Kinematics of the structure of the active region in Orion-KL

The kinematics of the superfine structure of the active star-forming region in the dense molecular cloud Orion-KL has been investigated in the Н₂О maser emission for the period 1998–2003. It has been established that the surrounding gas inflows onto the disk and is transferred in a spiral trajectory to the center. An excess angular momentum as it is accumulated is carried away by a bipolar outflow; a highvelocity central flow surrounded by low-velocity components is formed. The outer low-velocity component observed at the detection limit has a diameter Ø₃ ≈ 4.5 AU, further out, Ø₂ ≈ 0.5 AU and Ø₁ ≈ 0.24 AU. The gas transfer velocity increases exponentially as the center is approached. The maser emission from the central flow is decisive. A rise in the velocity leads to a flow discontinuity and a reduction in the amount of inflowingmaterial and, accordingly, the emission level. The emission in the period under consideration was reduced exponentially for ~6 months, whereupon its restoration began.     

Hydrothermal activity on the CV parent body: New perspectives from the giant Transantarctic Mountains minimeteorite TAM5.29

TAM5.29 is an extraterrestrial dust grain, collected on the Transantarctic Mountains (TAM). Its mineralogy is dominated by an Fe‐rich matrix composed of platy fayalitic olivines and clasts of andradite surrounded by diopside‐jarosite mantles; chondrules are absent. TAM5.29 records a complex geological history with evidence of extensive thermal metamorphism in the presence of fluids at T < 300 °C. Alteration was terminated by an impact, resulting in shock melt veins and compaction‐orientated foliation of olivine. A second episode of alteration at lower temperatures (<100 °C) occurred postimpact and is either parent body or terrestrial in origin and resulted in the formation of iddingsite. The lack of chondrules is explained by random subsampling of the parent body, with TAM5.29 representing a matrix‐only fragment. On the basis of bulk chemical composition, mineralogy, and geological history TAM5.29 demonstrates affinities to the CV_ox group with a mineralogical assemblage in between the Allende‐like and Bali‐like subgroups (CV_oxA and TAM5.29 are rich in andradite, magnetite, and FeNiS, but CV_oxA lacks hydrated minerals, common in TAM5.29; conversely, CV_oxB are rich in hydrated phyllosilicates but contain almost pure fayalite, not found in TAM5.29). In addition, TAM5.29 has a slightly different metasomatic history, in between the oxidized and reduced CV metamorphic grades while also recording higher oxidizing conditions as compared to the known CV chondrites. This study represents the third CV‐like cosmic dust particle, containing a unique composition, mineralogy, and fabric, demonstrating variation in the thermal metamorphic history of the CV parent body(‐ies).     

Heterodyne spectroscopy of the 158 micron C II line in M42

We have obtained velocity-resolved spectra of the 12C II 157.8 microns 2P3/2-2P1/2 fine structure line in the M42 region of Orion. Observations at 0.8 km s-1 resolution with a laser heterodyne spectrometer show multiple velocity components in some locations, with typical linewidths of 3-5 km s-1. Spectra of theta 1C and BN-KL also show weak emission from the F = 2-1 hyperfine component of the equivalent 13C II line. From the observed 12C II/13C II line intensity ratios, we deduce that the 12C II emission is optically thick with tau approximately 5 at both positions. Excitation temperatures of 128 K and 90 K, together with column densities of approximately 1 x 10(19) cm-2 and approximately 4 x 10(18) cm-2, are derived for theta 1C and BN-KL, respectively.     

Observations of interstellar HOCO+: abundance enhancements toward the galactic center

A survey of the 4(04)-3(03) and 1(01)-0(00) transitions of HOCO+ has been made toward several molecular clouds. The HOCO+ molecule was not observed in any sources except Sgr B2 and Sgr A. The 5(05)-4(04) and 4(14)-3(13) transitions were also detected toward Sgr B2. The results indicate that gas phase CO2 is not a major carbon reservoir in typical molecular clouds. In Sgr B2, the HOCO+ antenna temperature exhibits a peak approximately 2' north of the Sgr B2 central position (Sgr B2[M]) and the 4(04)-3(03) line emission is extended over a approximately 10' x 10' region. The column density of HOCO+ at the northern peak in Sgr B2 is approximately 3 x 10(14) cm-2, and the fractional abundance relative to H2 > or = 3 x 10(-10), which is about 2 orders of magnitude greater than recent predictions of quiescent cloud ion-molecule chemistry.     

Nonlinear dynamo effects for an inhomogeneously turbulent rotating fluid

Im Rahmen der Magnetohydrodynamik der mittleren Felder werden die turbulenzbedingte elektromotorische Kraft und der turbulenzbedingte Spannungstensor für eine leitende Flüssigkeit mit inhomogener Turbulenz auf einem rotierenden Körper berechnet. Dabei wird der Einflu$sZ des Magnetfeldes auf der Turbulenz berücksichtigt. So erscheinen nichtlineare Effekte bei den Vorgängen, die für das Vorhandensein von Magnetfeld und differentieller Rotation verantwortlich sind; die dafür ma$sZgebenden Koeffizienten sind Funktionen des Magnetfeldes. Die Nichtlinearitäten werden bis zur zweiten Ordnung im mittleren Magnetfeld (d. h. als schwache Nichtlinearitäten) erfa$sZt. Der $aL-Effekt beim $aL$OM-Dynamo erleidet sowohl bei langsamer als auch bei rascher Rotation eine Schwächung durch das Magnetfeld. Es werden einige astrophysikalische Anwendungen der Ergebnisse erörtert. Insbesondere wird auf die Möglichkeit hingewiesen, da$sZ die bei der Sonne beobachteten Torsionsschwingungen als Folge des im Aktivitätszyklus schwankenden magnetischen Einflusses auf den für die differentielle Rotation ma$sZgebenden A-Effekt erscheinen.     

Prospects of the “WSO-UV” Project for Star Formation Study in Nearby Dwarf Galaxies

In the present work we consider the questions of star formation and evolution of nearby dwarf galaxies. We describe the method of star formation history determination based on multicolor photometry of resolved stars and models of color-magnitude diagrams of the galaxies. We present the results of star formation rate determination and its dependence on age and metallicity for dwarf irregular and dwarf spheroidal galaxies in the two nearby galaxy groups M81 and Cen A. Similar age of the last episode of star formation in the central part of the M81 group and also unusually high level of metal enrichment in the several galaxies of the Cen A group are mentioned. We pay special attention to the consideration of perspectives of star formation study in nearby dwarf galaxies with he new WSO-UV observatory.     

New orbits of wide visual double stars

Based on photographic and CCD observations with the Pulkovo 26-inch refractor, radial velocity measurements with the 1.5-m RTT-150 telescope (TUBITAK National Observatory, Turkey), and highly accurate observations published in the WDS catalog, we have obtained the orbits of ten wide visual double stars by the apparent motion parameter method. The orientation of the orbits in the Galactic coordinate system has been determined. For the outer pair of the multiple star HIP 12780 we have calculated a family of orbits with a minimum period P = 4634 yr. Two equivalent solutions with the same period have been obtained for the stars HIP 50 (P = 949 yr) and HIP 66195 (P = 3237 yr). We have unambiguously determined the orbits of six stars: HIP 12777 (P = 3327 yr), HIP 15058 (P = 420 yr), HIP 33287 (P = 1090 yr), HIP 48429 (P = 1066 yr), HIP 69751 (P = 957 yr), and HIP 73846 (P = 1348 yr). The orbit of HIP 55068 is orientated perpendicularly to the plane of the sky, P >1000 yr. The star HIP 48429 is suspected to have an invisible companion.     

Active zone of the nucleus of the quasar 3C 273

The superfine structure of the quasar 3C 273 has been investigated at wavelengths λ = 2 and 6 cm with angular resolutions up to φ = 20 μas for epochs 2005–2014. We have identified a nozzle and a bipolar outflow: a jet and a counterjet consisting of coaxial high- and low-velocity components. The separation between the nozzles in the plane of the sky is Δρ = 0.84 ± 0.16 pc; the flow ejection velocity is v ≤ 0.1c. The nozzle brightness temperature reaches T _b ≈ 45 × 10¹² K, φ = 20 μas, λ = 2 cm. The ejected electrons radiatively cool at a distance up to ≤4 pc. However, the jet afterglow is observed at a 8% level at a distance up to ρ ≈ 16 pc; the acceleration compensates for the radiative losses. The reduction in the emission level of the central flow at large distances determines the jet bifurcation. The counterjet shape is a mirror reflection of the initial part of the jet, suggesting a symmetry and identity of the ejected flows. The counterjet and jet nozzles are in the near and remote parts of the active region, respectively. The emission from the nozzles is absorbed by a factor of 2 and 15, respectively. The absorption decreases with increasing distance and the brightness of the jet fragments rises to its maximum at 0.5 pc from the nozzle. Arclike structures, arm fragments, are observed in the region of the nozzles. The relativistic plasma comes to the nozzles and is ejected. The brightness temperature of the arclike structures reaches 10% of the peak value, which is determined by the a smaller optical depth, the visibility in the transverse direction. The central high-velocity flow is surrounded by low-velocity components, hollow tubes being ejected as an excess angular momentum is accumulated. The remainder of the material flows along the arms toward the disk center until the next accumulation of an excess angular momentum and the process is repeated. The diameter of the outer nozzle is Ø = 25 pc and, further out, decreases exponentially; Ø _n ≈ 80 exp(?1.15n) pc. The flow kinematics, collimation, and acceleration have a vortical nature. Ring currents producing magnetic fields, which accelerate and stabilize the processes, are generated in the rotating flows (tubes). The tangential directions of the currents are observed as parallel chains of components.     

Viscoelastic tides: models for use in Celestial Mechanics

In this note, by using Smale’s \(\alpha \)-theorem on the convergence of Newton’s method, the \(\alpha \)-sets of convergence of some starters of solving the elliptic Kepler’s equation are derived. For each starter we compute the exact \(\alpha \)-set in the eccentricity-main anomaly \((e,M)\in [0,1)\times [0,\pi ]\), showing that these sets are larger than those derived by Avendaño et al. (Celest Mech Dyn Astron 119:27–44, 2014). Further, new convergence tests based on the Newton–Kantorowitch theorem are given comparing with the derived from Smale’s \(\alpha \)-test.