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Adaptive Optics Imaging of Circumstellar Environments
Star Formation at High Angular Resolution IAU Symposium, Vol. 221, 2004 M. G. Burton, R. Jayawardhana & T.L. Bourke, eds. Adaptive Optics Imaging of Circumstellar Environments Daniel Apai, Ilaria Pascucci, Hongchi Wang, Wolfgang Brandner and Thomas Henning Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Kimiqsiuhl 17., Heidelberg, Germany D-69117 Carol Grady NOAO/STIS, Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 681, NASA/GSFC, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA Dan Potter Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 N. Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA Abstract. We present results from our high-resolution, high-contrast imaging campaign targeting the circumstellar environments of young, nearby stars of different masses. The observations have been conducted using the ALFA/CA 3.5m and NACO UT4/VLT adaptive optics systems. In order to enhance the contrast we applied the methods PSF-subtraction and polarimetric differential imaging (PDI). The observations of young stars yielded the identification of numerous new companion candidates, the most interesting one being rv 0.5" from FU Ori. We also obtained high-resolution near-infrared imaging of the circumstellar envelope of SU Aur and AB Aur. Our PDI of the TW Hya circumstellar disk traced back the disk emission as close as 0.1" ~ 6 AU from the star, the closest yet. Our results demonstrate the potential of the adaptive optics systems in achieving high-resolution and high-contrast imaging and thus in the study of circumstellar disks, envelopes and companions. 1. Introduction Young, nearby stars are our prime source of information to study the circum- stellar disk structure and evolution. They are also the ideal targets for adaptive optics (AO) observations, as they are usually bright enough to provide excellent wavefront reference. -
Nuclear Star Formation in NGC 6240
A&A 415, 103–116 (2004) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20034183 & c ESO 2004 Astrophysics Nuclear star formation in NGC 6240 A. Pasquali1,2,J.S.Gallagher3, and R. de Grijs4 1 ESO/ST-ECF, Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2, 85748 Garching bei M¨unchen, Germany 2 Institute of Astronomy, ETH H¨onggerberg, 8093 Z¨urich, Switzerland 3 University of Wisconsin, Department of Astronomy, 475 N. Charter St., Madison WI 53706, USA e-mail: [email protected] 4 University of Sheffield, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road, Sheffield S3 7RH, UK e-mail: [email protected] Received 12 August 2003 / Accepted 6 November 2003 Abstract. We have made use of archival HST BVIJH photometry to constrain the nature of the three discrete sources, A1, A2 and B1, identified in the double nucleus of NGC 6240. STARBURST99 models have been fitted to the observed colours, under the assumption, first, that these sources can be treated as star clusters (i.e. single, instantaneous episodes of star formation), and subsequently as star-forming regions (i.e. characterised by continuous star formation). For both scenarios, we estimate ages as young as 4 million years, integrated masses ranging between 7 106 M (B1) and 109 M (A1) and a rate of 1 supernova per × 1 year, which, together with the stellar winds, sustains a galactic wind of 44 M yr− . In the case of continuous star formation, 1 a star-formation rate has been derived for A1 as high as 270 M yr− , similar to what is observed for warm Ultraluminous 3 Infrared Galaxies (ULIRGs) with a double nucleus. -
Observational Studies of the Galaxy Peculiar Velocity Field
OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES OF THE GALAXY PECULIAR VELOCITY FIELD by Philip Andrew James Astrophysics Group Blackett Laboratory Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London SW7 2BZ A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of London and for the Diploma of Imperial College November 1988 1 ABSTRACT This thesis describes two observational studies of the peculiar velocity field of galaxies over scales of 50-100 Jr1 Mpc, and the consequences of these measurements for cosmological theories. An introduction is given to observational cosmology, emphasising the crucial questions of the nature of the dark matter and the formation of structure. The principal cosmological models are discussed, and the role of observations in developing these models is stressed. Consideration is given to those observations that are likely to prove good discriminators between the competing models, particular emphasis being given to studies of the coherent velocities of samples of galaxies. The first new study presented here uses optical photometry and redshifts, from the literature, for First Ranked Cluster Galaxies (FRCG’s). These galaxies are excellent standard candles, and thus ideal for peculiar velocity studies. A simple one dimensional analysis detects no relative motion between the Local Group of galaxies and 60 FRCG’s with redshifts of up to 15000 kms-1. This is shown to imply a streaming motion of the cluster galaxies of at least 600 kms_1 relative to the CBR. The second observational study is a reanalysis of the Rubin et al. (1976a,b) sample of Sc galaxies. Near-IR photometry is used in our reanalysis to minimise the effects of extinction and to facilitate the use of luminosity indicators in reducing the effects of selection biases. -
1. Introduction
THE ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT SERIES, 122:109È150, 1999 May ( 1999. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. GALAXY STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS: STAR FORMATION RATE AND EVOLUTION WITH REDSHIFT M. TAKAMIYA1,2 Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; and Gemini 8 m Telescopes Project, 670 North Aohoku Place, Hilo, HI 96720 Received 1998 August 4; accepted 1998 December 21 ABSTRACT The evolution of the structure of galaxies as a function of redshift is investigated using two param- eters: the metric radius of the galaxy(Rg) and the power at high spatial frequencies in the disk of the galaxy (s). A direct comparison is made between nearby (z D 0) and distant(0.2 [ z [ 1) galaxies by following a Ðxed range in rest frame wavelengths. The data of the nearby galaxies comprise 136 broad- band images at D4500A observed with the 0.9 m telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (23 galaxies) and selected from the catalog of digital images of Frei et al. (113 galaxies). The high-redshift sample comprises 94 galaxies selected from the Hubble Deep Field (HDF) observations with the Hubble Space Telescope using the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 in four broad bands that range between D3000 and D9000A (Williams et al.). The radius is measured from the intensity proÐle of the galaxy using the formulation of Petrosian, and it is argued to be a metric radius that should not depend very strongly on the angular resolution and limiting surface brightness level of the imaging data. It is found that the metric radii of nearby and distant galaxies are comparable to each other. -
Radio Sources in Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei
A&A 392, 53–82 (2002) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20020874 & c ESO 2002 Astrophysics Radio sources in low-luminosity active galactic nuclei III. “AGNs” in a distance-limited sample of “LLAGNs” N. M. Nagar1, H. Falcke2,A.S.Wilson3, and J. S. Ulvestad4 1 Arcetri Observatory, Largo E. Fermi 5, Florence 50125, Italy 2 Max-Planck-Institut f¨ur Radioastronomie, Auf dem H¨ugel 69, 53121 Bonn, Germany e-mail: [email protected] 3 Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA Adjunct Astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA e-mail: [email protected] 4 National Radio Astronomy Observatory, PO Box 0, Socorro, NM 87801, USA e-mail: [email protected] Received 23 January 2002 / Accepted 6 June 2002 Abstract. This paper presents the results of a high resolution radio imaging survey of all known (96) low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (LLAGNs) at D ≤ 19 Mpc. We first report new 2 cm (150 mas resolution using the VLA) and 6 cm (2 mas resolution using the VLBA) radio observations of the previously unobserved nuclei in our samples and then present results on the complete survey. We find that almost half of all LINERs and low-luminosity Seyferts have flat-spectrum radio cores when observed at 150 mas resolution. Higher (2 mas) resolution observations of a flux-limited subsample have provided a 100% (16 of 16) detection rate of pc-scale radio cores, with implied brightness temperatures ∼>108 K. The five LLAGNs with the highest core radio fluxes also have pc-scale “jets”. -
CURRICULUM VITAE for DANIEL APAI Research Interests: Extrasolar Planets; Planet Formation; Planetary Atmospheres; Astrobiology; Space Telescope Architectures
CURRICULUM VITAE FOR DANIEL APAI Research Interests: Extrasolar Planets; Planet formation; Planetary atmospheres; Astrobiology; Space telescope architectures Professional Appointments 2017 – Associate Professor, Depts. of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, Univ. of Arizona 2011 – 2017 Assistant Professor, Depts. of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, Univ. Arizona 2008 – 2011 Assistant Astronomer, Space Telescope Science Institute Education 2004 PhD, University of Heidelberg and Max Planck Institute of Astronomy 2000 MSc in Physics, University of Szeged Recent International Service: Chair, HST–TESS Advisory Committee, Space Telescope Science Institute Science Advisory Committee member, Giant Magellan Telescope Executive Committee member, NASA Exoplanet Program Analysis Group (EXOPAG) Steering Committee member, NASA Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) Chair, Exoplanet Science Questions for Direct Imaging Missions, SAG15/EXOPAG Member, Hubble Space Telescope Financial Review Committee Major Approved Programs as Principal Investigator 9 Hubble Space Telescope + 4 Spitzer Space Telescope programs, including: - Extrasolar Storms: Spitzer Exploration Science Program (1,144 Spitzer hour, 24 HST orbits) - Cloud Atlas: Hubble Space Telescope (112 orbits), 12+ refereed papers Earths in Other Solar Systems: $5.7M program (R&A), 45-member team, 140 refereed papers Nautilus: A large-aperture space telescope for a biosignature survey based on diffractive optics, Co-PI of $1.1M Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation grant Advising/Mentoring: Postdoc. Researchers -
Spatial Distribution of Galactic Globular Clusters: Distance Uncertainties and Dynamical Effects
Juliana Crestani Ribeiro de Souza Spatial Distribution of Galactic Globular Clusters: Distance Uncertainties and Dynamical Effects Porto Alegre 2017 Juliana Crestani Ribeiro de Souza Spatial Distribution of Galactic Globular Clusters: Distance Uncertainties and Dynamical Effects Dissertação elaborada sob orientação do Prof. Dr. Eduardo Luis Damiani Bica, co- orientação do Prof. Dr. Charles José Bon- ato e apresentada ao Instituto de Física da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul em preenchimento do requisito par- cial para obtenção do título de Mestre em Física. Porto Alegre 2017 Acknowledgements To my parents, who supported me and made this possible, in a time and place where being in a university was just a distant dream. To my dearest friends Elisabeth, Robert, Augusto, and Natália - who so many times helped me go from "I give up" to "I’ll try once more". To my cats Kira, Fen, and Demi - who lazily join me in bed at the end of the day, and make everything worthwhile. "But, first of all, it will be necessary to explain what is our idea of a cluster of stars, and by what means we have obtained it. For an instance, I shall take the phenomenon which presents itself in many clusters: It is that of a number of lucid spots, of equal lustre, scattered over a circular space, in such a manner as to appear gradually more compressed towards the middle; and which compression, in the clusters to which I allude, is generally carried so far, as, by imperceptible degrees, to end in a luminous center, of a resolvable blaze of light." William Herschel, 1789 Abstract We provide a sample of 170 Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs) and analyse its spatial distribution properties. -
Galactic Astronomy with AO: Nearby Star Clusters and Moving Groups
Galactic astronomy with AO: Nearby star clusters and moving groups T. J. Davidgea aDominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria, BC Canada ABSTRACT Observations of Galactic star clusters and objects in nearby moving groups recorded with Adaptive Optics (AO) systems on Gemini South are discussed. These include observations of open and globular clusters with the GeMS system, and high Strehl L observations of the moving group member Sirius obtained with NICI. The latter data 2 fail to reveal a brown dwarf companion with a mass ≥ 0.02M in an 18 × 18 arcsec area around Sirius A. Potential future directions for AO studies of nearby star clusters and groups with systems on large telescopes are also presented. Keywords: Adaptive optics, Open clusters: individual (Haffner 16, NGC 3105), Globular Clusters: individual (NGC 1851), stars: individual (Sirius) 1. STAR CLUSTERS AND THE GALAXY Deep surveys of star-forming regions have revealed that stars do not form in isolation, but instead form in clusters or loose groups (e.g. Ref. 25). This is a somewhat surprising result given that most stars in the Galaxy and nearby galaxies are not seen to be in obvious clusters (e.g. Ref. 31). This apparent contradiction can be reconciled if clusters tend to be short-lived. In fact, the pace of cluster destruction has been measured to be roughly an order of magnitude per decade in age (Ref. 17), indicating that the vast majority of clusters have lifespans that are only a modest fraction of the dynamical crossing-time of the Galactic disk. Clusters likely disperse in response to sudden changes in mass driven by supernovae and stellar winds (e.g. -
Peter Plavchan
Peter Plavchan Assistant Professor of Astronomy Associate Director, George Mason Observatory PI, EarthFinder NASA Mission Concept Study PI, Astrophysics of Exoplanets Instrumentation Lab Co-PI, MINERVA-Australis Department of Physics & Astronomy Office: (703) 903-5893 George Mason University Cell: (626) 234-1628 Planetary Hall 263 Fax: (703) 993-1269 4400 University Dr, MS 3F3 [email protected] Fairfax, VA 22030 http://exo.gmu.edu twitter:@PlavchanPeter Education University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 2001-2006 MS, PhD in Physics California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 1996-2001 BS in Physics, with honor Awards & Honors College of Science Excellence in Mentoring award nomination 2019 College of Natural and Applied Sciences Research Award, MSU 2017 NASA Group Achievement Award 2017 Citation: For the development and tests at Mauna Kea observatories of a near-infrared Laser Frequency Comb as a wavelength standard for the detection and characterization of exoplanets. NASA Honor Achievement Award, NASA Exoplanet Archive Team 2014 Citation: For outstanding achievement in the rapid and on-budget launch of the NASA Exoplanet Archive NASA Honor Achievement Award, Spitzer Science In-Reach Team 2010 Citation: For outstanding support of Spitzer IRAC Warm Instrument Characterization and significant contributions to NASA and JPL commitments to education of the global community. UCLA Physics Division Fellowship 2001-2006 Kobe International School of Planetary Sciences Fellowship 2005 Astronomy Department Outstanding Teaching -
Astronomy Magazine Special Issue
γ ι ζ γ δ α κ β κ ε γ β ρ ε ζ υ α φ ψ ω χ α π χ φ γ ω ο ι δ κ α ξ υ λ τ μ β α σ θ ε β σ δ γ ψ λ ω σ η ν θ Aι must-have for all stargazers η δ μ NEW EDITION! ζ λ β ε η κ NGC 6664 NGC 6539 ε τ μ NGC 6712 α υ δ ζ M26 ν NGC 6649 ψ Struve 2325 ζ ξ ATLAS χ α NGC 6604 ξ ο ν ν SCUTUM M16 of the γ SERP β NGC 6605 γ V450 ξ η υ η NGC 6645 M17 φ θ M18 ζ ρ ρ1 π Barnard 92 ο χ σ M25 M24 STARS M23 ν β κ All-in-one introduction ALL NEW MAPS WITH: to the night sky 42,000 more stars (87,000 plotted down to magnitude 8.5) AND 150+ more deep-sky objects (more than 1,200 total) The Eagle Nebula (M16) combines a dark nebula and a star cluster. In 100+ this intense region of star formation, “pillars” form at the boundaries spectacular between hot and cold gas. You’ll find this object on Map 14, a celestial portion of which lies above. photos PLUS: How to observe star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies AS2-CV0610.indd 1 6/10/10 4:17 PM NEW EDITION! AtlAs Tour the night sky of the The staff of Astronomy magazine decided to This atlas presents produce its first star atlas in 2006. -
Astronomy Binder
Astronomy Binder Bloomington High School South 2011 Contents 1 Astronomical Distances 2 1.1 Geometric Methods . 2 1.2 Spectroscopic Methods . 4 1.3 Standard Candle Methods . 4 1.4 Cosmological Redshift . 5 1.5 Distances to Galaxies . 5 2 Age and Size 6 2.1 Measuring Age . 6 2.2 Measuring Size . 7 3 Variable Stars 7 3.1 Pulsating Variable Stars . 7 3.1.1 Cepheid Variables . 7 3.1.2 RR Lyrae Variables . 8 3.1.3 RV Tauri Variables . 8 3.1.4 Long Period/Semiregular Variables . 8 3.2 Binary Variables . 8 3.3 Cataclysmic Variables . 11 3.3.1 Classical Nova . 11 3.3.2 Recurrent Novae . 11 3.3.3 Dwarf Novae (U Geminorum) . 11 3.3.4 X-Ray Binary . 11 3.3.5 Polar (AM Herculis) star . 12 3.3.6 Intermediate Polar (DQ Herculis) star . 12 3.3.7 Super Soft Source (SSS) . 12 3.3.8 VY Sculptoris stars . 12 3.3.9 AM Canum Venaticorum stars . 12 3.3.10 SW Sextantis stars . 13 3.3.11 Symbiotic Stars . 13 3.3.12 Pulsating White Dwarfs . 13 4 Galaxy Classification 14 4.1 Elliptical Galaxies . 14 4.2 Spirals . 15 4.3 Classification . 16 4.4 The Milky Way Galaxy (MWG . 19 4.4.1 Scale Height . 19 4.4.2 Magellanic Clouds . 20 5 Galaxy Interactions 20 6 Interstellar Medium 21 7 Active Galactic Nuclei 22 7.1 AGN Equations . 23 1 8 Spectra 25 8.1 21 cm line . 26 9 Black Holes 26 9.1 Stellar Black Holes . -
Ghost Imaging of Space Objects
Ghost Imaging of Space Objects Dmitry V. Strekalov, Baris I. Erkmen, Igor Kulikov, and Nan Yu Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109-8099 USA NIAC Final Report September 2014 Contents I. The proposed research 1 A. Origins and motivation of this research 1 B. Proposed approach in a nutshell 3 C. Proposed approach in the context of modern astronomy 7 D. Perceived benefits and perspectives 12 II. Phase I goals and accomplishments 18 A. Introducing the theoretical model 19 B. A Gaussian absorber 28 C. Unbalanced arms configuration 32 D. Phase I summary 34 III. Phase II goals and accomplishments 37 A. Advanced theoretical analysis 38 B. On observability of a shadow gradient 47 C. Signal-to-noise ratio 49 D. From detection to imaging 59 E. Experimental demonstration 72 F. On observation of phase objects 86 IV. Dissemination and outreach 90 V. Conclusion 92 References 95 1 I. THE PROPOSED RESEARCH The NIAC Ghost Imaging of Space Objects research program has been carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech. The program consisted of Phase I (October 2011 to September 2012) and Phase II (October 2012 to September 2014). The research team consisted of Drs. Dmitry Strekalov (PI), Baris Erkmen, Igor Kulikov and Nan Yu. The team members acknowledge stimulating discussions with Drs. Leonidas Moustakas, Andrew Shapiro-Scharlotta, Victor Vilnrotter, Michael Werner and Paul Goldsmith of JPL; Maria Chekhova and Timur Iskhakov of Max Plank Institute for Physics of Light, Erlangen; Paul Nu˜nez of Coll`ege de France & Observatoire de la Cˆote d’Azur; and technical support from Victor White and Pierre Echternach of JPL.