Study of envelope velocity evolution of core-collapse type Ib-c supernovae from observations of XRF 080109 / SN 2008D and GRB 060218 / SN 2006aj with BTA

Results of modeling the spectra of two supernovae SN2008D and SN2006aj related to the X-ray flash XRF 080109 and gamma-ray burst GRB/XRF 060218, respectively, are studied. The spectra were obtained with the 6-meter BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 6.48 and 27.61 days after the explosion of SN2008D, and in 2.55 and 3.55 days after the explosion of SN2006aj. The spectra were interpreted in the Sobolev approximation with the SYNOW code. An assumption about the presence of envelopes around the progenitor stars is confirmed by an agreement between the velocities of lines interpreted as hydrogen and helium, and the empiric power-law velocity drop with time for the envelopes of classic core-collapse supernovae. Detection of a P Cyg profile of the Hβ line in the spectra of optical afterglows of GRBs can be a determinative argument in favor of this hypothesis.     

Study of faint galaxies in the field of GRB021004

We present an analysis of BV R _c I _c observations of the field sized around 4′ × 4′ centered at the host galaxy of the gamma-ray burst GRB021004 with the 6-m BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We measured the magnitudes and constructed the color diagrams for 311 galaxies detected in the field (S/N>3). The differential and integral counts of galaxies up to the limit, corresponding to 28.5 (B), 28.0 (V), 27.0 (R _c ), 26.5 (I _c ) were computed. We compiled the galaxy catalog, consisting of 183 objects, for which the photometric redshifts up to the limiting magnitudes 26.0 (B), 25.5 (V), 25.0 (R _c ), 24.5 (I _c ) were determined using the HyperZ code. We then examined the radial distribution of galaxies based on the z estimates. We have built the curves expected in the case of a uniform distribution of galaxies in space, and obtained the estimates for the size and contrast of the possible super-large-scale structures, which are accessible with the observations of this type.     

Search for and study of photometric variability in magnetic white dwarfs

We report the results of photometric observations of a number of magnetic white dwarfs in order to search for photometric variability in these stars. These V-band observations revealed significant variability in the classical highly magnetized white dwarf GRW+70?8247 with a likely period from several days to several dozen days and a half-amplitude of about 0_. ^m 04. Our observations also revealed the variability of the well-known white dwarf GD229. The half amplitude of its photometric variability is equal to about 0_. ^m 005, and the likely period of this degenerate star lies in the 10–20 day interval. This variability is most likely due to the rotation of the stars considered.We also discuss the peculiarities of the photometric variability in a number of other white dwarfs. We present the updated “magnetic field–rotation period” diagram for the white dwarfs.     

Study of the quality of the Zeiss-1000 telescope optical system using the Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor

The results of studies of the optics of the 1-m Zeiss-1000 telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SAO RAS) by the Shack–Hartmann (SH) method are presented. Using a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor (SH WFS) we have adjusted the telescope optical system by means of shifts and tilts of the secondary mirror. The procedure has significantly reduced the aberrations that appeared during the long-term instrument operation. A new method to investigate the surface quality of the mirrors of the Zeiss-1000 being applied, characteristics close to the diffraction limit are achieved. In general, the entire opto-mechanical telescope system provides an image quality of about 0.5″ at 80%energy level.     

Stellar-wind envelope around the massive supernova progenitor XRF/GRB 060218/SN 2006aj

The spectra of the supernova SN 2006aj identified with the X-ray flash (XRF) and gammaray burst XRF/GRB 060218/SN 2006aj taken with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences are found to exhibit features, which can be interpreted as hydrogen lines. Such features indicate the existence of a stellar-wind envelope around the massive star—the progenitor of the gamma-ray burst. The results of our modeling of two early spectra taken with the 6-m telescope 2.55 and 3.55 days after the explosion of the type-Ic supernova SN 2006aj (z=0.0331) are reported. The spectra are modeled in the Sobolev approximation using SYNOW code [1, 2]. The spectra of the optical afterglow of the X-ray flash XRF/GRB 060218 are found to exhibit spectral features, which can be interpreted as: (1) the P Cyg-profile of the Hα line for the velocity of 33000 km/s—a broad and small deformation of the continuum in the wavelength interval 5600–6600Å for the first epoch (2.55 days) and (2) a part of the P Cyg-profile of the Hα line in absorption blueshifted by 24000 km/s—a broad spectral feature with a minimum at 6100Å (rest wavelength) for the second epoch (3.55 days). Given earlier observations made with the 6-m telescope and the spectra taken with other telescopes (ESO Lick, ESO VLT and NOT) prior to February 23, 2006, it can be concluded that we are observing the evolution of optical spectra of the type Ic massive supernova SN2006aj during its transition from the short phase with the “shock breakout” into the external layers of the stellar-wind envelope to the spectra of the phase of rising supernova luminosity, which corresponds to radiative heating. We are the first to observe the signs of hydrogen in the spectra of a gamma-ray afterglow.     

Results of the First Year of the 3BS Polar Search Program

Astronomy Letters - We present the results of the first year of searching for polar candidates within the 3BS (3-Band Survey) program using medium-band filters. Observational data for 84 selected...     

Exoplanet Studies. Photometric Analysis of the Transmission Spectra of Selected Exoplanets

We present the results of ground based observations and model analysis of transits of exoplanets WASP-33b, WASP-43b, WASP-104b, and HD 219134b. Broadband transmission spectra (dependence of the observed radii on wavelength) have been plotted for all exoplanets, ranging from the near-UV to the IR region. We show that the transmission spectrum of WASP-33b is, within errors, flat in the range of 3800 Å to 12 000 Å. The derived broadband spectrum of WASP-43b is also flat in the first approximation, although other authors have reported the presence of absorption lines of various chemical elements in the narrow bands. Model spectra of WASP-43b taken from the literature and based on IR data allowed us to obtain a direct estimate of its nighttime temperature. We present and analyze the results of ground based observations which confirm the discovery of a transiting super-Earth in the HD 219134 star system. Signs of this planet’s existence were discovered earlier during the radial velocity analysis of the star, as well as transit observations with the Spitzer space telescope in the IR.At the estimated time, we registered a transit in the near-UV range several times. The transit depth measured in the U-band of the Johnson photometric system amounts to 0.13% ± 0.027%, which is deeper than the one based on Spitzer measurements. We discuss the possible causes of this difference.     

Spectral and photometric monitoring of distant core-collapse supernovae in the SAO RAS

This paper describes the aims, objectives and first results of the observational program for the study of distant core-collapse supernovae (SNe) with redshifts z ≲ 0.3. This work is done within the framework of an international cooperation program on the SNe monitoring at the 6-m BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and other telescopes. We study both the early phases of events (SN type determination, redshift estimation, and a search for manifestations of a wind envelope), and the nebular phase (the effects of explosion asymmetry). The SNe, associated with cosmic gamma-ray bursts are of particular interest. An interpretation of our observational data along with the data obtained on other telescopes is used to test the existing theoretical models of both the SN explosion, and the surrounding circumstellar medium. In 2009 we observed 30 objects; the spectra were obtained for 12 of them. We determined the types, phases after maximum, and redshifts for five SNe (SN 2009db, SN 2009dy, SN 2009dw, SN 2009ew, SN 2009ji). Based on the obtained photometric data a discovery of two more SNe was confirmed (SN 2009bx and SN 2009cb). A study of two type II supernovae in the nebular phase (SN 2008gz and SN 2008in) is finalized, four more objects (SN 2008iy, SN 2009ay, SN 2009bw, SN 2009de) are currently monitored.     

Photometry and spectroscopy of the luminous red nova PSNJ14021678+5426205 in the galaxy M101

We present the results of the study of a red nova from the observations carried out with the Russian 6-m telescope (BTA) along with other telescopes of SAO RAS and SAI MSU. To investigate the nova progenitor,we used the data from the Digital Sky Survey and amateur photos available on the Internet. In the period between April 1993 and July 2014, the brightness of the progenitor gradually increased by \(2_ \cdot ^m 2\) in the V-band. At the peak of the first outburst in mid-November 2014, the star reached an absolute visual magnitude of \(- 12_ \cdot ^m 75\) but was discovered later, in February 2015, in a repeated outburst at the magnitude of \(- 11_ \cdot ^m 65\). The amplitude of the outburst was minimum among the red novae, only \(5_ \cdot ^m 6\) in V-band. The Hα emission line and the background of a cool supergiant continuum with gradually decreasing surface temperature were observed in the spectra. Such process is typical for red novae, although the object under study showed extreme parameters: maximum luminosity, maximum outburst duration, minimum outburst amplitude, unusual shape of the light curve. This event is interpreted as a massive OB star system components’merging accompanied by formation of a common envelope and then the expansion of this envelope with minimal energy losses.