A signature of the donor star in the extra-galactic X-ray binary LMC X−2

Two nights of phase-resolved medium-resolution Very Large Telescope spectroscopy of the extra-galactic low-mass X-ray binary LMC X−2 have revealed a 0.32 ± 0.02 d spectroscopic period in the radial velocity curve of the He  ii λ4686 emission line that we interpret as the orbital period. However, similar to previous findings, this radial velocity curve shows a longer term variation that is most likely due to the presence of a precessing accretion disc in LMC X−2. This is strengthened by He  ii λ4686 Doppler maps that show a bright spot that is moving from night to night. Furthermore, we detect narrow emission lines in the Bowen region of LMC X−2, with a velocity of   K _em= 351 ± 28 km s⁻¹  , that we tentatively interpret as coming from the irradiated side of the donor star. Since K _em must be smaller than K ₂, this leads to the first upper limit on the mass function of LMC X−2 of   f ( M ₁) ≥ 0.86  M_⊙  (95 per cent confidence), and the first constraints on its system parameters.     

Mapping on the HEALPix grid

The natural spherical projection associated with the Hierarchical Equal-Area and Isolatitude Pixelization (HEALPix) is described and shown to be one of a hybrid class that combines the cylindrical equal-area and Collignon projections, not previously documented in the cartographic literature. Projection equations are derived for the class in general and are used to investigate its properties. It is shown that the HEALPix projection suggests a simple method of (i) storing and (ii) visualizing data sampled on the grid of the HEALPix pixelization, and also suggests an extension of the pixelization that is better suited for these purposes. Potentially useful properties of other members of the class are described, and new triangular and hexagonal pixelizations are constructed from them. Finally, the standard formalism is defined for representing the celestial coordinate system for any member of the class in the FITS data format.     

Magnetic fields in massive star-forming regions

We present the largest sample of high-mass star-forming regions observed using submillimetre imaging polarimetry. The data were taken using the Submillimetre Common User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) in conjunction with the polarimeter on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii. In total, 16 star-forming regions were observed, although some of these contain multiple cores. The polarimetry implies a variety of magnetic field morphologies, with some very ordered fields. We see a decrease in polarization percentage for seven of the cores. The magnetic field strengths estimated for 14 of the cores, using the corrected Chandrasekhar and Fermi (CF) method, range from <0.1 mG to almost 6 mG. These magnetic fields are weaker on these large scales when compared to previous Zeeman measurements from maser emission, implying the role of the magnetic field in star formation increases in importance on smaller scales. Analysis of the alignment of the mean field direction and the outflow directions reveals no relation for the whole sample, although direct comparison of the polarimetry maps suggests good alignment (to at least one outflow direction per source) in seven out of the 15 sources with outflows.     

Photometry of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the 2004/2005 approach and the Deep Impact module impact

The results of the 9P/Tempel 1 CARA (Cometary Archive for Amateur Astronomers) observing campaign is presented. The main goal was to perform an extended survey of the comet as a support to the Deep Impact (DI) Mission. CCD R, I and narrowband aperture photometries were used to monitor the Afρ quantity. The observed behavior showed a peak of 310 cm 83 days before perihelion, but we argue that it can be distorted by the phase effect, too. The phase effect is roughly estimated around 0.0275 mag/degree, but we had no chance for direct determination because of the very similar geometry of the observed apparitions. The log-slope of Afρ was around −0.5 between about 180-100 days before the impact but evolved near the steady-state like 0 value by the impact time. The DI module impact caused about a 60% increase in the value of Afρ and a cloud feature in the coma profile which was observed just after the event. The expansion of the ejecta cloud was consistent with a fountain model with initial projected velocity of 0.2 km/s and β=0.73. Referring to a 25,000 km radius area centered on the nucleus, the total cross section of the ejected dust was 0.06 days after the impact, and 1.93 days after the impact (A is the dust albedo). Five days after the event no signs of the impact were detected, nor deviations from the expected activity referring both to the average pre-impact behavior and to the previous apparitions.     

Resonantly Damped Surface and Body MHD Waves in a Solar Coronal Slab with Oblique Propagation

The theory of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in solar coronal slabs in a zero-β configuration and for parallel propagation of waves does not allow the existence of surface waves. When oblique propagation of perturbations is considered, both surface and body waves are able to propagate. When the perpendicular wavenumber is larger than a certain value, the body kink mode becomes a surface wave. In addition, a sausage surface mode is found below the internal cutoff frequency. When nonuniformity in the equilibrium is included, surface and body modes are damped by resonant absorption. In this paper, first, a normal-mode analysis is performed and the period, the damping rate, and the spatial structure of the eigenfunctions are obtained. Then, the time-dependent problem is solved, and the conditions under which one or the other type of mode is excited are investigated.     

Seasonal redistribution of water in the surficial Martian regolith: Results from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mars Odyssey</Emphasis> high-energy neutron detector (HEND)

The seasonal variation of neutron emissions from Mars in different spectral intervals measured by the HEND neutron detector for the entire Martian year are analyzed. Based on these data, the spatial variations of the neutron emissions from the planet are globally mapped as a function of season, and the dynamics of seasonal variation of neutron fluxes with different energies is analyzed in detail. No differences were found between seasonal regimes of neutron fluxes in different energy ranges in the southern hemisphere of Mars, while the regime of fast neutrons (with higher energies) during the northern winter strongly differs from that during the southern winter. In winter (L _s = 270°–330°), the fast neutron fluxes are noticeably reduced in the northern hemisphere (along with the consecutive thickening of the seasonal cap of solid carbon dioxide). This provides evidence of a temporary increase in the water content in the effective layer of neutron generation. According to the obtained estimates, the observed reduction of the flux of fast neutrons in the effective layer corresponds to an increase in the water abundance of up to 5% in the seasonal polar cap (70°–90°N), about 3% at mid-latitudes, and from 1.5 to 2% at low latitudes. The freezing out of atmospheric water at the planetary surface (at middle and high latitudes) and the hydration of salt minerals composing the Martian soil are considered as the main processes responsible for the temporary increase in the water content in the soil and upper layer of the seasonal polar cap. The meridional atmospheric transport of water vapor from the summer southern to the winter northern hemisphere within the Hadley circulation cell is a basic process that delivers water to the subsurface soil layer and ensures the observed scale of the seasonal increase in water abundance. In the summer northern hemisphere, the similar Hadley circulation cell transports mainly dry air masses to the winter southern hemisphere. The point is that the water vapor becomes saturated at lower heights during aphelion, and the bulk of the atmospheric water mass is captured in the near-equatorial cloudy belt and, thus, is only weakly transferred to the southern hemisphere. This phenomenon, known as the Clancy effect, was suggested by Clancy et al. (1996) as a basic mechanism for the explanation of the interhemispheric asymmetry of water storage in permanent polar caps. The asymmetry of seasonal meridional circulation of the Martian atmosphere seems to be another factor determining the asymmetry of the seasonal water redistribution in the “atmosphere-regolith-seasonal polar caps” system, found in the peculiarities of the seasonal regime of the neutron emission of Mars.     

Comparison of the Characteristics of Magnetic Clouds and Magnetic Cloud-Like Structures for the Events of 1995 – 2003

Using nine years of solar wind plasma and magnetic field data from the Wind mission, we investigated the characteristics of both magnetic clouds (MCs) and magnetic cloud-like structures (MCLs) during 1995 – 2003. A MCL structure is an event that is identified by an automatic scheme (Lepping, Wu, and Berdichevsky, Ann. Geophys. 23, 2687, 2005) with the same criteria as for a MC, but it is not usually identifiable as a flux rope by using the MC (Burlaga et al., J. Geophys. Res. 86, 6673, 1981) fitting model developed by Lepping, Jones, and Burlaga (Geophys. Res. Lett. 95(11), 957, 1990). The average occurrence rate is 9.5 for MCs and 13.6 for MCLs per year for the overall period of interest, and there were 82 MCs and 122 MCLs identified during this period. The characteristics of MCs and MCL structures are as follows: (1) The average duration, Δt, of MCs is 21.1 h, which is 40% longer than that for MCLs (Δt=15 h); (2) the average (minimum B _z found in MC/MCL measured in geocentric solar ecliptic coordinates) is −10.2 nT for MCs and −6 nT for MCLs; (3) the average Dst_min (minimum Dst caused by MCs/MCLs) is −82 nT for MCs and −37 nT for MCLs; (4) the average solar wind velocity is 453 km s⁻¹ for MCs and 413 km s⁻¹ for MCLs; (5) the average thermal speed is 24.6 km s⁻¹ for MCs and 27.7 km s⁻¹ for MCLs; (6) the average magnetic field intensity is 12.7 nT for MCs and 9.8 nT for MCLs; (7) the average solar wind density is 9.4 cm⁻³ for MCs and 6.3 cm⁻³ for MCLs; and (8) a MC is one of the most important interplanetary structures capable of causing severe geomagnetic storms. The longer duration, more intense magnetic field and higher solar wind speed of MCs, compared to those properties of the MCLs, are very likely the major reasons for MCs generally causing more severe geomagnetic storms than MCLs. But the fact that a MC is an important interplanetary structure with respect to geomagnetic storms is not new (e.g., Zhang and Burlaga, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 2511, 1988; Bothmer, ESA SP-535, 419, 2003).