwarf satellites of lenticular galaxies of the group. The luminosity function for dwarf members of the group suggests that the total mass of the group is not very high, and that the X-ray emitting gas observed in the direction of NGC 524 does not belong to the group halo.     

PN G068.1+11.0: A young pre-cataclysmic variable with an extremely hot primary

An analysis of spectroscopic and photometric data for the young pre-cataclysmic variable (PCV) PN G068.1+11.0, which passed through its common-envelope stage relatively recently, is presented. The spectroscopic and photometric data were obtained with the 6-m telescope and Zeiss-1000 telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. The light curves show sinusoidal brightness variations with the orbital-period time scale and brightness-variation amplitudes of Δm = 1_.^m41, 1_.^m62, and 1_.^m57 in the B, V, and R bands, respectively. The system’s spectrum exhibits weak HI (Hβ–Hδ) andHeII λλ4541, 4686, 5411 Å absorption lines during the phases of minimum brightness, as well as HI, HeII, CIII, CIV, NIII, and OII emission lines whose intensity variations are synchronized with variations of the integrated brightness of the system. The emission-line formation in the spectra can be fully explained by the effects of fluorescence of the ultraviolet light from the primary at the surface of the cool star. All the characteristics of the optical light of PN G068.1+11.0 confirm that it is a young PCV containing sdO subdwarf. The radial velocities were measured from a blend of lines of moderately light elements, CIII+NIII λ4640 Å, which is formed at the surface of the secondary due to reflection effects. The ephemeris of the system has been improved through a joint analysis of the radial-velocity curves and light curves of pre-cataclysmic variable, using modelling of the reflection effects. The fundamental parameters of PN G068.1+11.0 have been determined using two evolutionary tracks for planetary-nebula nuclei of different masses (0.7 M_⊙and 0.78M_⊙). The model spectra for the system and a comparison with the observations demonstrate the possibility of refining the components’ effective temperatures if the quality of the spectra used is improved.