We have devised a procedure for evaluating the absolute magnitudes of galaxies from their optical rotation curves, as an extention of the conventional Fisher-Tully method. We describe here how this method can be employed to evaluate the Hubble constant. From observations of 23 Sb field galaxies with luminosities ranging from –19.5 to –23.0 (adopting H=50 km s–1 Mpc–1), we have produced synthetic rotation curves showing the systematic progression toward increasing velocity with increasing luminosity within a given Hubble type. (See Thonnard and Rubin, Carnegie Yrbk 80, p. 551 for details of producing such a set of curves). By matching even a small portion of a rotation curve with these curves, the absolute magnitude of an Sb galaxy can be estimated to about ±0.5 mag. This magnitude, of course, is based on an assumed value for H.

The combined POLARIS-IRIS Earth orientation time series now span nearly a full cycle of the Chandler-annual beat period, beginning in late 1980. Since April 1985 there is also a nearly continuous coverage of UT1 at daily intervals. We have fit a simple model, consisting of circular 14-month and annual components and a linear drift to the polar motion series, then computed the “along-track” and “cross-track” residuals. Both sets of residuals display structure with amplitudes of tens of milliseconds of arc on time scales of months, but Fourier analysis reveals no significant peaks at shorter periods, including the 40-60 day period found in the UT1 time series.

During September, 1986, we introduced a new “quick-look” UT1 time series. The values are typically available within 7 days. The accuracy, which depends strongly on the accuracy of the X and Y pole coordinates used in the computations, ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 milliseconds during the first two weeks, but improved to about 0.1 milliseconds during the latter two weeks of the month. We plan to continue the quick-look UT1 series as a standard product of the IRIS Earth orientation monitoring service.

Problems associated with topological pumping in the lower overshoot layer suggest a strongly turbulent and strongly differentially rotating upper radiative zone as the seat of the dynamo and as flux reservoir.

This paper reviews some recent results obtained from multi-wavelength studies that extend from white light to radio. Special emphasis is given to radio observations, which can be used to determine emission mechanisms and to trace electron propagation paths and plasma motions. Multi-wavelength comparisons have been found to be essential when analysing flare- and CME-related eruptions, but significant results have also been obtained in ‘quiet’ Sun studies.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html

Bars are strong drivers of secular evolution in disk galaxies. Bars themselves can evolve secularly through angular momentum transport, producing different boxy/peanut and X-shaped bulges. Our Milky Way is an example of a barred galaxy with a boxy bulge. We present a self-consistent N-body simulation of a barred galaxy which matches remarkably well the structure of the inner Milky Way deduced from star counts. In particular, features taken as signatures of a second “long bar“ can be explained by the interaction between the bar and the spiral arms of the galaxy (Martinez-Valpuesta & Gerhard 2011). Furthermore the structural change in the bulge inside l = 4° measured recently from VVV data can be explained by the high-density near-axisymmetric part of the inner boxy bulge (Gerhard & Martinez-Valpuesta 2012). We also compare this model with kinematic data from recent spectroscopic surveys. We use a modified version of the NMAGIC code (de Lorenzi et al. 2007) to study the properties of the Milky Way bar, obtaining an upper limit for the pattern speed of ~ 42 km/sec/kpc. See Fig. 1 for a comparison of one of our best models with BRAVA data (Kunder et al. 2012).

The periods of most of the RRab stars in ω Centauri have increased during the past century at the same rate as evolutionary model calculations predict. This result raises the possibility that evolutionary changes in the periods are directly observed in this cluster.

Three topics in star formation theory are reviewed: the initial mass function, the star formation efficiency, and the star formation rate. A physical mechanism for bimodal star formation is developed. Applications are made to the solar neighborhood, to the inner galaxy, to starburst galaxies, and to past star formation in protodisks and in protoellipticals. Implications are drawn for galactic morphology, for chemical evolution, and for the present density of stellar remnants.

The main investigations of the local magnetic field are reviewed and are found to contain some conflict in interpretation. At radio wavelengths, studies have been made using both the Faraday rotation of the polarized radiation from extragalactic sources and pulsars, and the polarization of the galactic background radiation. With the former type of observation, although more data are available for extragalactic sources, any interpretation may be complicated by the influence of distant field structure. The results are consistent with a large-scale field parallel to the galactic plane, with a field strength of about 2 µG, and which is directed towards l=90°. This field contains irregularities in direction and strength on a scale of about 100–200 pc. The polarization of galactic background radiation may yield the most detailed information about the local field structure – the results to date show loops of magnetic fields extending along the radio spurs.

The interpretation in terms of small-scale irregularities embedded in a large-scale field parallel to the galactic plane differs from that proposed to explain the optical polarization of starlight, in which a helical field configuration near the Sun was preferred to a more disordered pattern.

The present short notes on cosmology start with two conclusions based on observational data. The first of them is the well-known conclusion that the Universe from the global point of view is at the present epoch of its evolution in a uniform and isotropic expansion. If we accept the very convincing arguments of Bondi (1962) that the geometry of the cosmic space is Riemannian, its properties are described at the present epoch of the cosmic evolution by the well-known Robertson-Walker metric expressing the cosmological principle (Robertson, 1935, 1936; Walker, 1936). The form of the geodesical lines depends on the assumed theory of gravitation. For instance, in the closed Friedman world model they are cycloids with a singularity at the start of the expansion.

We have used far-ultraviolet spectroscopy and broad-band photometry to identify and study dynamically-formed stellar exotica in the core of 47 Tucanane. Here, we present a subset of our main results, including: (i) the spectroscopic confirmation of three cataclysmic variables; (ii) the discovery of stripped sub-giant core in a binary system with a dark primary; (iii) the discovery of a Helium white dwarf; (iv) the discovery of a blue straggler with a white dwarf companion.

This conference on “Multi-wavelength AGN Surveys and Studies” has provided a detailed look at the explosive growth over the past decade, of available astronomical data from a growing list of large scale sky surveys, from radio-to-gamma rays. We are entering an era were multi-epoch (months to weeks) surveys of the entire sky, and near-instantaneous follow-up observations of variable sources, are elevating time-domain astronomy to where it is becoming a major contributor to our understanding of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). While we can marvel at the range of extragalactic phenomena dispayed by sources discovered in the original “Markarian Survey” – the first large-scale objective prism survey of the Northern Sky carried out at the Byurakan Astronomical Observtory almost a half-century ago – it is clear from the talks and posters presented at this meeting that the data to be be obtained over the next decade will be needed if we are to finally understand which phase of galaxy evolution each Markarian Galaxy represents.

The lightcurves of strongly lensed AGNs get distorted due to gravitational microlensing, which differently magnifies the emission regions of AGNs depending on their size. This effect has been used to measure the size of the AGN accretion disc, but high photometric accuracy lightcurves reveal coherent variations on short time-scales that are not expected by standard accretion disc models. I show that this signal can be produced by emission from the Broad Line Region (BLR) but also by extended (diffuse) continuum emission. I explain how these features can be used to measure the size of the BLR but also reveal additional sources of emission. The multi-colour lightcurves of lensed AGNs, such as those to be obtained with the Vera Rubin Observatory, may become a powerful new tool to reveal the sub-parsec structure of AGNs, and shed light on elusive AGN emitting regions such as the one producing diffuse continuum emission.

The Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is a one-meter class observatory for infrared astronomy that will be launched into high earth orbit by NASA in the late 1990’s. SIRTF’s three focal plane instruments will permit imaging and spectroscopy over most of the infrared spectrum with sensitivities of 100 to 10,000 times their predecessors. This paper briefly reviews SIRTF’s capabilities, science objectives, and current status.

The observational base of our investigation consists of a two-dimensional MK classification of about 11.000 stars in the 42 Kapteyn Areas situated along the gal.lat-s from −17° up to +72° and 200 Ap, Am stars discovered in the same KA. The dispersion of the applied objective-prism spectra is 160 Â per mm. The data are of high accuracy, close to the Michigan level, and uniformity, which make them reliable. The limit is close to the 12-th ph.mg.

The general conclusion of the undoubted importance is stated: the galactic concentration of dwarfs is closer than it had been assumed until now; on the other hand - the giants are not so closely concentrated to the galactic plane as it has been accepted.

We present the results of a small mid-infrared imaging survey of planetary nebulae. Of 21 objects observed 19 were resolved. Only in NGC 6210 was there a marked contrast between the dust morphology and the emission line morphology. For all the other objects the dust and the gas must be well mixed even in the faint lobes of bipolar objects such as Fg3, Pe1-7, and NGC 6881.

Accretion from many small planetesimals to planets is reviewed. Solid protoplanets accrete through runaway and oligarchic growth until they become isolated. The isolation mass of protoplanets in terrestrial planet region is about 0.1-0.2 Earth mass, which suggests giant impacts among the protoplanets in the final stage of terrestrial planet formation. On the other hand, the isolation mass in Jupiter's and Saturn's orbits is about a few to 5 Earth masses, which may be massive enough to trigger gas accretion onto the cores. The isolation mass in Uranus and Neptune's orbits is as large as their present cores. Extending the above arguments to extrasolar planetary systems that are formed from disks with various initial masses, we also discuss diversity of extrasolar planetary systems.

The strong water maser line at 22 GHz is an excellent tool for studying shocked and turbulent interstellar regions, especially, if simultaneous single-dish and VLBI data are available. After a brief review of 22 GHz time variation studies, we focus on effects caused by magnetic field pressure on observed properties of water masers. We use the powerful and rich maser cluster W49N as an example. Furthermore, we point out the connection between postshock wave damping and observed excess in single-dish flux density and line width.