Early morning enhancement in ionospheric electron density during intense magnetic storms

This study reports on ionospheric disturbances that occurred in the early morning hours in the South American–Atlantic sector during a few intense/super storm events. The events were observed at latitudes close to the southern crest of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) as an unusual intensification of the F region electron density peak at local times when the EIA is not usually developed. All the events were observed at pre dawn-morning hours, under conditions of northward interplanetary geomagnetic field. Large scale traveling ionospheric disturbances that are launched during highly disturbed conditions and/or equatorward surges in the thermospheric meridional winds seem to be the most probable causes of the observed disturbances.     

Lichens survive in space: results from the 2005 LICHENS experiment

This experiment was aimed at establishing, for the first time, the survival capability of lichens exposed to space conditions. In particular, the damaging effect of various wavelengths of extraterrestrial solar UV radiation was studied. The lichens used were the bipolar species Rhizocarpon geographicum and Xanthoria elegans, which were collected above 2000 m in the mountains of central Spain and as endolithic communities inhabiting granites in the Antarctic Dry Valleys. Lichens were exposed to space in the BIOPAN-5 facility of the European Space Agency; BIOPAN-5 is located on the outer shell of the Earth-orbiting FOTON-M2 Russian satellite. The lichen samples were launched from Baikonur by a Soyuz rocket on May 31, 2005, and were returned to Earth after 16 days in space, at which time they were tested for survival. Chlorophyll fluorescence was used for the measurement of photosynthetic parameters. Scanning electron microscopy in back-scattered mode, low temperature scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the organization and composition of both symbionts. Confocal laser scanning microscopy, in combination with the use of specific fluorescent probes, allowed for the assessment of the physiological state of the cells. All exposed lichens, regardless of the optical filters used, showed nearly the same photosynthetic activity after the flight as measured before the flight. Likewise, the multimicroscopy approach revealed no detectable ultrastructural changes in most of the algal and fungal cells of the lichen thalli, though a greater proportion of cells in the flight samples had compromised membranes, as revealed by the LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability Kit. These findings indicate that most lichenized fungal and algal cells can survive in space after full exposure to massive UV and cosmic radiation, conditions proven to be lethal to bacteria and other microorganisms. The lichen upper cortex seems to provide adequate protection against solar radiation. Moreover, after extreme dehydration induced by high vacuum, the lichens proved to be able to recover, in full, their metabolic activity within 24 hours.     

The nature of the luminous blue variable AG carinae

After many years of permanence at minimum, the luminous blue variable AG Car started in mid 1990 a new brightening phase. We review the spectroscopic variations of the star since 1949, and discuss the nature of the circumstellar nebula. We give evidence that, like in Car, also in AG Car dust is continuously condensing from the stellar wind. We suggest that the star could be partially reddened by the circumstellar dust, which could affect the estimates of the stellar distance. An extended HII halo is present outside the ring nebula, which should be associated with the wind of a previous cooler evolutionary stage of AG Car.     

Artificial satellites orbits in 2:1 resonance: GPS constellation

In this work, the resonance problem in the artificial satellites motion is studied. The development of the geopotential includes the zonal harmonics J₂₀ and J₄₀ and the tesseral harmonics J₂₂ and J₄₂. Through an averaging procedure and successive Mathieu transformations, the order of dynamical system is reduced and the final system is solved by numerical integration. In the simplified dynamical model, three critical angles are studied. The half-width of the separatrix is calculated through a linearized model which describes the behavior of the dynamical system in a neighborhood of each critical angle. Through the resonance overlap criterion the possible regular and irregular motions are investigated by the time behavior of the semi-major axis, argument of perigee and eccentricity. The largest Lyapunov exponent is used as tool to verify the chaotic motion.     

XMM-Newton temperature maps for five intermediate redshift clusters of galaxies

We have analyzed XMM-Newton archive data for five clusters of galaxies (redshifts 0.223–0.313) covering a wide range of dynamical states, from relaxed objects to clusters undergoing several mergers. We present here temperature maps of the X-ray gas together with a preliminary interpretation of the formation history of these clusters.     

Stochastic control of pitch motion of satellites using stabilizing flaps

The modelling, analysis and synthesis of an attitude control system for low orbit artificial satellites using stabilizing flaps are presented. The function of the system is to maintain the satellite aligned with the local vertical. The aerodynamic forces on the satellite are modelled assuming free molecular flow using the kinetic theory of gases. The control system development is considered through the application of stochastic control concepts. The satellite motion is described by the equations of motion based on Newtonian formulation. Starting from the separation principle, a sequential procedure is developed in which the state estimation and control problems are handled simultaneously. State estimate is provided by Kalman filter using the information about the position of the satellite and of the flaps. The controller acts on satellite in real time, and the stabilizing flaps are the only control elements.     

The variability of eta Car: A tool for the LBV phenomenon

We discuss the historical light curve of the most peculiar superluminous star Car, and the spectroscopic variations during the last 100 y. After the nova-like spectral evolution following the 1889 light maximum, the star underwent many shell episodes which were characterized by a large fading of the higher ionization emission lines. We describe the most recent 1992 event when the Hei and [Nii] emission lines nearly faded out, and a broad P Cygni absorption appeared in the Hi and Hei lines. A recurrence time of about 5 years is suggested from the times of the spectroscopic episodes and the IR light curve. The results are discussed in the light of possible models.