On interstellar reddening law in the Taurus dark clouds

The interstellar reddening law in the Taurus dark clouds is investigated from visual, infrared, and ground based ultraviolet photometric observations of heavily reddened stars HD 29647, HDE 283701, and HDE 283812. The star HD 29647 located in the center of a very dense dark cloud Khavtassi 278 shows a reddening law which is anomalous in the wavelengths shorter than 400 nm. When combined with observations by Snow and Seab from the IUE it can be represented by a single straight line from 1 m to 250 nm. Other two stars situated in less dense parts of the Taurus dark clouds show normal reddening law.     

Massive stars

We describe the present state of massive star research seen from the viewpoint of stellar evolution, with special emphasis on close binaries. Statistics of massive close binaries are reasonably complete for the Solar neighbourhood. We defend the thesis that within our knowledge, many scientific results where the effects of binaries are not included, have an academic value, but may be far from reality. In chapter I, we summarize general observations of massive stars where we focus on the HR diagram, stellar wind mass loss rates, the stellar surface chemistry, rotation, circumstellar environments, supernovae. Close binaries can not be studied separately from single stars and vice versa. First, the evolution of single stars is discussed (chapter I). We refer to new calculations with updated stellar wind mass loss rate formalisms and conclusions are proposed resulting from a comparison with representative observations. Massive binaries are considered in chapter II. Basic processes are briefly described, i.e. the Roche lobe overflow and mass transfer, the common envelope process, the spiral-in process in binaries with extreme mass ratio, the effects of mass accretion and the merging process, the implications of the (asymmetric) supernova explosion of one of the components on the orbital parameters of the binary. Evolutionary computations of interacting close binaries are discussed and general conclusions are drawn. The enormous amount of observational data of massive binaries is summarized. We separately consider the non-evolved and evolved systems. The latter class includes the semi-detached and contact binaries, the WR binaries, the X-ray binaries, the runaways, the single and binary pulsars. A general comparison between theoretical evolution and observations is combined with a discussion of specially interesting binaries: the evolved binaries HD 163181, HD 12323, HD 14633, HD 193516, HD 25638, HD 209481, Per and Sgr; the WR+OB binary V444 Cyg; the high mass X-ray binaries Vela X-1, Wray 977, Cyg X-1; the low mass X-ray binaries Her X-1 and those with a black hole candidate; the runaway Pup, the WR+compact companion candidates Cyg X-3, HD 50896 and HD 197406. We finally propose an overall evolutionary model of massive close binaries as a function of primary mass, mass ratio and orbital period. Chapter III deals with massive star population synthesis with a realistic population of binaries. We discuss the massive close binary frequency, mass ratio and period distribution, the observations that allow to constrain possible asymmetries during the supernova explosion of a massive star. We focuss on the comparison between observed star numbers (as a function of metallicity) and theoretically predicted numbers of stellar populations in regions of continuous star formation and in starburst regions. Special attention is given to the O-type star/WR star/red supergiant star population, the pulsar and binary pulsar population, the supernova rates. Received 17 July 1998     

The ultraviolet spectrum of the binary system KS Persei (HD 30353)

Nine high- and low-resolution IEU spectra at different orbital phases during different cycles, of the hydrogen-poor single-lined spectroscopic binary KS per (HD 30353) have been studied. The near-UV spectrum is characterized by the presence of several lines of once ionized metals which show the same orbital RV shifts observed in the visual range. The MgII resonance lines present a sharp interstellar + circumstellar core and an emission peak at about 83 and 92 km s^–1. The far UV spectrum is characterized by the presence of strong absorptions of the resonance lines ofNV,CIV, SiIV, SiIII.Direct determination of the IS extinction from the 2200 Å feature givesE(B-V)=0.33. A comparison of corrected logarithmic continuous energy distribution with the theoretical models by Kurucz, indicates that the companion is a hot star,T _e=15000 K; logg=4. A comparison with the recent UV work ofv Sgr, shows that, KS Per is very similar tov Sgr.Based on observations by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) collected at the Villafrance Satellite Tracking Station and obtained from the IUE data bank.     

Ultraviolet variability of HD 62001 – The central star of the missing nebula V-V 1-7

IUE observations of HD 62001 do not confirm the ultraviolet variability of 0.15 mag seen from the ANS observations. These intriguing variations in ANS observations seem to be caused by a nearby (∼ 70 arcsec away) B star getting in and out of the field of view of the telescope, which had a jitter of 20 arcsec. There seems to be no evidence for the presence of a hot companion, either from the energy distribution or from UV variability. However, visual light variations are present. This, coupled with the radial velocity variations, indicates a binary nature probably of Algol type. Based on observations obtained with IUE satellite at the Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency.     

Asteroseismology: from dream to reality

With the resounding success of helioseismology in determining the interior structure and rotation of the Sun, and in providing unprecedented studies of the interaction of pulsation and magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere, astronomers have been delighted, after decades of disappointing attempts, with the recent discovery of solar-like oscillations in ξ Hya, β Hyi, α Cen A and B, η Boo, ν Ind, ζ Her, δ Eri, HD 20794, HD 160191, and others as this list is growing rapidly. There is now true seismology of some solar-like stars. Asteroseismology also studies stars with a wide variety of interior and surface conditions. For two decades asteroseismic techniques have been applied to many pulsating stars across the HR diagram. This review describes some recent developments for some selected classes of pulsating stars other than the solar-like oscillators.     

WR stars with the Ovi λλ3811, 3834 emission doublet

The catalog of the classical WR stars which have the emission doublet Ovi 3811, 3834 in their optical spectra (the catalog of the WR-Ovi stars) and the results of the spectroscopic investigations of the WR-Ovi stars HD 16523, HD 17638, and HD 192103 are presented. Rapid spectral variability of the emission doublet Ovi 3811, 3834 in the spectra of WR-Ovi stars HD 16523, HD 17638, and of the emission band 3680-3780 Å in the spectra of the WR-Ovi star HD 16523 is observed. It is shown that spectral sub-types of the stars HD 16523 and HD 17638 as estimated from different criteria are uncertain. We argue that the WR-Ovi stars HD 16523 and HD 17638, the optical spectra of which display emission doublet Ovi 3811, 3834, may be considered as WO5 stars. The sub-type WO5 is proposed for the first time. Classification criteria of the WO5 sub-type are represented. The possible contribution of the ions Heii to the emission at 3811 Å and 3834 Å is investigated. Thez-distributions of WR-Ovi stars and WR stars with the probable relativistic companions are found to be similar.     

Polarimetric observations of some stars with an infrared (emission) excess

The results of an investigation of polarimetric and IR (IRAS) observations of 12 B-A-F stars are presented. It is shown that the polarization parameters (P % and θ°) for the stars 66 Oph, SU Cas, HD 206773, EW Lac, and HD 216411 differ markedly in different colors (U, B, V, R). Color-color diagrams of the dependence of [12] - [60] on [12] - [25], of V- [12] on B - V, and of [12] - [25] on V- [12] are given. It is shown that the stars SU Cas, α CrB, γ Ser, γ Oph, QR Vul, and HD 183362 have dust shells of the Vega type. The stars 66 Oph and EWLac are similar in IR color indices to 51 Oph (B9.5Ve), while HD 206773, HD 208682, HD 216411, and HD 179761 are similar to HD 9672, β Pic, and HR 4796, which have more extended shells. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 43, No. 3, pp. 353-360, July–September, 2000.     

Elemental abundance analyses with DAO spectrograms – XXII. The B9–A3 stars λ Ursae Majoris, 59 Herculis, 14 Cygni and 29 Cygni

Elemental abundances of the moderately rotating B9–A3 stars λ UMa, 59 Her, 14 Cyg and 29 Cyg have been derived in a consistent manner with previous studies of this series from spectrograms obtained with Reticon and CCD detectors. The derived elemental abundances show that λ UMa is a mild Am star, while 59 Her is slightly metal-rich. Although 14 Cyg has values closer to solar than these stars, its subsolar Ca and Sc abundances indicate that it might be the hottest known hot-Am star. 29 Cyg is a metal-poor λ Boo star.     

Stellar wind velocities and the radiation-driven winds theory for O stars

In this paper we have carried out an analysis of the predictions of the radiatively driven stellar winds theories on 63 stars belonging to clusters or associations. The spectral types in our sample range from O3 to B0 and all classes of luminosity are considered. The study has been carried out starting from the relationship between the stellar-wind velocity (v _edge) obtained from the resonance doublet ofCIV for stars observed with the IUE, and the escape velocity. The stellar masses have been obtained from the evolutionary tracks of Maeder and Meynet. Results from recent NLTE analyses with blanketing of lines and winds have been used for the effective temperature.Based on data from the International Ultraviolet Explorer, de-archived from the Villafranca Data Archive of the European Space Agency.     

A search for hidden white dwarfs in the ROSAT EUV survey — II. Discovery of a distant DA+F6/7V binary system in a direction of low-density neutral hydrogen

The ROSAT Wide Field Camera (WFC) survey of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) has provided us with evidence for the existence of a previously unidentified sample of hot white dwarfs in unresolved, detached binary systems. These stars are invisible at optical wavelengths due to the close proximity of their much more luminous companions (spectral type K or earlier). However, for companions of spectral type ∼A5 or later the white dwarfs are easily visible at far-ultraviolet wavelengths, and can be identified in spectra taken by IUE . 16 such systems have been discovered in this way through ROSAT EUVE IUE observations, including four identified by us in Paper I. In the present paper we report the results of our continuing search during the final year of IUE operations. One new system, RE J0500−364 (DA+F6/7V), has been identified. This star appears to lie at a distance of ∼500−1000 pc, making it one of the most distant white dwarfs, if not the most distant, to be detected in the EUV surveys. The very low line-of-sight neutral hydrogen volume density to this object could place a lower limit on the length of the β CMa interstellar tunnel of diffuse gas, which stretches away from the Local Bubble in a similar direction to RE J0500−364. In this paper we also analyse a number of the stars observed where no white dwarf companion was found. Some of these objects show evidence for chromospheric and coronal activity. Finally, we present an analysis of the previously known WD+active F6V binary HD 27483 (Bo¨hm-Vitense 1993), and show that, at T  ≈ 22 000 K, the white dwarf may be contributing significantly to the observed EUV flux. If so, it is one of the coolest such stars to be detected in the EUV surveys.     

Detectiin of RS CVn-type systems by doublet 2800 Mgii

The problem of the detection or discovery of RS CVn-type close binary systems with the aid of the magnesium emission doublet 2800 Mgii is discussed. On the example of a star, HD 102077, the possibility of such an approach is shown. The determining factor is the magnitude of the measureless parameterR(Mgii), that is, the relative power of the magnesium doublet emission. For the normal Main-Sequence stars the magnesium emission has a purely chromospheric origin andR(Mgii) 1 (in units of 10^–5). However, in the case of close binary systems of RS CVn-typeR(Mgii) 100. Wit the help of IUE it is foundR(Mgii) 100 for the star HD 102077 and, therefore, it is identified with RS CVn-type objects in which the magnesium doublet emission is generated in the intercomponent medium by gaseous matter and is transferred from one component of the system to the other. The basic physical parameters of the intercomponent medium in the case of HD 102077 are obtained.     

Some notes on SS Cygni

The results of photoelectric and spectral observations of SS Cyg are briefly discussed. Some features of the spectral variations observed during a large outburst of SS Cyg can probably be explained using a model of a double star which is surrounded by an absorbing gaseous shell. It is noted that the existing data are not numerous enough for the explanation of the SS Cyg variability, in particular, its short-term variations.SS Cyg is a spectroscopic binary star with a 0·^d276 period. The components of this system are dwarf stars (M 5 ·^m5 for both stars), with dG5 and sdBe spectra; they probably show eruptive activity (Joy, 1956). In the spectrum of the B-component strong emission lines are observed. The dG5 spectrum is observed only in the minimum of SS Cyg.There are various investigations of SS Cyg, but up to now the cause of its variability, in particular, its rapid variability has not been determined. In addition, there are many other observations which have not been explained.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Stars resembling the Sun

Summary. This review is primarily directed to the question whether photometric solar analogues remain such when subjected to detailed spectroscopic analyses and interpreted with the help of internal stucture models. In other words, whether the physical parameters: mass, chemical composition, age (determining effective temperature and luminosity), chromospheric activity, equatorial rotation, lithium abundance, velocity fields etc., we derive from the spectral analysis of a photometric solar analogue, are really close to those of the Sun. We start from 109 photometric solar analogues extracted from different authors. The stars selected had to satisfy three conditions: i) their colour index must be contained in the interval: –0.69, ii) they must possess a trigonometric parallax, iii) they must have undergone a high resolution detailed spectroscopic analysis. First, this review presents photometric and spectrophotometric researches on solar analogues and recalls the pionneering work on these stars by the late Johannes Hardorp. After a brief discussion on low and high resolution spectroscopic researches, a comparison is made between effective temperatures as obtained, directly, from detailed spectral analyses and those obtained, indirectly, from different photometric relations. An interesting point in this review is the discussion on the tantalilizing value of the of the Sun, and the presentation of a new reliable value of this index. A short restatement of the kinematic properties of the sample of solar analogues is also made. And, finally, the observational diagram, obtained with 99 of the initially presented 109 analogues, is compared to a theoretical diagram. This latter has been constructed with a grid of internal structure models for which, (very important for this investigation), the Sun was used as gauge. In analysing the position, with respect to the Sun, of each star we hoped to find a certain number of stars tightly neighbouring the Sun in mass, chemical composition and state of evolution. The surprising result is that the stars occupy in this HR Diagram a rather extended region around the Sun, many of them seem more evolved and older than the Sun, and only 4 of the evolved stars seem younger. The age of some stars in the sample is also discussed in terms of chromospheric activity and Li-content. Our conclusion is much the same as that contained in previous papers we have written on the subject: in spite of a much larger number of stars, we have not been able to nominate a single star of the sample for a “perfect good solar twin”. Another aim in beginning, 25 years ago, this search for solar analogues, was to have ready a bunch of stars resembling the Sun and analysed spectroscopically in detail, in order that, when planets hunters of solar type stars, finally would have found such a specimen, we would have been able to immediately compare the physical parameters of this star to those of the Sun. We have been lucky enough: one of the good solar analogues we present herewith, is 51 Pegasi (HD 217014) which, according to the very recent observations by Mayor and Queloz (1995), has a planet orbiting around it. And what is more: two other stars possessing planets: 47 Ursae Majoris (HD 95128) and 70 Virginis (HD 117176), have just been discovered by Marcy and Butler (187 Meeting of the AAS, January 1996). One of them, 47 Ursae Majoris, is also included in the list of photometric solar analogues. The other star, 70 Virginis, has only been included after the “Planets News”, because the colour index of this star is slightly higher than the prescribted limit of the selection, (, instead, 0.69). It would have been a pity to leave the third ” planet star out of the competition.     

Variability of the HeIλ5876 Å line in early type chemically peculiar stars. II

To try to understand the behavior of helium variability in Chemically Peculiar stars, we continued our on‐going observational campaign started by Catanzaro, Leone & Catalano (1999). In this paper we present a new set of time resolved spectroscopic observations of the HeI5876 Å line for a sample of 10 stars in the spectral range B3 ‐ A2 and characterized by different overabundances. This line does not show variability in two stars: HD77350 and HD175156. It shows instead an equivalent width variation in phase with the Hipparcos light curve for two stars: HD79158 and HD196502. Antiphase variations have been found in 4 stars of our sample, namely: HD35502, HD124224, HD129174 and HD142990. Nothing we can say about HD115735 because of the constancy of Hipparcos photometric data, while no phase relation has been observed for HD90044. In the text we discuss the case of HD175156, according to photometric calibration and our spectroscopic observations we rule out the membership of this star to the main sequence chemically peculiar stars. We confirm the results obtained in the previous paper for which phase relations between light, spectral and magnetic variations are not dependent on stellar spectral type or peculiarity subclass.     

Lithium abundances in atmospheres of carbon stars estimated with the help of modern lists of spectral lines

We determine lithium abundances in atmospheres of three carbon stars from synthetic spectrum fitting in the λλ 668–674 nm range using the Li I λ 670.8 nm resonance doublet. To produce synthetic spectra, we use a modified list of atomic lines from the VALD database and three alternative line lists of CN and C₂ molecules which are modifications of line lists from the Jorgensen’s website () and from the Kurucz database (1993, CD-ROM nos. 1–23). The spectral lines from these lists were tested by matching synthetic spectra to observed spectra of the sun, Arcturus, and early R star HD 100764. We perform analysis of the blends involving the Li I λ 670.8 nm doublet in spectra of N stars AW Cyg and UX Dra. The lithium abundances in HD 100764, AW Cyg, and UX Dra are estimated to be lgN(Li) ≈ 2, −1.4, and −0.9, respectively. Discrepancies of lithium abundances lgN(Li) obtained with the help of molecular line lists do not seem to exceed 0.2 dex.     

Ultraviolet studies of the interstellar gas in the direction of the stars AE Aur (09.5V) andθ 2 Ori A (09.0V)

We have studied high-resolution SWP spectra of AE Aur and ² Ori A, obtained from the International Ultraviolet Explorer Satellite; and derived curve of growth and column densities ofCii,Cii ^*, Alii, Siii, Siii ^*,Sii, Crii, Feii, Niii, and Znii. It has been possible to fit these ions on one empirical curve of growth with a velocity parameterb=13 km s^–1 for both stars.Based on the observations made by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE), and collected at the Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency.     

New Hα stars. NGC 6910 region. II.

A search for Hα objects in four fields with an overall area of about 0.14 square degrees in the region of NGC 6910 (the core of the known Cyg OB9 association) has led to the discovery of 64 emission stars, of which 49 are newly detected. The high surface density is indicative of a very rich T association or, possibly, of the projection of several T associations onto one another in this direction. The latter possibility is also indicated by the range of the R photometric stellar magnitudes of the emission stars, 9^m.68-19^m.42. A comparison with earlier observations shows that for many of the stars, the emission line intensity is variable. A P Cyg Hα line profile is recorded for the star V 1515 Cyg with an emission component equivalent width that greatly exceeds the equivalent absorption width.     

Identification of λ Bootis Stars Using IUE Spectra

An analysis of the stars included in the catalogue of λ Bootis by Paunzen et al. (1997) and with IUE Low Resolution observations is presented here. Using line-ratios of carbon to heavier elements (Al and Ni) allows us to establish unambiguous membership criteria for the λ Bootis group. These criteria have been used to look for new λ Bootis candidates in the IUE Final Archive. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

ISO Observations of Symbiotic Stars

A number of symbiotic stars have been observed with ISO. In addition to a number of emission lines, SWS observations of the symbiotic novae RR Tel and V1016 Cyg reveal prominent, broad 10 & 18 μm silicate dust features. The 10 μm features are similar to the crystalline silicate profiles seen in classical novae. There is some evidence that the silicate brightness in V1016 Cyg varies with Mira-component phase. However, the silicate feature in RR Tel also showed some variation even though observations were made at very similar Mira-component phases. PHT observations of S-type symbiotic stars show the IR emission to be dominated by the red-giant component. However, an excess in the PHT-P filters from 10 to 15 μm is evident in all the stars, and there may be a broad 3.2 μm absorption feature or a broad 3.8 μm emission feature. At this time we have no adequate physical explanations for any of these features. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Star formation in the Cepheus Flare region – II. A-type stars associated with IRAS sources

In order to reveal the star-forming history of the molecular cloud complex we studied the intermediate mass stellar population in the Cepheus Flare region. (Paper I dealt with the distance and the young stellar object candidates of the region.) Correlating the IRAS Point Source Catalogue and Faint Source Catalogue positions with those of 1214 B8–A8 and 1760 F0–F5 type stars brighter than     and classified during an objective prism survey, we identified 19 stars showing far-infrared excess emission in the Cepheus Flare region. In addition to the 16 stars whose counterparts are given in the IRAS catalogues, we found three more stars with infrared excess not recognized before. In order to identify the young medium-mass stars associated with the Cepheus Flare molecular clouds we observed the optical spectra of the IR-excess stars, and using published optical photometry and the IRAS data we examined their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and IRAS two-colour diagram. The observations resulted in the discovery of a new Herbig Ae/Be star, BD +68°1118, coinciding with IRAS 21169+6842. More evolved HAe/Be stars may be SAO 19953, BD +67°1314 and BD +69°1231, whose H α lines showed weak emission components. Possible β Pictoris- or Vega-type stars may be HD 203854, HD 212826 and HD 216486, whereas the far-infrared fluxes at the positions of BD +72°1018, HD 210806 and HD 217903 can be attributed to the heating of the interstellar environment. We used distances and radial velocities of the stars derived from the spectroscopy and published optical photometry as indicators of their relations to the clouds. Information on the environment of the observed stars deduced from the diffuse interstellar band at λ 6613 is briefly discussed.