A departure from an isothermal mass distribution in a rich cluster is expected if the genesis involves a coherent recollapse phase. The character of this departure is calculated and looked for in the data available for the Comma Cluster. No significant deviation from an isothermal mass distribution is found for r < 360’.

Survey type observations have been made with the Parkes radio-telescope of 4 galactic radio sources having either a non-thermal radio spectrum, or exhibiting shell structure in their emitting regions. Observations were made at a wavelength of 11 cm using the Parkes radiotelescope where the beamwidth is about 7.5 min.arc.

Current evolutionary theory indicates that evolving stars in globular clusters arrive on the horizontal branch with ~30% less mass than they had on the main sequence. If, as seems likely, this mass loss results from the outflow of unprocessed material at the stellar surface during the giant stage, and if the ejected mass were retained within the cluster between successive sweeps through the galactic plane (~108 yr), sufficient hydrogen (100-2000 M⊙ should accumulate for detection. Radio searches, however, have failed to find evidence for either neutral or ionized gas. The hydrogen mass upper limits obtained by various workers are: Hills and Klein (1973) ionized H, 3.8 cm, <20-200 M⊙; Knapp, Rose and Kerr (1973) neutral H, 21 cm, <1-20 M⊙; Conklin and Kimble (1974) neutral H, 21 cm, <0.7-1.4 M⊙.

We have extended the search into the optical region and have also calculated time-independent gas flow models to try to resolve this anomaly.

An attempt is made to deduce the form taken by the distribution law for radiative scattering events performed by an atom whose energy—level structure is perturbed under conditions appropriate to the quasi-static limit.

A 3 GHz maser from the Onsala Space Observatory, Sweden, is currently at Parkes on a long-term loan basis. So far, it has been used on the 64-m radio telescope for a two-week period of spectral-line observations in February 1979, providing a system sensitivity far superior to that previously available at the same frequency. The observed lines were the ground-state transitions of CH at 3264, 3335 and 3349 MHz, the 211 – 212 transition of H2CS at 3139 MHz, and the 211-212 transition of CH3CHO at 3195 MHz.

We present observations of Hα and CaII resonance lines in 4 stars having Hα features which place them intermediately between the non-(e) and (e) classifications of dK/dM stars. There is considerable variety in the shape of the Hα line, presumably due in part to differences in rotation rates. As expected, the energy fluxes in the CaII emission lines lie between those typical of non-(e) and (e) stars. There is some evidence (especially from the binary Gl 876A) that the energy fluxes in the CaII and Hα emission lines do not vary from star to star according to a simple proportionality. An intriguing result is the apparent detection of spatially displaced chromospheric emission in Gl 907.1 and Gl 890.

In order to gain more information on the 236 M dwarfs identified in the First Byurakan Survey (FBS) low-resolution (lr) spectroscopic database, Gaia EDR3 high-accuracy astrometric and photometric data and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) data are used to characterise these M dwarfs and their possible multiplicity. Among the sample of 236 relatively bright $(7.3 < K_S < 14.4)$ M dwarfs, 176 are new discoveries. The Gaia EDR3 G broadband magnitudes are in the range $11.3 < G < 17.1$. New distance information based on the EDR3 parallaxes are used to estimate the G-band absolute magnitudes. Nine FBS M dwarfs out of 176 newly discovered lie within 25 pc of the Sun. The FBS 0909-082 is the most distant $(r=780$ pc) M dwarf of the analysed sample, with a G-band absolute magnitude $M(G) = 9.18$, $M = 0.59$ M$_{\odot}$, $L = 0.13597$ L$_{\odot}$, and $T_{eff}$ = 3844 K; it can be classified as M1 - M2 subtype dwarf. The nearest is FBS 0250+167, a M7 subtype dwarf located at 3.83 pc from the Sun with a very high proper motion (5.13 arcsec yr$^{-1}$). The TESS estimated masses lie in the range 0.095 ($\pm$0.02) M$_{\odot}\leq$ $M\leq$ 0.7 ($\pm$ 0.1) M$_{\odot}$ and $T_{eff}$ in the range 4000 K < $T_{eff}$ < 2790 K. We analyse colour-colour and colour-absolute magnitude diagram (CaMD) diagrams for the M dwarfs. Results suggest that 27 FBS M dwarfs are double or multiple systems. The observed spectral energy distribution (SED) for some of the M dwarfs can be used to classify potential infrared excess. Using TESS light curves, flares are detected for some FBS M dwarfs. Finally, for early and late sub-classes of the M dwarfs, the detection range for survey is estimated for the first time.

We present the results of investigation of five stars, originally classified as dwarfs, belonging to Cyg OB2 association, their stellar, and wind properties. Using both tlusty and cmfgen codes, we derived effective temperatures, surface gravities, chemical abundances, mass-loss rates, and projected rotation velocities. Due to the fact that distance to the stars is well known, we were able to estimate their luminosities. Using evolutionary models, we estimated the ages of these sample stars and find that lower mass ones—MT282 and MT343—belong to older population of the association. Their ages are greater than 10 Myr. The ages of three other stars—MT317, MT299, MT259—are between 4 and 6 Myr.

Type Ic supernovae can be classified as normal supernovae Ic, type Ic super-luminous supernovae, X-ray flash-connected supernovae, broad-line supernovae Ic, and gamma-ray burst-connected supernovae. Here we suggest an inner connection for all kinds of supernovae Ic which is based on whether a pair of jets are successfully launched: a normal supernovae Ic is a normal core collapsar without jets launched; a gamma-ray burst-associated supernovae Ic is a core collapsar with relativistic jets launched and successfully breaking out the envelope of the progenitor; an X-ray flash-associated supernovae Ic is a core collapsar with jets launched but can only develop a relativistic shock breakout; a broad-line supernovae Ic is an off-axis gamma-ray burst or an X-ray flash-associated supernova; and a type Ic super-luminous supernovae is close to the X-ray flash-connected supernovae Ic, but the shock breakout is not relativistic and most of the jet energy is deposited into the supernova component. Based on the luminosity-distance diagram, we derived the luminosity function of all different types of supernovae Ic as a whole. We also show that the normal supernovae Ic and gamma-ray burst-connected supernovae Ic have similar accumulative distributions.

AAT/WFI optical images of a candidate extragalactic HI cloud, HIPASS J1712–64, are presented. The g and r band CCD mosaic camera frames were processed using a new data pipeline recently installed at the AAO. The resultant stacked images reach significantly deeper levels than those of previous published optical imaging of this candidate, providing a detection limit Mg ˜ −7 at a distance of 3 Mpc, the inferred distance to HIPASS J1712–64. However, detailed analysis of the images fails to uncover any stellar population associated with the HI emission. If this system is a member of the Local Group then it is pathologically different to other members. Hence, our observations reinforce earlier suggestions that this HI cloud is most likely Galactic in origin and not a Local Volume dwarf galaxy.

We have found strong evidence for an abrupt decline in the HI rotation curve of the isolated spiral galaxy NGC 157. Various mass models to account for this, and the implications for the dark matter content of NGC 157, are discussed.

We investigate the connection between a cluster’s structural configuration and observable measures of its gas emission that can be obtained in X-ray and Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) surveys. We present an analytic model for the intracluster gas density profile: parameterised by the dark matter halo’s inner logarithmic density slope, $\alpha$, the concentration, c, the gas profile’s inner logarithmic density slope, $\varepsilon$, the dilution, d, and the gas fraction, $\eta$, normalised to cosmological content. We predict four probes of the gas emission: the emission-weighted, $T_\mathrm{X}$, and mean gas mass-weighted, $T_\mathrm{m_g}$, temperatures, and the spherically, $Y_\mathrm{sph}$, and cylindrically, $Y_\mathrm{cyl}$, integrated Compton parameters. Over a parameter space of clusters, we constrain the X-ray temperature scaling relations, $M_{200} - T_\mathrm{X}$ and $M_{500} - T_\mathrm{X}$, within $57.3\%$ and $41.6\%$, and $M_{200} - T_\mathrm{m_g}$ and $M_{500} - T_\mathrm{m_g}$, within $25.7\%$ and $7.0\%$, all respectively. When excising the cluster’s core, the $M_{200} - T_\mathrm{X}$ and $M_{500} - T_\mathrm{X}$ relations are further constrained, to within $31.3\%$ and $17.1\%$, respectively. Similarly, we constrain the SZ scaling relations, $M_{200} - Y_\mathrm{sph}$ and $M_{500} - Y_\mathrm{sph}$, within $31.1\%$ and $17.7\%$, and $M_{200} - Y_\mathrm{cyl}$ and $M_{500} - Y_\mathrm{cyl}$, within $25.2\%$ and $22.0\%$, all respectively. The temperature observable $T_\mathrm{m_g}$ places the strongest constraint on the halo mass, whilst $T_\mathrm{X}$ is more sensitive to the parameter space. The SZ constraints are sensitive to the gas fraction, whilst insensitive to the form of the gas profile itself. In all cases, the halo mass is recovered with an uncertainty that suggests the cluster’s structural profiles only contribute a minor uncertainty in its scaling relations.

We present the identifications of two z ~ 3·8 quasars from a deep UBI imaging survey with the Palomar 5·1 m Telescope. The survey covers an area of 0·25 degree2 around a sample of ten z =0·2–0·3 luminous X-ray clusters. The QSOs were identified on the basis of their stellar morphologies, relatively blue optical and very red UV–optical colours. The two objects are Q 1322+5034, with total magnitudes of B =20·8, I =18·3 and (U–B) > 4·7, and Q 1722+3211, which has total magnitudes of B =21·8, I =19·7 and (U–B) > 3·2. Subsequent spectroscopic observations with the 4·2 m William Herschel Telescope have confirmed the identity of these two sources as QSOs at z =3·82 and z =3·73 respectively. Our spectroscopic observations identify a damped Lyman-α absorber in the spectrum of Q 1322+5034 at z =3·439, as well as a second absorption system at z =2·700, which may be either a single very high column density, damped Lyman-α system, or more likely a blend of a number of high column-density absorbers spread over a distance of ~10 Mpc.

We present the results of a photometric survey for variability in ten X-ray-emitting low-mass stars in the Chamaeleon region. Eight of the stars we observed are bona fide pre-main-sequence members of the ∼2 Myr-old Chamaeleon I star-forming cloud. The other two stars are young with high levels of relative X-ray emission, but with discordant proper motions they are probable non-members of the cloud. In six of the stars we monitored, periodic variations on timescales of 2.5–11.5 d were detected, that we ascribe to stellar rotation and the presence of cool starspots. Two other stars, CHXR 20 and CHXR 85, show large amplitude variations at visual and near-infrared wavelengths and are candidate eclipsing binaries. Compared to the rotational properties of low-mass stars in the ≈8 Myr-old η Chamaeleontis cluster, we find that the older η Chamaeleontis stars have several times higher surface specific angular momentum than the younger Chamaeleon I stars. The apparent increase in angular momentum between ∼2 and 8 Myr might be due to changes in stellar internal structure as the stars evolve, or evidence for a different rotational history between members of the two star-forming regions.

We present a study of X-ray column density variability in Seyfert 2 galaxies. We show that variations in NH are observed in almost all the objects with multiple hard X-ray observations. Variation timescales (as short as a few months in several cases) are not in agreement with the standard scenario of a parsec-scale toroidal absorber. We propose that the X-ray absorber in Seyfert galaxies is located much nearer to the centre than previously assumed, on the broad line region scale. An extension of the model by M. Elvis (2000) can explain the observed variability. We also show preliminary results of NH variability search inside single X-ray observations, which suggest that variations can occur on timescales of a few 104 s.

We present here the results from a full polarisation study, an important VLBI capability, of a selected set of bright Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs), along with the steps required to fully calibrate the Australian Long Baseline Array. We compare strategies for high-precision polarisation measurements using two polarisation correction methods: (1) Linear model and (2) Ellipticity-Orientation model and two data-recording techniques: recording (1) nominally circular polarisation at all stations and (2) mixed polarisation, where all but one station record circular polarisation and the other recorded linear polarisation. The latter is corrected post-correlation. We explored these possible solution to discover which will best accommodate the heterogeneous nature of the Australian Long Baseline Array without impacting on the science results. The targets, all compact and of low polarisation fraction, allow us to compare multiple independent solutions for polarisation characteristics. The results show that the agreement between the two polarisation correction models is excellent. However, the values from Mopra with nominally circular polarisation are larger than would be acceptable. However, we also demonstrate that recording mixed polarisation modes and correcting post-correlation provide a high quality polarisation product. We report on the detailed tests of these strategies and assess that the array is ready for full polarisation operation.

This study presents an analysis of the optical variability of the blazar 1E 1458.8+2249 on diverse timescales using multi-band observations, including observations in the optical BVRI bands carried out with the T60 and T100 telescopes from 2020 to 2023 and ZTF gri data from 2018 to 2023. On seven nights, we searched for intraday variability using the power-enhanced F-test and the nested ANOVA test, but no significant variability was found. The long-term light curve shows a variability behaviour in the optical BVRI bands with amplitudes of $\sim$100% and in the gri bands with amplitudes of $\sim$120%, including short-term variability of up to $\sim$1.1 mag. Correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation between the optical multi-band emissions without any time lag. From 62 nightly spectral energy distributions, we obtained spectral indices between 0.826 and 1.360, with an average of $1.128\pm0.063$. The relationships of both spectral indices and colour with respect to brightness indicate a mild BWB trend throughout the observation period, both intraday and long-term. We also performed a periodicity search using the weighted wavelet Z-transform and Lomb–Scargle methods. A recurrent optical emission pattern with a quasi-periodicity of $\sim$340 days is detected in the combined V- and R-band light curves. The observational results indicate that the blazar 1E 1458.8+2249 has a complex variability, while emphasising the need for future observations to unravel its underlying mechanisms.

In wavelength calibration using arc lines, the normal approach is to use the strongest unsaturated lines, leaving weak lines unused. A new method is proposed in this paper, which not only utilizes the strong spectral lines, but also makes most use of weak spectral lines. In order to validate the effectiveness of the method we propose, experiments are performed on simulated spectra. Firstly, two kinds of spectra are generated: one with a short exposure and another with a long exposure. Secondly, calibration lines are chosen from the short exposure and long exposure spectra separately according to some rules. Thirdly, the initial wavelength calibration is completed by using the selected short-exposure lines. Fourthly, the approximate centroids of the selected long-exposure lines are obtained by utilizing the result of the initial wavelength calibration. These are then adjusted iteratively to obtain the centroids. Finally, the selected lines from the short- and long-exposures are combined to obtain the final wavelength calibration. Compared with traditional calibration methods which only use short exposures and strong lines, the proposed method is shown to be more accurate.

We propose a new method for identifying active galactic nuclei (AGN) in low mass ($\mathrm{M}_*\leq10^{10}\mathrm{M}_\odot$) galaxies. This method relies on spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to identify galaxies whose radio flux density has an excess over that expected from star formation alone. Combining data in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) G23 region from GAMA, Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) early science observations, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), we compare this technique with a selection of different AGN diagnostics to explore the similarities and differences in AGN classification. We find that diagnostics based on optical and near-infrared criteria (the standard BPT diagram, the WISE colour criterion, and the mass-excitation, or MEx diagram) tend to favour detection of AGN in high mass, high luminosity systems, while the “ProSpect” SED fitting tool can identify AGN efficiently in low mass systems. We investigate an explanation for this result in the context of proportionally lower mass black holes in lower mass galaxies compared to higher mass galaxies and differing proportions of emission from AGN and star formation dominating the light at optical and infrared wavelengths as a function of galaxy stellar mass. We conclude that SED-derived AGN classification is an efficient approach to identify low mass hosts with low radio luminosity AGN.