On the properties of umbral dots

On the basis of a three-dimensional radiative transfer analysis of several models it is shown that bright structures in sunspot umbrae which have horizontal diameters of 300 km or less cannot extend more than 300 km down into the umbra. Thus, such models are inconsistent with the hypothesis that the bright features are due to convection from the deep regions of the umbra. No such restrictions can be applied if the surface diameter is of order 500 km, but a model of this type is shown to be inconsistent with the available data. Thus a convective explanation of these bright features appears to be ruled out.A model having a diameter of 200 km is shown to be consistent with the available observations but these are not sufficiently precise to warrant any strong claim for the validity of this model. The features of this model are described and it is shown that near the limb the apparent brightness of these features compared to the umbral background should increase. However, order-of-magnitude calculations show that there is some doubt whether joule heating can account for the non-radiative energy requirements of this model.     

Local sunspot oscillations and umbral dots

Data analysis of sunspot oscillations based on a 6-hr SDO run of an observation showed that low frequency(0.2 ω 1 m Hz) oscillations are locally similar to three and five minute oscillations.The oscillations in the sunspot are concentrated in cells of a few arcsec, each of which has its own oscillation spectrum. The analysis of two scenarios for sunspot oscillations leads to a conclusion that local sunspot oscillations occur due to a subphotospheric resonator for slow MHD waves. Empirical models of a sunspot atmosphere and the theory of slow waves in thin magnetic flux tubes are applied to modeling the subphotospheric resonator. The spectrum of local oscillations consists of a great number of lines. This kind of spectrum can occur only if the subphotospheric resonator is a magnetic tube with a rather weak magnetic field. Magnetic tubes of this sort are umbral dots that appear due to the convective tongues in monolithic sunspots. The interrelation of local oscillations with umbral dots and wavefronts of traveling waves in sunspots is discussed.     

Intense magnetic fields and umbral dots

Intense magnetic fields (of one or two kilogauss) situated in a background of weak field, and umbral dots (regions of weak field) situated in a background of intense field (the sunspot) have both received considerable, though largely unrelated, discussion in the recent literature. Here we suggest that the two phenomena may in fact be less disparate than hitherto presumed. Applying a simple (hydrostatic) model calculation to both phenomena, and assuming temperature differences to be constant with height, we are able to estimate the depth of each of these structures.This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under grant NGL 14-001-001.     

The spatial distribution of umbral dots and granules

A statistical analysis is made of the spatial distribution of umbral dots and photospheric granules. The dots and granules are more evenly spaced than random points, though dots mapped by different observers have different distributions.     

About the foreshortening effect on sunspot umbral dots

Using high-resolution pictures of the core of a unipolar sunspot observed with several cos values, we studied the center limb effect on the form of the bright umbral dots. The ratio of the apparent sizes in radial and tangential direction do not show the foreshortening effect typically observed in granular structures.On leave from University of Tabriz, Iran.Observational part of this work was done during a stay of S.K. at Sacramento Peak Observatory, U.S.A., as NRC Resident Research Associate.     

Photospheric and chromospheric umbral dots in a decaying sunspot

Time-sequenced H filtergrams and narrow-band blue filtergrams (₀ = 4308 Å, = 10 Å) of umbral dots in a decaying sunspot were studied. The results are: (a) Photospheric umbral dots have lifetimes of about 40 min. (b) Two types of proper motion were found for photospheric umbral dots. Umbral dots born in the umbra or in the light bridge show virtually no proper motion. On the other hand, umbral dots of penumbral origin move inward to the umbra with speeds of about 0.4 km s ^–1. (c) Chromospheric umbral dots, which have dimensions of 0.6 × 1.2 in the mean, were more numerously found than photospheric umbral dots. (d) Photospheric umbral dots were observed to be associated with chromospheric umbral dots. Thus umbral dots are not phenomena confined to photospheric levels but also extend to chromospheric levels. (e) Some of the chromospheric umbral dots are unrelated to the photospheric umbral dots. They may be excited by the infalling matter from the umbral corona.Contribution from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 266.     

Spectroscopic observations and models of umbral light bridges

Profiles of the Nai D lines in two moderately bright umbral light bridges are analyzed. A simple method of elimination of stray light is presented. The corrected continuum intensities ( 588 nm) of the light bridges are 0.51 and 0.43. For each light bridge, using optimization technique, a semi-empirical model is derived. The models exhibit a steep temperature rise towards the subphotospheric layers. Generally, the temperature of the light bridges under investigation is lower than the temperature of the penumbra as well as the temperature of bright umbral dots.     

Near-infrared observations of AGN

A brief account of what is known on AGN and their host galaxies from near-infrared imaging is given.     

CCD observations of X-ray binaries

During two observation periods in 1984 and 1985 we monitored the faint optical counterparts of seven X-ray binaries with a CCD camera attached to the Cassegrain-focus of the 2.2 m telescope at Calar Alto, Spain. The observation periods were 1984, September 25–27, and 1985, August 8–15.The transient sources 4U0042+32 and 4U0115+63 showed no active state.The search for an optical candidate of 4U0142+62 did not reveal any objectm _v 24 within the EXOSAT error box.Within the EXOSAT error box of EXO2030+37 the reddest object was found to be very faint in blue in contrast to the blue Palomar plate.The analysis of the other three observed sources 4U1837+04, 1H1929+509, and 4U2129+47 is not yet finalized, but no unexpected bright or faint state of the sources has been found, 4U2129+47 is still in its present low state (m _v =18), lasting at least since 1983.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.     

CCD BVI c observations of Cepheids

In 2008–2013, we obtained 11333 CCD BVI _c frames for 57 Cepheids from the General Catalogue of Variable Stars. We performed our observations with the 76-cm telescope of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO, South Africa) and the 40-cm telescope of the Cerro Armazones Astronomical Observatory of the Universidad Católica del Norte (OCA, Chile) using the SBIG ST-10XME CCD camera. The tables of observations, the plots of light curves, and the current light elements are presented. Comparison of our light curves with those constructed from photoelectric observations shows that the differences between their mean magnitudes exceed 0?05 in 20% of the cases. This suggests the necessity of performing CCD observations for all Cepheids.     

Near-infrared observations of the peculiar binary system epsilon Aurigae

Near-infrared photometric and low-resolution spectroscopic observations of Aurigae at two phases during the current eclipse are presented. The eclipse depths are found to be wavelength-independent in the infrared right up to 2.5 m. There is no infrared excess at wavelengths shorter than 2.5 m. The light absorbing particles in the eclipsing body must be larger than 10 m in size.     

CCD observations of the star formation region NGC 7129

CCD images of NGC 7129 were carried out in July 1988. These observations have better spatial resolution than former ones. Several Herbig-Haro objects and reflection nebulae have been observed. Some of these objects are new detections; in addition, we find new structures in previously known NGC 7129 nebulosities.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Positional and photometric CCD observations of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9

Positional and photometric CCD observations of the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 fragments were carried out at the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory. Up to 15 named fragments were detected and their equatorial coordinates and magnitudes are reported. CCD frames were processed using DAOPHOT II. The internal precision of reference star positions down to 18^m is 0.″7 and the mean error of photometry does not exceed ±0.3 mag.     

CCD observations of distant comets from Palomar and Steward Observatories

We are conducting a ground-based observational study of distant cometary nuclei with the aim of increasing the current database of physical parameters of individual objects, and to estimate the overall distributions of size, rotation period, axial ratio, and color indices. Additionally, we are obtaining CCD spectroscopy and photometry of established and potential targets of current and future spacecraft missions. The results presented here are derived from CCD imaging obtained using the 2.3-m Bok telescope of Steward Observatory (Arizona), obtained in May 2001, and the 5-m Hale telescope at Palomar Observatory (California), obtained in May 2000 and March 2001. Comets observed include 4P/Faye, 6P/d'Arrest, 22P/Kopff, 36P/Whipple, 50P/Arend, 78P/Gehrels 2, 92P/Sanguin, 107P/Wilson-Harrington, and 128P/Shoemaker-Holt 1-A. Of the nine comets observed, only Comets 4P/Faye and 50P/Arend displayed visible coma activity. We have performed either single R filter or multi-filter (BVRI) measurements on these comets, from which we obtain radius and broadband color estimates as well as Afρ values for the active comets. For selected objects we have performed time-series R filter imaging from which we have derived the rotation period and lower limits on the nuclear axial ratio and density. The radius results obtained are included in the cometary nucleus size distribution estimate by Weissman and Lowry (2003).     

Near-infrared observations of the novae V2491 Cygni and V597 Puppis

We present results obtained from near-infrared JHK spectroscopic observations of novae V2491 Cygni and V597 Puppis in the early declining phases of their 2007 and 2008 outbursts, respectively. In both objects, the spectra displayed emission lines of H  i , O  i , He  i and N  i . In V597 Pup, the He  i lines were found to strengthen rapidly with time. Based on the observed spectral characteristics, both objects are classified as He/N novae. We have investigated the possibility of V2491 Cyg being a recurrent nova as has been suggested. By studying the temporal evolution of the linewidths in V2491 Cyg, it appears unlikely that the binary companion is a giant star with heavy wind as in recurrent novae of the RS Oph type. Significant deviations from that of recombination case B conditions are observed in the strengths of the H  i lines. This indicates that the H  i lines, in both novae, are optically thick during the span of our observations. The slope of the continuum spectra in both cases was found to have a  λ^−(3−3.5)  dependence which deviates from a Rayleigh–Jeans spectral distribution. Both novae were detected in the post-outburst supersoft X-ray phase; V2491 Cyg being very bright in X-rays has been the target of several observations. We discuss and correlate our infrared observations with the observed X-ray properties of these novae.     

Near-infrared observations of Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz)

Our observations of Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) in the range from 1.2 to 4.8 µm indicate that the material outflowed from the cometary surface in the form of fragments that separated into gas and dust under sublimation on time scales of the order of days. The albedo of these fragments in the range under study was wavelength independent, while the dust was heated by the Sun to an equilibrium temperature at a cross section Qλ inversely proportional to the wavelength.     

Observations of sunspot umbral velocity oscillations

Sunspot umbral molecular lines have been used to look for the oscillatory velocities in the umbra. Power spectrum analysis showed conspicuous power for periods in the range between 448 and 310 s. The maximum peak-to-peak amplitude of the umbral oscillatory velocity component is observed to be in the order of 0.5 km s^–1.Visiting Astronomer, Solar Division, Kitt Peak National ObservatoryOperated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Astrometric CCD observations of visual double stars at the Pulkovo Observatory

We present the results of 3489 astrometric observations for 361 visual double stars performed in 2003–2007 with the 26-inch refractor of the Pulkovo Observatory. The angular separations between the components (ρ) and the position angles (θ) are given. The errors in these quantities are, on average, 0″.009 for ρ and 0°.40/ρ for θ, where ρ is the separation in arcseconds.     

CCD astrometric observations of 2017 VR12, Camillo and Midas

We have observed three near-Earth objects(NEOs), 2017 VR12, Camillo and Midas, during 2018.The observations were made with the 1-m telescope, operated by Yunnan Observatories, over two nights.Their precise astrometric positions are derived from 989 CCD observations. The theoretical positions of asteroids are retrieved from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory(JPL) Horizons System and Institut de M′ecanique C′eleste et de Calcul des ′Eph′em′erides(IMCCE). The positions of three asteroids are measured with respect to stars in the Gaia DR2 star catalog. For 2017 VR12, the means(O-C) of right ascension and declination are -0.090′′and-0.623′′respectively based on the published JPL ephemeris, but the corresponding means(O-C) are 3.122′′and-0.636′′based on the published IMCCE ephemeris. The great difference in declination could be explained by several factors.(1) The degraded CCD images caused by the fast apparent motion of the objects lead to a reduction in positioning accuracy.(2) The poor timing system may introduce systematic errors, especially in the high speed direction.(3) The asteroid may be perturbed by Earth when it approaches the Earth too closely. These astrometric results demonstrate that the centroid centering method can reduce the dispersion of non-Gaussian images as compared with the PSF modeling method.For Camillo and Midas, the astrometric results are consistent based on the two ephemerides. Implementing a high-precision timing system, and analyzing some astronomical effects and geometric distortions in CCD images should be carefully considered in future works.