Optical identification of the hard X-ray source IGR J18257-0707

We present the results of our optical identification of the hard X-ray source IGR J18257-0707 through its spectrophotometric observations with the optical RTT-150 telescope. The accurate position of the X-ray source determined using Chandra observations has allowed this source to be confidently associatedwith a faint optical object (m _R ≈ 20.4) whose optical spectrumexhibits a broad H _α emission line at redshift z = 0.037. Thus, the source IGR J18257-0707 is a type-1 Seyfert galaxy at redshift z = 0.037.     

Investigation of the new cataclysmic variable 1RXS J180834.7+101041

We present the results of our photometric and spectroscopic studies of the new eclipsing cataclysmic variable star 1RXS J180834.7+101041. Its spectrum exhibits double-peaked hydrogen and helium emission lines. The Doppler maps constructed from hydrogen lines show a nonuniform distribution of emission in the disk similar to that observed in IP Peg. This suggests that the object can be a cataclysmic variable with tidal density waves in the disk. We have determined the component masses (M _WD = 0.8 ± 0.22M _⊙ and M _RD = 0.14 ± 0.02M _⊙) and the binary inclination (i = 78° ± 1.5°) based on well-known relations between parameters for cataclysmic variable stars. We have modeled the binary light curves and showed that the model of a disk with two spots is capable of explaining the main observed features of the light curves.     

The first hours of the optical afterglow from the cosmic gamma-ray burst 030329

We describe the first results of our observations of the exceptionally bright optical afterglow from the cosmic gamma-ray burst (GRB) of March 29, 2003 (030329), with the 1.5-m Russian-Turkish telescope (RTT150) installed at the TUBITAK National Observatory (Turkey) at Mount Bakyrlytepe. RTT150 was one of the first medium-class telescopes pointed at the afterglow. The observations began as early as about six hours after the GRB. During the first five hours of our observations, the BV RI flux fell off exactly as a power law with the same slope ?1.19±0.01. Subsequently, in all of the BV RI bands, we observed the same increase in the power-law slope of the light curve to a value that was later recorded during the observations at observatories in the western hemisphere. The break in the power-law light curve occurs at t ? t ₀ ≈ 0.57 days (13.5 h) and lasts for about 0.2 days. Apart from this smooth decrease in the flux, the afterglow exhibited no flux variability. The upper limits on the variability are 10–1% on time scales of 0.1–1000 s, respectively. The BV RI spectral flux distribution during the first night of our observations closely corresponds to a power-law spectrum with a spectral index α=0.66±0.01. The change in the power-law slope of the light curve at the end of our observations is probably attributable to the deceleration of the ultrarelativistic jet to a gamma factor when its structural features begin to show up in the light curve. The radio, optical, and X-ray broadband spectrum is consistent with the assumption about the synchrotron radiation of the ultrarelativistic jet. This unique object continues to be observed with RTT150.     

PG 1316+678: A young pre-cataclysmic binary with weak reflection effects

The PG 1316+678 star is classified as a pre-cataclysmic binary, as is evidenced by its photometric and spectroscopic observations. Its orbital period is determined to be P _orb = 3.3803^d, which coincides with the photometric period. The intensities of the emission HI and HeI lines are shown to vary synchronously with the brightness of the object (Δm _V = 0.065 ^m , Δm _R = 0.08 ^m ). These variations arise as the UV radiation from the DAO white dwarf is reflected from the surface of the cold companion. The parameters of the binary are estimated and the time of its evolution after the common-envelope phase is determined to be t ≈ 240 000 years. Thus, PG 1316+678 is a young pre-cataclysmic NN Ser variable with the smallest known photometric reflection effect.     

Observational constraints on potassium synthesis during the formation of stars of the Galactic disk

The non-LTE potassium abundances in the atmospheres of 33 Galactic-disk stars are derived and the parameters of the atmospheres of 23 of the stars are determined. Neglecting departures from LTE results in a systematic overestimation of the potassium abundances and an increase in their dispersion, even for differential analyses relative to the Sun. The non-LTE corrections are significant ((?0.2)–(?0.6) dex) and depend on the surface gravities and effective temperatures of the stars. The mean potassium abundance for a sample of ten stars with [Fe/H]～0.0 is in agreement with the solar and meteoritic abundances (log ? _⊙(K)=5.12). As the stellar metallicity increases from [Fe/H]=(?1.0) to (0.2) dex, the [K/Fe] ratio decreases systematically from 0.3 dex to ?0.1 dex. The derived dependence [K/Fe]-[Fe/H] is in agreement with the results of published model calculations of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy. This indicates the dominance of explosive oxygen burning in massive type II supernovae during the synthesis of potassium in the Galactic disk.     

The atmospheric lithium abundances of solar analogues

We have analyzed the lithium abundance in the atmospheres of 20 stars that are solar analogues based on high-resolution echelle spectra using model atmospheres in a non-LTE approach. In terms of their lithium abundances, the stars (which are located in a narrow range of temperatures of 5650–5900 K) can be divided into two groups: one with low lithium abundances, as in the solar atmosphere, and one with lithium abundances that are higher than the solar value by about 1 dex (with the accuracy of the lithium abundances being 0.15 dex).     

Spectroscopic Redshift Measurements for Galaxy Clusters Detected in the Planck All-Sky Survey

Astronomy Letters - We present the results of spectroscopic redshift measurements for galaxy clusters from the catalogue compiled previously from Planck all-sky survey data in combination with...     

Optical Identifications of High-Redshift Galaxy Clusters from the Planck Sunyaev–Zeldovich Survey

We present the results of optical identifications and spectroscopic redshift measurements for galaxy clusters from the second Planck catalogue of Sunyaev–Zeldovich sources (PSZ2) located at high redshifts, z ≈ 0.7?0.9. We used the data of optical observations with the Russian–Turkish 1.5-mtelescope (RTT-150), the Sayan Observatory 1.6-m telescope, the Calar Alto 3.5-m telescope, and the 6-m SAO RAS telescope (BTA). The spectroscopic redshift measurements were obtained for seven galaxy clusters, including one cluster, PSZ2 G126.57+51.61, from the cosmological sample of the PSZ2 catalogue. In the central regions of two clusters, PSZ2 G069.39+68.05 and PSZ2 G087.39?34.58, we detected arcs of strong gravitational lensing of background galaxies, one of which is at redshift z = 4.262. The data presented below roughly double the number of known galaxy clusters in the second Planck catalogue of Sunyaev–Zeldovich sources at high redshifts, z ≈ 0.8.