The soft X-ray spectrum of NGC 4151

EXOSAT observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4151 over the period July 1983 to April 1984 have revealed a decreasing flux in the 2 –10 keV band. In accord with previous measurements a power law spectrum attenuated with a simple column of cold gas does not provide a satisfactory spectral fit below 3 keV, where a lower relative opacity is required. Inclusion of additional low energy data from the EXOSAT telescopes allows the modelling of the absorbing column to be improved and reveals a second, separate, soft X-ray spectral component.     

EXOSAT observations of NGC 1399 and NGC 1404: Two elliptical galaxies in the center of the Fornax cluster

Imaging X-ray observations of the Fornax cluster of galaxies centered on NGC 1399 and NGC 1404 are presented. NGC 1399 and NGC 1404, which are separated by about 10 arc minutes, are found to have an unusually high ratio of x-ray to optical flux. We consider the possibility that the x-radiation is produced by hot gas in the cores of the galaxies. Weak X-ray emission is also detected from a point almost exactly mid-way between NGC 1399 and NGC 1404. The combined emission from the galaxies is insufficient by over an order of magnitude to account for the the low-energy X-ray emission detected from this region by the HEAO-l satellite. It is suggested that the bulk of the HEAO-1 source is diffuse gas associated with the cluster as a whole, rather than individual galaxies.     

NGC 4151 and MCG 8-11-11: Two X-ray seyfert galaxies with strong soft γ-ray emission

During a balloon flight of the MISO telescope on the 30th September 1979, the Seyfert galaxies NGC 4151 and MGC 8-11-11 were studied in the hard X-ray range (E_X > 20 keV) and low-energy -ray range up to 19 MeV. An emission at the 4.5 level above 20 keV (4 above 260 keV) was detected in the direction of NGC 4151. -ray emission at the 3.9 level above 90 keV was also observed from the direction of MCG 8-11-11. The emission photon spectrum shows a high-energy cutoff at about 3 MeV. A large amount of the observed low-energy -ray diffuse background could be produced by a few percent of the X-ray emitting Seyfert galaxies having a -ray luminosity comparable to that observed from the regions of NGC 4151 or MCG 8-11-11.     

EXOSAT observations of active stellar coronae in the Cygnus Loop,T Tau & NGC 2264 regions

A highly variable point X-ray source, first seen by the Einstein IPC, has been positioned with the EXOSAT CMA and identified with a bright (V = 8.5) K0 star. Although in the direction of the southern half of the Cygnus Loop, this star is almost certainly a foreground object and typical of other active cool stars that are related to RS CVn systems.An EXOSAT program to study T Tauri stars failed to detect T Tau itself. However, a strong X-ray source was observed 15 from T Tau, which in its turn had not been seen by Einstein. This new source has been identified with a hitherto unstudied 13 mag star which is likely to be a dMe flare star.The young star cluster NGC 2264 was observed with the EXOSAT CMA in an attempt to identify the sources found during an Einstein IPC study of S Mon. Apart from S Mon itself, only UV-bright objects were seen, but several of these are considered likely counterparts of the Einstein sources.     

An X-ray study of M51 (NGC 5194) and its companion (NGC 5195)

Observations of NGC 5194/95 with the Einstein HRI show a very strong nuclear X-ray source, surrounded by a diffuse flux, three point sources and the companion. The diffuse flux, which correlates well with the radio continuum, is likely to originate from the disk population with age 2·10⁹ yrs. The large luminosity from the nuclear source, together with optical and radio observations, shows that it belongs to the low luminosity active nuclei, thus extending this class to luminosities less than 10⁴⁰ erg/s.     

A study of the SMC cluster NGC 330

We analyze the properties of the SMC cluster NGC 330 on the basis of a new CMD and of published effective temperatures and bolometric magnitudes for a smaller sample of stars (Caloi et al 1993, Stothers & Chin 1992a,b) to check for the kind of mixing taking place in massive stars. The existence of a few stars in the so-called HR gap led Stothers & Chin (1993) to claim that only models with semiconvective mixing and OPAL could match the HR diagram, whereas induced Caloi et al (1993) to conclude that neither semiconvective nor overshoot models are suited. The careful analysis of this cluster with new stellar models indicates that 1) models with convective overshoot and models with semiconvection can both explain the gross features of the HR diagram, 2) models with overshoot ought to be preferred.     

A spectroscopic analysis of B stars in the SMC cluster NGC 330

Medium resolution (2A/px) but high s/n spectra of approximately twenty of the brightest blue stars in the young open cluster NGC 330 in the SMC have been analyzed in order to determine their atmospheric parameters and the evolutionary status. Stellar parameters are determined by comparison with LTE and NLTE model atmosphere calculations and an HR diagram constructed. Luminosities of the sample stars lie in the range 4.0L _*/L )<5.0 and spectral types between O9 and late-B. The stars in our sample appear to define 4 groups: main-sequence B-stars (B2-B4), B-supergiants (B4) in a blue-loop phase of evolution, a small number of blue stragglers (O9-B0 near main-sequence stars) and a group of luminous giants (B1-B2) which reside in the so-called post main-sequence gap of the HR diagram. Furthermore, we have confirmed spectroscopically the very high incidence of Be stars in this cluster. Finally the almost complete absence of metal lines (at this resolution) is in keeping with the expected very low metallicity of the SMC.     

Blue and red supergiants and the age structure of the NGC 330 region

We analysed new UBVRI CCD photometry of the massive, blue SMC cluster NGC 330 and its surrounding field. The age structure and a new reddening value for the stellar population in this region of the SMC are derived and the implications for star formation in this part of the SMC and for stellar evolution are discussed.Based on observations obtained at ESO, La Silla     

Radar observations of Mars

Radar observations in the past were used to investigate the astronomical properties of the planet and its reflectivity in radar frequencies. Because of the difficulties in signal detection and processing due to the low level of return signal, the data were published only in the form of Doppler spectrograms. In view of the increasing interest in Mars and the practicability of missions to Mars this paper uses the published data to evaluate the angular behavior of the radar backscattering characteristics of Mars; a required information for the design of radar equipment of spacecrafts. In addition, results of past observations are summarized, analyzed and discussed in terms of a general interpretation of the Martian surface. It is found that the generally accepted suggestion that Mars is a relatively smooth planet, smoother than the Moon, is confirmed by most of the results, but not all observations agree with this hypothesis. A surface model of relief and composition based on radar information in conjunction with other observations is reviewed. The processing methods of radar return signals are compared for a better understanding of the handling of the Doppler spectrogram, a form which is most widely used for the presentation of processed data.An extensive bibliography of available papers and reports relevant to radar observations and the surface and lower atmosphere of Mars is included. The literature is concerned mainly with post-Mariner IV experiment, the mission which changed considerably many conceptions of Mars.     

GHRS observations of the LISM

The GHRS has obtained high-resolution spectra of interstellar gas toward 19 nearby stars. These excellent data show that the Sun is located inside the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC) with other warm clouds nearby. I will summarize the physical properties of these clouds and the three-dimensional structure of this warm interstellar gas. There is now clear evidence that the Sun and other late-type stars are surrounded by hydrogen walls in the upwind direction. The D/H ratio probably has a constant value in the LIC, (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10^–5, consistent with the measured values for all LIC lines of sight.     

Optical observations of solar flares

This paper gives a review of the results of optical observations of solar flares. Observations carried out in the H_α line, flare spectra, and the methods of analysing the flare spectra are briefly discussed. Great attention is paid to the continuous emission of flares in the optical spectral region. In the last section, optical aspects of proton flares are summarized.     

EXOSAT observations of M dwarfs

We give a progress report of our EXOSAT observations of active M dwarfs. The possibilities of filter spectroscopy of coronal X-ray sources using the available CMA filters are discussed, and we confirm that M dwarfs are rather hot coronal sources with X-ray temperatures in excess of 10⁷ K, a result previously obtained with the Einstein Observatory.     

Direct observations of solar-wind particles

Direct observations of solar-wind particles are discussed in detail. A well-defined quiet state of the solar wind is indicated by observations made from 1962 to 1967. The plasma properties in this quiet state are compared with those predicted by hydrodynamic models of the coronal expansion. While the basic flow parameters are predicted with reasonable accuracy by these models, the thermal properties of the solar-wind particles remain largely unexplained. As the interplanetary plasma is not in thermodynamic equilibrium, the thermal properties are determined by the specific energy-transfer mechanisms operative in the plasma. The observed magnitude of the magnetic-field-aligned anisotropy of proton random motions is interpreted as evidence for the presence of instability-generated waves; the effect of these waves on the thermal properties is examined. The observed chemical compositon of the solar wind is discussed and related to the solar origin of the inter-planetary material. Finally, the spatial and temporal structure of the medium is investigated through consideration of patterns of variation in the plasma properties.     

Observational Manifestation of Chaos in the Gaseous Disk of the Grand Design Spiral Galaxy NGC 3631

The main goal of the paper is to demonstrate the presence of chaotic trajectories in the gaseous disk of a real spiral galaxy. As an example we have chosen NGC 3631. First, we show the stationarity of the 3-D velocity field restored from the observed line-of-sight velocity field of the gaseous disk. That allows to analyse behaviour of the trajectories of the fluid particles (gas clouds) in the disk, calculating the corresponding observed streamlines. We estimate the Lyapunov characteristic numbers using their independence of the metrics and show the existence of chaotic trajectories outside the vortices which are present in the velocity field, and in the vicinity of the saddle point. Related spectra of the stretching numbers for some trajectories are also calculated.     

X-ray observations of active chromosphere stars

HD3196 = 13 Cet , HD30495 = 58 Eri and HD32918 have been detected as new late-type soft X-ray sources. HD32918 is a member of the FK Com class.