Kinematic control of the inertiality of the system of Tycho-2 and UCAC2 stellar proper motions

Based on the Ogorodnikov-Milne model, we analyze the proper motions of Tycho-2 and UCAC2 stars. We have established that the model component that describes the rotation of all stars under consideration around the Galactic y axis differs significantly from zero at various magnitudes. We interpret this rotation found using the most distant stars as a residual rotation of the ICRS/Tycho-2 system relative to the inertial reference frame. For the most distant (d≈900 pc) Tycho-2 and UCAC2 stars, the mean rotation around the Galactic y axis has been found to be M ₁₃ ^? =?0.37±0.04 mas yr^?1. The proper motions of UCAC2 stars with magnitudes in the range 12–15^m are shown to be distorted appreciably by the magnitude equation in μ_α cos δ, which has the strongest effect for northern-sky stars with a coefficient of ?0.60±0.05 mas yr^?1 mag^?1. We have detected no significant effect of the magnitude equation in the proper motions of UCAC2 stars brighter than ≈11^m.     

Comparison of the Pulkovo compilation of radial velocities with the RAVE DR1 catalogue

The Data Release 1 of the Radial-Velocity Experiment (RAVE DR1 1, 24748 stars) (PCRV, 35 495 stars) is compared with the May 15, 2006 version of the Pulkovo Compilation of Radial Velocities (PCRV, 35 495 stars). RAVE DR1 includes mostly 9–13 ^m stars, while the PCRV contains brighter stars. Analysis of the “RAVE minus PCRV” radial-velocity differences for 14 common stars has revealed no systematic dependences on any factors, except the effect due to the RAVE radial-velocity zero-point offset known from the RAVE observations. This effect shows up for ten of these stars observed on a single night as a sine wave with an amplitude of 1.5 km s^?1 in the dependence of the radial-velocity difference on the ordinal number of the optical fiber used and, accordingly, on the star position angle in the field of view of the RAVE instrument. The detection of this dependence confirms a high radial-velocity accuracy in both catalogs: on average, better than 1 km s^?1 for stars brighter than 10^m (for the RAVE, after applying a correction for the zero-point offset). The RAVE zero-point offset can be corrected for with an accuracy better than 1 km s^?1 by observing several PCRV stars in each RAVE frame and by analyzing the “RAVE minus PCRV” radial-velocity differences.     

Chemical evolution of the galaxy during its contraction

Models for the chemical evolution of the galaxy are constructed in which the time evolution is imposed by the contraction rate of the galaxy and present observations of stellar metal abundances as a function of height above the galactic plane. Stars with massm?3.5m _⊙ do not contribute to the metal enrichment of the interstellar gas, and we argue that the interstellar metal abundance at this epoch should be fairly insensitive to the size of the mass fraction of the galaxy that condenses into such stars. The birth rate for stars more massive than 3.5m _⊙ is assumed proportional toV _gal ^?n , whereV _gal is the contracting volume of the main body of the galaxy. If a dynamic time-scale is adopted for the contraction of the galaxy, then the assumed power-law birth rate yields suitable chemical evolution models only if observed Population II metals are synthesized in stars more massive than about 8.5m _⊙. This mass range is consistent with the predictions of current stellar-evolution theory. Provided the birth function does include stars more massive than 8.5m _⊙, the relation between the value of the parametern in the birth rate and the observed chemical evolution rate is not particularly sensitive to the specific form adopted for the initial mass spectrum, or to the proportionality constant in the birth rate. We find (i)n?1.4, in general, and (ii)n is close to 1.4 if the contraction of the galaxy to a heighth=400 pc above the plane occurs at close to the free-fall rate. These results are independent of the form of the initial mass spectrum, providedS ³ is small. HereS is the total mass fraction of the galaxy that cycles through stars during its contraction. Numerical models, with an explicit initial mass spectrum, indicate that the same restrictions on the values ofn apply approximately whenS ³ is not small. To introduce low mass stars, we allow the birth rate for stars more massive than 3.5m _⊙ to level off at a time intervalt _L just before the contraction of the galaxy stops, while the total birth rate remains a simple power law. We find that reasonable models are obtained witht _L ?1.5×10⁷ yr if the galaxy contracts at a dynamic rate. However, aside from these restrictions on the values ofn andt _L , there is no uniquely favored model. For any suitable model, the supernova rate must be small enough so that shock waves from neighboring supernovae do not collide during the adiabatic expansion stage. Otherwise, the interstellar gas would not have time to cool, and its high temperature would tend to impede both star formation and the rapid contraction of the galaxy. The supernova rates in the numerical models given here are small enough to avoid this problem, but large enough to achieve a uniform metal abundance on a time scale short compared to the chemical-evolution time scale. At the epoch considered here, the interstellar metal abundance is approximately less than 0.4Z _⊙, and the models are assumed to apply before galactic-scale inhomogeneities, such as the galactic nucleus, become important. Therefore, the chemical mixing time scales imply that most Population II stars of the same age should have approximately the same initial metal abundance, unless the clustering of supernova explosions associated with massive Population II stars is significant. It is shown that collisions between shock waves from neighboring supernovae can produce local regions of significantly enhanced density. The peak bolometric luminosity of the galaxy during its contraction is similar to that predicted by Partridge and Peebles (1967a), but it occurs during the final stages of contraction to the disc. Numerical models give values between 13 and 34 yr^?1 for the average number of supernova explosions per year during this bright phase. The X-ray luminosity of the galaxy from these supernovae may be comparable to that of Seyfert galaxies.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">BVRI</Emphasis> CCD-photometry of comparison stars in the neighborhoods of galaxies with active nuclei. III

Observations with a matrix photometer are reported. The stellar magnitudes in the BVRcIc bands are estimated for 80 comparison stars in the neighborhoods of 10 galaxies with active nuclei: 2 Seyfert galaxies, 4 quasars, and 4 BL Lac objects. The stellar magnitudes of the observed stars range from 11 to 19^m.5. For stars with magnitudes of 14–15^m the typical photometric errors are 0^m.011, 0^m.008, 0^m.006, and 0^m.007 in the B, V, R, and I bands, respectively. The BVRI magnitudes for most of these stars were not known previously. 14′ × 14′ finding charts for these stars are included. These results can be used for differential BVRI photometry of active galactic nuclei. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 57–72 (February 2007).     

Searching for Binary Systems Among Nearby Dwarfs Based on Pulkovo Observations and SDSS Data

Our goal is to find previously unknown binary systems among low-mass dwarfs in the solar neighborhood and to test the search technique. The basic ideas are to reveal the images of stars with significant ellipticities and/or asymmetries compared to the background stars on CCD frames and to subsequently determine the spatial parameters of the binary system and the magnitude difference between its components. For its realization we have developed a method based on an image shapelet decomposition. All of the comparatively faint stars with large proper motions (V >13 ^m , μ > 300 mas yr^?1) for which the “duplicate source” flag in the Gaia DR1 catalogue is equal to one have been included in the list of objects for our study. As a result, we have selected 702 stars. To verify our results, we have performed additional observations of 65 stars from this list with the Pulkovo 1-m “Saturn” telescope (2016–2017). We have revealed a total of 138 binary candidates (nine of them from the “Saturn” telescope and SDSS data). Six program stars are known binaries. The images of the primaries of the comparatively wide pairs WDS 14519+5147, WDS 11371+6022, and WDS 15404+2500 are shown to be resolved into components; therefore, we can talk about the detection of triple systems. The angular separation ρ, position angle, and component magnitude difference Δm have been estimated for almost all of the revealed binary systems. For most stars 1.5′′ < ρ < 2.5′′, while Δm <1.5^m.     

The Bochum survey of the southern Galactic disk: I. Survey design and first results on 50 square degrees monitored in 2011

We are monitoring a 6° wide stripe along the southern Galactic disk simultaneously in the r and i bands, using a robotic 15‐cm twin telescope of the Universitätsternwarte Bochum near Cerro Armazones in Chile. Utilising the telescope's 2.7° field of view, the survey aims at observing a mosaic of 268 fields once per month and to monitor dedicated fields once per night. The survey reaches a sensitivity from 10^m down to 18^m (AB system), with a completeness limit of r ∼ 15.5^m and i ∼ 14.5^m which – due to the instrumental pixel size of 2.″4 – refers to stars separated by >3″. This brightness range is ideally suited to examine the intermediately bright stellar population supposed to be saturated in deep variability surveys with large telescopes. To connect to deep surveys or to explore faint long term variables, coadded images of several nights reach a depth of ∼ 20^m. The astrometric accuracy is better than 1″, as determined from the overlap of neighbouring fields. We describe the survey design, the data properties and our procedures to derive the light curves and to extract variable stars. We present a list of ∼2200 variable stars identified in 50 square degrees with 50‐80 observations between May and October 2011. For bright stars the variability amplitude A reaches down to A ∼ 0.05^m, while at the faint end variations of A > 1^m are detected. About 200 stars were known tobe variable, and their amplitudes and periods – as far as determinable from our six month monitoring – agree with literature values, demonstrating the performance of the Bochum Galactic Disk Survey (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Meridional circulation and turbulence in surface layers of the stars

The meridional circulation is considered in the surface layers of the stars where the optical depth τ?1. It is shown that the radial component of circulation velocity reaches its maximum value at τ≈1 and decreases at τ→0. The tangential velocity reverses its sign at τ≈1 — i.e., the meridional flows are closed in stellar atmospheres. The tangential velocities can be of the order of 10⁶–10⁷ cm s^?1 in atmospheres of O-B-A stars. Such hydrodynamical motions can result in the generation of turbulence in the surface layers. Characteristic turbulent velocities are of the order of 10⁵–10⁶ cm s^?1 in early-type stars. The small-scale turbulent motions generate the acoustic waves and the flux of such waves may be the source of energy to heat coronae in O and B stars.     

Observations of variable stars with the R Coronae Borealis phenomenon and other unique objects

The results of photometry and polarimetry of the R Coronae Borealis type stars and other interesting objects are given. The observation of the former objects are obtained at the light maximum or at a brightness lower by 2-3 mag. The polarization of R CrB stars at light maximum has interstellar origin. The absolute magnitude of V 854 Cen is estimated to Ms_vw = −3^m, and for Y Mus it is M_v > −3^m.7. ρ Cas has a variable polarization and is probably a giant (M_v ≅ 0^m) rather than a supergiant. Many early stars in its surroundings are photometrically and polarimetrically variable. The protoplanetary star BD −0°3679 has a polarization with the Rayleigh component.     

Spatial correlation of unidentified gamma-ray sources with flaring and Wolf-Rayet stars

The spatial positions of unidentified gamma-ray sources ( E>100 MeV) were analyzed. This analysis shows that gamma-ray sources with fluxes >5×10^?7 cm^?2 s^?1 correlate with Wolf-Rayet stars, while gamma-ray sources with fluxes <5×10^?7 cm^?2 s^?1 may be associated with flaring stars.     

Catalog of equatorial coordinates and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>-magnitudes of stars of the FON project

The catalog of equatorial coordinates α and δ and B-magnitudes of stars of the northern sky (from–4° to +90°) was created as a part of the FON project at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The data accumulated in the Joint Digital Archive of the Ukrainian Virtual Observatory were used. The total number of processed plates is 2260. Astronegatives were digitized with Microtek ScanMaker 9800XL TMA and Epson Expression 10000XL scanners in the 1200 dpi scanning mode. The majority of plates have a size of 30 × 30 cm (13000 × 13000 pixels). The catalog contains the data on 19451751 stars and galaxies with B ≤ 16.5m at the epoch of 1988.1. The coordinates of stars and galaxies were obtained in the Tycho-2 reference system, and B-magnitudes were determined in the system of photoelectric standards. The mean internal errors of the catalog are σ_αδ = 0.23″ and σ_B = 0.14^m for all objects or σ_αδ = 0.10″ and σ_B = 0.07^m for stars in the B = 7^m–14^m range. The convergence between the catalog and Tycho-2 is characterized by the following values: 0.06′′ and 0.15^m. The mean-square difference in coordinates from the catalog and from UCAC-4 is σ_αδ = 0.30′′ (18 742 932 objects, or 96.36% of stars and galaxies, were cross-identified).     

Distribution of early type stars and dusty matter in the direction of the star cluster NGC 2175

The distribution of 120 O-B9-A2 stars and of the interstellar dust in the direction of the star clusters NGC 2175 and NGC 2175s (the complex S252) is studied in terms of V, (B-V), and (U-B) data. Ten star groups (associations) are found at distances of 410, 720, 1000, 1500, 2200, 3100, 4000, 5200, 7000, and 8100 pc. Three of these, at distances of 410, 720, and 1000 pc, are type B associations. The remaining seven are OB associations. They are designated as Gem B 0.41, Gem B 0.72, Gem B 1.0, Gem OB 1.5, Gem OB 2.2, Gem OB 3.1, Gem OB 4.0, Gem OB 5.2, Gem OB 7.0, and Gem OB 8.1. The V absorption (A_V) for stars No.2, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 40, 41, 47, 69, 87, 88, 90, 95, 100 and 109 is estimated to be 2^m.78,4^m.72, 2^m.69, 3^m.33, 2^m.61, 2^m.86, 4^m.67, 6^m.21, 3^m.14, 3^m.92, 2^m.69, 3^m.04, 5^m.95, 5^m.95, 3^m.20 and 5^m.66, respectively. For most of these stars the absorption lies between 0^m.5 and 2^m.5. This large absorption may be caused by circumstellar absorption. The dust in the associations Gem B 0.41 and Gem B 0.72 is distributed nonuniformly. There is no dust in the space between the associations. Essentially there is no dust inside those groups (associations) which lie at distances greater than 1 kpc.Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 45–57 (February 2005).     

A high-sensitivity search for extraterrestrial intelligence at γ18 cm

We have conducted a targeted high-sensitivity search for narrow-band signals near γ18 cm using the 91-m radiotelescope of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The search included 201 nearby solar-type stars and achieved a frequency resolution of 5.5 Hz over a 1.4-MHz bandwidth. This high spectral Mark I VLBI recording terminal in conjunction with the CDC 7600 computational facility at the NASA-Ames Research Center. This is the first high-resolution search for narrow-band signals in this wavelength regime. To date it is the most sensitive search per unit observing time of any search strategy which does not postulate a unique magic frequency. Our data show no evidence for narrow-band signals due to extraterrestrial intelligence at a 12-σ upper limit on signal strength of 1.1 × 10^?23 W m^?2.     

Dust in the disk winds from young stars as a source of the circumstellar extinction

We consider the problem of dust grain survival in the disk winds from T Tauri and Herbig Ae stars. For our analysis, we have chosen a disk wind model in which the gas component of the wind is heated through ambipolar diffusion to a temperature of ～10⁴ K. We show that the heating of dust grains through their collisions with gas atoms is inefficient compared to their heating by stellar radiation and, hence, the grains survive even in the hot wind component. As a result, the disk wind can be opaque to the ultraviolet and optical stellar radiation and is capable of absorbing an appreciable fraction of it. Calculations show that the fraction of the wind-absorbed radiation for T Tauri stars can be from 20 to 40% of the total stellar luminosity at an accretion rate ? _a = 10^?8-10^?6 M _⊙yr^?1. This means that the disk winds from T Tauri stars can play the same role as the puffed-up inner rim in current accretion disk models. In Herbig Ae stars, the inner layers of the disk wind (r ≤ 0.5 AU) are dust-free, since the dust in this region sublimates under the effect of stellar radiation. Therefore, the fraction of the radiation absorbed by the disk wind in this case is considerably smaller and can be comparable to the effect from the puffed-up inner rim only at an accretion rate of the order of or higher than 10^?6 M _⊙yr^?1. Since the disk wind is structurally inhomogeneous, its optical depth toward the observer can be variable, which should be reflected in the photometric activity of young stars. For the same reason, moving shadows from gas and dust streams with a spiral-like shape can be observed in high-angular-resolution circumstellar disk images.     

Proper motions,absolute magnitudes and spatial distribution of Zirconium stars

The computational algorithm to determine the the proper motions of Zirconium stars on the basis of catalogues “Carte du Ciel” and on the recent photographic observations carried out with the 70cm Abastumani meniscus telescope is presented. It allowed to determine the proper motions of 288 stars in the region around α Per with a rms error of ± 0,004 arcsec/yr. Applying the method proper motions of 74 Zirconium stars and 146 control stars have been obtained. The error of proper motions obtained for the North Zone (δ > −2°) 109 AGK₃ control stars is ± 0.006 arcsec/yr. On the basis of proper motins absolute magnitudes were separately calculated for the MCLPZS and LASZS. For the MCLPZS the average absolute visual magnitude at maximum, corresponding to the mean period of P = 350 days, equals −3^ϕm.9. For the LASZS the mean absolute visual magnitude, corresponding to the apparent median ones equals −1^ϕm.9. Low luminosity (M_v = −1^ϕmϕ9) Zirconium stars escape rather far (at a distance of up to 2 kpc) to the South from the Galactic plane into the region l ∼ 240 – 260°, where its assumed to be a connection with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) begins to appear. Low luminosity Zirconium stars are weakly correlated with position of the Galaxy spiral arms. The MCLPZS show a somewhat other distribution.     

The Crust Properties and Cooling of Strange Stars

We investigate the influence of the following parameters on the crust properties of strange stars: the strange quark mass (m _s), the strong coupling constant (α_c) and the vacuum energy density (B). It is found that the mass density at the crust base of strange stars cannot reach the neutron drip density. For a conventional parameter set of m _s=200 MeV, B ^1/4 = 145 MeV and α_c = 0.3, the maximum density at the crust base of a typical strange star is only 5.5 × 10¹⁰ gcm^-3, and correspondingly the maximum crust mass is 1.4 ×10^-6 M_⊙. Subsequently, we present the thermal structure and the cooling behavior of strange stars with crusts of different thickness, and under different diquark pairing gaps. Our work might provide important clues for distinguishing strange stars from neutron stars.     

Slitless spectrograph for small telescopes: First results

A slitless UBVR spectrograph has been built for use on small telescopes. Test observations on the Zeiss-600 telescope at the Terskol peak demonstrated that the spectrograph is an efficient instrument for studying high-speed processes in variable stars with a high temporal resolution. The spectrograph resolving power R ≈ 100 in the vicinity of λ = 480 nm and the error in the determination of the wavelength is approximately 3 nm. The spectrograph provides a moderate signal-to-noise ratio for stars up to 16 ^m . It permits one to measure equivalent widths of unblended lines down to 0.1 nm. The developed special software based on the theory of quantum statistics makes it possible to detect relative variations in the spectrum of approximately 10^?5–10^?6 of the bolometric flux of the star. Observations with the spectrograph made it possible to detect variations of emissions in Balmer lines and Ca II H, K lines in the EV Lac flare star in the subsecond range. The spectroscopic monitoring permits one to study stellar flares with small amplitude, to carry out a comprehensive colorimetric analysis of flare plasma, and to determine temperatures and sizes of flares in the light intensity maximum. Observations of the transit of the HAT-P-1 B exoplanet demonstrate that the chromospheric activity power of the parent star does not vary during the transit. The slitless spectrograph with a low resolving capacity opens new prospects in studying active processes occurring on stars’ surfaces.     

A search for the tritium hyperfine line from nearby stars

A search for the tritium hyperfine line at 1516 MHz from 108 assorted astronomical objects, with emphasis on 53 nearby stars, was conducted in June 1983. All stars within 20 light-years visible from the 26-m telescope at Hat Creek Radio Observatory were examined using 256 4883-Hz channels. Twelve stars were also examined using 1024 76-Hz channels. The wideband- and narrowband-channel observations achieved sensitivities of 5–14 × 10⁻²⁴ W/m²/channel and 0.7–2 × 10⁻²⁴ W/m²/channel, respectively. No detections were made. The tritium frequency is highly attractive for SETI work because the isotope is cosmically rare and the tritium hyperfine line is centered in the SETI waterhole region of the terrestrial microwave window. In addition to beacon signals, tritium hyperfine emission may occur as a byproduct of extensive nuclear fusion energy production by extraterrestrial civilizations.     

Young stars in the disk of M82

We present CCD VI_C photometry in a field 1.9 − 1.3 square arcmin and positioned about 3 arcmin north-east of the centre of M82. More than 100 stars have been identified and measured above the photometric limits V = 23^m.5, I = 22^m. Most of the objects fainter than V ≈︁ 20^m should be members of M82 as expected from the statistics of foreground stars. Starlike as well as 2–3 somewhat diffuse objects - candidates of globular clusters - preferentially occupy yellow colours in the colour-magnitude diagram; extreme blue and red objects are missing. The colour-magnitude diagram indicates continuing star formation in this part of the disk. The absence of blue stars is caused by reddening; no convincing explanation is found for the missing red supergiants. Young stars are distributed throughout the whole field, the youngest being concentrated in associations at the SW edge of the field. To cope with the very irregular background created by the galaxy' s main body and with the low contrast of many of the stars against this background, a modified photometric method is introduced in which the background is estimated using the intensities in a ring drawn very tightly around the star in the wings of the point spread function.     

Kinematics of the galaxy from OB stars with proper motions from the Gaia DR1 catalogue

We consider two samples of OB stars with different distance scales that we have studied previously. The first and second samples consist of massive spectroscopic binaries with photometric distances and distances determined from interstellar calcium lines, respectively. The OB stars are located at heliocentric distances up to 7 kpc. We have identified them with the Gaia DR1 catalogue. Using the proper motions taken from the Gaia DR1 catalogue is shown to reduce the random errors in the Galactic rotation parameters compared to the previously known results. By analyzing the proper motions and parallaxes of 208 OB stars from the Gaia DR1 catalogue with a relative parallax error of less than 200%, we have found the following kinematic parameters: (U, V)_⊙ = (8.67, 6.63)± (0.88, 0.98) km s^?1, Ω₀ = 27.35 ± 0.77 km s^?1 kpc^?1, Ω′₀ = ?4.13 ± 0.13 km s^?1 kpc^?2, and Ω″₀ = 0.672 ± 0.070 km s^?1 kpc^?3, the Oort constants are A = ?16.53 ± 0.52 km s^?1 kpc^?1 and B = 10.82 ± 0.93 km s^?1 kpc^?1, and the linear circular rotation velocity of the local standard of rest around the Galactic rotation axis is V ₀ = 219 ± 8 km s^?1 for the adopted R ₀ = 8.0 ± 0.2 kpc. Based on the same stars, we have derived the rotation parameters only from their line-of-sight velocities. By comparing the estimated values of Ω′₀, we have found the distance scale factor for the Gaia DR1 catalogue to be close to unity: 0.96. Based on 238 OB stars of the combined sample with photometric distances for the stars of the first sample and distances in the calcium distance scale for the stars of the second sample, line-of-sight velocities, and proper motions from the Gaia DR1 catalogue, we have found the following kinematic parameters: (U, V, W)_⊙ = (8.19, 9.28, 8.79)± (0.74, 0.92, 0.74) km s^?1, Ω₀ = 31.53 ± 0.54 km s^?1 kpc^?1, Ω′₀ = ?4.44 ± 0.12 km s^?1 kpc^?2, and Ω″₀ = 0.706 ± 0.100 km s^?1 kpc^?3; here, A = ?17.77 ± 0.46 km s^?1 kpc^?1, B = 13.76 ± 0.71 km s^?1 kpc^?1, and V ₀ = 252 ± 8 km s^?1.     

Symmetry of the neutron and proton superfluidity effects in cooling neutron stars

We investigate the combined effect of neutron and proton superfluidities on the cooling of neutron stars whose cores consist of nucleons and electrons. We consider the singlet state paring of protons and the triplet pairing of neutrons in the cores of neutron stars. The critical superfluid temperatures T _c are assumed to depend on the matter density. We study two types of neutron pairing with different components of the total angular momentum of a Cooper pair along the quantization axis (|m _J |=0 or 2). Our calculations are compared with the observations of thermal emission from isolated neutron stars. We show that the observations can be interpreted by using two classes of superfluidity models: (1) strong proton superfluidity with a maximum critical temperature in the stellar core T _c ^max ?4×10⁹ K and weak neutron superfluidity of any type (T _c ^max ?2×10⁸ K); (2) strong neutron superfluidity (pairing with m _J =0) and weak proton superfluidity. The two types of models reflect an approximate symmetry with respect to an interchange of the critical neutron and proton pairing temperatures.