X-ray observations reveal extended halos around early-type galaxies which enable us to trace the dark matter distribution around the galaxies (see Mathews and Brighenti 2003 for a review). X-ray luminosities, LX of massive early-type galaxies are 1040−1042 erg s−1 in 0.3–2 keV. The correlation plot between LX and B-band luminosity LB shows a large scatter in the sense that LX varies by 2 orders of magnitudes for the same LB, in the brightest end (log LB ≳ 10.5). The amount of the X-ray hot gas in early-type galaxies is typically a few % of the stellar mass, in contrast to clusters of galaxies which hold ~5 times more massive gas than stars. Matsushita (2001) showed that X-ray luminous galaxies are characterized by extended X-ray halo with a few tens of re, similar to the scale of galaxy groups, so the presence of group-size potentials would be strongly linked with the problem of large LX scatter.

We investigate the problem of the typical rotation states of the small planetary satellites from the viewpoint of the dynamical stability of their rotation. We show that the majority of the discovered satellites with unknown rotation periods cannot rotate synchronously, because no stable synchronous 1:1 spin-orbit state exists for them. They rotate either much faster than synchronously (those tidally unevolved) or, what is much less probable, chaotically (tidally evolved objects or captured slow rotators).

The so-called solar cycle is generally characterized by the quasi-periodic oscillatory evolution of the photospheric spots number. This quasi-periodic pattern has always been an intriguing question. Several physical models were proposed to explain this evolution and many mathematical data analysis were employed to determine the principal frequencies noticeable in the measured data. Both approaches try to predict the future evolution of the solar activity and to understand the physical phenomena producing these cycles. Here we present the analysis of the sunspots number evolution using the time-delay approach. Our results show than the solar cycle can also be characterized by this behavior implying the influence of the past evolution over the present one, suggesting an histeresis mechanism, linked probably with magnetic activity.

I present a review of star cluster (SC) dynamics in galaxies, with special emphasis on the effects of global galactic dynamics on SC formation and evolution. I particularly discuss (i) dynamical friction processes affecting SCs in galaxies of different masses, (ii) formation of stellar galactic nuclei and massive globular clusters (GCs) through multiple merging of SCs, (iii) interactions between giant molecular clouds (GMCs) and SCs, (iv) SC destruction due to the strong tidal fields in galaxy mergers and (v) the formation of low-mass dwarfs from numerous SCs. I also discuss some recent observational results on SC mass functions in dwarf galaxies and physical properties of GC systems in luminous galaxies based on recent results of numerical simulations of SC dynamics in galaxies.

Multi-wavelength photometry of early-type galaxies (ETGs) in the COSMOS survey is used to demonstrate that the low-level star formation activity in the ETG population at late epochs (z < 1) is likely to be driven by repeated minor mergers. While relaxed ETGs are almost entirely contained within the UV red sequence, their morphologically disturbed counterparts are largely found in the blue cloud, regardless of luminosity. Since empirically determined major-merger rates in the redshift range z < 1 are a few factors too low to account for the number fraction of disturbed ETGs, this suggests that minor mergers are the principal mechanism that drives star formation activity in ETGs at low and intermediate redshift.

The Galactic deuterium abundance gradient has been determined from observations of DCN in Galactic molecular clouds. This is the only way to observe D throughout the Galaxy because the molecular clouds are not limited to the 2 kpc region around the Sun observed with FUSE and from DI. We used an astrochemistry model and the DCN/HCN ratios to estimate the underlying D/H ratios in 16 molecular clouds including five in the Galactic Center. The resulting positive Galactic D gradient and reduced Galactic Center D/H ratio imply that there are no significant Galactic sources of D, there is continuous infall of low-metallicity gas into the Galaxy, and that deuterium is cosmological.

We performed a chemical abundance analysis of the very bright (V = 9.1) carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) star BD+44°493, which is the first star found with metallicity [Fe/H] < −3.5 and an apparent magnitude V < 12. The star is classified as a CEMP-no” subgiant, and its abundance pattern implies that a first-generation faint supernova is the most likely origin of its carbon excess. We set an very low upper limit on this star's beryllium abundance, which demonstrates that high C and O abundances do not necessarily imply high Be abundances.

The major challenge in studying QSO host galaxies is to remove the QSO contribution, which often outshines the whole system. Our group has acquired the technical ability to handle such data, for images and slit spectroscopy, as well as integral field spectroscopy. We review here the major techniques developed by our team, and their latest applications. We are open for collaboration with other teams to spread the use of these powerful techniques.

The planetary ephemerides are used to examine different suggested forms of the gravitational equations of motion which could possibly cause the observed Pioneer Anomaly. It is shown that most of the forms would be unacceptable, including that generally assumed – a constant acceleration directed toward the Sun. The tests show that three other forms could not exist within 10 au's of the Sun. Only one suggested form would be compatible with the Pioneer Anomaly affecting Saturn or any other more inward planet. Additional planetary observations in the future may possibly eliminate this form also.

Ephemerides are regularly made by astronomers for their own uses. However, the general public is also interested, as well as official organisms, because of the interactions of ephemerides with society. Astronomers in charge of the making of calendars and keeping the time are of great importance every day. Their calculations are also required for the positioning of ships and airplanes. Some ephemerides are also requested by the general public.

The Sun and solar-like stars possess intense and cyclic magnetic activity. In order to understand how this comes about we have developed series of 2-D and 3-D models in order to simulate their global dynamics and magnetism. We here report on our latest findings.

We report on medium-resolution near-IR spectroscopy of a sample of over 60 Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor (CEMP) stars observed with SOAR/OSIRIS, selected from the HK survey of Beers and colleagues and the Hamburg/ESO Survey of Christlieb and colleagues. Oxygen abundances from the molecular CO lines as well as rough estimates of 12C/13C ratios are estimated from the near-IR spectra of these stars. Near-IR model spectra with varying oxygen abundances, in combination with previously determined parameters from optical spectra are used for the estimation of abundances for this sample. As both oxygen abundances and 12C/13C ratios are tracers of nucleosynthesis, we hope to gain information about Galactic nucleosynthesis through the analysis of this sample.

Supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in the centers of massive galaxies are thought to predominantly grow in brief Eddington-rate quasar phases accompanied by starbursts, but on-going starbursts in luminous quasars are difficult to observe. Buried under the natural coronagraph, obscured quasars offer a unique window for direct, robust host-galaxy spectroscopy otherwise virtually inaccessible for luminous quasars. Our pilot study at z ~ 0.5 (Liu et al. 2009) revealed a substantial contribution from very young stellar populations with ages less than ~ 100 Myr in all of the observed host galaxy spectra. More dramatically, in three out of the nine SDSS quasars observed, we have witnessed strong infant starbursts with ages of ~ 5 Myr, clocked by the telltale Wolf–Rayet emission features.

We describe a long-term program designed to obtain and interpret high-precision radar range measurements of a number of near-Earth objects (NEOs) that have trajectories reaching deep inside the gravitational well of the Sun. Objects in our sample have perihelion shift rates 1.5 to 2.5 times that of (1566) Icarus (10″/cy) and span a wide range of inclinations and semi-major axes, allowing for an unambiguous separation of general relativistic and solar oblateness effects. Four objects have been observed at Arecibo on at least two apparitions since 2000, with typical uncertainties of a few hundred meters. Within the next three years, we anticipate securing a total of 15 observations of 5 different NEOs. This program is expected to provide a purely dynamical measurement of the oblateness of the Sun (J2 at the 10−8 level) and to constrain the Eddington parameter β at the 10−4 level. Although our objects are selected to minimize Yarkovsky orbital drift, we also anticipate measuring Yarkovsky drift rates, which are orthogonal to the GR and J2 signatures.

Establishing or ruling out, either through solid mass measurements or upper limits, the presence of intermediate-mass black holes (IMBHs; with masses of 102 − 105 M⊙) at the centers of star clusters would profoundly impact our understanding of problems ranging from the formation and long-term dynamical evolution of stellar systems, to the nature of the seeds and the growth mechanisms of supermassive black holes. While there are sound theoretical arguments both for and against their presence in today's clusters, observational studies have so far not yielded truly conclusive IMBH detections nor upper limits. We argue that the most promising approach to solving this issue is provided by the combination of measurements of the proper motions of stars at the centers of Galactic globular clusters and dynamical models able to take full advantage of this type of data set. We present a program based on HST observations and recently developed tools for dynamical analysis designed to do just that.

We have obtained a large sample of PN with accurately determined helium abundances, as well as abundances of several heavy elements. The nebulae are located in the solar neighbourhood, in the galactic bulge, disk and anticentre, and in the Magellanic Clouds. The abundances are analyzed both in terms of the nucleosynthesis of intermediate mass stars and the chemical evolution of the host galaxies. In particular, correlations between the He/H ratio and the abundances of N and O are used as constraints of the nucleosynthetic processes occurring in the progenitor stars.

The hot X-ray emitting interstellar medium of early type galaxies can be used in principle as a total mass tracer and a tool to determine the stellar orbital anisotropy, based on the hypothesis of hydrostatic equilibrium for it. Here the effects that deviations from equilibrium have on both estimates are shown, and a comparison is made with cases for which accurate optical and X-ray information are available.

We present a detailed study of the stellar populations (SPs) and kinematics of the bulge and inner disk regions of nearby spiral galaxies (Sa-Sd) based on deep long-slit Gemini/GMOS data. We find that the SPs of spiral galaxies are not well matched by single episodes of star formation; representative SPs must involve average SP values integrated over the star formation history (SFH) of the galaxy, such as those derived from the “full population synthesis” method used here. Our spiral bulges follow the same correlations of increasing light-weighted age and metallicity with central velocity dispersion as those of elliptical galaxies and early-type bulges found in other studies, but when SFHs more complex and realistic than a single burst are invoked, the trend with age is shallower and its scatter much reduced. In a mass-weighted context, all bulges are predominantly composed of old and metal-rich SPs. Bulge formation appears to be dominated by early processes that are common to all spheroids, whether they currently reside in disks or not. While monolithic collapse cannot be ruled out in some cases, merging must be invoked to explain the SP gradients in most bulges. Further bulge growth via secular processes, or “rejuvenated” star formation, generally contributes minimally to the stellar mass budget. We also demonstrate how the combination of our full population synthesis modeling of high-quality optical spectra of integrated SPs along with optical-NIR broad-band imaging can single out potential model weaknesses and help determine the reliability of the inferred SFHs.

We present an archaeoastronomical project as a part of a cultural heritage project on Celtiberian cultures. Following a study on the Iron Age's sky and its relationship with Celtiberian cultures, we present the Celtiberian Archaeological Route. This information is presented to visitors in relation to the landscape and the archaeological site. The ASTROKELTOI project attempts to link the archaeoastronomical popularisation to its cultural and historical frameworks.

The geophysical and dynamical criteria introduced in the “Definition of a Planet in the Solar System” adopted by the International Astronomical Union are reviewed. The classification scheme approved by the IAU reflects dynamical and geophysical differences among planets, “dwarf planets” and “small Solar System bodies”. We present, in the form of a decision tree, the set of questions to be considered in order to classify an object as an icy “dwarf planet” (a plutoid). We find that there are 15 very probable plutoids; plus possibly 9 more, which require a reliable estimate of their sizes. Finally, the most relevant physical and dynamical characteristics of the set of icy “dwarf planets” have been reviewed; e.g. the albedo, the lightcurve amplitude, the location in the different dynamical populations, the size distributions, and the discovery rate.