We present a detailed investigation of the MIR continuum emission of type 1 QSOs and define the main emission components. Our model requires three components: a clumpy torus, dusty narrow-line region (NLR) clouds and a blackbody-like hot dust.

Asteroids 3200 Phaethon and 196256 (2003 EH1) are connected with two major meteoroid streams, Geminids and Quadrantids, respectively. We have modeled the observed light curves and decelerations of Geminid and Quadrantid meteors and studied their spectra. In both cases, we have found typical bulk densities of about 2600 kg m−3, much larger than in cometary meteoroids. Sodium was partially lost from Geminids and Quadrantids due to solar heating. The Quadrantid material was therefore not hidden deep inside the parent body 1500 years ago, when the perihelion was low enough for sodium loss to occur.

In this review I first summarize why binaries are key objects in the study of stellar populations, to understand the evolution of star clusters and galaxies, and thus to understand the universe. I then focus on four specific topics:

1. (i) the formation (through binaries) and evolution of very massive stars in dense clusters and the importance of stellar-wind mass loss. I discuss preliminary computations of wind mass-loss rates of very massive stars performed with the Munich hydrodynamical code and the influence of these new rates on the possible formation of an intermediate-mass black hole in the cluster MGG 11 in M82;

2. (ii) the evolution of intermediate-mass binaries in a starburst with special emphasis on the variation of the supernova (SN) Ia rate (i.e., on the delayed time distribution of SNe Ia). A comparison with SN Ia rates in elliptical galaxies may provide important clues to SN Ia models as well as to the evolution of SN Ia progenitors;

3. (iii) the evolution of double-neutron-star mergers in a starburst (i.e., the delayed time distribution of these mergers) and what this tells us about the suggestion that these mergers may be important production sites of r-process elements;

4. (iv) the possible effect of massive binaries on the self-enrichment of globular clusters.

Based on 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres computed with the CO5BOLD code and 3D non-LTE (NLTE) line formation calculations, we study the effect of the convection-induced line asymmetry on the derived 6Li abundance for a range in effective temperature, gravity, and metallicity covering the stars of the Asplund et al. (2006) sample. When the asymmetry effect is taken into account for this sample of stars, the resulting 6Li/7Li ratios are reduced by about 1.5% on average with respect to the isotopic ratios determined by Asplund et al. (2006). This purely theoretical correction diminishes the number of significant 6Li detections from 9 to 4 (2σ criterion), or from 5 to 2 (3σ criterion). In view of this result the existence of a 6Li plateau appears questionable. A careful reanalysis of individual objects by fitting the observed lithium 6707 Å doublet both with 3D NLTE and 1D LTE synthetic line profiles confirms that the inferred 6Li abundance is systematically lower when using 3D NLTE instead of 1D LTE line fitting. Nevertheless, halo stars with unquestionable 6Li detection do exist even if analyzed in 3D-NLTE, the most prominent example being HD 84937.

I present a review of the main phenomenological properties at high energies related to massive gamma-ray binaries and I discuss some aspects of pulsar models for these objects.

We analyze the PNe chemical behavior in three different galaxies, two dwarf irregulars and one spiral. Different behaviors are found. In the very low metallicity galaxy NGC 3109, PNe analyzed appear 0.39 dex O-richer than HII regions, while Ar/H ratio is, in average, 0.15 dex poorer. We interpret this as an evidence of significant O dredge-up in these LIMS, born in a very low metallicity environment. In NGC 6822, with a present metallicity 12+log O/H=8.06, two PN populations were found. A young one, with abundances similar to those in HII regions and an old population, with metallicities a factor of two lower. In this case no strong evidence for O dredge-up in LIMS is found. Therefore, metallicities lower than 12+log O/H =7.7 are required for an efficient O dredge-up. From our preliminary analysis of the abundances of PNe in NGC 300 we find that they are similar to the abundances in HII regions. Apparently, the PNe analyzed belong to a young population. Very similar abundance gradients, with galactocentric distance, are found for HII regions and for PNe.

A large sample of low surface brightness (LSB) disk galaxies is selected from SDSS with B-band central surface brightness μ0(B) from 22 to 24.5 mag arcsec−2. Some of their properties are studied, such as magnitudes, surface brightness, scalelengths, colors, metallicities, stellar populations, stellar masses and multiwavelength SEDs from UV to IR etc. These properties of LSB galaxies have been compared with those of the galaxies with higher surface brightnesses. Then we check the variations of these properties following surface brightness.

The active RS CVn star II Peg has been spectroscopically monitored for almost 18 years with the SOFIN spectrograph at NOT, La Palma, Spain. In this paper we present five new surface temperature maps of the object for the years 1999 (two maps), 2001 (one map) and 2002 (two maps).

Binary pulsars are a valuable laboratory for gravitational experiments. Double-neutron-star systems such as the double pulsar provide the most stringent tests of strong-field gravity available to date, while pulsars with white-dwarf companions constrain departures from general relativity based on the difference in gravitational binding energies in the two stars. Future observations may open up entirely new tests of the predictions of general relativity.

The Universe Observing Center is one of the parts of the Parc Astronòmic Montsec (PAM). PAM is an initiative of the Catalan government, through the Consorci del Montsec (Montsec Consortium), to take advantage of the capabilities and potential of the Montsec region to develop scientific research, training and outreach activities, particularly in the field of Astronomy. The choice of the Montsec mountains to install the PAM was motivated by the magnificent conditions for observing the sky at night; the sky above Montsec is the best (natural sky free of light pollution) in Catalonia for astronomical observations. The PAM has two main parts: the Observatori Astronòmic del Montsec (OAdM) and the Universe Observing Center (COU). The OAdM is a professional observatory with an 80-cm catadioptric telescope (Joan Oró Telescope). This telescope is a robotic telescope that can be controlled from anywhere in the world via the Internet. The COU is a large multipurpose center which is intended to become an educational benchmark for teaching and communicate astronomy and other sciences in Catalonia. The management of the COU has three main goals: 1) Teach primary and secondary school students in our Educational Training Camp. 2) Teach university students housing the practical astronomy lectures of the universities. 3) Communicate astronomy to the general public. The COU comprises special areas for these purposes: the Telescopes Park with more than 20 telescopes, a coelostat for solar observations and two dome containing full-automated telescopes. The most special equipment is “The Eye of Montsec”, with its 12m dome containing a multimedia digital planetarium and a platform for direct observation of the sky and the environment. During 2009 we expect around 10000 visitors in Montsec area to enjoy science with Montsec dark skies and an special natural environment.

In this work we use a simple model to study the influence of a faint dust coma on asteroid spectra, in an effort to reproduce the unusual spectral behavior seen on the asteroid (5201) Ferraz-Mello and other objects.

Pulsars are amongst the most stable rotators known in the Universe. Over many years some millisecond pulsars rival the stability of atomic clocks. Comparing observations of many such stable pulsars may allow the first direct detection of gravitational waves, improve the Solar System planetary ephemeris and provide a means to study irregularities in terrestrial time scales. Here we review the goals and status of current and future pulsar timing array projects.

The excavation of an unexplored secondary agglomeration in Chevroches (France), from 2001 to 2002 has led to the discovery of a bronze dome of a type unknown in the Ancient world. It is inscribed with three lines in Greek transcribing Egyptian and Roman months, and the twelve signs of the Zodiac. This paper presents the first observations and some other finds from similar objects in Burgundy.

Knowledge of lithium, beryllium, and boron abundances in stars of the Galactic halo and disk plays a major role in our understanding of Big Bang nucleosynthesis, cosmic-ray physics, and stellar interiors. 9Be and 10B are believed to originate entirely from spallation reactions in the interstellar medium (ISM) between α-particles and protons and heavy nuclei like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen (CNO), whereas 11B may have an extra production channel via neutrino-spallation. Beryllium and boron are both observationally challenging, with their main resonant doublets falling respectively at 313 nm and at 250 nm. The advent of 8-10m class telescopes equipped with highly sensitive (in the near-UV/blue) spectrographs has opened up a new era of Be abundance studies. Here, I will review and discuss the most interesting results of recent observational campaigns in terms of formation and evolution of these two light elements.

Many of the advances of the last decade in this subject have been the result of large spectroscopic surveys of galaxies on the one hand, and multi-wavelength surveys of galaxies on the other. This talk highlights applications that exploit a combination of spectroscopic and multi-wavelength diagnostics. Most applications to date have been based on spatially integrated measurements of galaxies, but the introduction of wide-field integral field spectrometers promises to extend ths approach to spatially-resolved analyses of galaxies.

The irregular dwarf galaxy IC10 is located within the Local Group (LG) at a distance of 750 kpc. Although several studies have revealed the existence of stellar populations with a broad range of ages, its star formation history (SFH) and age-metallicity (AM) relationship remain quite unknown. In this contribution we present our spectroscopic investigation of 15 H ii regions, 9 planetary nebulae (PNe) and 1 symbiotic star –so far the farthest known symbiotic binary. Our main goal is to reconstruct the SFH of IC10 and to constrain its AM relationship using young and intermediate-age stars. The direct availability of the electron temperature in our emission-line spectra allows an accurate determination of the IC10 metallicity map at two different epochs. We find a non-homogeneous distribution of metals at both epochs, but similar average abundances for the two analyzed populations. The derived AM relationship shows a little global enrichment, which is interpreted as due to the loss of metals by supernovae winds and to differential gas outflows. Our results bring strong observational constraints to the chemical enrichment history of IC10, the formation of dwarf irregular galaxies and the evolution of the LG as well.

A general picture of differential rotation in cool stars is that they are ‘solar-like’, with the equator spinning faster than the poles. Such surface differential rotation profiles have also been demonstrated by some three-dimensional simulations. In our numerical investigation of rotating convection (both regional and global), we found that this picture is not universally applicable. The equator may spin substantially slower than the poles (Ωequator − Ωpole)/Ω can reach −50%). The key parameter that determines the transition in behavior is the Coriolis number (inverse Rossby number). ‘Negative’ differential rotation of the equator (relative to the mean rotation) occurs if the Coriolis number is below a critical value.

Pulsars provide a wealth of information about General Relativity, the equation of state of superdense matter, relativistic particle acceleration in high magnetic fields, the Galaxy's interstellar medium and magnetic field, stellar and binary evolution, celestial mechanics, planetary physics and even cosmology. The wide variety of physical applications currently being investigated through studies of radio pulsars rely on: (i) finding interesting objects to study via large-scale and targeted surveys; (ii) high-precision timing measurements which exploit their remarkable clock-like stability. We review current surveys and the principles of pulsar timing and highlight progress made in the rotating radio transients, intermittent pulsars, tests of relativity, understanding pulsar evolution, measuring neutron star masses and the pulsar timing array

Star clusters are ideal laboratories to test the theory of stellar evolution and provide very tight constraints on the concept of single stellar poputions (SSPs). Observations show that some stars fail to conform to the theoretical evolutionary scenario applicable to single stars. These special objects, particularly blue stragglers, present a challenge to our current theory of stellar evolution. They may be very important in the context of the integrated spectral properties of clusters. Here, we review the construction of SSP models, both empirically using star clusters and theoretically based on binary-interaction theory.

Velocity-dependent flux ratios of the broad Lyα, Civ, Hβ, and Hα lines are used to investigate conditions in the archetypical displaced BLR peak emitter 3C 390.3. Our results suggest that gas producing the the UV emission lines has a lower density than the higher-velocity gas producing broad disk-like profile and is less flattened.