New 1982 — 1990 photometry of λ Andromedae and its 11-year cycle

We present photoelectric photometry of λ And never before published, obtained between February 1982 and December 1990 at 29 different observatories. Then we combine it with all other photometry available to us (previously published, contained in the I.A.U. Commission 27 Archives, and obtained with the Vanderbilt 16-inch automatic telescope but not yet published), to yield a 14.8-year data base. Analysis reveals a long-term cycle in mean brightness, with a full range of 0^m.15 and a period of 11.4 ± 0.4 years. Because most of our new photometry was concentrated in the 1983-84 observing season, we analyze that one well-defined light curve with a two-spot model. Spot A keeps a 0^m.04 amplitude throughout four rotation cycles whereas the amplitude of spot B diminishes from 0^m.09 down almost to 0^m.03. The spot rotation periods were 55^d.9 ± 0^d.6 and 520^d.8 ± 1^d.0, respectively.     

Resistive ballooning line-tied boundary conditions

Ideal and resistive ballooning modes are investigated for different ratios of a two-layer stratified density region representing a model for the photospheric/coronal boundary. Construction of the ballooning equations using a WKB approach is justified by comparison between the values of the growth rate obtained using Hain-Lüst and ballooning equations together with a WKB integral relation. Different values of the density ratio, radius, and resistivity are considered. Sausage-type and kink-type instabilities are found. One of these, depending on the value of r remained unstable for large density ratios. The other instability tended to marginal stability as the density ratio was increased, and allowed parallel and perpendicular flows across the boundary. This is contrary to the predictions of both the rigid-wall and flow-through conditions.     

Sunspot photometry and the total solar irradiance deficit measured in 1980 by ACRIM

Until now a simple Photometric Sunspot Index (PSI) model was used (e.g. Willsonet al., 1981) to describe the contribution of sunspots to the solar irradiance deficit measurement by ACRIM. In this work we replace this model by a photometry of sunspot pictures for the period of 19 August to 4 September, 1980 taking into account the individual features, like lightbridges or umbral dots, of each spot. The main results of this preliminary analysis are: (1) theA _u/A _p ratios and alsos the values vary in a wide range and are by no means constant as in the PSI model; (2) the general trend of the irradiance deficit from our analysis agrees well with the ACRIM measurements; (3) on some days there are differences of more than 50% between the deficits derived from our measurements and from the PSI model.Paper presented at the 11th Eurpean Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain     

Pulsation periods in theδ Scuti star HR 1170

All knownV data from the literature for the Scuti star HR 1170 have been reanalysed by using single-frequency Fourier and multiple-frequency least squares analysis. The calculated periods areP ₁=0 _. ^d 09942 andP ₂=0 _. ^d 08392. The second frequency has not been found before and gives better residuals and almost constant amplitudes for the individual data sets. The period ratio andQ values indicate that this star is not pulsating in pure radial modes.     

Lewis Cliff 85332: A unique carbonaceous chondrite

Abstract— Lewis Cliff 85332 (LEW85332) is a highly unequilibrated (type 3.0–3.1) unique carbonaceous chondrite. It resembles CI and “CR” chondrites in its abundance ratios of refractory lithophiles and refractory siderophiles, but differs significantly from these groups in important ways: relative to CI chondrites, LEW85332 has low abundances of Mn, Se, Zn and most volatile siderophiles; relative to “CR” chondrites, LEW85332 has high abundance ratios of Mn and most volatile siderophiles. Although several petrologic characteristics of LEW85332 resemble those of CO chondrites, LEW85332 differs from this group in having lower abundance ratios of refractory lithophiles and higher abundance ratios of common and volatile siderophiles. Chondrules (mean diameter of 170 μm) are smaller than those in CV and CM chondrites and bigger than those in most CO chondrites. Two melilite-rich (Åk 22) fluffy type-A refractory inclusions were observed. Weathering of LEW85332 has resulted in the formation of 6.2 vol.% limonite; 3.9 vol.% metallic Fe-Ni remains. The inferred original metallic Fe-Ni abundance (13–15 wt.%) is very high for a carbonaceous chondrite and is most similar to those of Kainsaz and Colony (both CO3). LEW85332 is a breccia: the one thin section we examined contains (a) ≥ 10 primitive carbonaceous chondrite clasts (with both C1 and C2 affinities) that contain magnetite framboids and platelets, (b) two clasts containing numerous 10-μm-size clusters of troilite grains, and (c) one clast containing small needles of schreibersite embedded in fine-grained silicate matrix. The unique nature of LEW85332 underscores the wide diversity of materials produced in the solar nebula.     

Statistical Properties of Ribbon Evolution and Reconnection Electric Fields in Eruptive and Confined Flares

A statistical study of the chromospheric ribbon evolution in H\(\alpha\) two-ribbon flares was performed. The data set consists of 50 confined (62%) and eruptive (38%) flares that occurred from June 2000 to June 2015. The flares were selected homogeneously over the H\(\alpha\) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) classes, with an emphasis on including powerful confined flares and weak eruptive flares. H\(\alpha\) filtergrams from the Kanzelhöhe Observatory in combination with Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetograms were used to derive the ribbon separation, the ribbon-separation velocity, the magnetic-field strength, and the reconnection electric field. We find that eruptive flares reveal statistically larger ribbon separation and higher ribbon-separation velocities than confined flares. In addition, the ribbon separation of eruptive flares correlates with the GOES SXR flux, whereas no clear dependence was found for confined flares. The maximum ribbon-separation velocity is not correlated with the GOES flux, but eruptive flares reveal on average a higher ribbon-separation velocity (by ≈?10 km?s^?1). The local reconnection electric field of confined (\(cc=0.50 \pm0.02\)) and eruptive (\(cc=0.77 \pm0.03\)) flares correlates with the GOES flux, indicating that more powerful flares involve stronger reconnection electric fields. In addition, eruptive flares with higher electric-field strengths tend to be accompanied by faster coronal mass ejections.     

The fall of the Grimsby meteorite—I: Fireball dynamics and orbit from radar,video, and infrasound records

Abstract– The Grimsby meteorite (H4–6) fell on September 25, 2009. As of mid‐2010, 13 fragments totaling 215 g have been recovered. Records of the accompanying fireball from the Southern Ontario Meteor Network, including six all‐sky video cameras, a large format CCD, infrasound and radar records, have been used to characterize the trajectory, speed, orbit, and initial mass of the meteoroid. From the four highest quality all‐sky video records, the initial entry velocity was 20.91 ± 0.19 km s^?1 while the derived radiant has a local azimuth of 309.40° ± 0.19° and entry angle of 55.20° ± 0.13°. Three major fragmentation episodes are identified at 39, 33, and 30 km height, with corresponding uncertainties of approximately 2 km. Evidence for early fragmentation at heights of approximately 70 km is found in radar data; dynamic pressure of this earliest fragmentation is near 0.1 MPa while the main flare at 39 km occurred under ram pressures of 1.5 MPa. The fireball was luminous to at least 19.7 km altitude and the dynamic mass estimate of the largest remaining fragment at this height is approximately several kilograms. The initial mass is constrained to be <100 kg from infrasound data and ablation modeling, with a most probable mass of 20–50 kg. The preatmospheric orbit is typical of an Apollo asteroid with a likely immediate origin in either the 3:1 or ν₆ resonances.     

Tomography: A window on the role of sulfur in the structure of micrometeorites

Abstract– To determine the role played by sulfides in the formation of vesicles and FeNi metal beads, we mapped the locations and tabulated the numbers of sulfides, metal beads, and vesicles in 1583 sectioned micrometeorites (MMs) using conventional microscopy and in 190 whole MMs using synchrotron computed microtomography (SCMT). Both the section and the SCMT images show that sulfides melt, coalesce, and migrate to the MMs surface. The decomposition of sulfides may occur during all these stages. Given the sulfide morphologies and compositions that we see in section, we think the breakdown of Ni sulfides produces the FeNi beads. The SCMT images show that metal beads are common in melted MMs, >50% have them. Vesicles in porphyritic and scoriaceous MMs are also probably formed as sulfides decompose. Not only do sulfides abut the vesicles but also the temperatures at which sulfides decompose overlap those at which MM surfaces first melt and temporarily seal, suggesting that S gases could produce most of these vesicles. As the vesicle shapes and patterns of distribution differ among MM classes, tomography can be used to nondestructively screen for specific types of MMs. Tomography is a powerful tool for visualizing the three‐dimensional distribution of metal beads, sulfides, mean densities, and vesicles in MMs.     

X‐shooting Herbig Ae/Be stars: Accretion probed by near‐infrared He I emission

The Herbig Ae/Be stars are intermediate mass pre‐main sequence stars that bridge the gap between the low mass T Tauri stars and the Massive Young Stellar Objects. In this mass range, the acting star forming mechanism switches from magnetically controlled accretion to an as yet unknown mechanism, but which is likely to be direct disk accretion onto the star. We observed a large sample of Herbig Ae/Be stars with X‐shooter to address this issue from a multi‐wavelength perspective. It is the largest such study to date, not only because of the number of objects involved, but also because of the large wavelength coverage from the blue to the near‐infrared. This allows many accretion diagnostics to be studied simultaneously. By correlating the various properties with mass, temperature and age, we aim to determine where and whether the magnetically controlled mass accretion mechanism halts and the proposed direct disk accretion takes over. Here, we will give an overview of the background, present some observations and discuss our initial results. We will introduce a new accretion diagnostic for the research of Herbig Ae/Be stars, the HeI 1.083 μm line (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Bounce Rock—A shergottite‐like basalt encountered at Meridiani Planum,Mars

Abstract– The Opportunity rover of the Mars Exploration Rover mission encountered an isolated rock fragment with textural, mineralogical, and chemical properties similar to basaltic shergottites. This finding was confirmed by all rover instruments, and a comprehensive study of these results is reported here. Spectra from the miniature thermal emission spectrometer and the Panoramic Camera reveal a pyroxene‐rich mineralogy, which is also evident in Mössbauer spectra and in normative mineralogy derived from bulk chemistry measured by the alpha particle X‐ray spectrometer. The correspondence of Bounce Rock’s chemical composition with the composition of certain basaltic shergottites, especially Elephant Moraine (EET) 79001 lithology B and Queen Alexandra Range (QUE) 94201, is very close, with only Cl, Fe, and Ti exhibiting deviations. Chemical analyses further demonstrate characteristics typical of Mars such as the Fe/Mn ratio and P concentrations. Possible shock features support the idea that Bounce Rock was ejected from an impact crater, most likely in the Meridiani Planum region. Bopolu crater, 19.3 km in diameter, located 75 km to the southwest could be the source crater. To date, no other rocks of this composition have been encountered by any of the rovers on Mars. The finding of Bounce Rock by the Opportunity rover provides further direct evidence for an origin of basaltic shergottite meteorites from Mars.