Isotopic-geochemical signs of coal and bitumen transformation in different-type ore mineralization: Communication 1. Isotopic-geochemical signs of structural transformation of coal and bitumen

Results of the study of natural organic matter (OM) represented by classes of solid and high-molecular-compounds (resin, ozokerite, asphalt, kerite, graphite, and others) are presented. They are developed as dispersed and concentrated segregations, interlayers, and independent accumulations and impregnation in the fracture-vein system and stratiform bodies. They also accompany ore mineralization. Combination of modern tic mineralogical, chemical, isotopic, infrared spectroscopic, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic) analytical methods provide insight into the OM transformation during oil formation and ore genesis. Variations in OM composition and properties define the concentration of ore elements and change mechanisms of their fixation (sorption, chemosorption, and reduction). Isotopic-geochemical signs of the structural transformation of Coal and bitumen allow us to elaborate a unified scale of catagenesis and metamorphism of the sapropel-and humus-type OM.     

Observations and interpretation of solar decameter type IIIb radio bursts

Solar decameter bursts of Type IIIb are observed with a multichannel radiometer at wavelengths around 12m. The time and frequency resolutions were 10 ms and 100 kHz. Observations on the time structure of these bursts are presented. A theoretical model which accounts for various aspects of these bursts is proposed.     

The Mauritius Radiotelescope

The Mauritius Radiotelescope (MRT) is a T-shaped array of helical antennas with a 2048 m EW arm and a 890 m South arm. The primary objective of the telescope is to produce a sky survey in the declination zone -15° to -65° with a point source sensitivity of 200 mJy and an angular resolution of 4'×4.6'cosec(z) at 151.6 MHz, z being the zenith angle . This paper describes the telescope and the present status     

Scattering by nonspherical particles and optical properties of Martian dust

Ultraviolet spectral reflectance data obtained from the Mariner 9 during the 1971 Mars dust storm were analyzed at two wavelengths to deduce the complex index of refraction of Martian dust. Martian dust particles were considered to be irregularly shaped and randomly oriented nonspherical particles. The analysis shows that the Mariner 9 data are consistent with the scattering by irregular particles with an index of refraction m = 1.59 ? 0.0015i at λ = 0.305 μm and m = 1.55 ? 0.004i at λ = 0.268 μm. Both the real and the imaginary parts of refractive index found are considerably smaller than previously reported results using a spherical shape model for Martian dust particles.     

Collective resonant phenomena on small bodies in the solar system

For both asteroids and meteor streams, and also for comets, resonances play a major role for their orbital evolutions but on different time scales. For asteroids both mean motion resonances and secular resonances not only structure the phase space of regular orbits but are mainly at the origin for the inherent chaos of planet crosser objects.For comets and their chaotic routes temporary trapping into orbital resonances is a well known phenomenon. In addition for slow diffusion through the Kuiper belt resonances are the only candidates for originating a slow chaos.Like for asteroids, resonances with Jupiter play a major role for the orbital evolution of meteor streams. Crossing of separatrix like zones appears to be crucial for the formation of arcs and for the dissolution of streams. In particular the orbital inclination of a meteor stream appears to be a critical parameter for arc formation. Numerical results obtained in an other context show that the competition between the Poynting-Robertson drag and the gravitational interaction of grains near the 2/1 resonance might be very important in the long run for the structure of meteor streams.     

Planetary transit observations at the University Observatory Jena: XO‐1b and TrES‐1

We report on observations of transit events of the transiting planets XO‐1b and TrES‐1 with a 25 cm telescope of the University Observatory Jena. With the transit timings for XO‐1b from all 50 available XO, SuperWASP, Transit Light Curve (TLC)‐Project‐ and Exoplanet Transit Database (ETD)‐data, including our own I ‐band photometry obtained in March 2007, we find that the orbital period is P = (3.941501 ± 0.000001) d, a slight change by ∼3 s compared to the previously published period. We present new ephemeris for this transiting planet. Furthermore, we present new R ‐band photometry of two transits of TrES‐1. With the help of all available transit times from literature this allows us to refine the estimate of the orbital period: P = (3.0300722 ± 0.0000002) d. Our observations will be useful for future investigations of timing variations caused by additional perturbing planets and/or stellar spots and/or moons (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

XHIP: An extended hipparcos compilation

We present the Extended Hipparcos Compilation (XHIP), a database of all stars in the New Reduction of the Hipparcos Catalog extensively cross-referenced with data from a broad survey of presently available sources. The resulting collection uniquely assigns 116 096 spectral classifications, 46 392 radial velocities, and 18 549 homogenized iron abundances [Fe/H] to Hipparcos stars. Stellar classifications from SIMBAD, indications of multiplicity from CCDM or WDS, stellar ages from the Geneva-Copenhagen Survey III, supplemental photometry from 2MASS and SIMBAD, and identifications of exoplanet host stars are also included. Parameters for solar encounters and Galactic orbits are calculated for a kinematically complete subset. Kinetic bias is found to be minimal. Our compilation is available through the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg as Catalog V/137A.     

Determination semi-automatique des diametres de crateres lunaires a partir de plaques photographiques de la Lune

Résumé Nous comparons les valeurs des diamètres de cratères lunaires obtenues à partir de mesures visuelles et semi-automatiques de plaques photographiques de la Lune. Nous montrons que le tracé du contour d'un cratère obtenu à partir d'un nouvel algorithme de calcul est équivalent au contour estimé par l'il.

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We compare two methods for the determination of lunar crater diameters: visual and semiautomatic. We show that the lunar crater contour obtained either by application of the new algorithm or by visual measure are equivalent.

     

Precision timing measurements of PSR J1012+5307

We present results and applications of high-precision timing measurements of the binary millisecond pulsar J1012+5307. Combining our radio timing measurements with results based on optical observations, we derive complete 3D velocity information for this system. Correcting for Doppler effects, we derive the intrinsic spin parameters of this pulsar and a characteristic age of 8.6±1.9 Gyr . Our upper limit for the orbital eccentricity of only 8×10⁻⁷ (68 per cent confidence level) is the smallest ever measured for a binary system. We demonstrate that this makes the pulsar an ideal laboratory in which to test certain aspects of alternative theories of gravitation. Our precision measurements suggest deviations from a simple pulsar spin-down timing model, which are consistent with timing noise and the extrapolation of the known behaviour of slowly rotating pulsars.